text:
Some top brands have already been ruling the market with their Flagships like OnePlus 5, LG G6, Samsung Galaxy S8, etc. Surely, it is now time for the tech giant Apple. The company is celebrating its 10th Anniversary of iPhone with the launch of its new Flagship iPhone 8. Hence we can surely expect some real blast with this year’s extraordinary iPhone.
Indeed Apple has so far not revealed any important details about the phone, but we have tried to gather Top 10 details about the new iPhone 8 from the leaks so far. Let’s take a look.
1. Apple and Samsung has been the biggest rivals since past few years. They always try to beat the rivals flagships. Now since Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and recently launched Galaxy Note8 brought revolutionary bezel-less end-to end Infinite display, Apple has also planned to launch their Anniversary special iPhone 8 no bezels or with slimmest bezel. Infact, Apple may bring Andy Rubin’s Essential like display with only bezel to have accommodate sensors and front cameras.
2. Usually iPhone’s used to have a physical Home Button at the Front Bottom. But since we are talking about all-screen bezel-less display, this year’s iPhone 8 probably may not have the same. It could be the first ever iPhone to ditch physical home and instead put a virtual home button under the screen which no other brand’s have done yet. Or Apple may place the Home Button at rear facing.
3. What about Fingerprint? Well, its logical Apple can integrate the Fingerprint sensor at rear facing with Home button. But, if we believe the All-screen display and the rumors, Apple may also bring fingerprint scanner placed beneath the display, the technology we saw earlier demonstrated by Vivo. This will be awesome.
4. Apple iPhone’s screen have been one of the best so far. But, for the first time, Apple is going to bring OLED screen, and we will see it first in iPhone 8. This surely makes deeper blacks and whites and better colour compared to any other iPhone so far.
5. Another important feature we are hearing to see in iPhone 8 is Tap-to-Wake. Well, it is not a new feature for the world because we have seen it in few smartphone running Android. But it will be new for iPhone users.
6. Apple is also said to be bringing Infrared sensor to backup the 3D sensor to help facial recognition in dark environment. This is something very new and we are excited to known how does it works.
7. Since last 3 iPhones, Apple has brought new and improved chipsets. It is probably continuing the same this year also. The new 10th Anniversary special iPhone 8 is going to be powered with A11 chipset based on 10nm architecture.
8. What about the software? We have been using iOS 11 Beta sine past few weeks. But the final iOS 11 will make its public debut with iPhone 8, adding new values to the new smartphone.
9. Another good thing Apple is doing with iPhone 8 is the Front & Back Glass packaging. Well its not any new since we saw iPhone 4 and 4S with the same but this time, Apple is also adding stainless steel edges to add weight and strength to iPhone 8.
10. Talking about the Cameras, iPhones have never disappointed users in terms of photography. To make it better, Apple is reconfigured iPhone 8’s cameras for better-augmented reality apps. The company has added several camera sensors which includes an AR-integration. Apple has also added enhanced scene and object detection in the camera that will track the subject which makes Apple the first one to come with AR and SmartCamera techniques. And all that will happen with iPhone 8.
11. What else? Apple is adding a new technology for the first time in its iPhones, and that is 3D Facial Recognition. This will not only help you to unlock iPhone 8 but will also authorise payments. This Facial recognition with a dedicated sensor is placed in the front above the screen.
12. Last but not the least. Apple is also bringing inductive charging to iPhone 8. Although it is not all new since we have seen it in Apple Watch, but any iPhone is getting it for the first time.
So, that’s it for now. All these features and details were collected from the rumors we heard and leaks we saw so far for Apple’s 10th Anniversary’s iPhone 8. The phone is scheduled to launch on September 12 along with iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus. Talking about the pricing, well nobody knows how much iPhone 8 will cost but it is expected to be the most costliest iPhone so far. Let’s see.
Watch Official Render of iPhone 8:


text:
The Omemee Lions Club is hosting an Ontario Electronic Stewardship Event on Saturday May 21, 2016 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Omemee Curling Club, loacted at 15 James Street in Omemee. Drop off your unwanted televisions, computers, printers, monitors, steroes, speakers, vcrs, telephones, answering machines, and other electronics. They are also collecting bagged clothing and textiles, batteries, motors, clean metal, aluminum cans, and returnable glass bottles. All proceeds from this event will go to local community projects.
The Omemee Lioness will be holding a bake sale starting at 9:00 am.

domain: news


text:
Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, the company that owns the wildly popular short-video TikTok, has stepped down as chairman as the tech giant continues to reorganize its business.
The news was no surprise as Zhang Yiming has stepped down as CEO back in May.
His role as the chairman of the company's five-person board, which also includes General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital, Coatue Management, and Susquehanna International Group, will also be passed to Liang Rubo, who took over as CEO.
Lately, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has also lift his position as ByteDance's chief financial officer (CFO) to focus on running the popular app full time, Reuters reported.
© 2000 - 2021 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)


text:
NEWS RELEASE DETAILS
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 / 05:20 PM
SUBJECT:ALBANY STREET LIQUOR STORE ROBBED
Detectives are investigating the robbery of the USA Wine and Liquor store at 800 Albany Street that occurred at about 2:30 this afternoon.
A black male walked into the store, told the clerk that he had a gun and demanded money. When the clerk opened the cash register, the suspect took an amount of money that is not being disclosed. The suspect then left the store and was last seen running west on Albany Street. The suspect did not display a gun and the clerk was not injured.
The suspect is described as having light skin, a medium build, and was wearing a blue jacket over a blue hooded sweatshirt, black knit gloves, blue jeans and tan work boots.


text:
HUAWEI P30 Pro owners may soon face a major headache as vital Android updates could soon be blocked from these devices.
Since May last year all new Huawei phones have had to launch without access to Google’s popular apps and services.
This is due to a current US ban which has left devices, such as the new P40 Pro, releasing without Gmail, Google Photos, Google Maps and the all-important Play Store.
Sadly, it now appears that owners of phones that arrived before the block, such as the popular P30 Pro, could also soon be affected by the Android ban as well.
Until last week, Google had been granted a special license allowing them to push out updates to older devices.
But, as reported by The Washington Post, that license has now expired which may potentially leave Huawei owners without vital Android updates aimed at keeping devices safe.
Google regularly pushes out bug fixes and security upgrades which all device owners are urged to download. Without these software patches, phones can become much more vulnerable and they also won’t receive any new features that the US tech giant may have been working.
It’s also a concern that all Huawei devices will face the same Google services block, leaving phones without access to an array of apps and the Play Store.
Huawei appears aware of the situation and is, “monitoring and assessing the potential impact.
Back in February Google released a statement saying was happy to continue to work with Huawei with the firm saying: “We have continued to work with Huawei, in compliance with government regulations, to provide security updates and updates to Google’s apps and services on existing devices, and we will continue to do so as long as it is permitted.”
Speaking to The Washington Post last week, Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said it was the temporary general license that had allowed the company to send those updates. It’s unclear what happens now and if P30 Pro and owners of other older handsets are now in for a rocky ride.
Huawei is doing best to make things easier for those who buy a device without Google service.
The Chinese firm now has its own app store which continues to grow on an almost daily basis and there’s also the recently-released Petal Search – Find Apps service.
This option will now automatically scour the web for any applications that are available for the Huawei P40 Pro. This search includes numerous third-party stores as well as anything in the Huawei App Gallery.
So, even if the messaging app or game hasn’t been launched in the App Gallery quite yet, but is available to download from the developer’s website, or another online Android app repository, Petal Search should bring-up a link to download with a single click.
In other news – King Monada kicks his second wife out of his house
King Monada’s marriage to his second wife, Cynthia Leon is in a state of idibala. Sunday World can reveal King Monanda has chased Leon out of his harem in Mokgoloboto village, outside Tzaneen in Limpopo, last week. Read more


text:
Stronger beer may appear on Finnish grocery stores early next year, along with many other changes loosening up Finland's strict alcohol regulations. The maximum alcohol content of beverages sold in regular shops appears set to rise from the present 4.7 percent to 5.5 percent. This would also cover cider and long drinks.
The three government parties finally reached agreement on the long-debated issue on Thursday. The pro-business National Coalition Party and the populist Finns Party have long backed the idea, but Prime Minister Juha Sipilä's Centre has balked. It argues that allowing so-called "A" strength beer into corner shops will increase overall alcohol consumption.
Time rules to change at restaurants but not shops
Under a compromise struck by MPs representing each of the coalition parties, there will be no change to the times when alcohol may be sold in normal shops, that is, 7 am to 9 pm.
The move has been backed by microbreweries and shops, but opposed by the state alcohol retailer Alko, which now has a monopoly on retail sales of drinks stronger than 4.7 percent. The change will certainly eat into Alko's sales.
The Centre Party's Minister of Family Affairs and Social Service, Juha Rehula, is to finalise the government's stance before the Midsummer holiday in late June.
More flexibility in serving, selling and advertising
Yle has learned that these other changes are in store, too:
1. Restaurants and bars will be permitted to begin take-away retail sales of drinks with alcohol content of up to 5.5%.
2. Microbreweries will be allowed retail sales of stronger beers
3. Alko shops will remain open until 9 pm on weekdays instead of the current 8 pm
4. Separate licenses for late-night serving of alcohol at bars and restaurants will be abolished, so all licensed premises will be allowed to serve until 4 am if they want.
5. Separate "A" and "B" licenses for restaurants will disappear
6. Fenced-off areas for alcohol sales at festivals will no longer be required
7. Restrictions on raw materials for home preparation of beer and wine will be removed, as will restrictions on making drinks by fermentation
8. Those aged 16 and 17 will be allowed to serve alcohol under supervision
9. Restrictions on alcohol advertising will be loosened. For instance lists of manufacturers' and wholesalers' products may be printed or published online, while the use of phrases such as "happy hour" will be allowed.


text:
The meal, which will be served until noon every day, joins dishes like curry, jacket potato, and teriyaki noodles on the pub’s vegan menu.
“We’re super excited to announce that you can now find our Quorn Vegan Best of British Sausages on the NEW JD Wetherspoon breakfast menu,” said Quorn on Twitter, announcing the new dish. “Our delicious sausages are served with hash browns, mushroom, tomato and toast. And the best bit, its served until 12 noon every day!”
Some people have noticed that the vegan breakfast listing is missing baked beans – usually a staple in the dish.
This is because earlier this year it was revealed that the beans used by Wetherspoons – Heinz No Added Sugar – are not suitable for vegans due to an unnamed animal-derived ingredient in the flavoring.
A statement released by JD Wetherspoon at the time said: “The only meals affected are jacket potato with beans (adult and children’s meals) as we claim that they are both vegan meals. Amended dietary menus will be reprinted and sent to pubs.”


text:
Make time to see Marks in Time
Grab your last chance to see the Marks in Time exhibition before it closes on 29 July, in preparation for relocation to the Michael Marks Building in November 2011.
Opened in 2009, the Marks in Time exhibition is situated in the Parkinson Building and celebrates the role M&S has played in people's lives for 125 years.
Charting the story of M&S from its origins as a penny bazaar in Leeds Market to today's position as an integral part of the British high street, the exhibition showcases how M&S is woven into the fabric of UK life. The iconic items featured in the exhibition offer visitors a snapshot of some of the 60,000 artefacts that will be housed at the M&S Company Archive on the Western Campus when it opens in November. The building will also feature a brand new exhibition which will provide a glimpse behind the scenes at M&S - look out for more details coming soon!Posted in: University news


text:
Samsung Display recently started producing QD-OLED panels (for TV and monitor applications), and according to earlier reports, the production suffered from low yields, estimated at around 30-50% a few months ago.
In a move that is thought to reassure SDC's employees, the company announced on its internal bulletin board that it has managed to increase its QD-OLED production yields to 75%, and it now aims to increase that to 90% or higher.
According to the report, SDC's employees are not optimistic regarding its QD-OLED competitiveness with LG's WOLED and RGB OLED structures - and not just because of the low production yields. Initial reviews of the QD-OLED panels say that the contrast is not as high as other OLED displays with ambient lighting, and there are color issues due to the unique pixel arrangement.
It is estimated that even with increase production yields, SDC will refrain from further QD-OLED investments until it will see market reaction.
yes, that was a typo, thanks! Fixed it now.
Wouldn't it be " Initial reviews of the QD-OLED panels say that the contrast is not as high as other OLED displays with ambient lighting" ?


text:
Discover more from Ashish Sinha on Startups, Tech and AI
This legal AI bot got sued ("show me your law degree")
And more AI news for you.
Here goes your daily dose of AI News.
Indian IT Companies Utilize Generative AI for Coding Buddies and HR Assistants
Wipro, TCS and other Indian IT firms are exploring the use of Generative AI for coding buddies and HR assistants.
Law Firm Sues ‘Robot Lawyer’ DoNotPay for Not Having a Law Degree
DoNotPay, an AI-based legal service provider, is being sued by Chicago-based law firm Edelson. The class action lawsuit is being filed against DoNotPay for not having a law degree.
DoNotPay claims to use artificial intelligence to help customers handle an array of legal services without needing to hire a lawyer
The complaint argues: "Unfortunately for its customers, DoNotPay is not actually a robot, a lawyer, nor a law firm. DoNotPay does not have a law degree, is not barred in any jurisdiction, and is not supervised by any lawyer."
Samsung’s ‘Space Zoom’ Smartphone May Use AI for Moon Shots
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy smartphone lineup, including the Galaxy S23 Ultra, has a 100x zoom for the rear cameras. This is achieved by combining 3x and 10x telephoto cameras with a digital zoom, aided by Samsung’s AI Super Resolution technology. A Reddit user’s investigation suggests that this feature may be more of an AI trickery than an impressive smartphone camera.
[Notes: This is super interesting and a smarter way to achieve the desired effect, without investing in hardware]
GM and Microsoft Partner to Create ChatGPT-Like Virtual Assistant for Cars
GM and Microsoft are teaming up to develop a virtual assistant for future cars. The virtual assistant will be similar to ChatGPT, using AI technology.
The assistant will be able to respond to a variety of commands.
AI-Powered Bing provides answers to video game questions
Microsoft is developing AI-Powered Bing to answer video game questions and provide suggestions based on a user’s preferences.
#LearnAI: Resource of the day
We’ve entered the age of generative AI. The use cases are everywhere—from writing essays to creating comics to editing films —and adoption has outpaced every consumer tech trend of the past decade. Text generator ChatGPT surpassed 1 million users in just five days, and tens of millions of consumers have created AI avatars.
Much as the iPhone revolutionized our daily interaction with technology-spawning products like Uber, DoorDash, and Airbnb-generative AI will change everyday life [Read further]


text:
Sleeping Dogs was one of the surprise breakout hits of last year, spending most of its development cycle as the third entry in the True Crime series before launching as its own IP in the fall of 2012. Despite the lack of established franchise to fall back on, the Hong Kong-set open-world title still managed to garner over 1.75 million in sales by April 2013.
These are impressive numbers for a new IP, but Square Enix still pronounced the game a commercial failure. Despite this, it looks like we'll be seeing a new Sleeping Dogs title after all from developer United Front Games.
We don't know much about the game, other than it's based in the Sleeping Dogs universe and it has something to do with the recently trademarked "Triad Wars" title by United Front Games.
UFG has stated that they will release more information in 2014, but regardless, this is news that will surely please fans of Sleeping Dogs.
So what will it be? Sequel? Spin-off? Mobile title? I guess we'll find out next year.
Via a listing on Amazon we have learned that Sleeping Dogs, like Tomb Raider and The Last of Us will be getting a “definitive” edition for the PS4...
UK retailer Shopto has listed Sleeping Dogs HD for the PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, with a November release date. There's every chance this...
The Walking Dead The adventure game genre has been past its prime for quite some time now, and not since the early 2000s has one been so unanimously loved...
2 days ago
Hyrule Warriors, the Zelda-infused Dynasty Warriors-inspired hack 'n slash title developed by Team Ninja will be getting Amiibo support, Nintendo have...
Gamers have found a new player vs player playlist and a new planet buried in Destiny's source code. The playlist is called Tales of Osiris and will take...
11 hours ago
Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's Xbox Division, previously announced that screenshot functionality would be coming to the Xbox One soon. However, in...
2 days ago
Hearthstone, the hugely popular free-to-play strategy card game from Blizzard will be coming to Android tablets by the end of the year, Blizzard have announced....
Ubisoft revealed today Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, an entirely new downloadable Assassin's Creed game, featuring 2.5 side-scrolling gameplay and...


text:
The French Post Office’s procurement of 3,000 50cc KYMCO (光陽) scooters from Taiwan sparked a protest at a Peugeot Scooters factory on Friday, as the deal has affected the workers’ job prospects at the plant, according to a report on the Le Pays newspaper Web site.
The report said the state-run post office’s decision to place the order with Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽工業), which sells its motorbikes under the brand KYMCO, was like ringing the death knell for France’s struggling motorcycle industry.
The French Post Office, previously a major client of Peugeot Scooters, decided late last year to switch its business to Kwang Yang. However, the news did not become public knowledge until recently, prompting workers at the motorbike company’s factory in Dannemarie in northeastern France to stage a protest, Le Pays said.
Peugeot Scooters is scheduled to close its Dannemarie factory at the end of next year and transfer all of the plant’s 140 workers to other sections of the company. The company, a part of PSA Peugeot Citroen — the second-largest carmaker in Europe — laid off 250 workers at its Dannemarie and Mandeure plants in 2008.
Another French daily, Le Figaro, reported earlier this month that Peugeot Scooters had relocated two-thirds of its production to China since 2007 in an effort to cut operational costs.
About 90 percent of Peugeot motorcycles and scooters are sold to European countries, but annual motorbike sales in that market have dropped by 40 percent since 2007, the report said. Peugeot Scooters lost more than 200 million euros (US$265 million) last year, it added.
Meanwhile, BFM Business radio station said the French Post Office’s procurement of KYMCO scooters has had little impact on jobs at Peugeot Scooters because the company has secure orders for its 125cc scooters, which offer better profit margins than the 50cc models.
Asked about his view on the French media’s discussion of KYMCO’s successful foray into the French scooter market, Taiwan’s representative to France Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said small scooters are a highly competitive product.
“Kwang Yang’s success in winning the order from the French Post Office indicates that the price, design, quality and performance of its scooters have won consumer recognition,” Lu said.
Blue-chip Taiwanese companies are more than capable of seizing business opportunities through fair competition, he added.
In Taipei, the United Daily News reported on Saturday that Europe has become a major export focus for Kwang Yang and that KYMCO is now a popular scooter brand in the European market, drawing wide attention at major European motorcycle trade fairs.
In July, Kwang Yang signed a new engine project with BMW, indicating that the company’s motorbike engine technology is recognized by the German motor vehicle giant, the report said.
Italy, Spain, Germany and France have become major export destinations for the Greater -Kaohsiung-based company, the report added. Its ATV multifunctional vehicles now have more than a 30 percent share of the French market.
A group of French Post Office executives visited the company earlier this year to confirm the details of the 50cc scooter deal, the report said.


text:
BP Ventures, a blockchain consulting and services firm, has announced the completion of ISO 20022 on the Stellar Blockchain. ISO 20022 is a standard that seeks to standardize data transfers between financial institutions across the globe for different kinds of electronic payments. In addition to payment settlements, the standard is also used to settle stocks and other securities. Real-time clearing systems such as SWIFT, SEPA in Europe, Faster Payments in the UK, etc. are already using the standard.
Through the implementation of the ISO 20022 standard on the Stellar blockchain, financial institutions will now have the opportunity to upgrade their infrastructures, which will save them both time and money. It will also help reduce risk and allow companies to cut costs. The benefits of the Stellar blockchain include settlement time of just 5 seconds, low fees, and immediate finality, which will be taken advantage of by payments and other asset transfers. Meanwhile, transactions would be processed simultaneously based on the new ISO 20022 standard put in place.
BP Ventures has a reputation for helping financial institutions improve efficiency, security, and market reach through the integration of blockchain digital asset management solutions into their workflow. According to the organization’s Founder, Anthony Barker, the new integration on the Stellar network makes it possible to improve operational efficiency while achieving compliance with the new standard at the same time. Barker believes that they have implemented the most robust mapping of ISO 20022 XML to date, making it possible for banks and financial institutions everywhere to benefit from Stellar’s blockchain technology and the stablecoin Circle USDC while remaining compliant with ISO standards.
The implementation of the ISO 20022 standard on the Stellar network will enable trillions of dollars worth of financial sector transfers to move to the Stellar blockchain. This will help the financial sector restructure its workflows to reflect ISO 20022 compliance. According to the ISO organization, ISO 20022 would become the universal standard for large or high-value payment systems of all reserve currencies by 2025. The standard is already being used by payment systems in over 70 countries, and estimates show that ISO 20022 supports 80 percent of transaction volume and 87 percent of transaction value globally.
However, the standard is not without its challenges. One of the challenges this standard faces is data accuracy put into proper message transfer. Every character expected to be entered into the financial message should be foolproof and error-free to be in line with the specifications of the standard. This may be validated at both ends of the communication chain, and the slightest error lead to rejection or delay of the transaction. Another challenge is that all data is entered manually, meaning, there are possibilities of human errors.
Nevertheless, the implementation of the ISO 20022 standard on the Stellar blockchain represents a significant milestone in the crypto industry, indicating that blockchain technology is gradually becoming more widely accepted and seeing increased adoption. While the ISO 20022 standard will have no impact on the digital asset market and will not affect any available crypto, banks, and financial institutions will be the sole beneficiaries of the implementation.
Ripple has also joined the ISO 20022 standards body and is working to establish a new data standard for payments between financial institutions. It is interesting to see how these collaborations will shape the financial industry moving forward with more blockchain solutions being introduced to the market.
In conclusion, the implementation of the ISO 20022 standard on the Stellar blockchain will benefit financial institutions and companies alike as it will make it easier and faster for them to transfer funds seamlessly. It will also help reduce costs and mitigate risks. However, stakeholders must ensure that the implementation is transparent and free from errors. The blockchain industry has significantly contributed to making financial services more accessible and efficient, and with more collaborations to come, the future looks bright for the industry.


text:
NEW YORK: World shares rose on Friday but still registered their biggest weekly decline in three months on continuing global trade tensions, while oil prices surged after OPEC decided on only modest increases in crude production.
ANALYSIS: The annual CES trade show in Las Vegas has been wooing technology fans for more than five decades, but since 2015, CES has also lent its familiar brand to a smaller event in Shanghai, China’s most populous city. CES Asia differs from the gargantuan Las Vegas event in just about every regard — for starters, it’s […]
With data breaches everywhere these days, it seems harder and harder to keep information safe. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to be a bit safer online. We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council for tips on what anyone can do to better protect themselves online. It seems like we’re hearing of a new data breach each month, giving companies transitioning to the cloud plenty reason to feel vulnerable. What’s your best tip for ensuring data security in the cloud? Their best answers are below: 1. Use two-factor authentication Using two-factor authentication and, where unique, cycled temporary passwords are… This story continues at The Next Web


text:
Residents are bracing for the worst, wondering whether measures taken so far are enough to keep devastation of the Queens community at bay.
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
JANUARY 29, 2014
NYS DOS ID#
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
2014 - ALEX MAGIC ELECTRONICS INC.
AROUND THE WEB
- Could the Rockaways Survive Another Sandy?
By LUIS FERRÉ-SADURNÍ - Thursday Jul 13, 2017
- Electronic Arts Earnings: What to Watch
Thursday Jul 27, 2017
Electronic Arts Inc. reports earnings for its fiscal first quarter after the close of trading Thursday. Here’s what to watch.
- J.P. Morgan Removes NBC News Ads Over Megyn Kelly Interview With Alex Jones
Tuesday Jun 13, 2017
NBC anchor Megyn Kelly’s plan to air an interview with right-wing provocateur Alex Jones has caused a firestorm to erupt on social media, but so far advertisers have remained quiet—with at least one notable exception.
- Rockaway ferry stranding commuters on the dock
Wednesday Jul 26, 2017
To the Editor:Since its launch, the 2017 Rockaway ferry has been a huge success as far as ridership numbers (even more than I expected) but that is clearly still no excuse for leaving commuters at...
To view the full story, click the title link.
- How Apple vs. Samsung Became a Smartphone Beauty Contest
Monday Jul 17, 2017
As Apple Inc.’s 10th anniversary iPhone approaches, Samsung Electronics Co.’s new Galaxy S8, with a curvaceous display screen, is raising the design stakes.


text:
Tencent Invests in China Cab Booking App to Tap Mobile UsersLulu Yilun Chen
Tencent Holdings Ltd., Asia’s largest Internet company, invested in Chinese cab reservation app Didi Taxi as part of plans to promote its payment service to users accessing the Web through mobile devices.
Tencent was one of the investors for Didi Taxi’s $100 million fundraising effort, Jerry Huang, a director of investor relations at Tencent in Shenzhen, said in an e-mail yesterday.
Didi Taxi, created by Beijing Xiaoju Keji Didi Dache Co., worked with 350,000 taxi drivers in 32 cities and had 22 million users that generated 350,000 daily bookings by December, the company said in an e-mail yesterday. Users of Tencent’s instant-messaging app Wechat -- known as Weixin in Chinese -- in mainland China can pay for Didi Taxi bookings using the Weixin Payment service, Huang said.
“Tencent might see a lot of potential in the taxi booking market,” Yang Yang, a Beijing-based analyst at Internet consulting group IResearch, said by phone. “Tencent’s payment service could become the main tool for taxi payments in the future and this effectively promotes it.”
Tencent is seeking a bigger share of the mobile-services market by adding more games to WeChat. The company bought a stake in Activision Blizzard Inc. in July and invested in Korean messaging-app company Kakao Corp. in April 2012, according to its annual report.
Yesterday, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., owner of China’s biggest e-commerce business, said it will start a platform hosting mobile games, putting it in competition with Tencent.


text:
While many gamers put their finances in order in preparation for the launch of the PS4 on November 15th, a whole different set of gamers are still left waiting. We speak, of course, of those Xbox One fans that have been hoping that Microsoft might announce a release date sometime soon.
Although we don’t have an official release date for the Xbox One, we do have perhaps our best clue as to when the console might hit store shelves, and it comes courtesy of a promotional contest. It’s a contest that would gift an Xbox One console to a lucky fan every two minutes for several months.
As part of a forthcoming promotion with Pepsi, Microsoft has introduced a sweepstakes that will start on November 5th and run until January whereby gamers are eligible to win an Xbox One every two minutes. More intriguing about the sweepstakes — beyond the fact gamers can win a brand new next-gen console — is that the fine print mentions Microsoft plans to release the Xbox One in late November.
“Xbox One has targeted launch date of late November 2013. Therefore, the initial shipments may be slightly delayed; please allow 12-14 weeks for delivery.”
This might not come as a total shock, but if true this little snafu could point towards a November 22nd release for the Xbox One. We say that because it puts the Xbox One on store shelves before Black Friday and within close proximity to the PS4.
Earlier rumors had suggested the Xbox One might pre-empt the PS4 with a November 8th release, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. For example, the fine print on the Pepsi contest mentions the Xbox One will be in short supply at launch and that winners should expect to wait 12-14 weeks to receive their console. To me, that sounds like Microsoft would want to hold off until the last possible date before rolling the Xbox One out.
With that being said, this is just speculation with regards to the Xbox One release date. By this point Microsoft knows when the Xbox One will launch, we just don’t know when they plan on telling the public.
When do you think the Xbox One will hit store shelves in North America? Do you think the console will sell out at launch?
The Xbox One will be available for $499 this November.


text:
Well, that was fun! Let’s unbox some facts and findings from Prime Day 2019.
Follow along with us as we keep track of the latest search trends surround Prime Day, what the competitors are doing, how the site is performing, and how the consumers and press are reacting.
We take a look at Prime Days past as we prep for 2019.
Luxury brands won’t sell on Amazon.com, but the online retail behemoth may already be too big to ignore.
Sellwin attended Amazon’s 2019 re:MARS event, an acronym that stands for “Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics and Space Travel.”


text:
Multichannel shoppers are big spenders, report finds
09 May 2018 - 11:33 by Paul Tissington
Consumers who spread their stints of safe shopping online across several different devices tend to splash out greater amounts than those who stick to just one.
This is according to a new survey from CJ Affiliate, which revealed that on average a fan of multichannel retail will have a 23 per cent higher average rate of spending.
Smartphone shoppers tend to be even more prolific with their e-commerce, putting down 37 per cent more cash than is typically seen across the entire population.
Report spokesperson, Owen Hancock, said that retailers should not be worried about multichannel habits, but should instead do all they can to engage with customers who are willing to take a bit more time before committing to a purchase.
He said that people who shop online on more than one device are usually building up to buying a more valuable item, hence their caution. This means that it is just as important to court those who are conducting research prior to a sale as it is to get impulse buyers through to the checkout quickly.
Interestingly, in spite of the power that mobile devices now hold over the e-commerce market, most people still prefer to finalise any purchase via a desktop or laptop device.
Computers with bigger screens apparently hold a lot of importance to consumers, even if they begin searching for products from their smartphone.
Hancock said that it was necessary for retailers to be able to track customers across multiple devices in order to best cater to their needs and establish their shopping habits. This would let them work out if there are any issues that are being encountered along the way, putting them in a good position to improve the e-commerce expectance for everyone.


text:
A shadow has been cast over the local power retail market, in which there are 18 active companies, including Public Power Corporation. With a handful of exceptions, all are showing losses from the supply side, including PPC, which holds an 82 percent share.
As concerns grow over possible corporate collapses, especially for smaller companies, the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) will conduct cost checks and has called on five retailers who appear to have not paid grid operator ADMIE and network manager DEDDIE the fees collected from consumers to appear at a hearing at the end of the week.
It is hardly a market secret that the concentration process has started, as many small companies are seeking a lifeline from the bigger players.
Sources say Protergia was close to a deal for buying out a small firm but it was not completed. Motor Oil, which is looking for a way into the power market, has according to sources been negotiating with small electricity companies. Minor market players have also eyed cooperation with more consolidated companies such as Heron and Elpedison.
Rumors, meanwhile, abound that at least two smaller companies are on the brink of collapsing, which would trigger a domino of bankruptcies prompted by insecure consumers taking their business away.


text:
Major high street retailer Paperchase is reportedly lining up administrators, with four Glasgow branches at risk.
It comes after the company was put up for sale just four months after a change of ownership, with the search for buyers continuing amid an uncertain retail landscape. The high street giants boasts around 100 stores UK wide, with 11 in Scotland - four of which are situated in Glasgow, with outlets on Buchanan Street, Byres Road, and at Braehead and Silverburn shopping centres.
Bosses at the international stationery supplier are now seeking a deal to save the chain, according to reports,
A previous rescue deal allowed many stores to stay open, saving around 1,000 jobs. However, Paperchase has previously fallen into administration, with 90 of its 127 stores sold to new owner Aspen Phoenix NewCo back in April last year, with 37 shutting up shop for good at that time.
It remains uncertain whether or not stores in Glasgow will close, with all stores remaining open and continuing to take orders online as things stand.
The stationery supplier joins the list of businesses struggling in today's financial climate, with the likes of Topshop, Debenhams and more recently M&Co falling victim to the pandemic aftermath and ongoing difficult financial conditions.
Sign up to Glasgow Live's newsletter
Get all the latest Glasgow news and headlines sent straight to your inbox twice a day by signing up to our free newsletter.
The morning newsletter arrives every day before 9am and the evening newsletter, manually curated by the team, is sent between 4pm and 5pm, giving you a round up of the most important stories we've covered that day.
To sign up, visit this link.
Local restaurants have also struggled to stay afloat, with Glasgow's Tuk Tuk taking the decision to close on Tuesday (January 17).
A spokesperson for Paperchase said: "We confirm that we have retained BTG and PWC to advise Paperchase on strategic options, including the sale of the business as a going concern to new owners.
"Talks are continuing with a number of interested parties.
"All Paperchase stores and the website will continue to trade as normal during this period. We can’t comment further on this process until discussions with interested parties have been concluded."


text:
Samsung Refreshes Its Line of Isocell Camera Modules
Samsung today introduced a range of camera modules in its Isocell series of imaging sensors. Samsung's Isocell technology isolates individual pixels from one another with physical barriers. This prevents color crosstalk between neighboring pixels, increases light sensitivity, and improves color fidelity in all lighting conditions. The four new sensors target different use cases. For example, the Iscocell Bright sensor is meant to deliver sharpness and color in low light; Isocell Fast is meant to sharply focus on moving objects; Isocell Slim targets the thinnest smartphones; and Isocell Dual sensors can be mixed and matched with other sensors to create unique camera experiences. Samsung didn't specify when these camera sensor groups will reach consumer devices.
Samsung Shrinks Latest Isocell Camera Sensors
Samsung this week announced two new Isocell image sensors for smartphones and IoT devices. The first is the Isocell Fast 2L9 with Dual Pixel technology, a 12-megapixel sensor with pixels that measure 1.28-micrometers (μm).
Samsung Reveals New Exynos 9 Processor and Camera Sensor
Samsung updated its Exynos 9 Series processor and also debuted a fresh camera sensor for smartphones. The Exynos 9 Series 9810 is a flagship-class application processor built on Samsung's second-generation 10nm FinFET process.
Huawei's P20 Series Boasts Gradient Paint and Advanced Cameras
Huawei today introduced the P20 and P20 Pro at an event in Paris. The new phones, direct competitors to Apple's iPhone, are high-end devices that include unique colors, powerful processors, and the newest camera technology.
Sony's Latest Camera Sensor Captures 1000fps Super Slow-Mo
Sony today announced a new camera sensor for smartphones that will make it possible top capture incredible slow-motion video. The dual-layer CMOS sensor includes 1 GB of DRAM, which Sony says allows the sensor to capture and read images much faster.
Qualcomm's New Fingerprint Sensors Work Under Water and Through Metal
Qualcomm today announced its next-generation fingerprint sensors for displays, metal, and glass. Qualcomm says it created the new sensors for today's demanding mobile designs, which are moving towards bezel-less, glass-and-metal hardware.


text:
Island MP on trade mission to convince countries to buy products ‘we have and they need’
CBC News Posted: Feb 23, 2017 8:00 PM ATLast Updated: Feb 23, 2017 8:00 PM AT
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay is heading out on a two-week trade mission to Vietnam and India on Friday.
The Island MP says Canada does more than $1.25 billion a year worth of trade with India and about $260 million with Vietnam.
MacAulay and a delegation of industry officials plan to meet with their counterparts in India and Vietnam.
‘We have a lot of fish, agricultural products like beef, potatoes, blueberries. All this stuff is something that we have and they need.’– Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay
“We must continue to expand in the eastern Pacific area because that is where the demand is,” MacAulay said.
“We have a lot of fish, agricultural products like beef, potatoes, blueberries. All this stuff is something that we have and they need and it’s to convince them to buy it from us is what I’m trying to do.”
- MORE P.E.I. NEWS | New minimum wage ‘very expensive’ for small business
- MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Co-op in Wellington, P.E.I., to begin selling booze
With files from Krystalle Ramlakhan


text:
MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT » OMNICHANNEL
OmnichannelMar 08, 2016 2:30 PM By Rob Gonzalez
Omnichannel enjoyed buzz-worthy status in 2015, but that was just the beginning. This will be the year that omnichannel becomes “omni-essential,” driven by the increasing need to meet customers when, where and how they shop. Here are 3 reasons why this phenomenon is taking place.
OmnichannelMar 04, 2016 1:59 PM By Zeke Hamdani
In a market where your most valuable customers are omnichannel, how integrated is your membership program? Here are some tips that will make your customers be happy members of your brand.
OmnichannelMar 04, 2016 1:39 PM By Maria Pergolino
We are in the middle of rapid change; accelerating business, ubiquitous information, digitalization of our tools, and evolving relationships both inside and out of our company. Here are some tips to help drive sales for your business.
OmnichannelMar 04, 2016 9:05 AM By MCM Staff
Between posting 98% growth in Q4 direct sales, plans for Canadian and European expansion and a new analytics-driven catalog, Wayfair had a pretty good week. The company also announced plans to open its fourth customer service center in Bryan, TX. See what other news and events transpired this week in the world of direct-to-customer retail and ecommerce.
OmnichannelMar 01, 2016 12:12 PM By Steven La Schiazza
A cross-functional approach is key to a successful omnichannel strategy, enabling a seamless customer experience that can drives sales and profits. Merchandising, logistics, marketing and planning departments all play a key role in the assortment, pricing and promotions that influence the outcome. Without across-the-board participation, your efforts can fall flat. Here are 6 steps to a more effective omnichannel strategy.
OmnichannelMar 01, 2016 10:34 AM By Mike O'Brien
J.C. Penney posted strong Q4 and 2015 numbers, citing omnichannel tactics as a big part of its continuing turnaround, in a period when competitors stumbled. The return of popular private-label brands and the recent addition of appliances by customer demand are evidence that the company has been responsive to what shoppers want. Learn more about the retailer’s recent performance.
OmnichannelFeb 25, 2016 4:02 PM By Louisa Rupp
This year, retailers are putting a stake in the ground by creating continuous shopping experiences, whether the checkout lane is a couch or store aisle. Here are four trends retailers should look out for in 2016.
OmnichannelFeb 25, 2016 2:45 PM By MCM Staff
UPS took a big leap this week by investing in crowdsourced startup Deliv, getting a seat on its board and a front-row seat on its operating model. Stay tuned to see how the carrier is able to leverage this relationship to better understand and take advantage of the burgeoning sector of the on-demand economy.
OmnichannelFeb 22, 2016 11:15 AM By Mike O'Brien
Nordstrom told analysts its ecommerce sales and omnichannel operations are performing well, but acknowledged the gains are coming at a significant cost. See where the costs are hitting, and some of the steps the company is taking to address them and recover losses in profitability.
OmnichannelFeb 16, 2016 7:24 AM By Darren Hill
A great mobile experience is just one part of the customer-centric strategy that the smartest brands are using every day. The customer, after all, is the driving force behind all of the great holiday numbers we’ve seen. Here are some key customer experience issues that will keep customers coming back to your site on any channel.


text:
Totallee iPhone 14 MagSafe cases have arrived. For those unfamiliar, Totallee is a brand best known for its minimalist iPhone cases and is putting its latest design up for pre-order today. The initial collection of clear and color cases launched shortly after Apple’s latest handsets hit the scene in early September, but the new MagSafe Solid Black and Frosted Clear models have now arrived. Head below for a closer look.
New Totallee iPhone 14 MagSafe cases
Totallee has been a mainstay in our annual roundup of the best iPhone cases, with its 14 series models landing in this year’s collection once again. Its clear model was our pick of the best of its kind in 2021 for iPhone 13 and is on its way (especially the soft edition) to the top of our list in 2022.
The brand delivers completely branding- and logo-free designs – something I can particularly appreciate as someone who despises when a brand’s ugly insignia is plastered all over the exterior of my gorgeous iPhone each year. There are some exceptions here, but Totallee chooses to steer clear of having any negative effect on the vibe of Apple’s design, or at least as much as possible. That sentiment also carries over to the barely-there approach here – they are not particularly protective outside of some scratch resistance, leaving the form factor and feel of the handset about as intact as possible.
And these design treatments also carry over to the new Totallee iPhone 14 MagSafe cases as well. Previously available in clear and color options, the brand has now added a third SKU with a built-in magnet array to deliver a solid connection – if they are anything like last year’s anyway – to the plethora of MagSafe chargers, wallets, and other add-ons.
Now available in a Solid Black or Frosted Clear colorway, the new Totallee iPhone 14 MagSafe cases are now available for pre-order at $49 shipped via its official website. They are scheduled to begin shipping at the end of the month on October 31, 2022, and don’t appear to have landed on Amazon just yet.
In the meantime, browse through our roundup of the best iPhone 14 cases right here and head over to our hands-on review of the already available Totallee models from this year as part of our Tested with 9to5Toys series.
FTC: 9to5Toys is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links


text:
Miami-Dade County’s two largest economic engines — Miami International Airport and PortMiami — had a record year in 2015.
No. 1 in the United States for international freight, MIA handled 84 percent of all air imports and 81 percent of all exports from the Latin American and Caribbean regions. It has an economic impact of $32.8 billion and generates about 272,400 jobs to our economy a year.
PortMiami last year welcomed 4.9 million passengers to the Cruise Capital of the World. Approximately 20,000 vehicles travel to and from PortMiami on any given day; freight and truck traffic make up about 28 percent. A viable transportation system in Miami-Dade is critical for the freight industry to continue to thrive.
In recent years, transportation has been at the forefront of a community discussion about ways to reduce traffic congestion. Part of that dialogue has been the use of tolled expressways. The freight industry and its commercial drivers, many of whom are small business owners, rely on tolled expressways like State Roads 836, 112 and 924 to move goods. Without these expressways our industry would be crippled.
Through a series of meetings, in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and local partners, including Seaboard Marine, Salom Transportation, PRO Transportation and Quality Container Transportation, we were able to develop the MDX Multi-Axle Discount Program. Launched in December 2014, it capped the SunPass rate for multi-axle vehicles at the rate for three-axle vehicles.
This cap resulted in lower tolls for our industry, making it possible for truckers to make more trips and stay off of surface streets, which results in safer, less-congested neighborhoods.
I thank MDX for its partnership in helping our industry to continue to thrive.
Jorge Rovirosa, owner,
Florida Stevedoring, Miami


text:
Although FASA’s recent survey, sponsored by Sanlam, shows that entrepreneurs with new franchise concepts grew from 843 to 865 and opening 3 181 outlets in the past year, the entrepreneurial environment has become more difficult.
Seed Academy undertook the study of more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and found that the key challenges they faced included the inability to raise funds, finding customers, wearing too many hats followed by lack of guidance, slow sales, customers paying late and the unpredictability of business conditions across the country.
Accessing funding remains the biggest concern and challenge for entrepreneurs, with most of them largely self-funding and not applying for funding because they don’t know where or how.
“We see small progress in terms of business survival rates, revenue increases and more women entrepreneurs but what we really need is for stakeholders in the ecosystem to pull together and make major trajectory changes that support all entrepreneurs from seed through to scale-up stages,” Seed Academy CEO Donna Rachelson said.
“We still don’t have the basics right: early stage funding and high impact business support throughout the entrepreneurial journey.”
Typical entrepreneurs in South Africa are mostly educated; have prior work experience; vary in age and are driven to entrepreneurship through seizing opportunities rather than necessity.
The number of women entrepreneurs continues to grow slowly but the opportunities are mostly for men and youth owned businesses.
On average, South African entrepreneurs are employing between two and four people, the survey found.
It showed that only five percent of those surveyed had a turnover of greater than R5 million, while 22 percent had revenue of less than R10,000 per year and the majority, or 26 percent, had revenue between R50,000 and R100,000 per year. Seed Academy has undertaken the survey for four years and says it is South Africa’s largest and most referenced such entrepreneur report.
Source: African News Agency (ANA) or visit www.seedacademy.co.za


text:
On Black Friday, workers, activists, and citizens and unions, including the UNI Global Union and the IFJ, are joining together to #MakeAmazonPay its workers fairly, pay for its impact on the environment and pay its taxes.
In the same vein, the IFJ has repeatedly called on all governments to start negotiations with tech giants so-called GAFAM - Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft - to collect a tax on income generated in their national territory. This campaign is being followed by several countries in the world, such as Brazil, where the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) is proposing a new tax on digital platforms and the creation of a Fund to Support and Promote Journalism and Journalists.
It should be remembered that these companies do not pay any tax in most countries where they collect revenue, which is estimated at $900 billion worldwide. In turn, taxing this income at 6% would mean the injection of up to $54 billion into global journalism.
In view of what this amount could represent, the IFJ calls for these funds to be jointly managed by representative unions of journalists and media workers and national employers' organisations, in order to give them a fair share and an appropriate use compatible with the work of defending press rights and freedom worldwide.
In the case of Amazon, UNI Global Union called on Amazon workers to take a picture with the #MakeAmazonPay poster or banner in front of an identifiable Amazon building. Those photos should be posted from their union's social media accounts on Twitter and with the hashtag #Makeamazonpay.
"During the pandemic, we have seen Amazon grow into a trillion dollar corporation and Bezos become the first person in history to amass $200 billion in personal wealth. Meanwhile, as Amazon warehouse workers risk their lives on low pay, the giant's carbon footprint has grown larger than two thirds of all countries in the world, and it pays close to 0% corporation tax", UniGlobal claimed.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Companies like Amazon, Google or Facebook are virtually not paying taxes in most of the countries they operate in. While workers around the world pay their taxes, it's time for GAFAM to do the same. The "free-ride" time needs to come to an end."


text:
Microsoft-owned digital ad agency Avenue A/Razorfish is attempting to expand beyond creating online advertising for corporate clients. It wants to advise them on media strategy as well.
The company says it's launching a media and entertainment consulting practice with 200 staffers in New York, L.A. and San Francisco in a bid to broaden their client roster and increase billings from current clients.
Online marketing services -- that is, building Web sites for corporate clients -- is still a growth area and benefiting from the shift of dollars from traditional advertising. That's one factor behind IPG's investment in Huge, announced Wednesday. Avenue A/Razorfish will focus on print/publishing and TV clients; it already counts Conde Nast, CNN, The New York Times, CBS Radio, and Sirius XM Radio as clients.
The broader question for Avenue A/Razorfish is how long it remains a unit of Microsoft (MSFT). The company was swallowed up by Redmond as part of the $6 billion aQuantive deal last year, but it's an odd fit given it must maintain the image of neutrality as it seeks business from Microsoft's rivals.
Avenue A/Razorfish: 2007 Billings Up 36%
What Ad Recession? Ad Giant Interpublic Group Beats Estimates, Keeps Guidance


text:
Unravelling textile waste in N.S.
Experts weigh in on why our landfills are full of fabric — and how to fix it
By Heather Laura Clarke
There’s a misconception that if your old clothes have picks, holes, stains, or rips, they’re not fit to donate — which means far too much clothing is winding up in the garbage.
According to Divert NS’s 2017 waste audit, textiles make up an astonishing 9.2 per cent of the waste ending up in our landfills.
That’s why the Association for Textile Recycling (AFTeR) is working to address the misleading perception that clothing must be “gently used” in order to be donated.
Catherine Stevens is the Executive Director of AFTeR. The not-for-profit is comprised of six member organizations that collect used clothing to fund social causes — Big Brothers Big Sisters, Diabetes Canada, LML Trading, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Atlantic), Salvation Army Thrift Store, and Value Village — and is actively looking to increase their membership.
“AFTeR and our partners have created more than 600 jobs here in the province while working to keep textiles out of landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Stevens.
She explains the plan is for AFTeR to grow textile diversion and recycling in Nova Scotia because “there’s value here — business value and employment value.” The first step, however, is getting the public on board with reducing textile waste.
“Globally, we’re consuming way more textiles than we ever used to — and part of that is fast fashion and cheap production,” says Stevens. “It’s critical for people to think more carefully about how they use textiles and how they dispose of them.”
In big cities, Stevens says it’s not uncommon for people to throw out a brand-new item of clothing after wearing it just two or three times. Once it’s in the waste stream, it can’t be saved. But even the shabbiest clothing can often be “down-cycled” into rags, and there’s a plant in the U.S. that turns old jeans into insulation.
While there are organizations in the province that already recycle textiles, most focus on residential textiles, many believe there needs to be more collaboration between all levels of government, institutions, commercial businesses, and textile recyclers.
Divert NS regularly funds research projects that focus on waste diversion, so Dalhousie University student Emily Bibeau prepared a 66-page report on textile waste from industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) sources in Halifax as part of her BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science and Environment, Sustainability, and Society.
Bibeau’s study, Characterizing ICI Textile Waste In Halifax, Nova Scotia, found “an absence of industry, municipal, and provincial involvement” in ICI textile diversion efforts. She concluded that there are practical solutions which would have “immediate benefits in significantly reducing the amount of textiles going to landfill in Nova Scotia,” like expanding local markets for used textiles and enhancing textile education initiatives aimed at both the residential and ICI sector.
Bob Kenney, Recycling Development Officer with Nova Scotia Environment (NSE), encourages people to donate their textiles directly to charitable organizations if possible, because it costs municipalities to collect and dispose of them. There are more than 400 donation bins at stores, gas stations, malls, pharmacies, and Enviro-Depots across Nova Scotia.
“A lot of people think ‘I wouldn’t want to give it to charity because it’s not something anyone would want to wear,’ but that’s only one possibility for it,” says Kenney. “It could be sent overseas and sold as affordable clothing for people who need it. It could recycled into a new garment or turned into rags. It could be processed back into fibres and turned into paper, yarn, or insulation.”
As long as the textiles aren’t filthy, wet, mouldy, or soiled with something nasty (grease, oil, blood, or hazardous materials), they’re just fine to donate.
Some regions in Nova Scotia, like Colchester County, accept dry textiles during curbside recycling collection. But Nova Scotians generate more than 37,000 tonnes of recyclable textiles every year, yet only about 7,000 tonnes (19 per cent) of them are actually reused or recycled.
Even donated textiles don’t always wind up being saved from the trash. Sometimes charities and second-hand clothing stores receive so many donations that they can’t handle them all, so they pay a fee to dump them in a landfill.
But the problem isn’t limited to clothing and household textiles. The textile industry is known for being one of the world’s dirtiest, between the toxic chemicals and dyes used in production and the energy and water used to create them.
Textile production worldwide emits more than 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, and that’s projected to increase by more than 60 per cent by 2030 if nothing improves.
The industry's negative environmental impact doesn’t end once the textiles are made and sold. More than half of all textiles winding up in the province’s solid waste stream are coming from industrial, commercial, and institutional sources.
Mike Lee, Director of Operations at Stanfield’s, says textile waste is an unavoidable part of the garment business. At their manufacturing facility in Truro, he estimates they generate 1 tonne every week.
“We take steps every day to reduce it, but when you’re cutting out pattern pieces it’s impossible to get 100 per cent utilization from that fabric,” says Lee.
He says Stanfield’s is always looking for a way to repurpose their scraps, whether it’s to add heft to an archery target or provide craft materials for adult education centres. He would like to see more resources put towards recycling textiles to keep those scraps out of the landfill.
There’s also an artful path for many used residential textiles. Stevens hopes AFTeR can build relationships with artisans in Nova Scotia who create things from recycled textiles — like turning old sweaters into mittens and baby booties, wool coats into hooked rugs, leather shoes into sculptures, or cotton scraps into baskets and quilts.
“It’s important that we all support each other and work towards creating cleaner environments and healthier communities,” says Stevens.


text:
Target will be the first retailer to sell Facebook Credits in its stores come Sunday. The Facebook Credits gift cards will be available in $15, $25 and $50 denominations at all 1,750 Target locations and at Target.com.
The cards will soon make their way to two or three additional national retailers, according to USA Today.
Facebook Credits is a virtual currency redeemable for primarily in-game Facebook purchases. In Farmville, for instance, gamers can use Facebook Credits as a currency, in lieu of credit cards, to purchase additional items for their farms. 7-11 also sells gift cards specifically for FarmVille.
Facebook Credits gift cards package the virtual currency in consumer-friendly entities, which Facebook hopes will appeal to holiday shoppers. The gift cards are visually no different than the variety sold in stores today, and were produced by GMG Entertainment, the same company that makes Apple's iTunes cards.
Social gaming is a relatively new industry with huge potential. More than 56 million Americans are now playing social games. By 2013, annual sales from virtual goods are expected to reach $6 billion. Facebook's foray into brick-and-mortar retail stores is a significant move that will help the company capitalize on social gaming.
Image courtesy of USA Today


text:
German car sales down in January
- From: AAP
- February 05, 2013
NEW car registrations in Germany, a key measure of demand in one of the most crucial sectors of Europe's top economy, fell sharply in January, official data showed on Monday.
Some 192,100 new cars were registered in January, a slump of 9.0 per cent compared with the same month a year earlier, the VDA car industry calculated.
Export sales of German-made cars were down as well, falling by 8.0 per cent to 310,700 units in January.
In terms of output, the number of cars rolling off the production line fell by 11 per cent to 394,300, VDA added.
THE attacker who allegedly attempted to behead an off-duty soldier has been identified as British-born Michael "Mujihad" Adeboloja.
HOLDEN says it still plans to build cars until at least 2022 but warns "swift action" is needed to ensure the Australian auto industry remains viable.
BUDGET airline Jetstar is launching a daily service between Adelaide and Darwin, adding an extra 1080 seats a week between the cities.
ADELAIDE restaurants with footpath dining are using powers they do not have to stop the non-paying public from sitting down.


text:
'Ford considering selling stake in Ford Credit'
Frankfurt, Aug 28: Ford Motor Co is considering selling a ''significant stake'' in its Ford Credit financing arm as part of a sweeping restructuring at the second-biggest U.S. carmaker, the Detroit News reported.
Citing sources familiar with the discussions, the paper in Ford's home town said on its Web site that the potential deal was one reason Robert Rubin stepped down from Ford's board of directors last week.
Rubin, a former U.S. Treasury secretary, is also a senior official at Citigroup, whose close relationship with Ford could pose a potential conflict of interest should the carmaker make large strategic moves to turn itself around, he has said.
Ford has said in the past it did not intend to sell a stake in lucrative Ford Credit, but of late has said all options are on the table.
''While an option, a deal involving Ford Credit isn't Ford's primary focus as it concentrates on operational issues in the wake of losses and declining market share,'' the paper said.
Rival General Motors sold a majority stake in its financial arm in April to raise money and to help boost credit ratings at the lending business, which would reduce its borrowing costs.
A Ford Europe spokesman in Germany had no comment.
Ford is also exploring the sale of brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover and is weighing whether the company should form an alliance with another automaker or even take the company private.


text:
Target has announced that it will start to issue chip-and-PIN cards early next year. The reason for the upgrade is to improve the security of its debit and credit cards. This change comes on the heels of the retailer’s recent data breach, which affected as many as 70 million customers.
Target says it plans to replace its entire REDcard portfolio, in addition to all Target-branded debit and credit cards. These cards will be swapped out with cards that have a computer chip and require the cardholder to enter their personal PIN. This will all be made possible with MasterCard’s chip-and-PIN solution. As a result, Target will become one of the first retailers in the U.S. to adopt this technology.
Says Target in a written statement:
“Earlier this year, Target announced an accelerated $100 million plan to move its REDcard portfolio to chip-and-PIN-enabled technology and to install supporting software and next-generation payment devices in stores. The new payment terminals will be in all 1,797 U.S. stores by this September, six months ahead of schedule. In addition, by early next year, Target will enable all REDcards with chip-and-PIN technology and begin accepting payments from all chip-enabled cards in its stores.”
Furthermore, Target confirmed that the company has hired a new chief information officer to assist with the data security efforts. Bob DeRodes will oversee Target’s technology team and operations.


text:
Sunao Katabuchi, writer of Ace Combat 4 and 5, is making a return to the series as lead writer for Skies Unknown's single player campaign. There will also be multiplayer modes, but details are slim for them so far.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was first announced at the PlayStation Experience back in 2015. It doesn't have a firm release date, but is expected some time this year. It'll be the first Ace Combat game on the latest generation of consoles.
Matt Porter is a freelance writer based in London. Make sure to visit what he thinks is the best website in the world, but is actually just his Twitter page.


text:
“We broke ground on our new greenhouses in Amado, near Nogales, in Arizona,” Anthony Totta, director of business development for Wholesum Family Farms Inc., better known as Wholesum Harvest, in Nogales, AZ, told The Produce News. “We purchased land on the U.S. side to duplicate the glass greenhouse acreage of our Mexico farm. The Arizona facility will start with 12 acres in its first phase, with up to 60 acres planned through expansions in the future.”
Mr. Totta added that the company will be harvesting its first crop at the new Arizona greenhouse in the fall of 2012.
Wholesum Harvest indicated that the demand for organics continues to increase, and was increasing even during the worst of the economic downturn.
“Even without changes in prices, we are experiencing consumers moving to organics,” said Mr. Totta. “Certainly the rate of increase is affected by the price differential between organics and conventional produce leveling off, and as that happens we expect even more consumers to embrace organics. Our organic growth pattern has been at 20 percent every year for more than the past decade.”
He added that increases are on all of the company’s products, but that cherry and Roma tomatoes-on-the-vine are enjoyed particularly strong demand growth.
Wholesum Harvest is a third-generation family farm that has produced wholesome food for 80 years. The family pioneer, Miguel Crisantes Gatzionis, migrated from Greece to Mexico in the 1920s and started farming in Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1930. The company has handled organic items since 1990.
Its primary organic products are greenhouse grown tomatoes, peppers and seedless cucumbers. In its shadehouses Wholesum Harvest grows organic hard and soft squashes, hard squashes, bell peppers, cucumbers and eggplant. It also produces organic mangos.
Wholesum Harvest’s organic tomato line is comprised of Roma and cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine, cherry, grape and beefsteak tomatoes. It produces in Mexico, Arizona and in California. Its customers are small and large chain retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and industrial operations across North America, primarily in the United States.
“We are all about sustainable farming,” said Mr. Totta. “We use thermal blankets to keep the greenhouses warm at night, and we sterilize and recycle the water that we use. Our fertilizers are all natural. People in general are looking for healthy food, and that’s what we provide.”
Mr. Totta said that the trend of the consumer to buy more local organics helps Wholesum Harvest, as it does the entire organic industry.
“Success breeds success,” Mr. Totta said. “Local grown organic supply has many gaps at this point for retailers and foodservice operators. It is there, but spotty. We are collaborating with those producers in order to assist them in the cause.”
The company employs 350 people who work every day, and who represent about 90 families that are supported year round. The company supports its employees with childcare services and education.
Mr. Totta said that cool weather has affected the early season volumes.
“But in mid-January it was beginning to level off,” he said. “We have more produce coming in off our crops now.”
Chef Tony assists Wholesum Harvest in creating recipes that incorporate the company’s fresh produce. Mr. Totta said that the company’s web site, www.wholesumharvest.com, now provides many fantastic recipes.


text:
Ford EcoSport S, Signature Edition launched, Get price, Features & Specification: Well, reports are coming that Ford India has announced the expansion EcoSport model lineup with a new top-of-the-line EcoSport S and Signature Edition. Sources are saying that the company has launched new top-spec trim with its globally acclaimed 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine which is going to deliver class-leading 125PS of peak power and 170Nm of torque and it is available in the previous-generation EcoSport as well.
Ford EcoSport S Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 11.37 Lakh
Even the company is offering it with an introductory price of Rs 11.37 lakh for the petrol and Rs 11.89 lakh for the 1.5-litre Dragon powered diesel version. You all can get limited duration Signature Edition which is also available as an option pack on the EcoSport’s Titanium variant, priced at Rs 10.40 lakh for the petrol and Rs 10.99 lakh for the diesel option. Also, the reports are saying that both the powertrains are similar to the standard model of the compact SUV.
Overall, Anurag Mehrotra, president and managing director at Ford India said that “In line with our Feels like Family Promise, we are committed to meeting diverse needs of our customers and act on their feedback. The addition of Sunroof, a feature that customers have been demanding, and world-renowned EcoBoost engine technology, is an example of our commitment.”
Now if we talk about the look then we can say that EcoSport S variant also receives smoked HID (High-Intensity Discharge) headlamps with dark inserts and a more prominent black treatment to the fog lamp bezel. Even the dark theme has been carried all through the exterior design with a blacked out grille, black painted roof and roof rails, and 17-inch smoke alloys. Also, it has 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine further promise of being extremely efficient — claiming a fuel economy of 18.1kmpl and 12 percent lower CO2 emissions.


text:
The first edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science South African National Programme, highlights L'Oréal’s strong commitment to South African female scientists.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a $1.1 billion lending programme to help women entrepreneurs on the continent.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has opened an office in Angola to deepen its support for private sector development and economic diversification the country.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (the dti) has welcomed Procter & Gamble’s R300 million investment in a new Always sanitary pads manufacturing plant which has created 300 jobs in South Africa.
AfricaCom 2019 has a strong focus on building gender parity in the technology and telecoms industries this year, with a number of initiatives that will be launched.
Microsoft through the Cloud and AI Security Engineering team has reiterated its commitment to advocate for women with an interest in security engineering through the SheHacks annual HackFest Festival.
[South Africa] Kaizer Chiefs partners with PinkCodrs Africa to train young women into developers and data scientists
Kaizer Chiefs and PinkCodrs Africa have started a partnership that seeks to develop young women into fully fledged data scientists and developers.
In Malambo village, Ngorongoro district, the lush forests and livestock that once flourished and the rivers that flowed year-long are now a distant memory.
The European Union (EU) is providing €9.5 million in humanitarian funding to the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan to provide food and nutrition support.
IFAD has opened a regional office in Cairo to serve as a strategic rural development center for its work to reduce poverty, empower women and youth, and create employment opportunities in seven countries across the region.
African Development Bank announces new accountability index to measure institutional lending to women
The African Development Bank president said that a new tool to track the level of lending to women across the continent will be important for ensuring women get the critical financial help they need.
Rwanda’s Clarisse and Patricia from Côte d'Ivoire named among world seven top advocates for women in tech, e-commerce
The tech and e-commerce industry remains a male-dominated playing field globally, but a surge in women demanding a seat at the table – and delivering the goods online – means that this could change.
About 30,900 rural people in the Kingdom of Eswatini will benefit from a new US$38.5 million project that aims to improve the prosperity and resilience of poor and vulnerable smallholder farmers and micro-entrepreneurs in the country.
Atlas Mara announced that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has entered into an agreement to provide $200 million in financing for Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) to support inclusive lending across Nigeria.
UN Women has hosted an interactive data lab to showcase the new Women Count Data Hub, the first of its kind to provide public access to gender data that can be used to monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
United States Consulate General in Lagos has launched the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a State Department-led initiative that supports women entrepreneurs around the world.
In spite of a slight improvement in the food security situation since June 2019, more than half the population of South Sudan, some 6.35 million people, do not know where their next meal will come from, three United Nations agencies warned.
Radwa Khairy has over a decade's worth of experience in the Human Resources, Hospitality and Travels fields. In December 2018, she founded Talents Fit, a recruitment platform servicing human resourcing and employment needs in Egypt.
The search for Women in Technology is Back. The call for application for the Standard Chartered Women In Tech Incubator cohort lll is now open for Women led small and medium business leveraging in technology.
Huawei Kenya recently launched a women in technology initiative to support women in the IT workplaces through charitable ICT training programs to strike gender parity in what has been predominantly a male domain.
GCR Ratings is pleased to announce the appointment of Sylvia Chahonyo to drive its growth and expansion strategy across East Africa.
Kobo360 was launched in 2017 by entrepreneurs Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele II. Kagure Wamunyu is the current CEO, leading the company's expansion and growth in the African region.
In a bid to enhance investor protection and the fair treatment of customers, Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has cautioned the public against participating in any capital raising and public offer of shares offered by WIE.
Since 2014, over 96,000 women in northern Ghana saved USD $7.8 million – or about 42,659,747 cedis - and invested the money to improve the health, education, nutrition, and economic opportunities of their families.
Sixty young ‘Girls In ICT’ from different schools in the Western Region were hosted by telecom operator AirtelTigo through a mentorship event as part of activities outlined by the Ministry of Communications.
Palladium announces $40 million impact investment fund targeting small businesses in Sub Saharan Africa
Global consultancy firm Palladium has announced its first impact investment fund to bridge the financing gap for small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Government of Japan has contributed US$1 million to help prevent chronic malnutrition and support vulnerable families with pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under two years in Burundi.
South African business has a serious diversity problem - only 3.3% of listed companies have female CEOs and 85% of CEOs are white, despite an increase from 2018.
Zahira Bouaouda has been appointed President of MATIS Aerospace, a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Electrical & Power and Boeing, specialising in electrical wiring interconnection systems.
Volkswagen has partnered with the Lionesses of Africa organization to assist in developing their over 600 000 female entrepreneurs across 54 African countries.
When I envision AfCFTA, I see a continent where the cost of trade is cut by nearly 80 per cent. Having been in the importation business for over three years I will say that the one thing that eats up our profits the most was the importation taxes and duties.
Four women from Sub-Saharan Africa are among 20 female business leaders profiled in a publication by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, for their professional success, despite facing formidable challenges.
[Column] Anne Wambui Gaitha: African Trade Agreement key to Financial Services, Logistics, Tourism industries
I believe that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is a game changer in international trade and will be an amazing opportunity for African brands.
Nigerian Film and Entertainment Studio, ROK, was recently acquired by French media giant, CANAL+. Mary Njoku, the leader of ROK, talks to Africa Business Communities about the aquisition and what it means for the African entertainment industry.
[Senegal] GreeenTec Capital Partners signs deal with DER to tackle investment challenges for entrepreneurs
The Senegalese General Delegation for the Acceleration of Entrepreneurship for Women and Young People (DER),has signed a partnership agreement with GreenTec Capital Partners.
[South Africa] UK-SA Tech Hub, Future Females partnership delivers first 50 female tech entrepreneurs graduates
Earlier this year Future Females secured a partnership with the UK-SA Tech Hub, to support 50 South African, early-stage female tech entrepreneurs, to transform their ideas into businesses.
Tanzania needs to undertake important and urgent investments to accelerate progress in the health and education of its citizens, especially the youth, if the country is to improve its human capital for sustainable development.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union (EU) celebrated their five-year-long partnership in Egypt during which they have assisted more than 2.3 million people in collaboration with the Egyptian Government.
Boluwa Olojo joined the startup Go Ads Africa as its Chief Marketing and Sales officer, telling the company story and selling its products.
The French startup kwik has announced today that Olatowun Candide-Johnson, a Nigerian lawyer and businesswoman, has officially been appointed Chairwoman of its supervisory board.
MTN Group has appointed Yolanda Cuba as Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer. Yolanda will join the MTN Group Executive Committee reporting to the Group CEO Rob Shuter.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced a 200 million Zambian Kwacha (approximately $15 million) loan to Stanbic Bank Zambia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Bank Group.
[Nigeria] Access Bank partners She Leads Africa on Facebook Program for training female entrepreneurs
Access Bank, in partnership with She Leads Africa, has concluded the first phase of #SheMeansBusiness, a Facebook programme aimed at empowering female SMEs on how to leverage digital platforms to drive growth in their businesses.
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant of $47 million equivalent for Improving Results in Secondary Education (IRISE) project for Liberia.
Naspers has announced the appointment of Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa to the global Naspers management team as CEO, South Africa.
MumsVillage, a parenting website for expert advice and online community support in Kenya, announced the launch of the MumsVillageShop.
With the aim of reducing the financial inclusion gender gap in Kenya, Stanbic Bank has today launched a Value Proposition for women dubbed D.A.D.A. that will provide essential financial and non-financial services that Kenyan women need to grow.
Safaricom has been inducted as the 4th member of the highest governing body of the Unstereotype Alliance chaired by Phumzile Mlambo – Ngcuka, the UN Women Executive Director.
Rwanda Private Sector Federation receives $2.2 million from TMEA to support private sector and women entrepreneurs
TradeMark East Africa and Rwanda’sPrivate Sector Federation have announced a new public private sector dialogue for trade and investment programme and support to women entrepreneur’s programme.
The United Nations WFP welcomes a €3 million contribution from the Government of Austria in support of over 5,000 households in Chemba district, Sofala province in Mozambique, prioritising vulnerable children, adolescent girls and women.
Anne Wambui Gaitha is an investment and financial services professional. She founded Regal Africa in 2015. Located at Top Plaza, 4th floor, Kindaruma Road, Kilimani, Nairobi, the company provides diverse financial services in East Africa.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has announced $500,000 in funding and $100,000 in technical assistance to the Women's World Banking Asset Management (WAM) blended-finance fund.
Leading Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) along with the Mastercard Foundation announced that they are joining forces to sponsor the 2X Invest2Impact business competition in Africa.
Union Bank has partnered with MamaMoni Empowerment Foundation to set up an Innovation Hub for low-income women and girls from urban slum communities.
Merck Foundation, together with The First Lady of Liberia, H.E. Clar Weah, and Ministry of Health will launch new programs to build equitable healthcare capacity and break the infertility stigma in the country.
Wilhelmina Diop is investing her skills in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development into providing rural communities in Ethiopia with affordable access to power, through the startup company, HelloSolar.
Nestlé has unveiled a plan to spend an extra Sh23million to empower coffee growing households in Western and Central regions of Kenya in a renewed – Coffee by Women in Kenya.
Esther Asante is the founder and CEO of Organic Trade & Investments, a Ghana based online retail store selling organically produced commodities.
The Governing Committee of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) has approved a funding allocation of $61.8 million for the African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa program.
Kenya’s leading e-healthcare platform MYDAWA, has secured a $3M investment from Africa HealthCare Master Fund. This is the first round of external funding the company has received since its inception in 2017.
The World Bank and Egypt have yesterday signed an agreement to support the next generation of reforms in Egypt focused on promoting entrepreneurship and creating more job opportunities particularly for young people and women.
ECA and partners in innovative project to harness demographic dividend and gender equality in Africa
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and partners are implementing a project to harness potential of demographic dividend and gender equality in Africa and Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is joining forces with Ureed, a pioneering online platform providing linguistic services in the Middle East, to help increase economic and employment opportunities for women in Lebanon and Jordan.
Lower-paid workers in Mauritius are to some extent catching up to their higher-paid counterparts over time, according to Mauritius: Earnings Mobility and Inequality of Opportunity in the Labor Market, a new World Bank report.
The Economic Commission for Africa has launched the African Women Leadership Fund in Morocco on the sidelines of the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development.
I am a ‘feminist’.It’s a title that’s crept up on me over the last few years, as I’ve become increasingly impassioned about gender equality.
The Government of Japan has agreed to fund a $ 419, 682 project to improve livelihoods in Gabon through strengthened food security.
SAP Next-Gen has launched the local chapter of Women in Data Science, an initiative that seeks to educate female data scientists and encourage them to enter the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
The Acting President and CEO of OPIC, the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced the launch of OPIC’s 2X Africa initiative to support investment in women in Africa.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has launched the Finance2Equal Tanzania Initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation across businesses by reducing gender gaps.
[Kenya] UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation trains 100 women leaders in hospitality and tourism
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife have sponsored 100 Kenyan women to qualifying them for the hospitality and tourism sector.
IFC has entered into partnerships with Al Mansour, owner of prominent food retail chains in Egypt, to increase economic opportunities for women.
Women entrepreneurs working in agricultural processing in the Kigoma Region have seen a boost to their income and social position thanks to a programme led by Energy 4 Impact.
Kemi Ayinde is co-founder and CEO of Heathpoint, a company making healthcare, through the use of technology, widely accessible and affordable in Nigeria.
One hundred and sixty young women have begun a month-long coding class on two Nigerian campuses under a new programme to give African youth digital skills for the work force.
Faridah Afadameh is CEO of Ashfar Group, a pan African business enterprise with footprints in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.
Evidently, the novelty and productivity that women bring into a business is being lauded across the world for having a reverberating effect on all growing economies.
South African small business manufacturers in the cosmetics industry would do well in international markets and meet the high export demand as their products are of high quality and affordable, according to CECOSA Executive Director.
IFC is partnering with GSE and over 70 other stock exchanges around the world to “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality”, an initiative that will seek to promote increased women’s participation in the global economy.
[Kenya] TechnoServe, Moody’s Foundation partnership to equip 1,000 entrepreneurs with business skills
Development organization TechnoServe has announced a new partnership with Moody’s to empower entrepreneurs in the informal settlements of Nairobi.
Vibrant sustainable economies require the full inclusion and participation of all citizens and especially women, a joint statement by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) says.
René Stegmann is a South African entrepreneur experienced in the Mobility, Research and Immigration industries, and is currently the Director of Relocation Africa.
OPIC, the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, has committed $10 million to support the introduction of off-grid solar kits and appliances in Chad.
Sanlam has announced that it has agreed to the pricing of the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Transaction announced in October 2018.
As the world marks International Women’s Day it is time to take stock of our strides as Kenya, towards gender parity, especially in terms of women’s economic contribution.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Visa (NYSE: V) today reinforced its dedication to women empowerment with the launch of the first Visa Everywhere Initiative: Women’s Global Edition.
Gebeya, a Pan-African education technology and online job placement company together with IFC, through the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, signed a $500,000 agreement to implement the Digital Gender-Ethiopia Program.
Leading off-grid utilities provider Winch Energy, has appointed highly respected African energy expert Mrs. Olga Johnson as an Ambassador for Africa.
Eni Angola, representing Sonangol - Concessionaire and the partners of Block 15/06 - Sonangol P&P and SSI, signed a new donation contract with HALO Trust in support of the demining activity in the country.
Dr. Jill Sawers is an innovation, business and entrepreneurship development specialist that co-founded FEMTECH to roll out in Africa an experiential training programme for women entrepreneurs running technology-enabled businesses.
The African Export-Import Bank has upgraded its compliance function to a full department, naming long-serving banker Maureen Mba as Director.
Founded in 2007, Branding & Marketing YOU is headed up by Donna Rachelson - branding and marketing specialist, author of three best-selling books, successful businesswoman and savvy business investor.
Kirsty Chadwick, a citizen of New Zealand, puts to work her passion for education and the technology at her disposal to create innovative, cost effective and fully customised e-learning solutions.
IFC signed an agreement with Banque de l’Habitat to launch a pioneering project that will help the bank boost financial inclusion for women in Tunisia and launch a digital offering for its customers.
Kathryn Main is an advocate of financial literacy and believes it is a cornerstone of prosperity and security for any community. The author of 'Raising Money Savvy Kids', she runs her company in Johannesburg, South Africa, delivering financial education in a number of ways.
With a significant drop-out rate of girls from primary school to secondary school and college, one new initiative in Ghana aims to improve the country's innovation.
Esther Dumbiri put her talent with words and colors to good use by starting a publishing firm over a decade ago, a firm that has grown in leaps and bounds.
Hayat Essakkati is a Dutch/Moroccan entrepreneur and Director of Maroc4Invest, a company that secures foreign investors a smooth and efficient entry into the Moroccan market.
Year after year, the majority of senior executives in South Africa are men. In July last year, only one of the JSE’s Top 40 companies had a female CEO.
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group, has appointed Ms. Arunma Oteh to its Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director.


text:
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce on Thursday 12/06/2014 hosted 13 commercial representatives of a number of European Union countries to discuss ways of boosting bilateral relations especially in economy and investment in tourism, renewable energy and textile fields.
Ahmed al-Wakil, the head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and a number of businesspersons attended the meeting.
They called for holding periodic meetings to discuss ways to foster mutual relations.
The European Union adviser for economy and trade said that transitional phase in Egypt did not affect economic relations with the EU, adding that relations have increased in the past period.
In the meantime, Wakil hailed EU’s role in supporting transitional phase in Egypt during the last four years, pointing out that 60 percent of foreign investments in Egypt was from Europe.


text:
After General Motors (NYSE:GM) scaled down its partnership with Nikola (NASDAQ:NKLA) due to the controversy that hurt the latter automaker, Nikola has lost a bit of its credibility. Nonetheless, the longer-term outlook of NKLA stock is positive at this point.
There are multiple reasons behind my bullishness on the shares. First, as I’ve pointed out in prior columns, the outlook of the company’s core market remains positive. Meanwhile, Nikola continues to have very strong partnerships and there have been no indications that its completed vehicles are problematic in any way.
Further, NKLA stock has gotten much cheaper in the past several months.
A Positive Core Market and Strong Partnerships
Nikola’s core market is trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells. With many, if not most, companies in the West looking to become more green and the limits of battery-electric trucks, Nikola’s core market is poised to grow rapidly.
As I noted in my previous column on NKLA stock, the Street appears to have gotten much more upbeat on hydrogen in recent months, making me more bullish on the sector in general and the company’s shares in particular.
Meanwhile, in my June 10 column on Nikola, I reported that Nikola had established partnerships with multiple, large, reputable companies in the trucking sector, including “parts maker Wabco, which was recently acquired by giant German auto parts maker ZF; prominent truck leasing company Ryder (NYSE:R) and Bosch, another large vehicle parts maker.”
And although General Motors abandoned its plan to buy NKLA stock and manufacture its Badger pickup (which Nikola consequently abandoned), GM has still agreed to supply its fuel cells to Nikola.
These partnerships are important not only because they will improve the quality of Nikola’s vehicles and increase potential buyers’ confidence in them, but because the deals suggest that Nikola’s partners have a degree of faith in the automaker.
After all, even though the company’s partners are likely making money from the deals, they still have to spend time and funds on developing the alliances. As a result, I’m sure that they would rather partner with a hydrogen truck maker that looks poised to thrive and grow than one that will go out of business relatively quickly.
Therefore, I believe that these companies’ decision to partner with Nikola is a favorable sign for NKLA stock.
No Indications of Problems With Its Products
Nikola famously got in trouble for making a demonstration vehicle look like it was running on its own power when it wasn’t. And short seller Hindenburg accused the company of lying about other matters. But when it comes to vehicles that it’s made for customers’ use, there have been, as far as I can determine, no signs or allegations of serious problems.
So, yes, Nikola lied at least once, but as I pointed out previously, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has told at least one major fib. And no one can complain about the performance of Tesla stock. But importantly, nobody, to my knowledge, has identified serious issues with Nikola’s vehicles that are supposed to be used by its customers.
Valuation and the Bottom Line on NKLA Stock
After the shares’ slides over the last few months and in the wake of their Dec. 3 lockup expiration, they have a market capitalization of about $7 billion. Given all of Nikola’s positive catalysts, that’s actually a pretty good deal. (Take a look at, for example, Fisker (NYSE:FSR), which has many fewer positive catalysts and much more competition, yet has a market capitalization of $4.67 billion.)
As a result, I recommend that longer-term, risk-tolerant investors buy the shares at this point.
On the date of publication, Larry Ramer did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.
Larry Ramer has conducted research and written articles on U.S. stocks for 13 years. He has been employed by The Fly and Israel’s largest business newspaper, Globes. Larry began writing columns for InvestorPlace in 2015. Among his highly successful, contrarian picks have been GE, solar stocks, and Snap. You can reach him on StockTwits at @larryramer.