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SHANGHAI, Jul 28 - CITIC Securities pointed out that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China will focus on the development of intelligent manufacturing. Industrial robot is an important starting point for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. High-performance NdFeB permanent magnet materials with high reliability and stability are important for producing industrial robots, and the core material of the servo system. With the rapid development of the robot industry, the rare earth permanent magnet industry is expected to usher in a new growth era comparable to that of new energy vehicles. At the same time, the acceleration of the industrialisation of humanoid robots may further increase the demand for high-performance NdFeB. Therefore, the strategic allocation value of the entire rare earth industry chain is with great potential.
Encouraged by policies and driven by intelligence, the development of industrial robots has entered the fast development track.
Industrial robot is an important starting point for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, and relating research and development, manufacturing, and application have become an important indicator to measure the level of the country's high-end manufacturing industry. In recent years, China has issued a number of relevant policies to promote the healthy development of the industrial robot industry. The "14th Five-Year Plan" Robot Industry Development Plan proposes to promote welding robots, vacuum (clean) robots, logistics robots, collaborative robots, mobile operation robots, etc., and the industrial robot sector is expected to enter the fast track of development.
High-performance NdFeB is the core material of industrial robot servo system.
The high-performance NdFeB permanent magnet material with high reliability and stability is the core material for constructing the servo system of industrial robots, which enables the core components to achieve small size, light weight, quick response, and strong short-term overload capability. A servo system is a feedback control system used to accurately follow or reproduce a process. According to OFweek, in 2020, servo motors, precision reducers and controllers will account for 25%, 35%, and 10% of the cost respectively, with servo motors ranking second in the cost breakdown. With the rapid development of the industrial robot industry, the demand for high-performance NdFeB is expected to gain solid support.
Tesla's entry is expected to be a milestone in the development of the robotics industry.
According to the data released by Tesla AIDAY, the humanoid robot Optimus is scheduled to be launched on September 30 this year. Its height is 1.72m, weight 57kg, load 20kg (5kg is added to the arm), and action speed up to 8 km/h. Tesla, with its deep technical accumulation, engineering integration capabilities and strong market appeal, is expected to accelerate the development of the humanoid robot industry chain. It is estimated that the high-performance NdFeB required by a single humanoid robot will be 4kg/unit. Assuming that the annual output reaches 5 million units by 2025, the demand for high-performance NdFeB materials will then amount to 20,000 mt.
The market size of high-performance NdFeB in the global robot industry may exceed 30 billion yuan by 2025.
If we assume that the price of high-performance NdFeB for robot servo motors is 500,000 yuan/mt, and the global robot industry demand for high-performance NdFeB will be 61,000 mt by 2025 in positive scenario, the global market size of high-performance NdFeB will reach 30.5 billion yuan. With the rapid development of the robot industry, the rare earth permanent magnet industry is expected to usher in a new growth era comparable to that of new energy vehicles.


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As the heat is establishing itself in a Stockholm and we’re dreaming of leaving the office for the beach and the ocean, all we can think about is airy clothes. Why are we still in jeans? Please take us out of our jeans.
Our current office obsession is the baby of model, actress and philanthropist Liya Kebede: the artisan-driven label Lemlem. We wouldn’t be surprised if you heard of it, it’s been around for more than a decade. It actually sprung from Kebede’s nonprofit, now called the Lemlem Foundation, established in Kebede’s birth city Addis Ababa in 2005 with the mission to help women artisans in Ethiopia thrive by connecting them to healthcare, education and pathways to jobs.
Two years later, the label Lemlem was launched with the mission of making sustainable clothes while at the same time keeping parts of Ethopian craft alive. Today, five percent of Lemlem’s direct sales, proceeds from special collaborations, and donations advance the foundation.
“The reason we’re in business is to have a social impact. This idea of empowering people, creating jobs, so we can break the cycle of poverty and help families thrive. That is sustainability to me,” Kebede told Whitewall earlier this spring. We couldn’t agree more.
Make it last x Circulose Jacket
With deadstock Circulose® fabric and local production by Fugeetex, Make it last launches its first product– a timeless jacket reminding of the real luxury of fashion.
The 3 Hottest Brands at Copenhagen Fashion Week
These three brands are shortlisted for the Zalando Sustainability Award.
Amason: ”We send files, emails and animals”
With the release of the first single from their upcoming album (and a virtual release party tonight), Swedish band Amason teams up with adidas and the new, more sustainable Stan Smith. The space of which the iconic shoe enters is one where the love of nature takes center stage. Make it last talks to the band about why they always end up with the animals.
Stan Smith, Forever
Always iconic. Now more sustainable. We’re proudly partnering up with adidas to show you the next generation of sustainable takes on the storied Stan Smith silhouette.

domain: news


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ATLANTA, July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo joined Feed the Children and Positive American Youth today to lend a hand to 800 Atlanta families in need, providing them with food, daily essentials, and fresh produce. The event took place at 2865 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW.
Together, Feed the Children and PepsiCo provided enough supplemental food and necessities to help support a family of four for up to a week:
- 25-lb. box of food
- 10-lb. box of necessities
- Box of AVON products
- 20-ct. Smart Mix
- 2-L Pepsi beverage
- 10-ct. Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars
- 13-oz. box Life Cereal
- 18-oz. standard Quaker Oats
- Tropicana Orange Juice
- Georgia Pacific 24-roll pack of toilet paper
- Fresh Produce donated by Walmart
"PepsiCo is excited to be partnering with Feed the Children for its fourth year of giving back and providing food and daily essentials to families in the Atlanta area," said Scott Closson, Frito-Lay Sales Zone Director, South Georgia.
The event is one of many Feed the Children has planned across the country, so that instead of worrying about having enough to eat, thousands of kids can just be kids this summer. In Atlanta alone, 25 percent of families live below the poverty line. Often, these children are unsure of where they will find their next meal.
"We call the U.S. the land of plenty, and for most of us, that's true. Yet, millions of boys and girls are going to bed hungry every night," said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children Interim CEO/President and COO. "By combining efforts today with PepsiCo and Positive American Youth, we are trying to put an end to that. These families are not only receiving food and necessities, but also the skills needed to break the cycle of poverty."
About Feed the Children
Since 1979, Feed the Children has grown into one of the largest U.S.-based charities. They are accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and have a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator. By banding together with their network of agencies to defeat hunger, Feed the Children distributed over $344 million in food, essentials, educational supplies, and medicine to over 10 million individuals in the United States and 18 other countries in fiscal year 2013. Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information.
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose—our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting, and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.


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Algorithms define Amazon, governing everything from what it displays on the home page to how it packs your parcel. But a new investigation suggests that its code isn’t necessarily working in the best interests of customers’ bank balances.
By studying 250 frequently purchased items, ProPublica figured out how the retailer recommends products for purchase. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they found that Amazon’s code places its own products, and those from Fulfilled by Amazon sellers, in what’s known as the Buy Box, a listing that pops up to offer a convenient purchase.
The ease of this clearly wins many people over: apparently the majority of shoppers buy the suggested item. But the cost difference between the algorithm-selected choice and the cheapest version available to buy elsewhere on the site was, on average, $7.88 for the 250 products, adding up to a 20 percent inflation across all the items.
When customers compare options using Amazon’s “price + shipping” listings, the site also omits delivery costs for its own products and those of Fulfilled by Amazon sellers. While that plays out just fine if you’re an Amazon Prime member or buy over $49 worth of goods, both of which secure free shipping on those items, others will notice later in the process that they have to pay for shipping. Include shipping for all the items, and the Amazon products slide down the rankings. Amazon tells ProPublica that its “vast selection, world-class customer service and fast, free delivery” are, along with price, important to its customers.
This isn’t the first time that Amazon has come under fire for its sales practices. Once upon a time, it toyed with dynamic pricing for DVDs, though it swiftly made a U-turn in the face of criticism. More recently, the rollout of its same-day delivery service sparked controversy when Prime members in poor and black neighborhoods were found to be getting left behind.
Predictably, Amazon didn’t provide ProbPublica with any details about how its algorithms work. In fact, we may never know—but our bank accounts might.
This startup wants to copy you into an embryo for organ harvesting
With plans to create realistic synthetic embryos, grown in jars, Renewal Bio is on a journey to the horizon of science and ethics.
VR is as good as psychedelics at helping people reach transcendence
On key metrics, a VR experience elicited a response indistinguishable from subjects who took medium doses of LSD or magic mushrooms.
This nanoparticle could be the key to a universal covid vaccine
Ending the covid pandemic might well require a vaccine that protects against any new strains. Researchers may have found a strategy that will work.
This artist is dominating AI-generated art. And he’s not happy about it.
Greg Rutkowski is a more popular prompt than Picasso.
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George, the digital banking platform developed by Erste Group Bank AG’s in-house fintech, has officially been launched in Slovakia today, building on its success in Austria and growing popularity in the Czech Republic.
George is already meeting the daily banking needs of approximately 2 million users across these markets: in Austria, George has already become the country’s most modern and popular banking platform, with nearly 1.5 million users (or more than every third online banking user in Austria) relying on it, while over 300,000 Czechs are handling their finances via George during its soft launch phase in the country.
Erste Group aims to introduce its unified digital banking platform in all of its seven markets (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia), thus making George the first pan-European banking platform that offers a full range of products and services across all platforms.
Our vision for George was clear from the very beginning: we didn’t want to create yet another internet banking, we didn’t want to simply retrofit old systems. George is an entirely new way of banking, one reimagined for our digital age. We built it as a platform from the ground-up and co-designed it with our customers – and this is what makes George a game-changer that millions of people want to use. We’re excited about bringing it to Slovakia, and very soon to all of our other countries and beyond,” said Peter Bosek, Chief Retail Officer of Erste Group.
Our customers have high expectations: banking with us should be as easy and intuitive as placing an order on Amazon or checking a social media account, but with advanced security and comprehensive protection for customers’ personal data. This is exactly what we’re going for with George: think of it as banking going social, while taking data security and privacy very seriously,” Bosek added.


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A new thinner and more sensitive glass has been invented by the makers of Gorilla Glass, who supply the glass on touch screen gadgets like iPhones and iPads, according to CNN.
The new glass is lighter and more responsive to the touch, yet still tough and resistant to scratching according to the company that produces it, Corning Inc. Since it is thinner, it also lets in more light and creates a brighter display screen.
The company debuted the glass on Monday at a gadget-showcase at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
“It’s not scratch-proof. And if they drop it on granite, it can be broken,” said Corning general manager Clifford Hund according to CNN.
Hund added that the glass is 20% thinner but still retains the same properties as the old glass.
Gorilla Glass 2 will debut in Windows-based PC products later this year, and other manufacturers are looking into using the product.


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Version 7.4 of i-Supply from TradeBeam integrates SCOR metrics and offers improved visibility into inventory levels, forecasts and usage data between suppliers and buyers, says the company.
i-Supply 7.4 also includes an order lead time measurement feature and a new Pipeline alert which notify the user when items need to be reordered, says the TradeBeam (www.tradebeam.com) announcement. The enhanced Kanban Shipment Control feature provides additional flexibility to users in managing their Kanban cycle to reflect customer demand, which more closely reflects common user processes.
“With this rollout of i-Supply 7.4 we wanted to give our customers the strategic edge needed in today’s global economy,” said Graham R. F. Napier, CEO of TradeBeam. “Our updated i-Supply solution enables businesses to manage their suppliers more easily, and stay competitive by more closely monitoring their inventory management processes.”
i-Supply is accessible and operational in 41 countries and 11 languages including Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), English, French, German, Korean, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish.


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Apple has added Porsche to the list of car companies that are promising support for CarPlay, the iPhone-based infotainment center. The company also added a number of countries to its list of nations where CarPlay is available.
While many of us have engaged in the argument of Android vs. iPhone, I’m willing to bet none of the discussions became as heated as the one between a pair of Oklahoma roommates, which ended with stabbing wounds for both involved.
Here’s a quick tip on how to reject calls when your iPhone is locked. You have more options than you might think.
While you’ll very seldom face issues that will require you to reboot your iOS device, it’s good to know the option is available to you if the need arises.
It’s spring, and a young man’s fancy turns to… Baseball. Wallpaper Weekends brings you baseball themed wallpapers for your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Here’s your last chance to grab a pair of these wireless, tangle-free, noise-canceling earbuds for the low price of $24.99!
Good news for Halo fans, as not 1, but 2 Halo games have landed in the App Store! Halo: Spartan Assault, and Halo: Spartan Strike, (both $5.99), are now available.
In the face of poor chip yield rates from supplier GlobalFoundries, Apple has made the decision to award nearly a third of their “A9″ chip orders to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).
FutureTap GmbH announced Wednesday an update to their popular local search app, Where To? The update, version 8.0, adds Apple Watch support, featuring voice search, location details, and turn-by-turn directions.
Wednesday’s iOS 8.3 update brought a new feature for Sprint subscribers in the U.S., and EE users in The U.K.; Wi-Fi Calling is now available on many iPhone handsets
A number of users report that under iOS 8.3, Touch ID does not work for them in the App Store when making purchases. Instead, users are asked to enter their password for purchases.
The Innori Portable Battery Pack, with its trio of USB outlets, delivers 22,400mAh of charging power to all of your power hungry mobile devices!
Walt Disney announced on Monday that a digital re-release of all six episodes in the Star Wars series of films will launch as a collection on April 10.
Stanford University scientists have invented a rechargeable aluminum battery that could someday allow you to fully charge your iPhone in less than a minute!
A Manhattan judge has decided to allow a woman to serve divorce papers on her husband via Facebook.
We’re publishing our first reader submitted wallpapers this week! MacTrast reader Kristian Vollick sent us some favorite selections for the iPhone. Thanks Kristian!


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India is investigating the doable misappropriation of incentives given to electrical car (EV) makers below a ₹100 billion ($1.21 billion) programme to advertise their sooner adoption, the Minister for Heavy Industries informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Complaints had been made towards 12 electrical car and elements producers, together with Hero Electrical Automobiles Pvt Ltd. and Okinawa Autotech Pvt. Ltd., for violating pointers below the programme, Mahendra Nath Pandey, the Minister for Heavy Industries, mentioned.
Different corporations had been Benling India Vitality and Know-how Pvt. Ltd., Okaya Ev Pvt. Ltd., Jitendra New Ev Tech Pvt. Ltd., Greaves Electrical Mobility Pvt. Ltd., Revolt Intellicorp Pvt. Ltd., Kinetic Inexperienced Vitality & Energy Options Ltd., Avon Cycles Ltd., Lohia Auto Industries, Thukral Electrical Bikes Pvt. Ltd. and Victory Electrical Automobiles Worldwide Pvt. Ltd.
Not one of the corporations responded instantly to a Reuters request for remark.
Mr. Pandey mentioned all complaints had been being re-verified by businesses, whereas two EV makers had been suspended from taking incentives below the scheme after examination of complaints. He didn’t identify the 2 corporations.
India needs to develop its electrical automobile market from 1% of whole automobile gross sales, of about 3 million a yr, to 30% by 2030.
To realize that, the federal government is reimbursing EV and hybrid car makers for lowering the acquisition worth of their automobiles below the Quicker Adoption and Manufacturing of Electrical Automobiles in India (FAME) programme.
Mr. Pandey informed Parliament that the sale of electrical automobiles below the programme had elevated from 19,100 in 2019-20, when the scheme began, to 442,901 in 2022-23 as much as December 9, 2022.


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More than 230 jobs have been saved after a division of vehicle parts manufacturer and supplier Klarius Group was bought out of administration.
The Klarius emissions business, which is based at Cheadle, Staffordshire, and manufactures exhaust systems and catalytic converters, has been sold to to a new venture Klarius Products, preserving 234 jobs.
And Bury-based car care products manufacturer and supplier Tetrosyl has stepped in to buy the intellectual property rights of Klarius subsidiary Quinton Hazell Automotive.
But 42 jobs were lost at the Quinton Hazell distribution division at Hinckley, Leicestershire, which will cease trading, and at the Klarius head office near Manchester Airport nine of the 10 staff have been made redundant.
Administrators Paul Flint and David Costley-Wood from KPMG’s restructuring team in the north west were called in on Wednesday with Klarius blaming prolonged challenging trading conditions in the automotive parts sector.
Klarius makes exhaust systems, catalytic converters, shock absorbers and other items for vehicles from trucks to motorcycles, with distribution in 136 countries.
It was founded in 2007 when chairman Tony Wilson acquired the European operations of American exhaust manufacturer Arvin Meritor for a reported £12m.
In 2010 Klarius bought Leicestershire-based automotive component manufacturer Quinton Hazell from US-based Affinia in a deal worth more than £250m.
KPMG said further redundancies are expected at other sites around the group, which also has 123 staff based at a production plant Glasson Dock, Lancaster and 83 at a production plant in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.
Klarius Group's three European subsidiaries - QH France, QH Deutschland and QH España - are separate legal entities and are not included in the UK administration.
Mr Flint said: “We are pleased to announce the sale of the Cheadle site – saving 234 jobs.
“Despite marketing the remaining divisions for sale, we were unable to find a buyer and have taken the difficult decision to wind them down.
“Prolonged challenging trading conditions in the automotive parts sector impacted Quinton Hazell’s performance. This created cashflow pressures and affected Quinton Hazell’s ability to trade as a going concern.”
KPMG said it was assisting affected staff to claim redundancy payments.
A team from Squire Sanders led by Partner Susan Kelly provided legal advice to the administrators.


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Biz Break: iPhone shipments rose faster than Samsung's in third quarter
11/20/2015 03:15 PM PST
Today: Cupertino-based Apple saw sales of its iPhone models rising at a faster pace than smartphones produced by Samsung, according to a report released Friday. Also, Tesla issues recall, and Nimble Storage plunges.
( T. Charles Erickson )
Review: 'Satchmo' goes behind Louis Armstrong's happy facade
The solo show 'Satchmo' by Terry Teachout depicts jazz legend Louis Armstrong reflecting on his bittersweet life and music; it plays at American Conservatory Theater through Feb. 7
(Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
Sylvester Stallone considered skipping Academy Awards
Sylvester Stallone says he considered boycotting Academy Awards until Ryan Coogler told him to go.


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Intel has confirmed that it will release its new flagship Core i9 12900KS during its CES 2022 presentation. We recently reported on its likely introduction, based on Intel’s teaser tweet, and now it’s confirmed.
12900KS is capable of boosting up to 5.5 GHz on a single P-core and up to 5.2 GHz on all P-cores. Intel stated that it can maintain 5GHz boost clocks in the long run, which is quite impressive and shows that Intel’s production is really underway.
The chip was shown running Hitman 3 along with the HWiNFO monitoring tool. It shows all eight P-cores running at the advertised 5.2 GHz, and the eight E-cores running at 4.0 GHz, a small 100MHz bump above 12900K. The 12900K is already an excellent gaming processor, and once DDR5 stocks stabilize, we are confident that affluent gamers will search for them for their high-end rigs.
However, the 12900KS may have a challenger. It will have to contend with AMD’s Ryzen X3D CPUs with their stacked L3 cache. The 12900KS is likely Intel’s hold-my-beer response to combat AMD’s claims that the upcoming 5800X3D can match or beat the 12900K.
The 12900KS is not Intel’s first high bin chip, though they have tended to be limited editions. We saw the 40th anniversary Core i7 8086K in 2018, followed by the i9 9900KS at the end of 2019. There were none released in the 10th and 11th generations. As 13th generation CPUs look like a proposal by the end of 2022, Intel may choose to continue production in the longer term to ward off the threat from AMD’s X3D CPUs.
Information, including availability and prices, was not disclosed. AMD’s X3D chips are coming this spring (autumn for those at the bottom of the world), so it’s safe to say that Intel will have the stocks ready by that time. In addition, Intel did not mention the type of cooling it used during its demonstration. Considering that a 12900K can throttle without advanced cooling, it is likely that you will use 360 mm AIO cooling, if not custom water, to get the best out of it.
We stay on top of 12900KS news and we hope we have a sample to review over time.


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Prabodhini Gurukula Principles The Gurukula System is based on the great principles evolved out of the experiments conduct..
Pakistani app company to start developing for Aakash tab
Even before it's commercially launched, Aakash is winning hearts, and deals. A Pakistani technology company that specializes in creating mobile applications has announced that it will create apps to support India’s low cost Aakash tablet. Pepper.pk, the mobile applications subsidiary of Pakistani technology company Five Rivers, said it would begin porting a relevant subset of their over 150 applications to the new platform.
Mahe Zehra Husain, Co-Founder of Pepper.pk congratulated their “friends in India”, and said that their decision to add further value to Aakash was an effort on their part to enhance “friendship and cooperation in South Asia”.
The Aakash tablet which was formally launched on 5 October, is not yet freely available on the retail market. According to the Aakash website, it will first be distributed to students through universities in about two months.
A retail version with faster, better performing specs is also
expected to be released soon.
The specifications of Aakash are as follows:
Screen – 7” resistive
Operating System – Android 2.2
Processor – 366 MHz in addition to Graphics Accelerator and HD Video Co-processor
Storage – 2GB Flash Memory with 2GB Micro SD card which is expandable up to 32GB
Memory -256 MB RAM
Network – Wi-Fi Enabled
Connectivity – 2 USB ports
Battery – 2100mAh
Web Browser – DataWind Accelerated Browser
Modem – Inbuilt cellular and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
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Issues of hindus facing persecution in several parts of world has been a matter of concern in India for long now. One su..
In an apparent attack on the Congress-led union government, yoga guru Baba Ramdev Friday appealed to the public not to vot..
Indian nationalism once again witnessed a severe blow by the separatist mentality in Kashmir valley whe..


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The Swedish scale-up Epishine has signed an agreement with CCAG, a Swiss IT distribution house with an international reputation, for their Organic Indoor Light Energy Harvesting Modules (LEHs). With the "energy harvesting light cells" from Epishine, CCAG is now offering an interesting, efficient and flexible alternative in its product portfolio to companies that research and produce in the field of sustainable battery management.
Followed by extensive external growth, ARMOR solar power films, a world leader in organic photovoltaics (OPV), is beginning a new chapter. Dr Ralph Paetzold will lead a multidisciplinary European team: Moïra Asses (senior VP of strategy and marketing), Mélanie Bertrand (VP technology), Hermann Issa (senior VP business development and project management), Sebastian Meier (VP corporate development and partner management), Tobias Sauermann (VP industrial), and Nicolas Vannieuwenhuyse (VP for key accounts). His key goal is to actively advance the fight against global warming, thanks to the innovative solar ASCA solution.
Epishine (Linköping, Sweden) has developed a pioneering, patented process for printing organic solar cells with industry-leading low-light efficiency. They have just launched their first product on the world market: a small-scale solar cell that harvests indoor light to supply power to IoT products. They have received SEK 80M (€8M) to position themselves as the market leader in printed solar cells.


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In New York City everything seems possible, also a yacht that sales highways and lands in Times Square. Azimut S6, a masterpiece of Italian design, is going to be an impressive design installation. We love NYC, and we are glad to join design pavillion and NYCxDESIGN.
Azimut|Benetti Group, the world’s leading builder of megayachts, commemorates the brand’s 50th anniversary with the display of an Azimut S6 yacht on the Times Square Plaza from May 10-22, 2019. The event is in partnership with Design Pavilion during NYCxDESIGN, the city’s annual public celebration of design.
Azimut|Benetti Group’s participation in Design Pavilion emphasizes the company’s strong commitment toward disruptive design and technological innovation in the yachting industry.


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Enterprise search software developer Fast Search & Transfer ASA has bought out its joint venture partners in London-based Platefood Ltd, to bulk up its product portfolio with search-based monetization technology.
Fast is to pay 8.1m euros ($10.6m) for the 19.9% stake in Platefood held by Schibsted SOK AS (a subsidiary of European media company Schibsted AS) and the 61.01% stake held by Sensis Pty Ltd (the Australian directories service provider and a unit of Australian carrier Telstra Corp). Fast already held a 19.99% stake in Platefood, and the cash deal is to be financed from Fast’s 256m euros ($337m) cash reserves.
Platefood offers online search services and search-based advertising products, mostly to media and online directories companies. Platefood Performance is a search monetization and advertising system for selling, managing, and delivering pay-for-performance advertising. It also provides a global web index that offers best-of-the-web search results, and professional services to help customers set it up.
Online advertising is already a $18bn global market, representing 4.6% of total worldwide advertising spend, said John M Lervik, CEO of Fast. We have seen strong growth in the media, entertainment and telecom markets, and with the Platefood search-based monetization solutions, Fast will help customers monetize their content in new and innovative ways and protect ad revenues to effectively compete with content aggregators like Google.
The Platefood acquisition is a step forward in our ongoing growth strategy, said chief financial officer Joseph Lacson. We expect that through 2010, search-based monetization and advertising solutions will be one our fastest growing market segments.
Speaking to Computer Business Review, Lacson took the opportunity to dismiss claims that the acquisition would allow the Oslo, Norway-based company to take on its fierce rival, Autonomy Corp Plc.
We don’t compete against Autonomy all the time, said Lacson. The main difference between us and them is that we are growing and they are not. They had to acquire their biggest competitor in order to continue growing, he added, referring to Autonomy’s $500m acquisition of its larger rival Verity Inc in November last year.
In October, Fast said that for the third quarter ended September 30, it had posted a net loss of $4.5m compared to a year-ago profit of $1.7m. The net loss was mostly attributable to the impact of an income tax expense of $2.2m. Sales rose a healthy 60% to $42.5m from $26.6m a year earlier, thanks to new and additional license sales during the quarter.
On the other hand, for the same period UK-based Autonomy posted a net profit of $8.9m, up from $2.9m. Sales rose 137% to $60.2m from $25.4m in the previous year. Autonomy said at that time that sales were positively impacted by a combination of strong organic growth and the acquisition of Verity in the fourth quarter 2005.


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Actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are suing the UK Daily Mail for its coverage of them and their daughter, Wyatt.
“Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have today issued High Court proceedings in London against Associated Newspapers on behalf of themselves and their daughter Wyatt over two articles published by MailOnline,” a press announcement about the lawsuit reads.
“Ashton and Mila understandably value their private and family life, and in particular their personal time with their daughter. Like any other family they should be allowed to enjoy family outings without being pursued by photographers. They have made it clear that they do not agree to the publication of photographs of such occasions,” their lawyer Paul Tweed said in a statement sent to iMediaEthics.
The couple says the paparazzi photos break the UK Data Protection Act and are a “misuse of private information,” according to the press statement sent to iMediaEthics. The lawsuit was filed in London over two articles published earlier this year.
The lawsuit says the Mail used the “wrongful publication of paparazzi photographs of family outings” and “the unauthorized use of the photographs promote clothing products by the Mail.”
What does that mean?
The Mail publishes some articles that include a “femail fashion finder” that shows where readers can buy a similar clothing item celebrities have worn. For an example, see this recent article on Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick that recommends a pair of jeans the Mail says are similar to Parker’s jeans.
iMediaEthics confirmed with Tweed that the Mail ran a similar feature regarding the Kutcher-Kunis family.
In 2013, Kutcher said in an interview with Elle magazine “I’ve learned the hard way how valuable privacy is.”
Kunis said of her relationship with Kutcher:”I am going to do everything in my power to have this relationship be private.”
Hat Tip: Gossip Cop


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Mizzou athletics partners with Opendorse to create athlete-brand development tool
Mizzou Athletics announced a partnership with Opendorse, a social media resource which helps athletes create their personal brands, to create TradeMark.
TradeMark will be a platform that will provide Missouri's student-athletes with tools to enhance their personal brands.
MU becomes the first Southeastern Conference institution to partner with Opendorse, which will provide superior management technology resources to all Tiger student-athletes since its launch in 2012, per a school release.
“The college athletics landscape is evolving quickly and it is paramount that we provide our student-athletes with the tools and resources to enhance their personal brand identity,” Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk said in the release. “As valuable and powerful as the Mizzou brand is, we recognize that each student-athlete who comes to Mizzou has a chance to cultivate their own personal brand, and leverage that into future opportunities that reach well beyond athletics. Each student-athlete is an extension of Mizzou’s brand, and we are excited to provide them all with the opportunity and tools to maximize their presence.”
Opendorse powers the athlete endorsement ecosystem, according to its website. Today, more than 25,000 athletes around the world use the sports technology company to build their personal brands by publishing social media content from partners including the NFLPA, NHL, NBPA and the PGA TOUR.
Over 100 professional and collegiate sports teams and hundreds of other brands use Opendorse as well.
“When you come and play at Mizzou, you’re allowed to build your own brand and set yourself up for life,” Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz said via release. “Our hope is that players can build their personal brand and set themselves up for a tremendous future by coming to Mizzou and representing the great state of Missouri.”
Opendorse was founded by Nebraska Football alumni Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic.
“Everyone has a story, and it’s our job to make sure that we are providing our student-athletes with the platforms to tell their unique stories. Mizzou has so many tools already at its disposal, and a proven track record of enhancing some of college athletics’ most recognizable names,” Mizzou Assistant Athletic Director for Digital Strategy Shawn Davis said via release.
“From the likes of Drew Lock to Sophie Cunningham to J’den Cox, our job at Mizzou has always been to tell the stories of our student-athletes and highlight who they are beyond their sport. Our goal is for each athlete to become premier brand ambassadors – both for themselves and for Mizzou. With the world’s finest journalism school, the backing from college athletics’ premier conference, the exposure of the NCAA’s most lucrative television deal, and now the addition of Opendorse, we feel that Mizzou provides the best platform for student-athletes in every sport to maximize their exposure. We must continue to steward the personal brands of each individual athlete, and Opendorse gives us another incredible platform to do so.”


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Mangoes from Mexico, as well as grapes from California are expected to provide excellent volume shipments this year.
Imported Mexican mangoes by U.S. importers got off to an early season start this year and is expected to follow the normal volume increases associated with spring.
Between 3 and 4 million boxes of Mexican mangoes have been crossing the border during April.
Another season of record-breaking volume with peak supplies from southern Mexico that started this month is expected to continue into mid-May as the harvest shifts to more northern regions, such as Nayarit and Sinaloa, from mid-June through August.
Importers such as Ciruli Bros, LLC of Rio Rico, AZ and Jade Produce LLC of Mission, TX have been experiencing excellent volume mango shipments to U.S. markets.
Imported Mexican mango shipments from late March to the week of May 14 should be 16 percent higher than last year, with 49 million boxes in 2018 compared to 42 million boxes a year ago.
Besides Mexico, there also are imported mangoes from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Haiti during the spring. The Peruvian season finished in early April, and the Costa Rican season end the last half of April.
The Mexican season started in January and runs until October. The Nicaraguan season got underway in mid-March and ran until the last week of April. The Guatemalan season was launched in March and should run through the end of May. The Haitian season started the third week of April and will run until September.
Since the 2012 California grape shipments have exceeded 100 million boxes each season and 2018 is expected to be no different. In fact, 100 million – plus boxes is almost taken for granted these days.
California grape shipments totaled 109.1 million boxes during the 2017 season, which runs from May through January. In 2016, the industry shipped 110 million boxed of table grapes.
California typically begins with grapes from the Coachella Valley in early May, before transitioning to the Arvin area of Bakersfield in early June, with the remainder of the season involving much of the San Joaquin Valley.


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A company representative tells FFXnow that the location is expected to open on Dec. 5 in Concord Shopping Center at 6119A Backlick Road.
The eatery and bakery, which kicked off in 1995, sells baked good and sandwiches, salads and burgers. It has other locations in Shirlington and Tysons.
“The bakery is celebrated for its outstanding hospitality, commitment to quality, and dedication to the art of baking,” the company said in a press release.
A product of Great American Restaurants, Best Buns will offer all-day breakfast, lunch, dinner, pastries and coffee.
Anchored by the grocery store Aldi, Concord Shopping Center is also home to a Planet Fitness, Eleni’s Greek Taverna and Paisano’s Pizza. Best Buns will be located at the end next to the cafe Fonda Latina, replacing Mattress Warehouse.
Great American Restaurants CEO Jon Norton highlighted the shopping center’s proximity to Mike’s American Grill — another one of the restaurant group’s brands — as part of its appeal. Located at 6210 Backlick Road, Mike’s American suffered from a fire on Valentine’s Day this year, but it managed to reopen just a week later.
“We are excited that the next location of Best Buns Bakery & Burgers will be nearby Mike’s American, which has been popular in Springfield since 1987, in a community we love,” Norton said.
Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar. 🕗 News recap The following articles were published earlier…
Reston Association is seeking candidates for its 2024 Board of Directors’ election. Four seats are open for the election, which will take place in March. Specifically, two at-large director seats…
Zombies, pirates and other virtual characters are about to be unleashed on Tysons, just in time for Christmas. Sandbox VR will launch its new virtual reality gaming experience at 1656…
Do the holidays have you stressed and busy? Worry not about what to wear as Live Fairfax has the Style Survival Guide for this season!
The Georgetown Visitation Masqueraders proudly present
Descendants The Musical
Art House 7 warmly welcomes you to our upcoming Fall 2 session of classes starting on October 30th. We’re thrilled to offer a diverse range of mediums and flexible class lengths, catering to a wide age range, starting from as young as 2, and, of course, providing a multitude of engaging options for adults!
Our classes cover an exciting spectrum of creative mediums, including fiber arts such as knitting, modern embroidery, crochet, and sewing. We also offer classes in ceramics on the wheel, drawing, watercolor, gouache, oil, acrylic, still-life painting, and captivating Japanese Suminagashi and printmaking. One of the highlights of this session is the highly anticipated 5-week “Painting the Portrait and Figure” workshop, led by the renowned local artist, Danni Dawson.
For our younger artists, we have specially designed classes like “Art Exploration through Impressionism” for students in kindergarten through 5th grade, an engaging “Art Together” parent-child class designed for 2–4-year-olds, and a “Teen Taught Art Club” tailored for kindergarteners through 4th graders.


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Sales of newly built, single-family homes posted a yearly gain of 1.5 percent in 2018, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The December sales numbers rose 3.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000 units after a downwardly revised November report.
The sales report was delayed due to the partial government shutdown.
“The slight gain for 2018 new home sales reflects solid underlying demand for homeownership,” said NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde, a home builder and developer from Torrington, Connecticut. “Housing affordability remains a challenge across the country, but conditions have improved in early 2019, as illustrated by the recent uptick in builder confidence.”
“Despite a period of weakness in the fall, new home sales ended the year with a small gain,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “While the December sales pace improved on a monthly basis, the current rate of sales remains off the post-Great Recession trend due to housing affordability concerns made worse by the rise in mortgage interest rates at the end of the year. We expect lower mortgage rates in the early months of 2019 will lead to additional new home demand.”
A new home sale occurs when a sales contract is signed or a deposit is accepted. The home can be in any stage of construction: not yet started, under construction or completed. In addition to adjusting for seasonal effects, the December reading of 621,000 units is the number of homes that would sell if this pace continued for the next 12 months.
The inventory of new homes for sale continued to rise in December to 344,000 homes available for sale. A year prior, new single-family home inventory stood at 294,000. The median sales price increased in December to $318,600, although it is lower than a year ago when the median sales price was $343,300. This is primarily due to the rising use of price incentives and a slow change toward additional entry-level inventory.
Regionally, on a total year basis for 2018, new home sales declined 16 percent in the Northeast and one percent in the West. Sales rose four percent in the South and six percent in the Midwest.


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A startup ticketing company alleged in a legal filing that Live Nation Entertainment Inc., the country’s biggest concert promoter, hacked into its computer systems and stole trade secrets.
The allegations, included in an amended antitrust lawsuit that was originally filed by Brooklyn-based Songkick in 2015, are based on information that the company said came to light in the discovery process.
Filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles Wednesday, the complaint alleges that Live Nation’s Ticketmaster unit obtained unauthorized access to Songkick’s computers with the help of an executive who has worked at both companies. more
Spybuster Tip #512 — Change all passwords whenever an employee is terminated or quits. ~Kevin


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The cryptocurrency Litecoin temporarily rose by 20% due to the proliferation of fake Walmart press releases posted on Global Newswire, a news release site. However, as the information turned out to be incorrect, the price fell compared to before the distribution of the material.
The press release in question stated that Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, was responding to litecoin payments by buyers, but the official Walmart site did not post the press release, but the contact information and email address listed in the press release did not work, etc. The reliability of the data itself has been required.
However, it is the information on the material distribution site, and many media reported the news, and cryptocurrency buyers who read it are running to buy Litecoin. The official Litecoin account also shared a fake press release, but immediately deleted the tweet after it was proven to be wrong.
Walmart confirmed that the data was fake and contacted Global Newswire to investigate why the data was posted on the site. Meanwhile, a Global Newswire representative said that a user account without permission to publish material was used. The person in charge added that such a situation has never occurred before, and that a strengthened authentication process has already been introduced to prevent such a problem from occurring in the future.
If someone owns a wallet with Litecoin in it, it could be a fake press release and concocted to inflate its value. Of course, that’s not the smart way. There is a possibility that the US Securities and Exchange Commission SEC will investigate such a move. Related information can be found here.


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Robert Steinadler, 9 months ago
Having an embassy in the metaverse isn’t a new thing. Companies, as well as countries, are well aware that a representation in the virtual space can be very promising. After all many analysts believe that the metaverse will see growth in the years to come and will play a vital role in the Web3 and the broader crypto economy.
How is Dubai involved and why is its regulatory authority for digital assets setting up a headquarter in the Sandbox?
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) announced last Tuesday that it is going to establish a headquarter in the metaverse “The Sandbox”. According to the press release the regulatory authority plans to become more accessible to the crypto industry by entering its very own native environment.
This is indeed a unique approach that pays testimony to Dubai’s openness towards the crypto industry. But it also means that the authority had to buy digital land plots in the metaverse and is the first in history to do so.
The kingdom plans to become a crypto hub and has prepared a legal framework that is meant to protect investors and users while providing clarity to companies and blockchain developers alike.
The VARA is in fact the first authority to buy digital land plots but Dubai is not the first country that is becoming part of the metaverse. Barbados chose Decentraland and opened up an embassy last year. It seems that it is becoming more important for countries to open up to new ways of interacting with individuals globally.
The Sandbox is one of the most promising spaces in Web3 with many partnerships that caused quite a stir in the market last year. Among them is Adidas which became an exclusive partner to the Sandbox metaverse.
But there are also efforts to establish a cross-chain experience for users. This week Star Atlas which is a game based on Solana started a VoxEdit contest together with the Sandbox connecting both worlds for the first time. The winners of the contest will be announced in June and contestants have time until Mai 16th to submit their contributions. A total of 50.000 SAND tokens will be split between the top entries. It seems that the Sandbox is growing further and creating more exciting opportunities while most market participants rather focus on the Fed’s next decision.
Jan 23, 2023
The metaverse is not exactly a single place in the digital space. It is rather a formation of ideas about how this place could look like, how each section could interact with another, and what type of experience each digital realm has to offer. Many companies, as well as open-source projects, are trying to define what the metaverse will look like.
Jan 19, 2023
Decentraland has become a sort of industry benchmark for a specific category of tokens. Its digital realm is all about content creation, education, and games that cover almost every angle of the metaverse in its own way. This year has been particularly good for Decentraland, and the price has surged to a yearly high of about $0.76.
Jan 18, 2023
Floki Inu sure knows how to use branding and merchandise to please its army of Floki Vikings. This week, it launches a merch store, partnering with Binance Pay for payment integration. But it's not just the merch the developers are working on. Also, their Valhalla game has been improved.
Jan 18, 2023
ApeCoin is the currency of choice of the Bored Apes Yacht Club ecosystem, which includes the Otherside open metaverse. Not to be confused with the Bored Ape NFT's, investing in ApeCoin the currency is a bet on the ecosystem developed by parent company Yuga Labs, considered by some the Disney of the metaverse.


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ST. LOUIS - The Incredible Hulk, Captain Kirk, and other celebrities are making appearances at the S.t Louis Comic Con at America's Center this weekend.
For the next three days, the biggest names in super heroes, comics, and pop culture will meet with fans. The headliners are William Shatner and Doctor Who.
Actor Lou Ferrigno, also known as the Incredible Hulk, signed autographs Friday afternoon.
Comic Con fans say the event is an unforgettable experience.
"I'm just an all-around nerd and I just love comic con and you can be around people just like you," said Bonnie Stark.
"As soon as you walk in you're just surrounded. It's almost like a sensory overload of everything nerd, comic, video games," said Andrew Stark.
Tickets range from $45 to $55 per day.


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Subsoccer X AFTV22.01.2023
‘Arsenal Fan TV (AFTV) recently tested out a new game – Subsoccer – on their Youtube channel. Subsoccer is an innovative game that allows football fans to play football against each other from the comfort of their own homes.
Not only is this an excellent way for fans to interact with each other, but it also offers an exciting way for AFTV to entertain and engage its audience. With this test, AFTV has shown that it is willing to go the extra mile to give football fans a unique and exciting experience.


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Fahlgren Mortine expands with new office
- Staff Dayton Business Journal
Fahlgren Mortine will expand out west with a new office in Boise, Idaho, according to the Columbus Business First.
The Columbus-based marketing and communications firm will open the Boise office next month. Its chief charge will be working with Boise-based J.R. Simplot Co., a food and agribusiness company, as well as California-based clients. It also gives the company a base from which to grow its presence in that region.
CEO Neil Mortine said in a press release that an increased presence in the west has been part of the firm’s plan.
Dayton is the western-most office space for the company right now, though Fahlgren Mortine has an employee who works from home in Denver.
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Some 200 people will be out of a job at the Philips manufacturing plant in Aurora, where the Dunlee brand, acquired by Philips in 2001, makes medical imaging component parts.
Philips, based in Amsterdam, plans to close the plant by the end of the year and move production to an existing company site in Hamburg, Germany, the Dutch company said in a statement. Dunlee moved its headquarters to the Aurora facility in 1994.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects the fact that the GTC (Generators, Tubes and Components) replacement market, which was primarily served by the Aurora facility, has been significantly declining in recent years,” the statement said. The company expects future growth to be in the X-ray segment for original equipment manufacturers, currently served by the Hamburg facility.
Philips said affected employees will get a comprehensive separation package and a limited number will be offered the chance to provide GTC replacement market service and technical support for Philips in North America.
The Philips closure was the largest layoff reported last month to Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers with at least 75 employees to notify the state 60 days in advance of plant closings or mass layoffs, which are defined as layoffs that affect at least a third of a company’s workforce, or at least 250 workers for a company of any size.
Sam’s Club, which closed its store in Woodridge at the end of June, was listed in the state’s layoff report with 158 employees affected. The store had been there since 1993.


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Hotel package part of big plans to celebrate opening of Lilly Pulitzer store in Palm Beach
The grand opening coincides with the brand’s 60th anniversary, and Palm Beach is planning a community celebration themed “For the Love of Lilly” on the avenue. For those looking to make a vacation out of the event, one of the island’s hotels is offering a three-night stay all Lilly Pulitzer-themed.
Palm Packable Weekender Tote Bag by Lilly Pulitzer included in the hotel's welcome basket.
Courtesy of The Brazilian Court Hotel
The $1,200 package is offered through Nov. 30, with travel beginning Nov. 10, by The Brazilian Court where guests are greeted by a basket of Lilly gifts including an agenda, tote bag and gift card. When exploring the island, the hotel has a pink Lilly Pulitzer bike; and to explore the rest of the county, they offer an interactive flamingo experience at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation or a sea turtle visit at Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
But visiting where it all began is incomplete without some shopping, so the package includes a champagne appointment at the new Lilly Pulitzer store and the opportunity to design their own custom Lilly shift dress.
Others wanting to create a custom dress can do so Nov. 10 on Worth Avenue. The 200-block will be closed off to cars and stores will stay open for the fashion event including a meet-and-greet with Lilly’s resident print artist, hangout areas and light bites from local cafes.


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|Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment (left) and Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan at the meeting. Photo courtesy of Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi|
NEW DELHI — India is a major trade partner and investor of Việt Nam and the two countries should spare no efforts to soon realise the target of bringing bilateral trade to US$15 billion.
This statement was made by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng during talks with his host Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan on Tuesday, as part of his working visit to the country.
At the talks, Dũng spoke highly of India’s increasing position in the international arena and affirmed that the Việt Nam-India relations are thriving, voicing his hope that bilateral ties will be strengthened in the future.
Regarding India’s financial and scientific-technology potential, Dũng said that the nation’s investment in Việt Nam remains modest, adding that Việt Nam hopes to welcome more Indian investors in the future.
For his part, V. Muraleedharan pledged that India will closely collaborate with and support Việt Nam as the country is holding the role of the ASEAN Chairman in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2020-21.
The host also affirmed that Việt Nam is a key partner in Southeast Asia and playing the role of a pillar in India’s Look East Policy.
The two officials also took note of existing difficulties in bilateral trade. That India adjusts floor rate and raises import tariffs on Viet Nam’s cashew nuts and imposes restriction on incense stick imports has caused difficulties for Vietnamese firms and producers, Dũng noted.
Meanwhile, V. Muraleedharan expressed his hope that Việt Nam will open its doors to Indian fruits and create favourable conditions for its pharmaceutical companies.
A roundtable between the Vietnamese minister and Indian businesses was held the same day, drawing nearly 100 leading firms including Essar, HCL and Mahindra.
The India visit of the Vietnamese Minister was made at the invitation of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog). While in India, Dũng joined working sessions with leaders of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and visited Indian tech giants of Nasscom and Wipro. — VNS


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When you use a trusted product like Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder or a popular brand of make-up, it likely never crosses your mind that doing so could put you at risk for malignant mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease That’s because as Americans, we believe that the government, in the form of the Food and Drug Administration, regulates the use of toxic chemicals and poisons and protects us from using products that could harm us. Though the FDA does provide a significant amount of oversight, you might be surprised to learn that it has almost no authority over the cosmetic industry. In the face of rising concerns about the presence of asbestos in products that we use every day, the outgoing head of the agency is calling for changes to be made to existing laws.
The most recent example of how little the FDA can do about mesothelioma-causing asbestos in consumer products comes following the discovery of the dangerous mineral in cosmetics sold by mall retailer Claire’s. The contamination was first revealed by a consumer who used her own funds to have her daughter’s make-up products tested. This was followed by the retailer volunteering to pull the products, though they objected strenuously and insisted that their products were not contaminated. The FDA recently revealed that their own testing had confirmed the presence of the dangerous substance, and asked the company to pull the product, but that is essentially the limit of their power.
Speaking of the problem, outgoing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb did not specifically address the issue of mesothelioma or asbestos. Instead he spoke of the lack of safety testing requirements for cosmetic manufacturers, as well as of the general need for laws that require cosmetics to undergo FDA reviews and approval in the same way that drugs do. Issuing a statement with Susan Mayne of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, he wrote, “To significantly shift the safety paradigm of cosmetics in the U.S., we would need to work with stakeholders, including Congress, to modernize the outdated regulatory framework that the FDA has been operating under for more than 80 years when it comes to cosmetics.”
There may be legislation introduced to advance this idea, but in the meantime consumers continue to be at risk. If you have been affected by mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease and believe it may be a result of a product that you used, we can help. Contact us today at 1-800-966-2244.


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The discount supermarket's middle aisle has delivered mega bargains on the most unexpected items....
The discount supermarket's middle aisle has delivered mega bargains on the most unexpected items.
A man on Facebook has been slammed by other Aldi customers for trying to sell five of the supermarket’s sought-after air fryers at an inflated price.
A screenshot shared in the Aldi Mums Facebook group showed the man was trying to sell the air fryers from the discount supermarket chain on an Aldi Buy, Swap and Sell page.
“Brand new in box un open (sic),” the description read. “5 available.”
His asking price for each fryer was $279, a whopping $130 more than the $149 price tag they had when they hit shelves in Aldi last Wednesday.
The 16-litre “multifunction” air fryer costs a fraction of the cost of other more expensive brands, with shoppers reporting huge queues for the items in Aldi stores across the country.
RELATED: $3 item named Aldi's best product
The man’s listing was blasted by those who had missed out, with one person calling him a “jerk” and labelling it the perfect example of why there should be buying limits for certain Special Buys.
“Special electronic buys should be restricted to one per customer. It’s a no-brainer,” one mum wrote.
“I hope he is stuck with them. can’t sell and can’t return. Will teach him a lesson in being greedy,” another said.
However others said they didn’t see an issue with the man’s offer, arguing that it meant those who really wanted a certain Special Buys item didn’t miss out.
“He’s paid for it. He has the right to do whatever he wants with it. If someone is silly enough to pay that much for it then nothing to get worked up about,” one person commented.
“I think what’s more tragic is people would buy it,” another mum wrote. “He wouldn’t keep on selling them if there was no demand.
“People need to be well informed as well to know that Aldi is not the only shop that sells this and there are options out there. It’s OK to miss out.”
In a statement, Aldi told news.com.au its Specials Buys had become “increasingly popular” and sometimes it experienced “higher than expected sell-through of our Special Buys”.
“It is never our intention to cause disappointment to our customers, and we will always strive to allocate optimal supplies for our stores to meet demand,” an Aldi spokeswoman said.
“We are not in the practice of restricting the volume of items sold to our customers and our focus will remain on correctly balancing customer demand with stock availability.”
Is this man clever or crafty? Tell us what you think in the comments below
AIR FRYER SPARKS ‘ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING’ FRENZY
Shoppers who lined up hoping to get their hands on the $149 air fryer last week reported chaotic scenes.
One woman wrote in the Aldi Mums Facebook group that she saw “absolutely disgusting behaviour” from a shopper desperate to get his hands on an air fryer.
She claimed claiming he “rammed the lady next to me with her trolley” because she was holding him up.
“That’s not OK,” she said. “What has happened to people? It’s very sad, all over a special buy.”
Another claimed there was “bloodshed” at her Aldi where more than 100 people had lined up for the appliance.
“I was first in line, with people pushing in, not following the line markers the staff put out,” she wrote.
“Some lady brought her kids and they all ran up the aisle grabbing everything first. Was a bit chaotic.”
Aldi issued a statement on Facebook saying the air fryer and pastry maker had been available in “limited supply” due to the impact of coronavirus on delivery.
“We apologise in advance for any disappointment this might cause our customers, and remind everyone to shop with kindness in this challenging time,” the statement, shared on Facebook, read.
In all Victorian stores plus Albury and Lavington, the air fryer wasn’t in stock at all “to encourage customers to follow” state COVID-19 restrictions.
Aldi’s Special Buys have long been a unmissable event for shoppers keen to get their hands on a bargain, however, they have attracted criticism for not imposing buying limits.
While Aldi does not have a national policy on Special Buys restrictions it does allow individual stores to “reserve the right to limit purchases to one per customer when they anticipate unusually high demand”.
Shoppers have also expressed concern over customers not following social distancing rules in a bid to get their hands on a bargain, prompting some to suggest a ticketing or number system be used instead of queuing.


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NEW YORK (AP) — A rare copy of a Superman #1 comic book that sold on newsstands for a dime in 1939 was purchased for $2.6 million in an auction.
ComicConnect.com, an online auction and consignment company, said the comic was sold Thursday night to a buyer who wishes to maintain a secret identity.
Houston-based seller Mark Michaelson bought the comic in 1979 from its original owner and kept it in a temperature-controlled safe.
The character created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster was a pioneer of the superhero genre.
According to the Associated Press, a copy of the comic that introduced Superman in 1938, Action Comics #1, sold for $3.25 million back in April.


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Huawei like many other telephones’ companies of the world was working for a while to the new connection 5G. But like we found out in the last few months it was cut out from the western marketplace because of the strong conflicts that see involved the chinese colossus and the american government.
The Donald Trump’s administration, infact, blames the chinese company of spying and it banned its products from the United States. After that many other western countries joined them in the ban.
Recently Huawei presented Kirin 990, the chip settled on the new smartphones, like the Mate 30, that will allow the telephones to support the 5G networks.
The chinese colossus doesn’t seem, so, to give up after the ban imposed by the west. But will the new technology ever see the dawn of the american skies? It really seems that Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei, found a way to let his own technology enter in the western even with the ban. By selling to a western competitor all the accesses, the rights, the licences, the codes, the patents and the know-how of the 5G made in Huawei.
The 5G by Huawei
Firstly let’s understand what are we talking about. What’s the 5G of Huawei? The chinese colossus driven by Ren Zhengfei, like many other companies in the world, threw himself in the rush to the 5G, the new technology of the ultrafast mobile connection.
Recently in Monaco Huawei presented the new line of smartphone Mate 30, equipped with the new technology 5G. Anyway these new smartphones won’t have the pre-installed Google apps, as well as no other american application, like direct consequence of the battle between the two world power.
Here you have so that Huawei drastically see collapse its sales in the western, not only in the countries where the chinese products were banned.
However Zhengfei doesn’t want to easily give up, and its new chip 5G debuts to the Ifa in Berlin.
“Kirin 990 allows the users to enter into an extraordinary and advanced experience of connectivity 5G, during its first year of implementation of the network. To offer advanced 5G experiences, Kirin 990 was completely upgraded about performances and energetic efficiency, AI computing and ISP, to bring the experience of mobile telephony to another level”.
The sale of the 5G rights
So like surprisely a couple of weeks ago Ren Zhengfei, during an interview released at the Economist, revelead his wish to sell codes, accesses and everything he has about the 5G to a western competitors, for a one time amount.
“The buyer might change the source code and so nor pechino neither Huawei will then have the control of the telecommunication infrastructures built by using the instruments made by the new company” Which is the reason because the chinese company was banned from the America.
Therefore, both companies (Huawei and the mysterious buyer) might develop their own technologies independently, like they think it is better to do.
“A balanced distribution of the interests will promote the survival of Huawei, by allowing it to do huge steps forward”, goes on Ren during the interview.
The same CEO, infact, said, few weeks ago, that the company was between the life and the death, put on its knees by the battle against the USA government.
Reality or fantasy
By the way, the declaration of Huawei is in reality only a proposal and not a concrete reality. The company, infact, will have to pass many obstacles before to really realize its plan.
First of all there aren’t real agreements yet with no western company. Furthermore, before to give the 5G rights it will have, firstly, to obtain the agreement from the chinese government.
Even passed those obstacles it isn’t sure yet that the american government will let it go, by letting enter the chinese technology inside its own territory. At the bottom of the ban, infact, there is the fear from the administration Trump that Huawei can spy, through its devices, all the countries of the world, becoming the Bejing’s Trojan horse.
However, we have to say, that Huawei alone has the 30% of the world marketplace. A battle fights with the new technologies. We have just to wait to see who will win.
This post is also available in: Italiano


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Jeans import of US has jumped 29.18% year over year in the five months through May to a value of $1.15 billion, according to the latest report of Commerce Department’s Office of Textiles & Apparel (OTEXA).
In the case of blue jeans import, Bangladesh & Mexico are the top suppliers. Imports of blue denim apparel from Bangladesh rose by 35.61% in the year through May from the same period in 2020 to $218.35 million. Imports from Mexico surged by 51.35% to $232.76 million after a 25.07% hike the previous month.
Among the Top 10 suppliers from Asia, imports from Vietnam rose by 8.69% in the five months to $121.58 million, following a 2.86 % drop the prior month. Imports from China increased by 38.67% in the period to $117.27 million, while shipments from Pakistan increased 38.73% to $116.62 million, imports from Cambodia rose 10.33% to $59.92 million and shipments from Sri Lanka gained 32.79% to $23.48 million.


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Ford has recently held a competition for application developers to come up with new and intriguing in-car applications to be used in conjunction with their Ford SYNC® system. The event was held at the ‘TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon’ inSan Franciscowhere many of the worlds top software developers meet each year to discuss and showcase their skills and work. Continue reading
The Ford motor company are continually developing new cars with the most up to date security and are renowned for their advanced accessories for their many vehicles. With such a foothold in the motoring technology sector the company of course uses the internet in many ways to market their products and keep customers up to date on their latest releases.
As I am sure you will know, Ford enthusiasts are waiting with bated breath regarding the companies Focus ST that’s soon to be released. Fans of the Upcoming Ford model will be able to check on the progress of the Focus ST in its final development cycle by using the company’s Face book page.
The car which is scheduled for release next year will be featured periodically on its page as Ford will be adding videos, pictures and articles about the technologies and performance factors regarding the ST. Not only will avid fans be able to catch glimpses of the vehicle in action but also commentary from developers and other key people involved in its evolution.
Already many photos and videos have been posted and uploaded to Ford’s Face book page and more are expected right up until 2012 when it’s released. There are plans to release videos of the car in action on testing grounds including Lommel in Belgium, Nürburgring in Germany and other tracks around the world including the United Kingdom and Spain.
This is just one of the many social media ventures that Ford have used in recent years, others include the base model Focus and the New Ford Fiesta. If you are looking for a new Ford car why not visit your local Ford Dealers and take a look at their New Ford cars. The benefits being that you won’t have to visit Facebook or have to wait another year to get your ideal car!
This month on the 28th of July the annual “International Automotive Summit” took place in Westminster. Members that attended included a varied and influential mix of international heads of some of the largest businesses involved within the car industry, political figures and an array of keynote speakers.
In the recent and somewhat troublesome financial climate, there have been many discussions regarding the way forward when it comes to expanding the United Kingdoms car manufacturing output. The Ford Motor Groups European chief executive Stephen Odell commented on this topic at the summit on his feelings towards the future of UK car making and how to go forward.
Making sure that the government have a firm plan will be essential to expand the countries car manufacturing or else the UK will fail to rebalance the economy. Citing that one of the largest problems within the current climate is that of car production is already riddled with overcapacity. This meaning that many car suppliers are offering unrealistic prices as a means to keep their plants and related departments open.
At present the UK motoring industry employs over 700,000 people and exports over 15 billion pounds per year. The UK counts for 10% of the world’s car exports which shows just how important the country is.
Mr Odell who was speaking not only on behalf of Ford Motors but the coalition of auto traders under the banner of the SMCC made clear that they were not demanding grants or financial assistance as a means of help from the government. He explained that education was very important when it came to expanding the autos market, meaning getting a larger amount of students to take up related subjects such as science, technology and engineering. Something that Ford has began to develop with their recent scholarships schemes that they have introduced within the UK.
The talk of ways forward in expanding the car market within the United Kingdom is of course great news for Ford dealerships and will give people seeking new Ford cars for sale a much better deal.
With universities charging more and more to enrol each year and the slow decline of government funding and assistance it is certainly a harrowing time for people seeking a return to education. Many are finding it so difficult to make ends meet that they are postponing taking up university places at all.
The Ford Motor Group have delighted many and given many people hope, due to a new scheme that they have introduced to help the next generation of prospective engineers and designers take their rightful place. The scheme which is a sponsorship programme has given what many have remarked upon as ‘A light at the end of the tunnel’.
The new scheme, known as ‘The Ford Blue Oval Sponsorship programme’ has been released as part of the 100th birthday celebrations of the motor company and is expected to be a great success. A staggering £1 million pounds is expected to be shared out amongst 100 students in a hope that it will help produce many more technicians and innovators to join the British motor industry.
Recently university fees have risen up-to almost £9000 and Fords offer of an individual sponsorship of £10000 could certainly support and help a student immensely and put them on the right track to a fantastic career. The sponsorship is only open to students that are seeking a place on certain technology, engineering and science courses at selected universities around the country.
So if you are interested in becoming the designer of tomorrow’s vehicles then why not contact Ford Motors for more information. Who knows, you could find one of your designs or innovations parked outside a Ford Dealership for sale in the future!
Have you ever heard of the computer game ‘The Sims’? If not then where have you been! The game has been heralded as the most popular life simulation game of all time and has a huge fan base around the world. Since its creation in 2000 it has sold well over 6.5 million copies and in its year of release held the title of best selling PC game ever.
There are countless downloads and expansion packs that players can download online and now for the second time Ford have released their own digital download. Motor enthusiasts can now have the chance to give their in-game characters the wonderful Ford Focus 2012 to drive around their digital roads in this fabulous automobile.
Already a favourite at your local Ford Dealer the Ford Focus is set to take ‘The Sims’ by storm by causing motoring envy to your virtual and artificial intelligent neighbours! A recent poll by the games publishers has shown that 28% of players already drive a Ford car in real life, so of course why not drive the same in game!
The Ford expansion pack is the companies’ second venture into providing vanity items for ‘The Sims’, in 2010 the Ford Fusion, Edge and mustang were officered as free downloads. The Ford Focus 2012 is available as part of the ‘Neon Nights’ package which also includes a virtual t-shirt, top of the range stereo and even some neon lights.
For those seeking a non virtual Ford car why not head down to your local Ford Dealership and find out what they have to offer. It may well cost a lot more to buy but a dealer such as New Cars Chard can help you find a great deal to suit you.
The Ford Motor company are well renowned for being motoring pioneers, at the forefront of pushing forward the boundaries of car making. Bearing that in mind it is no surprise that they have just released details that’s they will be investing a whopping $100 million in state of the art robotic technology to help with one of the motor industries greatest quality factors.
‘Wind noise’ may not be what you would consider to be one of the biggest challenges that face motor manufacturers, but Ford have announced they will be employing the latest technology available to ensure they get the closest fit and best finish possible.
The new $100 million equipment will be used in several of the motor companies’ plants around the world including their Michigan plant, their “Saarlouis” plant in Germany and Chicago Assembly Plant.
The robots are designed to inspect and find any possible signs that the cars body may not be as precise as expected in regards to its original specs. They will mechanically move down the manufacturing line and scan each newly assembled car and in particular the joint between the doors and the chassis.
It is said that the robots provide a level of precision not seen before especially within the motoring industry. A pilot trial of the robotic technology is being carried out currently in Fords German manufacturing plant in Saarlouis.
Already Ford have a large amount of technology developed within their manufacturing plants that help with countering and pinpointing causes of wind noise including air leakage tests and vibration and harshness chambers.
To experience just how wonderfully advanced a Ford car is, why not visit your local Ford Dealership and test drive one of their new Ford cars on display.
Everyone knows how advanced the new designs coming from the Ford Motor Company are; collaborations with Google to its implementation of wireless media hubs in its new Ford Focus models show just how much they are advancing motoring design.
We are becoming very accustomed to our cars containing many different meters and dials that tell us everything from tyre pressures to outside temperatures, but how much further can car manufacturers go? Well, how about having your car monitor your health?
The Car giant Ford have announced that in the near future it will be working with many medical and health equipment companies in a bid to bring its cars monitoring systems a step up above the rest of its competitors. The company hope to be able to work in conjunction with many different specialists to produce equipment that will be able to keeps checks on existing health problems such as diabetes, hypoglycaemia and asthma. At the heart of this system will be the already successfully Ford SYNC™ wireless interface hub.
Already, one of the first applications the motoring corporation are hoping to build will be an allergy app, this will alert drivers and passengers if pollen levels increase outside in much the same way as weather reports and temperatures are presented.
Another type of application would be suited for sufferers of diabetes, analysing blood sugar levels within passengers, the device would simply once initiated receive data from a monitoring device wirelessly to alert of any sudden changes.
Ford certainly are ensuring that they are at the forefront of motoring technology and with that in mind why not visit your local Ford dealership to view their great range of new Ford cars.
For those who follow these things you may have heard that back in February the one of the worlds best rally drivers Juha Kankkunen broke the world speed record on ice, also know as the ice speed record (ICR). The record was set in a specially modified Bentley Continental Super-sports convertible, which managed an average ‘two-pass’ speed of 205.48mph.
And now for the big news, Bentley is marking this fantastic achievement by releasing a limited edition of the car of which 100 will be made. The Continental ISR is a divergence from the usual Bentley style with a more radical design. It’ll be available in three different colours Quartzite, Beluga and the most striking of the three Artica White and will be fitted out with the usual interior comfort with beautifully done leatherwork. All the models feature a striking red carbon fibre trim to mark them out as ISR models and dark grey soft tops.
Engine wise you’re looking at 630bhp from its W12 twin turbo engine leading to acceleration to 60mph of 3.8 second. This extra power over the normal versions comes with the latest improvements in the exhaust, air intakes and the intercooler. Fuel wise it’ll run on either your regular unleaded petrol or the reduced emission E85 bio-ethanol.
So if this sounds like it could take for fancy then why not pop down to your local Bentley Dealer or Bentley Specialist to find out more, as it’s a great chance to pick up a fantastic limited edition.
Aston Martin have unveiled their latest model the 2012 Aston Martin Virage which is the third model in Aston Martin’s two-door GT series. The Virage finds itself neatly placed between the DB9 and the DBS in Aston’s range of cars.
The all-aluminium 2012 Virage has a four-cam 6.0-litre V12 sports, which produces 490 bhp which is half way between the DB9’s 470 bhp and the DBS 510 bhp and does 0 – 60 in just 4.6 seconds.
The Virage is of course like all other Aston Martin’s in that it is completely captivating with a style and sex appeal unmatched by nearly any other car on the road.
The 2012 Virage drives superbly, as you would expect from Aston Martin, though its power and speed flows rather than coming in fast bursts. This means on a grand tour down to the south of France the Virage is perfect and gives you the time and space to test the car to its limits, yet if you use it to simply drive through London your unlikely to find out what this car is really capable of. But a grand tour is just what an Aston Martin is all about. What better way is there to drive through country or through the continent than in an Aston Martin. There are certainly very few cars that will turn as many heads as you drive by.
The 2012 Aston Martin Virage is set to go on sale this summer so head down to your Aston Martin dealer to enquire about this stunning addition to the Aston martin line up.
Mercedes are to pushing forward with their desire to be a green car maker with the announcement of a new fuel cell production plant in Vancouver, Canada. The factory will be producing new fuel cells which will go on to power a range of Mercedes hybrid cars. Mercedes has collaborated with German firm Accumotive Gmbh to come up with the battery technology.
The new Canadian plant will be a one stop shop for fuel cell production by offering everything from research and development to mass production of the cells. These brand new fuel cells will be suitable for Mercedes range of sedans including the C-Class and E-Class.
Mercedes already has a hybrid car in the works, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell, with the fuel cell being provided by the AFCC (The Automotive Fuel Cell Corporation) which was created back in 2008 by For, Daimler and Ballard.
The work at the Vancouver facility is to begin straightaway with construction of the 20,000 square foot factory due to be completed in 2012. It is expected that the first usable fuel cells will roll off the production line in 2013.
Fuel cells will provide motorists with an increased efficiency providing a greater power output and also will take up much less space in the car than current systems.
Hydrogen fuel cells are believed by many to be the power source of the future as they are much more efficient than electric cars, and will prove to be far greener and cheaper to run then petrol. Even the pro petrol heads Top Gear have admitted that fuel cells are the future of motoring and are looking forward to the day when these futuristic cars roll off the production lines.
If in the mean time you want to stick to your regular petrol car then visit a Mercedes dealer to see their range of amazing machines.


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The new service, called BT Cellnet Genie Internet Platform —
available at www.genie.co.uk — offers
a range of content and supporting applications such as e-mail.
“By continuing to partner with leading mobile operators such as BT Cellnet,
Phone.com has established the standard way for carriers to deliver the
Internet to millions of wireless phone users worldwide,” said Ben Linder,
VP of Marketing at Phone.com.
“Our relationship with BT Cellnet marks a significant trend of broad-scale
deployments of WAP-based services in the European marketplace.”
Phone.com’s UP.Link Server Suite is an open system that makes it possible
interactive Internet information services and value-added telephony
applications to run on wireless handsets running the UP.Browser
The extensive list of Genie services includes G-Mail, a Web-based email
G-Info, with reports on subjects such as shares, sport and travel, the
G-Live text alert service which brings users the latest scores of their
top Premiership club, and G-Live Grand Prix which carries exclusive audio
A second version, called U.Genie, is
aimed at 16-24 year olds.


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Rylan Barnes, co-founder of ShopSavvy, is working to transform the world of mobile e-commerce.
BS, Computer Engineering2005
|Dec 17, 2015||Boston Tech Flash - Purch acquires ShopSavvy, making mobile startup the latest grab in its buying spree|
|May 7, 2009||ZD Net - News to know: Cisco; Kindle DX; MySpace; Microsoft|
|May 6, 2009||ZD Net - Live MOTODEV podcast with Ed Burnette and Rylan Barnes|
|Sep 17, 2008||Venture Beat - Big in Japan wins the Android Challenge, raises money and has big plans for Google Android development|


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This week in martech
News from Narrative and Experian, Button and Deliveroo, plus customer service predictions from Pega.
Narrative partners with Experian for consumer insights
Narrative, the data streaming vendor, yesterday announced a partnership with consumer data giant Experian. The partnership will open up data from Experian’s ConsumerView database to clients using Narrative’s data streaming platform.
The aim is to give Narrative platform users access to consumer data across such verticals as
Financial services, automotive, retail and CPG. It will be possible to build audiences in Narrative, based on the actionable insights from Experian ConsumerView, and execute on those audiences in The Trade Desk, Google and Adobe.
Why we care. Raw data is just that: raw data. Through this partnership, Narrative users should have the ability to convert that data into targetable audiences.
Deliveroo partners with Button
Deliveroo, the international food delivery service serving markets in Europe, Asia and Australia, has adopted Evolution, a product suite offered by Button, the mobile commerce intelligence vendor.
Button aims to support business growth for brands and publishers, while providing an enjoyable mobile commerce experience for consumers. Deliveroo plans to use the Evolution suite to measure the effectiveness of affiliate marketing, and the impact of specific offers and discounts. This should aid better management of budgets for affiliate marketing, and a better understanding of ROAS.
Deliveroo also expects a better understanding of the effectiveness of partnerships with individual publishers.
Why we care. This is an example of a business which should thrive, based on the way consumer behavior changed last year, and it’s interesting to see how it’s raising its digital game.
2021 predictions: Customer service
Pega CRM, part of Pegasystems’ enterprise software portfolio, has greeted the new year with predictions for customer service, including the significance of XR: extended reality. Here are the highlights:
- This will be the year of autonomous service, with younger customers preferring to interact digitally rather than with live agents. Businesses at the cutting edge of this trend are offering customer service journeys rather than channel-based service, using hyper-automation, AI, virtual assistants and robotic process automation.
- Agents will continue to be physically distributed, meaning savings on office space, but investment in a digital collaboration infrastructure.
- The pandemic saw a surge in customer service cases which caught many businesses by surprise. Having learned that lesson, smart businesses will be future-proofing against disruption.
- Forget AR and VR in a customer service context: more than 50% of global business leaders are looking at XR — an umbrella term for a combination all immersive experiences (including real world) — as a differentiator in the next five years thanks to its “ability to simulate physical states of being” for remotely located employees and customers.
Why we care. Customer service is a critical element of the customer experience, and shouldn’t be siloed from marketing and sales. It’s also a business function which faces special challenges when teams work remotely: it deserves attention in 2021. Even so, we’re not placing big bets on XR yet.


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New Castle, DE – Inspired by the popular outdoor Curbside Wilmington and Newark’s Main Street Alfresco, New Castle County will invest $300,000 of CARES Act money to help New Castle County restaurants prepare for outdoor dining during the colder months. The grants will be administered by The Committee of 100, and owners and managers can apply HERE beginning on October 14.
“It’s critical to keep our community safe and healthy, as well as keep our businesses safe and healthy,” said County Executive Matt Meyer. “These grants are critical lifelines that will help small businesses keep staff working as well as maintaining the health of diners.”
“Food and drink establishments across New Castle County have innovated and adapted to survive in this very challenging environment,” added Jennifer Kmiec, Executive Director of The Committee of 100. “We are happy to partner with the County to help support these small businesses to extend their outdoor dining into the cooler months.”
The “Winter Ready Restaurant Grant Program” is open to independent locally owned restaurants, as well as Delaware-based franchises, that have a permit for outdoor space, whether for a temporary parklet or sidewalk cafe, or permanent, private patio. Up to $5,000 can be requested to cover the costs of winterization, including tents, heaters, propane, lighting, and furniture. Applicants must ensure proper New Castle County Land Use or municipality permitting has been followed to ensure grantees do not violate county code.
“Local restaurateurs are working so hard to serve our patrons and keep our trained staff together,” said Scott Stein, co-owner of Bardea Food & Drink. “We’ve had the luxury of beautiful fall weather but are very concerned as winter approaches. These grants will be critical to help us continue outdoor dining as long as possible.
Getting the word out for this opportunity will take a partnership with organizations like the Delaware Restaurant Association, Downtown Visions, Cornerstone West CDC, Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce, and more.
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE OF 100
The Committee of 100 is a non-partisan, non-profit association of Delaware business leaders that works to promote responsible economic development and address issues that affect Delaware's economic health. Members recognize that effectively addressing quality-of-life issues -- such as education, housing, transportation, the environment, health care, public safety, libraries, recreation, the arts, and social services -- requires a healthy economy.


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"Imagine all diagnostics some day being reduced to a simple blood test," said CEO Roopam Banerjee, who believes Raindance products are a "step in that direction."
The Nest smart thermostat continues to get smarter with every software update.
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It's a game that asks big questions about life and death, all the while straddling the line between "game" and "cinema."
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The goal for the multiyear partnership is to make genetic analysis a routine part of patient care.
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