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Wala Receives Investment from Newtown Partners Ahead of ICO Launchbr>
Wala is a financial platform with a mission to help people reach financial prosperity by eliminating the barriers to banking. Their goal is to close the gap that exists between consumers and financial service providers by increasing the accessibility of the financial system. The platform aims to achieve this by making basic banking free and by making all financial services readily available through a customer’s phone.
Newtown Partners is the venture capital firm founded by Bitcoin Foundation executive director Llew Claasen and Vinny Lingham. Claasen is the founder of mobile gift card company Gyft, sold to First Data in 2015; while Lingham is the founder of Civic, a Silicon Valley-based startup that completed a $33m token sale for a digital identity management platform in July.
The new equity investment will enable Wala to deliver on the promise of bridging the gap between banks and unbanked people with blockchain technology. By building a consumer-facing platform on the ethereum blockchain, the company plans to let consumers transact with blockchain-based tokens, which are then settled as fiat payments with partner banks.
Wala said it has tested prototypes of its platform in over 100 countries, reaching 1 million consumers without traditional banking access. These local customer communities have been instrumental in demonstrating that digital technology can be used to effectively remove the key barriers to the adoption of financial services by the underbanked and underserved: access, cost and embedded economic incentives.
The roll out of the Wala platform is initially planned for emerging markets in Africa, following the footprint of local banking services partners, before expanding globally.
Later this month, Wala will serve as the launch partner for Dala, a new financial services utility token. The Dala utility token is a general-purpose ERC-20 crypto-token created to enable free banking for emerging market consumers. The token is fractionally divisible and is independent of all local currencies and cryptocurrencies. Consumers will be able to engage in the Dala ecosystem by making transfers using their own token wallets, via the Wala Financial Platform, or through other applications built using the Dala API.
The Dala initial coin offering (ICO) begins on October 15, with a goal of raising US $30 million. The ICO will use Vinny Lingham’s Civic app to provide identity verification to token sale investors.
“Through the use of blockchain technology and tokenization, we have developed a platform that makes it possible to serve the financially excluded economically at scale,” said Wala founder and CEO Tricia Martinez. “Our community’s guidance has ensured that the Wala Financial Platform has been built by the people for the people. We are thrilled to be working with Newtown Partners. The depth and breadth of their expertise as both entrepreneurs and investors in technology, combined with their commitment to creating globally successful startups will be key to the future success of Wala. We are excited about taking the next steps in our journey with Llew & Vinny.”
“Wala’s blockchain-enabled platform will enable greater access to zero fee financial services to billions of consumers in emerging markets and enable everyone to become economically active, no matter where in the world they are,” said Claasen. “These are the kinds of big problems being addressed by bold innovations that we like to back”


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Gorilla Glass keeps your phone safe, but will it crack under the pressure when the Mythbusters bring out their hammers and air cannons?
Glassmaker unveils its fourth-gen smartphone display glass as it looks to maintain its dominance in the display business.
At Corning's Gorilla Glass testing labs, the glassmaker that fronts Apple's iPhone tried to show that rival sapphire crystal isn't all it's cracked up to be.
CNET's Ben Fox Rubin discusses his visit to Corning's reliability and testing labs for its smartphone cover glass.
With a smattering of new laptops and hybrids, a couple tablets and its first smartphone in the US, Acer fleshes out its 2015 lineup for back-to-school shoppers.
These two top flagship smartphones both pack high-end designs and features to boot. Here's how they stack up against each other.
Samsung has a dizzying array of flagship smartphones. CNET's Marguerite Reardon helps you break down your options.
iFixit's teardown of the new S6 shows it's not the type of phone that's easy to open or repair.
Technically Incorrect: In a bizarre image posted by CEO of Chinese company that's about to launch a smartphone, Apple is portrayed by Hitler with an Apple logo in place of the swastika.
Corning's antimicrobial Gorilla Glass topper for electronic devices uses silver (yes, silver!) to fight off icky germs.

domain: news


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Do you want to understand everything, know everything about technology news and developments? Check out the new Forbes show,” Technical meetings Directed by Fabrice Zira.
In this second edition, Fabrice Zira takes an interest in the Metaverse. Started by the Meta a few months ago, this technological revolution is about to change all of our uses and disrupt the way we see the world.
After an immersive trip to The Sandbox, Technical meetings We are pleased to welcome the testimony of one of the greatest experts in the sector: Laurent Solly, Vice President of Meta.
Not forgetting the economist Daniel Cohen, who, in his new book ” Homo numericusThe Coming Civilization”, helps us assess the economic and social implications of such a technological breakthrough.


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Last week saw UK inflation surging to its highest level for a decade, hitting 4.2% in October. This was both higher than the markets expected and more than twice the Bank of England’s (the Bank) target of 2%.
It looks as if soaring energy and fuel prices are pushing up the cost of living, and families were warned of a “painful’ rise in the cost of living this winter. The figures also showed sharp rises in inflation across food, hospitality and household goods as supply chain disruption took its toll.
The figures have surprised some market commentators after the Bank of England’s decision earlier this month to maintain interest rates at record levels of 0.1%. The Bank, however, needs to be seen to be doing something, as there is a danger that inflation is rising so rapidly that it risks becoming embedded. There is also the issue of the Bank’s credibility after the decision to leave interest rates untouched, which wrongfooted the market, and led to some questioning their credibility. Although their reasoning for not raising interest rates to date has been due to the labour markets, it is evident after the employment figures, that this is no longer in question.
With the sharp fall in unemployment and record levels of vacancies, it is now believed that an interest rate rise next month to curb prices is almost inevitable. The Bank has also recently warned that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) will reach 4.5% towards the end of this year, and around 5% in April 2022. The headlines reflect the fact that these price increases are happening at a time when pay growth is slowing to 3.4% in September, and families are facing the prospect of falling real incomes over the coming months. The City now expects a hike in interest rates, and is assuming they will rise by 0.15%, to a headline 0.25%. This increase, however, will not make much of a difference as inflation is being driven by rising petrol, gas and electricity bills, and these prices are not affected by UK interest rates.
Whilst raising interest rates may not stop soaring inflation, it could at least begin to slow it. In reality, it takes about six months for any interest rate rise to start to take effect, so we should not expect much evidence of change for some time to come. Future interest rates are not only expected to rise much above 1%, and the impact of higher rates will be felt by household borrowers, but also by a heavily indebted government which has borrowed record levels of money to keep the UK economy afloat through the COVID crisis.
The Bank has to grasp whether this inflation is short term, driven by short term supply chain squeezes, or longer term and therefore more aggressive hikes in interest rates will be needed. We should get a clearer picture in the next few months.


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TheStreet's Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer said Shake Shack (SHAK) has some similarities to Tesla (TSLA) . 'Per car, Tesla is way too expensive and per store, Shake Shack is way too expensive,' Cramer said. 'At some point, Shake Shack will grow into its market cap.' Cramer also said that some analysts, like the ones at Longbow Research, think Shake Shack is a great growth company.
More from Video
How quickly do we find support, is what we'll want to know now, as the correction is occurring while economic optimism builds.
Despite the president's promise of no stimulus until after Nov. 3, there are no signs yet that this is the sort of correlated selling that leads to a deep correction.
Salesforce, Amgen and Honeywell will give a lift to the DJIA going forward.
CAG has hung onto the bulk of its recent gains, and could rise to the $50 area, according to the charts and indicators.


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China's telecommunication giant Huawei signed an agreement with InterContinental hotel and China Telecom to build the world's first 5G smart hotel, on Tuesday at the Huawei Global Analyst Summit (HAS 2019) in Shenzhen.
A demonstration suite includes 5G network, Cloud PC, Cloud gaming and fitness devices.
What does 5G mean?
A fast network guarantees stable, smooth and powerful cloud services. In the 5G era, a cloud PC no longer has a tangible CPU or storage or graphics card – they are all on the cloud. All you need is just a screen, a keyboard, and a mouse. That means with a cloud account you don't even have to carry your laptop when on a trip out.
"5G changes the mode of services from buying to subscription. It's like a shared bicycle, you don't have to buy a bicycle, you just rent its using hours," a Huawei employee told CGTN.
The cloud system can be applied for either work or entertainment.
Daniel Arbenz, General Manager of the InterContinental Shenzhen believes 5G will bring changes to the entire hotel industry, “We can deliver much more customized services for our guests.”
Huawei has over 40 commercial contracts for 5G
At his keynote speech at the HAS 2019, Ken Hu, Huawei's vice chairman estimates that by the year 2025, there'll be 6.5 million base stations deployed and there'll be 2.8 billion 5G users in the world, which will cover 58 percent of the world's population then.
Despite being in a difficult time followed by restrictions imposed by the U.S. and other countries against its 5G network rollout, Huawei isn't even flinching. It has so far signed 40 commercial contracts for 5G, and thanks to that, the company says it's likely to see a double-digit growth in its operator business in 2019.


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The EU imposed anti-dumping duties of 26.5 to 85 percent on fasteners from China for five years in January 2009.
China is the world's biggest producer of screws, nuts, bolts and washers, while the EU is its major market.
The WTO set up an expert panel on October 23, 2009 after China initiated the WTO case on July 31, 2009, saying anti-dumping measures taken by the EU against the import of Chinese steel fasteners violated WTO trade rules.
The WTO ruled on December 3 last year that the EU anti-dumping duties are discriminatory and violate global commerce rules.
The EU appealed on March 25 this year. China appealed further on March 30 on the remaining problems that did not win support from the expert panel.


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Dawn Foods, a global leader in bakery manufacturing and distribution, announced a breakthrough donut glaze innovation for the baking industry. Dawn Exceptional® Non-Sticky Donut Glaze is a patent-pending solution for donut manufacturers that delivers perfectly glazed donuts, even when packaged. Dawn Exceptional® Non-Sticky Donut Glaze improves the appeal of packaged glazed donuts and extends the shelf life and freshness of the donut. Resulting in additional sales opportunities and significant waste reduction in store.
This revolutionary solution uses a proprietary formulation that prevents the migration of moisture from the donut to the glaze. As a result, the donut glaze remains highly stable and non-sticky for several days. “We are excited to introduce a solution that enables to adapt to the consumer demand for packaged products and sell a packaged glazed donut, that maintains the integrity and freshness of a freshly fried glazed donut,” said Christopher Ries, Category Marketing Manager, Wet Ingredients, for Dawn Foods Europe & AMEAP. “Dawn Exceptional® Non-Sticky Donut Glaze prevents the dulling, flaking, and stickiness that we see with glazes historically used on packed glazed donuts, which can result in an undesirable product inside the packaging”.
“For many years, one of the challenges the industry has faced is the level of stickiness and the dissolving of glaze on packed donuts,” said Erwin deWale, Innovation Manager, Dawn Foods Europe & AMEAP. “At Dawn, our approach to product innovation is focused on solutions that truly matter to our customers. With the rising demand for individually packaged products, this innovation enables donut manufacturers to meet the needs of consumers while maintaining the appeal and freshness of the product.” Dawn Foods has filed for and is awaiting final approval on a global patent for this industry-leading innovation.
To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global bakery market please register to receive our newsletter here.
Editor, International Bakery
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922


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Boomerang, headed by former Initiative Media Chairman Lou Schultz, handed out more than 650 free cellphones to attendees to demonstrate the company's ability to deliver personalized marketing content. Phone numbers consumers opt-in to call link them with voice and text messages (like the greeting from ANA President-CEO Bob Liodice used as an example) that correlate with a marketer's brand message at events where they are most receptive to those messages.
Attendees clamored for the free phones, and showed interest in the new, potentially more measurable, media of the future. But the inherent risk was elucidated by the difficulty many had accessing the information. "It's new, it's different and after my kids explain it to me I'll understand it better," said Joe Kelly, chief marketing officer of Triad Consulting Corp.
Dick Hopple, chairman-CEO of Unicast Communications, expressed reservations about the opt-in approach, offering that "the Internet is littered with companies that in the `90s thought they could get people to opt in and couldn't."
Mr. Schultz likened the skepticism to the debates on cable's viability in the `80s. And certainly marketers are still clearly interested in new approaches. Wachovia Exec VP-Chief Marketing Officer Jim Garrity cited an increased emphasis from his company on emerging media that provide opportunities for customized messaging and better evaluation of returns, among them new cellphone messaging, video games and personal video recorders.


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AMITIAE - Saturday 15 February 2014
Cassandra: Weekend Comment (1) - Apple Sells More Devices than the Rest; Fading Microsoft Batshit Crazy; Healthcare Personnel; Other News
By Graham K. Rogers
Wait, Apple sold more devices than the rest of the world put together? Doomed, doomed. It can only go down from here. That is after all what the analysts base their numbers on.
In the meantime, Carl Icahn has had a rethink and thinks that Apple shares are fine, but also thinks that a return of legislation that separated investment banks from commercial banks, might be a good thing. Jennifer Ablan of Reuters suggests that the banks would not agree [my link for this was MacDaily News].
Sure, Apple must go down at some stage. Remember Microsoft in the 1990s at the height of their arrogance? An example of that was charging schools for Windows licenses on all computers, even if that included devices not running Windows. And now we have Windows 8.1 which one of their biggest fans (Paul Thurrott) has called out. Even though Microsoft is no longer the belle of the ball, it still has enough income annually to last for quite a while yet; and who knows, if they can ever shed the old management, maybe it will reinvent itself.
He says Microsoft is fading and is missing the new markets. I suggested a couple of years back that there should have been an Office for iOS and this is his earnest suggestion too, with Mary Jo Foley providing some extra information with the news that there could be an iOS version of Office later in the year.
It is just too late. The PC platform is fading (he says) and I say that there are already plenty of other apps available for iOS that allow those functions that Office would have. With the number of users now online, it is unlikely that they will suddenly up and install Office, especially if Apple's iWork is free and already in use. Sure some will buy it and realise that it is not the same as the desktop version. The iPad is not a desktop device, so people work in a different way and they are already working on the iPad. Microsoft is late again. Too late.
As a slight contradiction of some of the information in that item, MacNN report that Office for the iPad may be available "sometime in the first half of 2014, instead of a rumored fall date; but what form it takes and the payment [see iWork above] are not known.
If that were not enough, Ben Thompson on the Stratechery site looks just at what Microsoft's strategy is and includes some information from executives up at Redmond, concluding that "Office is not available everywhere, and probably won't be anytime soon, because Microsoft has a devices business to prop up. Oh, and Microsoft's business needs are a priority over user needs". As Jim Dalrymple on The Loop (my link) says "Microsoft is batshit crazy."
However, with all the success of the iPad, it appears that Apple is set to retire the iPad 2, according to Neil Hughes on AppleInsider. Didn't they also retire the Bondi Blue iMac?
We have the iPhone 5s now, so of course the iPhone 6 is coming. Despite some reports earlier in the week insisting that the iWatch would have sapphire glass and not the iPhone 6, AppleBitch has another rumour from China that tells us that the next iPhone will have sapphire glass. Also in the article is a release date of September (possible after the last few iPhones) which contradicts with other reports we read not so long ago about a release in February or March or something.
Continuing its recruitment of experts that could be working on health applications or something like the rumoured iWatch, Apple now has on its staff Marcelo Malini Lamego, an expert who developed a noninvasive monitoring tool that assesses "multiple blood constituents and physiologic parameters that previously required invasive or complicated procedures" AppleInsider reports [my link for this was MacDaily News].
Well, now, here's a thing. Rolfe Winkler on The Wall Street Journal has the temerity to suggest that Android's 'Open' System Has Limits and explains about how handset makers like Samsung and others are sort of forced into providing certain apps in the installation of the OS, and that these are aimed at giving Google more hits, and thus more advertising income. He explains how some of these limits are being examined, mainly by the EU, but this makes no mention of the other half of the "Open" equation: Android uses technology from others, and some of this has to be paid for. That is not Open at all.
See AlsoCassandra: Weekend Comment (2) - Apple, Time-Warner, Comcast (Yes we will, No we Won't); Britain Closes the Net on its Citizens; and a Chocolate iPhone case.
Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.
For further information, e-mail to


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Amid its blockchain and cryptocurrency pivot, cloud-based content delivery network Xunlei has been hit by two class action suits alleging it distributed false information that materially affected its stock price.
According to filings with the New York Southern District court on Jan. 18 and Jan. 24, the lawsuits against Xunlei, its CEO Chen Lei, CFO Eric Zhou and Zhou's predecessor Wu Tao, are being brought by investors who purchased Xunlei stock from Oct. 10, 2017 to Jan. 11, 2018.
The filings state that during that period, Xunlei announced its shift into exploring blockchain technology, and subsequently launched a blockchain-based token to facilitate its cloud services.
The plaintiffs allege that the company, while knowingly participating in unlawful initial coin offerings, also issued a series of false statements about the legitimacy of this activity, which led to a material impact on its stock price. As such, the plaintiffs are seeking remedy through legal action.
Xunlei, based in China and listed on the NASDAQ exchange, was one of the first publicly traded companies that saw its stock price rise then plunge amid a business pivot into blockchain technology in late 2017.
Yet, the latest legal cases perhaps also mark the first time investors have teamed up to bring charges over questionable moves by public companies that have moved or pivoted operations into blockchain and cryptocurrency services.
According to announcements at the time, Wanke Coin was issued as a reward for Xunlei's OneCloud users who were willing to share their idle network bandwidth on its platform. In order to receive this reward, users need to purchase an item of hardware called OneThing Cloud from Xunlei to be able to share their cloud storage and network bandwidth.
The firm doubled down on its commitment to its blockchain pivot in an earnings release in November.
"Xunlei is transforming itself from a traditional internet service provider of membership subscription to a growth-oriented company developing innovative cloud computing products and exploring emerging blockchain technology," Li was quoted as saying in the statement.
Following the announcement, Xunlei's stock price surged from around $4 per share in October to as high as $25 in November, which was followed by major declines that triggered the plaintiffs' allegations.
Initial miner offering?
But what perhaps sparked the controversy to begin with was the timing and nature of the blockchain-based issuance, which arrived just a month after China's central bank put the notable ban on domestic initial coin offerings.
Amid challenges over Xunlei's motivation, Chen has stated publicly that its Wanke token is only for utility purpose and not allowed for trading, thus it was not conducting an initial coin offering, claiming the company had been abiding by Chinese law.
However, the plaintiffs allege that the statement is false and that Wanke Coin has the substance of an ICO while under the disguise of a business pivot, since the company requires users to purchase hardware to start receiving token rewards.
The court document further cited a notable announcement by China's National Internet Finance Association, which specifically pointed out on Jan. 11 that Xunlei's model is bypassing the ICO regulation through a disguise called an "initial miner offering."
"In the case of Lianke issued by Xunlei, for example, the issuing company in effect substitutes Lianke for the duty to pay back project contributors with legal tender, making it essentially a financing activity and a form of disguised ICO. In addition, with frequent promotional activities and publishing of trading tutorials, Xunlei has lured many citizens without sound discernment into IMO activities," NIFA noted at the time.
Although the NIFA is a self-regulatory association, not a regulatory agency, it was launched by the People's Bank of China and authorized by the State Council. As such, the plaintiffs allege that it was the company's false statements about its unlawful activity that had drawn close scrutiny from regulators that led to a 27 percent slump in Xunlei's stock price from $22.9 upon opening to $16.27 on Jan. 12.
The two court filings are shown below:
Court gavel image via Shutterstock
CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


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YCH Group Chairman and CEO Dr. Robert Yap Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Singapore 2007
- Dr. Yap to represent Singapore at the annual World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in Monte Carlo in 2008
Singapore, 28 November 2007 - Dr. Robert Yap, Chairman and CEO of Singapore-based YCH Group, a leading regional provider of integrated end-to-end supply chain management solutions, was named Entrepreneur Of The Year Singapore 2007 at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards Singapore 2007 award ceremony this evening. Dr. Yap will represent Singapore at the annual World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award to be held in Monte Carlo next year.
Robert has been named overall Entrepreneur of the Year. Our heartiest congratulations to Robert for being our role model of entrepreneurial excellence (From L-R: Mr Ong Yew Huat, Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Singapore, Dr. Robert Yap, Chairman & CEO of YCH Group, Minister for Manpower and 2nd Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Ms Fang Ai Lian, Chairman of Ernst & Young, Singapore)
Robert giving his speech of thanks and sharing his joy for being chosen to represent Singapore in the prestigious event next year
Being awarded the Oscars for business from among the best players across all industries in Singapore is a huge recognition of YCH's passion for supply chain excellence and our contribution as a trailblazer in the Singapore and regional logistics industry. Coupled with an enterprising work culture that permeates throughout the organization, this award will spur YCH to continue our single-minded focus to be where supplychain connects, to deliver competitive advantages for our customers and raise the bar for the entire industry and business landscape in Singapore and the region, said Dr. Robert Yap, Chairman and CEO, YCH Group.
Dr. Yap's win comes on the back of a breakthrough year for YCH, which was recently awarded the coveted Best Domestic Logistics Service Provider in Singapore and the Best IT/Electronics Logistics Service Provider in the region awards at the 2nd Annual Frost & Sullivan ASEAN 4 Logistics Awards. Most recently, YCH also received the Asian 3PL of the Year award at the Supply Chain Asia Logistics Awards 2007, organized by the regional industry association, Supply Chain Asia.
In June this year, the company also opened a 5.2 hectare, S$25 million Airport Logistics Park in Tianjin, China to support the growing requirements of its world-class customers as they scale and expand their manufacturing capabilities in the region.
Dr. Yap emerged as the overall Entrepreneur of the Year from six local award winners across various sectors including Stephen Riady, Executive Director of Auric Pacific Group (Strategic Investment); Robert Chandran, Executive Chairman and CEO of Chemoil Energy (Oil and Gas); FJ Benjamin CEO Nash Benjamin (Lifestyle); David Loke, Managing Director of Tru-Marine (Marine Engineering); and Richard Tay, Group MD of YHI International (Manufacturing).
The jubilant award winners of the 6 industries with Guest of Honor, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Dr Della Lee (From L-R: Dr Stephen Riady, Dr Robert Yap, Mr Richard Tay, Dr Della Lee, Minister Ng Eng Hen, Mr David Loke, Mr Robert V. Chandran and Mr Nash Benjamin)
Award recipients were selected based on six different criteria - Entrepreneurial Spirit, Innovation, Personal Integrity / Influence, Financial Performance, Strategic Direction and National / Global Impact - by an independent panel of judges made up of leading figures from the Singapore business community, academia and past award recipients.
As a leading innovator in the Singapore logistics industry, Dr. Robert Yap is a worthy winner who epitomizes the true spirit of entrepreneurship. He bears the key qualities of a great entrepreneur - passion in his field, astute business acumen, and an exciting vision for the industry in the logistics superhighway, which he realized through pioneering the effective use of IT to connect customers supply chains, said Mr. Chong Lit Cheong, Chief Executive Officer of International Enterprise Singapore and a member of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year judging panel.
YCH Group's suite of innovative award-winning end-to-end supply chain management solutions include Intribution, Intrabution, Retrogistics, Y-Merge and V-Hub, which employ cutting edge web-technologies that are best-in-class across industry clusters from consumer and electronics to chemical and healthcare, to deliver powerful competitive advantages for customers.
In his 30 years in the industry, Dr. Yap catalysed YCH's growth from a local transportation company to an award-winning 7PL Supply Chain Management leader in Asia Pacific, competing with the global giants in the industry and managing complex supply chains for the leading companies in the world including Dell, Motorola, Canon and Solectron. The company's regional footprint spans Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, China, India, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program was first launched by Ernst & Young in USA in 1986 and in Singapore in 2002. The awards program has become the most prominent international business award and has successfully expanded to 135 cities in more than 50 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Past winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Michael Dell of Dell Inc., Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corp., Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems, Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Eddie Jordan of Jordan Grand Prix, Paolo della Porta of Saes Getters S.p.A, Stefan Vilsmeier of BrainLAB AG, Narayana NR Murthy of Infosys Technologies, Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foods Corporation, Wayne Huizenga of Huizenga Holdings Inc., Bill Lynch of Imperial Holdings and Guy Lalibert of Cirque du Soleil.
Click here to see Channel News Asia's coverage on the awards gala.
For media enquiries, please contact:
YCH Corporate Communications
Ms Tien Yushan at Tel: (65) 6417 2773 or Email: email@example.com


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IFA President Tim Cullinan said the decision by the European Commission to open an investigation into anti-dumping measures on the import of Urea-Ammonium Nitrate (UAN fertiliser) is a positive step towards addressing concerns from farmers across Europe regarding the highly protected EU fertiliser production sector.
The European farmers’ organisation COPA-COGECA, supported by IFA, lodged a complaint with DG Trade at the end of April. This resulted in an investigation being opened to see whether fertiliser manufacturers would suffer “a threat of injury” should the anti-dumping measure on UAN be suspended.
Farmers contend that excessive profits achieved by fertiliser manufacturers, represented by Fertilisers Europe, means such a threat is unfounded. Meanwhile, it is estimated that the annual cost to EU farmers from the UAN anti-dumping measure alone ranges from €545m to €1.1bn.
“Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue rightly highlighted the current fertiliser crisis and the need to address anti-dumping measures during Monday’s Agriculture Council meeting. We hope the Commission will complete their investigations as a matter of urgency,” said the IFA President.
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This week, we have three new budget-friendly quad-core smartphones, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z going up for pre-order, and more.
On today’s Weekly News Roundup – india, we take a look at two new smartphones from Micromax, a revamped quad-core Samsung Galaxy Grand, the official arrival of the Nexus 4 and Vertu Ti, a teaser of the Notion Ink Adam 2, and a new discounted international roaming plan by Vodafone.
This week on the “Weekly News Roundup – India,” we take a look at a new glasses-free 3D smartphone from Micromax, four tablets from WickedLeak, Zync, Fly Mobile, and Intex, and some deals and offers from Vodafone.
In a new weekly segment, we will be taking a look at the latest Android news in India, including new smartphone and tablet announcements, software update rollouts, and network carrier news.
While Samsung dominated the Indian smartphone race in the last quarter of 2012, Apple is slowly but surely closing the gap, jumping to second place in terms of revenue in one quarter.
The Micromax A116 Canvas HD, a budget 5-inch quad-core Android smartphone, went on sale in India at midnight for Rs 13,990, and sold out in 15 minutes!
The Micromax A89 Ninja, the latest mid-range offering from the company, makes its way to online stores for Rs 6,249.
Those who are looking for a 5-inch smartphone that won’t cost an arm and a leg can look forward to the Micromax A116 Canvas HD hitting the store shelves soon in India. Check out the full specs inside.


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During an April 1 colloquy on executive compensation for TARP recipients, Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) asked Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank (D-Mass.) to clarify whether or not TARP recipients would be allowed to spend money on meetings, events and incentive travel programs.
“During the past few months, legitimate business travel for meeting, incentive and events travel has dramatically decreased, especially in my part of the country (in the district of Las Vegas),” Berkley said. “The decline is due in part because of the state of the economy, but also to a perception that Washington seeks to limit these legitimate business practices. This negative perception has created an environment where every business in the United States is beginning to question whether or not they should hold a meeting, event or incentive travel programs.
“As you know, Mr. Chairman, every canceled meeting or event means less business for the hotels, conference centers, restaurants [and] small companies across the country that cater to business travelers,” she added. “Hard-working middle class Americans … not the CEOs, are who ultimately will pay the price if companies continue to cancel business meetings and incentive travel.” She then asked Rep. Frank to assure the committee that those activities wouldn’t be restricted by current legislation or amendments to the proposed bill.
“This bill deals only with compensation, not with travel,” Rep. Frank replied. “Any incentive that was performance-based would be fully allowed. ” View the full exchange here.


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The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has finally gotten around to approving a new standard for the nano-SIM, but the group isn’t revealing whose proposal made the grade this time around, only letting the public in on the fact that, “the new form factor will be 40 percent smaller than the current micro-SIM format — measuring 12.3mm wide by 8.8mm high, and 0.67mm thick”
As you know, Apple has been very vocal about the nano-SIM, and even submitted its own design for the SIM card. Apple even went as far as offering up free licensing for all patents that were required to create the nano-SIM card to its competitors. Additionally, Apple iterated on its design to alleviate any concerns that the ETSI had regarding its submission.
We won’t know for sure exactly what design was ratified as the new standard until the standard is made public by the ETSI.
We’ll let you know who won the ETSI war once we actually figure out who won. Apparently the ETSI is pretty tight-lipped about how they arrive at standards.
Via: The Verge


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- Prey trial out for PC, console demo now trial to carry over progress
- The Evil Within 2 trailer introduces (killer) photographer Stefano
- Adol trailer, DLC and theme bonuses announced for Ys VIII
- PC gamers to get access to Destiny 2 beta on August 29
- Forza Motorsport 7 garage additions brings 140-plus European rides
Fancy A Date?
Developer- and Publisher-specific Articles: Dragon’s Crown
Atlus has announced that a new Cross-Play-enabling update for Dragon’s Crown will be launching in North America as well as Japan. Vanillaware’s beat ‘em up was released on both PS3 and PS Vita, but until now, gamers haven’t had a way to venture forth into the wilds with one another. That will all change soon, but just how soon is unknown as a release date for the patch wasn’t revealed. To celebrate the news, Atlus is knocking off $10 from either version for this week only.
The PlayStation 4 is still several months away, but next week, Comic-Con attendees will be able to get some hands-on time with the system. In addition to being able to check out some new peripherals, including the camera and headset, gamers will be able to try three titles for themselves at SCEA’s booth (#301): #DriveClub, Knack, and Octodad: Dadliest Catch. There will also be demos of five PS3 games, including Beyond: Two Souls and Diablo III, 10 PS Mobile games, and six PS Vita games on display, detailed below, as well as staff to help attendees make their way around each title. Some gamer-centric panels were also detailed, including a The Last of US signing and another discussing Telltale’s Walking Dead series.
Atlus has announced that Vanillaware’s upcoming beat ‘em up Dragon’s Crown will come with free launch DLC. The pack will replace the original narrator with one of the six characters—Amazon, Dwarf, Elf, Fighter, Sorceress, or Wizard—depending on the player’s preference. The pack is free only for the first month, after which it will cost $1.99 to download.
Atlus has revealed the official box art for Vanillaware’s upcoming four-player hack-and-slash brawler, Dragon’s Crown. To sweeten the pot, Atlus also released the cover to the pre-order 64-page art book. Despite the PS3 and PS Vita versions sharing the same cover, it was noted that the game will not support cross-buy.
Atlus has announced that Vanillaware’s upcoming hack-and-slash title Dragon’s Crown will be hitting store shelves for the PS3 and PS Vita this summer. The one- to four-player brawler has players choose one of six heroes from different classes to take into the dungeons of Hydeland in order to destroy monsters and loot as much booty as they can carry. Multiplayer will be supported via drop-in play on PS3 and adhoc on PS Vita, but unfortunately, cross-platform play is not in the cards.
UTV Ignition Games, the studio behind the psychedelic action-platformer El Shaddai, has passed the publishing rights for Vanillaware’s upcoming 2D action-RPG Dragon’s Crown to Atlus. Vanillaware will continue to develop the title, currently scheduled to launch next year for the PS3 and PS Vita, in which players take on the role of one of six adventurers with up to three friends in a side-scrolling medieval brawler.


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London's central Jermyn Street, known for its menswear stores, hosts an open-air catwalk show.
Tailored suits and leisure wear take centre stage at London Fashion Week Men's this weekend, where designers are presenting their latest offerings for spring wardrobes.
Designers young and established hold spring/summer 2020 catwalk shows and presentations until Monday, including the likes of Alexander McQueen, Edward Crutchley, QASIMI and Xander Zhou.
London's central Jermyn Street, known for its menswear stores, hosts an open-air catwalk show on Saturday.
In Britain, spending on menswear rose 3.5% to 15.5 billion pounds ($19.7 billion) last year, according to market research firm Mintel, which estimates a similar growth in 2019.
But growth in the British menswear market is seen slowing, with spending estimated to rise 15.4% in the five years to 2023 versus 26.6% growth in the previous five years, it added.
"Although the British menswear market continues to perform well, growth is slowing as the market is becoming more mature while a reliance on discounting is holding back value growth," Samantha Dover, Senior Retail Analyst at Mintel, said.
Though smaller in size than similar events held in fellow fashion capitals Milan, Paris and New York, London is known for its traditional tailors as well as its emerging designer talent.
London fashion Week Men's runs until Monday.
Clothes grown from slime mould and tupperware handbags were among the environmentally-friendly designs and ideas presented by Fashion graduates at a London arts school on Friday.
Models in zombie make-up and a growing number of women on the catwalks were among the eye-catching features of Men's Fashion Week, which wrapped up in London on Monday.
Carl Jenkinson, Alex Lacazette and John-Jules were on the target as Arsenal rallied to beat Al Nasr 3-2 in a friendly match at the refurbished Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday.
Crepes can provide endless stuffing possibilities. So whether you are planning a brunch or a light dinner, these easy mushroom crepes will give your meal a delicious French twist.
One in four women shy away from exercise for fear of being judged, according to a new poll.
Researchers have found that regular tea drinkers have better organised brain regions and this is associated with healthy cognitive function as compared to non-tea drinkers.


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Nintendo is aiming to increase its output of mobile games and it's looking for mobile developers to help out, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Nintendo already has a partnership with the mobile developer DeNA, formed in 2015, but according to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo also recently had partnership talks with developer GungHo Online Entertainment. GungHo is the developer behind the Puzzle and Dragons series, which has games on smartphones and Nintendo's 3DS line of handheld consoles.
GungHo denied to The Wall Street Journal that any such talks have taken place and did not respond to our request for confirmation. Nintendo declined to comment.
Since March 2016, Nintendo has released four mobile games, falling short of its original output goal of five mobile games by March 2017. The failure to meet this goal is likely what led Nintendo to start looking at partnering with new mobile developers, as well as the growth of the mobile game industry as a whole.
According to a recent report from digital data firm Newzoo, the mobile gaming industry is on a steady rise and is the largest growing sector in gaming, accounting for over 40% of the gaming industry's worth in 2017 at $50 billion.
The fact that Nintendo may be looking to increase its output of mobile games is a surprising shift for the company which just a few years ago seemed like it would never branch out beyond its own consoles, let alone release an original Super Mario game on smartphones.
The company's willingness to double down on mobile is even more surprising, considering Nintendo was pretty open about the fact that its second mobile game, Super Mario Run, didn't meet Nintendo's sale expectations. The game, though free to download, requires a $10 fee if players want to go beyond the first few levels.
Regardless, there is another side to Nintendo's (possible) move into mobile: Nintendo may be looking to convert its mobile game players into Nintendo fans. According to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo has seen a rise in sales of Animal Crossing games for 3DS since the release of its fourth mobile game Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp in November.


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During this 10-day trip, we discovered incredible new coffees that are now on their way to our Columbus roasting facility. We also met our goal of forging relationships with more small coffee farmers.
Columbus Ohio (PRWEB) May 07, 2015
Coffee buyers from Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea recently traveled 8,000 miles through four Central American countries to seek out great coffees and create direct-trade relationships with coffee growers. Founder and President Greg Ubert and Coffee Buyer Dave Eldridge visited coffee growers in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
“During this 10-day trip, we discovered incredible new coffees that are now on their way to our Columbus roasting facility,” Ubert said. “We also met our goal of forging relationships with more small coffee farmers.”
Through its Friend2Farmer direct trade program, Crimson Cup works hand-in-hand to develop better coffee and a better quality of life for coffee farmers, their families and their communities. “By paying above-market prices directly to growers, we give them more money to reinvest in their communities,” Ubert noted.
The team visited a dozen farms. “We cupped tons of coffee and got very little sleep,” Eldridge recalled. “We were humbled by the hospitality we received from farmers and impressed by the quality of their coffee.”
In Oaxaca, Mexico, the buying team visited several co-ops, including woman-owned Coordinadora Productores de Cafe de la Sierra Norte from the town of Juquila Vijanos.
“Their coffee is known in the region as ‘God’s Coffee’ – and for good reason,” Eldridge noted. “We’re eagerly anticipating arrival of this coffee in mid-May.”
From Mexico, the team flew into Guatemala to visit friends Manuel and Jorge DeLeon Ovalle, brothers who recently won first and second place in Guatemala’s cupping championship. The brothers were preparing for the upcoming world championships by cupping coffees from every region of Guatemala. Ubert and Eldridge participated in the cuppings, and then visited farms with the highest-scoring coffees. Crimson Cup expects to receive several micro-lot coffees from these farms later this spring and summer.
“We also finalized the purchase of two containers of coffee from the small town of Olopa in southern Guatemala,” Eldridge said. “They had never met roasters before, which is often the case during our travels. Our buying 80,000 pounds of coffee at an above-market price will make a big difference to their community.”
From Guatemala, Eldridge traveled to Honduras, meeting Stephan Erkelens from Axiom Coffee Ventures before driving south to meet the growers of Cafes Especiales El Paraiso. “We cupped 13 different samples from 13 growers. They all held up, but one stood out, and we will have it available early this summer.”
After sharing a community dinner, the El Paraiso growers dropped Eldridge and Erkelens off at the Nicaraguan border. They walked across the border, and then attended several meetings with growers and co-ops that evening and the following day. “Many of the coffees were excellent, but unfortunately they had sold for a sadly low price to some of the world’s largest exporters,” Eldridge said. “When we return next year, we’ll be able to offer a higher price for exceptional coffees.”
Crimson Cup expects to reap the results of this buying trip over the summer months as harvested and processed coffees arrive in the company’s new roasting facility in Columbus, Ohio.
“Once the beans arrive, we’ll spend a few weeks roasting and cupping to create an optimum roast profile that highlights their origin characteristics before offering them for sale,” Eldridge said. “Our goal is to showcase the farmers’ hard work by bringing out the best in each bean.”
About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
Since 1991, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea has hand-roasted specialty coffee in Columbus, Ohio and taught independent business owners how to be successful through its coffee shop franchise alternative program, which includes a coffee shop business plan template. Sustainably sourced Crimson Cup coffee is available through a network of more than 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 29 states, as well as the company’s own Crimson Cup Coffee House in the Columbus suburb of Clintonville. For more information, visit crimsoncup.com.


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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – There’s no doubt about it – children like to climb on furniture.
They see dressers and bookcases as ladders, especially if there is something exciting on top. Those pieces of furniture can tip over and lead to serious injury or death.
Kayli Shoff was horrified when a 100-pound dresser tipped over on top of her twins. The boys had been climbing on the drawers when it fell over.
“My heart sank. I didn’t know what to do, I felt like the worst mom,” says Shoff.
The incident was captured on the twins’ babycam and Shoff shared the video to show the danger. The video has been viewed millions of times.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, someone is injured in a furniture tip-over accident every 15 minutes and 33,000 injuries are treated in the emergency room.
In 2014, two little girls in Aliquippa, Ryeley and Brooklyn Beatty, were killed after a dresser fell on them in their home.
In 2016, IKEA recalled 29 million dressers because of a tip-over issue.
The statistics are staggering. Every two weeks, a child dies in a furniture tip-over accident. About, two-thirds of fatalities involve toddlers.
In an effort to make furniture safer, Sen. Bob Casey has introduced a bill that would require manufacturers to make dressers that don’t tip.
“There is no reason why a child should die when these companies know how to make these clothing units safe,” says Casey.
In the meantime, parents are left to make decisions about keeping their kids safe and their furniture in place.
Kimberly Finkbeiner runs Babyproofing Pittsburgh. She’s an expert in making sure furniture doesn’t tip-over.
Finkbeiner says make sure you secure furniture to the wall with heavy duty nylon straps.
“They go two per piece of furniture into studs in the wall and then to the back of the furniture,” says Finkbeiner.
She recommends against using plastic straps which are often provided by furniture manufacturers.
“I don’t like them because they have proven to fail in tip-over accidents and they can become brittle and break,” she said.
You should remove TVs and remote controls from the top of dressers, along with any tempting items that might encourage kids to climb.
And, make your furniture bottom heavy. Load dressers with heavy items in the bottom drawers and light items up top.
For more information, visit Anchor It’s website here.


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An AI-based legal assistant created by San Francisco-based startup DoNotPay is about to advise a defendant in court for the first time, New Scientist reports, telling them what to say throughout an entire case.
According to the company, which is keeping the location and name of the defendant secret for privacy reasons, the defendant was charged with speeding.
The AI legal assistant will instruct the defendant via an earpiece during the case. If it doesn't work out, DoNotPay willing cover any potential fines.
As New Scientist points out, this kind of use of the technology is illegal in most countries, but the company says it found a location where it can skirt around these rules.
DoNotPay isn't only able to assist in court. It's main use so far is to politely argue with customer service staff on your behalf.
For instance, DoNotPay founder Joshua Browder was able to get a refund for a wire transfer fee from Wells Fargo, as seen in a video he shared on Twitter this week.
"Over Christmas, DoNotPay managed to create an AI deepfake clone of my voice," he wrote in the caption. "Then, with GPT, we got the bot to phone up Wells Fargo and successfully overturn some wire fees."
"This is the perfect use case for AI," he added. "Nobody has time to argue on the phone about $12!"
But assisting a defendant in court is an entirely different challenge. A courtroom environment, though, will pose a distinct challenge, especially considering that contemporary language models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT struggle to tell truth from fiction.
"We’re trying to minimize our legal liability," Browder told New Scientist. "And it’s not good if it actually twists facts and is too manipulative."
Browder's goal is to eventually replace some lawyers outright, which could make fighting a speeding ticket a lot cheaper for defendants.
"It’s all about language, and that’s what lawyers charge hundreds or thousands of dollars an hour to do," he told the publication, arguing that "a lot of lawyers are just charging way too much money to copy and paste documents."
But others aren't convinced that will happen any time soon.
"We’re quite far off being able to do these things reliably and get rid of lawyers," Neil Brown at UK law firm decoded.legal told New Scientist. "We have to be very careful of making such claims."
READ MORE: AI legal assistant will help defendant fight a speeding case in court [New Scientist]
More on AI: In a Fresh Horror, ChatGPT Can Apply to Jobs Now
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The Victorian government has announced it is replacing the state’s public transport ticketing system. So what essential features should a state-of-the-art system offer users?
Scooter share schemes actually become more popular in hot weather, as people turn to them to avoid breaking a sweat
We need a uniform regulatory framework balancing the risks and benefits of e-scooters, and clarifying avenues for compensation.
Is it affordable? Is it safe? Here are some key things to consider if you’re considering buying one of these vehicle, or using them in a share scheme.
A new study shows e-scooter hire schemes increase the number of tourism destinations visitors can reach. And once at these destinations, e-scooter users spend more.
Electric scooter rides soared from zero to 88 million a year between 2017 and 2019. But launching e-scooters in cities without safe infrastructure or clear rules of the road can be deadly.
And the winner is … e-bikes? A new entrant is set to overtake Brisbane’s CityCycle scheme in the race for the shared mobility market.
E-scooters and e-bikes are coming to Britain’s streets, but it may be a bumpy ride.
E-scooters from share schemes will be legal on roads in England, Scotland and Wales from July 4.
Over US$33 billion was invested in mobility tech last year in response to claims it will transform our lives. Based on what we have seen so far, which of these promised solutions will be delivered?
A national consultation may (legally) bring e-scooters to UK cities.
Whether you like or hate them, the way transport operates in cities needs to change.
Are debates about e-scooters too narrow? Perhaps it is time to focus more on revitalising urban spaces and retrofitting road infrastructure.
In major cities around the world, dockless scooters and bikes are everywhere, yet the companies themselves are often breathtakingly short-lived. Basic economic concepts give us clues why.
Electric cars gets lots of attention, but in the developing world, electric two-wheelers have the potential to spread quickly – if batteries continue to improve on performance and cost.
Electrifying transport needs bigger changes than another high-end electric car.
New technologies and services aren’t creating irreversible damage, even though they do generate some harms. Preemptive bans would stifle innovation and block potential solutions to real problems.
Shared e-scooter programs may seem like a green way to get around, but these small vehicles can have big environmental footprints.
From Apple Music to Netflix, subscription services are on the rise. It’s time transport followed suit.
Cities must manage all the competing uses for limited roadside space to avoid congestion and maximise efficiency. And that begins with reliable data.


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As reported in Israel21c:
It will probably take a certain market approach and finesse to get people to accept, let alone truly appreciate, recycled toilet paper. But Refael Aharon, the CEO and founder of Applied Clean Tech, is convinced that his company has landed on a sort of goldmine. It has refined the process of turning the cellulose in sludge –– toilet paper, fecal matter and washing machine lint –– into new paper.
The finished product has no odor and poses no biological hazard. “It’s a real recycled paper,” Aharon tells ISRAEL21c, and not just paper leftovers from printing presses and the like that have been put back in the cycle. This is material that if not reclaimed would literally go down the drain and eventually biodegrade.
Aharon knows that using recycled toilet paper in food packaging might not fly with a lot of consumers, but the company is using its cellulose-based raw material in envelopes in Israel, where it has set up one of its installations at a local waste-treatment plant.
The company is also in advanced negotiations with a wastewater facility in the Palestinian Authority, has a joint project with Jordan and is in talks with US and British companies.
“We are under negotiations to open our activities in Western Europe and the United States and are considering China too, which is of great interest because they are currently building about 1,000 wastewater treatment plants,” he explains.
“Countries like India and Thailand, where the people use a hand-wash method, aren’t the right kind of places to develop recycled toilet paper, but more analysis needs to be done on which countries do in fact have the highest amount of cellulose going to the wastewater treatment plants,” says Aharon. Because it’s not just paper that can be found in sludge.
Applied Clean Tech originally developed a solution to turn sludge into biofuel, but given a conservative market in that area, they have switched to using their technology for paper and other recycled products based on paper. They will be operating both ideas in parallel, and will wait for the biofuel industry to mature.
“Actually we have made a lot of progress since 2009, and have since sold local licenses to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, two different licenses from which we can produce almost any kind of paper,” Aharon says. This includes writing paper and high-quality A5 graphics paper with a unique texture. “This is because of the source,” he explains.
After analyzing the cellulose composition in sludge, Applied Clean Tech determined that they can make a wide array of paper products from about 60 percent of the materials that get flushed down the drain. Since any plant-based cellulose we eat goes straight into the toilet as cellulose, fecal material is a useful part of the sludge.


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Nicki Doble at FinTech & InsurTech Live 2021
Enjoy the full session of The Cultural Aftermath of a Ransomware Attack with Nicki Doble from Cover-More Group at FinTech & InsurTech Chain Live.
The event took place in London’s iconic Tobacco Dock venue in October 2021 in front of a live audience of senior fintech & insurtech executives from some of the world’s largest companies.
- Encompass: How banks can use technology to stay competitiveBanking
- Highspot: Prioritising revenue and enablement in businessFinancial Services (FinServ)
- Hopper’s Dakota Smith: Innovating for the future of travelBanking
- European fintechs: Uniting against US payments hegemonyFinancial Services (FinServ)


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Wimbledon-based TRG Logistics has appointed a new operations director to manage the firm’s branches and recruitment business. Donna Topham will be responsible for operations in Dublin, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as TRG’s planned new offices in Wimbledon and Bradford. She will also manage the firm’s operations located at customer sites, as well as compliance and recruitment programmes. Chief executive Nick Gordon said: “2013 promises to be a year of significant growth for the overall TRG business and its vital […]
Royal Mail and Amazon UK have both launched a recruitment drive for hundreds of temporary staff to assist with the increase in peak volumes expected this Christmas.
Essex-based haulier Simarco increased its workforce by a fifth last year, ahead of its aquistion of freight forwarder IFB in April.


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Japan big manufacturers' mood improves in Oct-Dec: govt
[TOKYO] Large Japanese manufacturers turned more optimistic about economic conditions in the October-December quarter, a government survey showed on Monday, in another upbeat sign for an economy on a record run of growth.
The business survey index (BSI) of sentiment at large manufacturers stood at plus 9.7, up from plus 9.4 in July-September, according to the joint survey by the Ministry of Finance and the Economic and Social Research Institute, an arm of the Cabinet Office.
The mood was brightened by a weaker yen and a 12 per cent jump in the Nikkei stock average since the previous survey period, while sales and profits were up led by auto manufacturers and makers of electronic parts for smartphones.
The results come before the Bank of Japan's closely watched "tankan" survey of corporate sentiment, due on Friday, which is expected to show confidence among big manufacturers at its highest in more than a decade.
The buoyant mood coincides with a record economic expansion: gross domestic product climbed an annualised 2.5 per cent in July-September for the seventh straight quarter of growth, the longest rising streak in data going back to 1994.
A big contributor to growth during the quarter was capital spending.
Monday's survey shows that big manufacturers plan to raise capital spending by 10.7 per cent in the current half of the fiscal year ending in March, up from their previous projection of an 8.9 per cent increase.
The BSI measures the percentage of firms that expect the business environment to improve from the previous quarter minus the percentage that expect it to decline.


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Football meets football.
This year’s Super Bowl featured more commercials starring soccer players not named David Beckham than ever before.
First up was FC Barcelona star Neymar who made a cameo in a star-studded Taco Bell advert alongside James Harden and, erm, George Takei.
Recently retired U.S. Women’s National Team striker Abby Wambach also showed up during the big game, appearing in an ad for Mini Cooper’s #DefyLabels campaign.
And just for old times’ sake, here’s fomer Galaxy player Beckham’s Super Bowl commercial from 2014:


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- News tagged "smartphone"
Monday, 10 Nov 2014
Xiaomi announces the launch of Redmi Note 4G for this region, as well as pricing and availability details. More details inside!
According to a market research firm, Xiaomi has overtaken Samsung to be the number one smartphone brand in China with a market share of 14%.
Wednesday, 5 Nov 2014
In a Google released research called 'the Consumer Barometer', Asia leads the world in smartphone usage with Singapore leading the pack with the highest smartphone penetration in the world.
Monday, 27 Oct 2014
We just spotted the upcoming LG G3 Beat and Samsung Galaxy Core Prime smartphones as well as the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active tablet in IDA's equipment list. We believe that these devices are probably hitting the store shelves very soon.
Thursday, 23 Oct 2014
With Xiaomi aiming to be a global player in mobile phones, International VP Hugo Barra has disclosed that the Chinese company will be moving its international user data to servers outside of China. Users in China will still have their data on local servers.
Thursday, 18 Sep 2014
Panasonic has released its own smartphone-camera hybrid, the Lumix Smart Camera CM1. But this time the Japanese tech company has decided to pull out all the stops with the CM1. Read on for the more details about it.
Thursday, 11 Sep 2014
Samsung released six ads on YouTube which poke fun at Apple's problematic live streaming, new iPhones and its Watch. Check out the six videos in this article.
Samsung Mobile Singapore announced that the Galaxy Alpha 4G+ will be available at all three telcos, authorized mobile retailers, major consumer electronics stores and Samsung Experience Stores from September 13.
Microsoft is planning to drop the "Nokia" and "Windows Phone" branding in its future mobile devices. "Lumia" will be used alongside the standard Windows logo.
Saturday, 6 Sep 2014
Almost a year after the launch of Moto X, Motorola launched the second generation Moto X and Moto G phones. Both of these phones are an upgrade of their highly successful predecessors. Let's have a look at what is new.


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The ‘two’ good to be true diet taking Peppermint by storm
Posted By Emma
We’ve had a busy couple of weeks here at Peppermint HQ, thanks to the launch of an exciting new book, written and released by one of our long-standing clients – Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention. ‘The 2-Day Diet’ has been developed by Dr Michelle Harvie and Professor Tony Howell at Genesis, and it promises to not only help you lose weight, but also reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
The diet advises followers to eat normally five days a week, with a restricted calorie intake on the remaining two days.
This kind of ‘intermittent diet’ is having something of a moment in the spotlight, and there are various, similar versions of it. However, the 2-Day Diet developed by Genesis is the only one which is clinically approved – something which we’re VERY eager to stress to journalists!
Dr Harvie and Professor Howell’s research has found that eating in this manner is not only an effective weight loss programme, but it can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by up to 40%. This groundbreaking diet is the result of 12 years of research, so we are thrilled that the book is receiving the media attention and sales that it deserves.
Following a serialisation in the Daily Mail, we’ve been busy arranging interviews for the very obliging authors and case studies, both in print and broadcast, as well as securing opportunities with magazines and influential diet bloggers. In fact, Dr Harvie is being interviewed down at Media City as I type!
The book has been a remarkable success, hitting the top spot on Amazon even before it had officially launched. An accompanying recipe book has just been commissioned – which is sure to keep us on our toes. Exciting times!


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Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser warns that a recession is more likely in Europe than in the U.S. Nonetheless, she stressed that it is not easy for the U.S. to avoid a recession.
Citigroup’s CEO on Global Recession
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser warned about the health of the global economy Friday, Reuters reported. Citi is the third-largest and most globally-focused U.S. bank.
Speaking at an investor conference in New York, she talked about how “the three Rs” are affecting the global economy, stating: “It’s rates, it’s Russia, and it’s recession.”
Fraser explained that Europe’s energy problems are “really having an impact on a number of companies in certain industries that are not even competitive right now.” She added that “some of them are shutting down operations … because of the cost of electricity and the cost of energy.” The Citi executive opined:
Europe definitely felt more likely to be heading into a recession than you see in the U.S.
Major central banks are already planning interest rate hikes to fight against inflation, preparing for the first round of global quantitative tightening. The move is expected to restrict credit and add stress to an already-slowing world economy.
Commenting on the European Central Bank (ECB) action, Fraser said: “It feels like the ECB is a few months behind where the Fed has been in getting its arms around inflation and without quite the same flexibility that U.S. has.”
In the U.S., Fraser said the question is more about interest rates than recession. However, she noted that it will be difficult for the U.S. to avoid a recession, stating:
It’s certainly not our base case that it will be, but it’s not easy to avoid either.
On Wednesday, JPMorgan & Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said an economic “hurricane” is coming our way, advising investors to brace for impact.
Goldman Sachs President and Chief Operating Officer John Waldron warned of unprecedented economic shocks and tougher times ahead.
Furthermore, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he has a “super bad feeling” about the economy, prompting President Joe Biden to respond. Musk also said we are likely in a recession that could last 12 to 18 months.
What do you think about this the comments by Citigroup’s CEO? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.


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Should malls have curfews? Debate arises after girl shot, killed at Concord Mills
Following the shooting death of a 13-year-old girl at Concord Mills mall Saturday, Charlotte area residents are debating whether malls should require teens to have adult supervision.
“Why would teenagers with no money walk around a mall, this is the reason many malls require patrons to be 18 without an adult with them. Keep the mall about shopping and we wont see gang activity from kids,” one person said on the Observer’s Facebook page.
“We can’t even go to the mall without teens fighting in the malls (causing curfews) or shooting each other,” another said.
“Parents shouldn’t leave their underage children at the mall and stuff like this wouldn’t happen,” another said.
Not everyone feels that way.
“How are kids ever going to learn to be adults if you hover over them constantly? I went to the mall all the time as a teenager. That’s not the problem here. This kind of violence can take place anywhere at any time,” one woman posted.
Avenanna Propst was shot and killed at the Concord Mills mall parking lot Saturday night. Two other teens were shot and have non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Concord Mills issued a statement saying it was deeply saddened by the shooting, but would not respond to Observer questions about whether it’s considering a curfew or other changes to security.
Concord Mills mall, off Exit 49 in Concord, opened in 1999. It’s the largest outlet mall in North Carolina with more than 200 stores, a 24-screen AMC/IMAX movie theater and a Sea-Life Aquarium.
In March, a man was shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries 15 minutes into the “Us” movie showing at AMC Concord Mills 24. An 18-year-old was charged in the shooting, which was the result of an argument over seating in the theater, police said.
In September 2017, the mall was evacuated after a melee erupted among what police said was a large group of juveniles and young adults. Among those charged were a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old.
Sanida Sabanija then started a petition demanding a curfew for teens at Concord Mills mall. As of Tuesday, there were almost 10,000 signatures.
Last summer, shoppers again questioned why the mall doesn’t have a curfew after some stores went into lockdown as dozens of young people stampeded through the mall in July, according to WSOC-TV.
In January 2018, a large fight broke out near the mall’s food court, according to WCNC. An adult was arrested on suspicion of spitting on an officer and on having outstanding warrants. Six others, including four teenagers, were cited.
Several Charlotte area malls have curfews for minors on Friday and Saturday evenings.
WSOC has reported SouthPark has a curfew. However, SouthPark mall security and management declined Tuesday to comment, referring questions to SouthPark’s public relations firm, which also declined to comment or provide information. SouthPark and Concord Mills are both owned by Simon Property Group.
In 2009, Northlake Mall implemented a curfew, requiring adult supervision for anyone younger than age 18 on Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m.
“We got to a point where we felt uncomfortable with our ability to provide a safe environment,” Northlake Mall manager Phil Morosco in 2010 told National Real Estate Investor. “We’d have as many as 2,000 unescorted young people [here at one time]. Even the tenants were concerned with all these kids in the center.”
Eastridge Mall in Gastonia requires shoppers younger than 18 to shop with a parent or legal guardian after 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The policy was effective March 31, 2017.
Rock Hill Galleria implemented its adult supervision policy in June 2011. The policy requires anyone younger than 16 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian on Friday and Saturday after 5 p.m.
Birkdale Village in Huntersville, a mix of retail, office and residential units, implemented a curfew in July 2017. Children ages 13-15 must be accompanied by a guardian from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Parents could be fined $50 or face jail time.
Carolina Place in Pineville and Monroe Crossing do not have curfews.
Some businesses at malls have their own curfews. Dave and Buster’s, where Concord Mills mall officials said a fight started Saturday before the shootings, requires guests younger than 18 without a guardian age 25 or older to leave by 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, according to the website.
A person who answered the phone at Concord’s Dave and Buster’s Monday referred questions to its corporate office in Dallas, Texas. Efforts to obtain comments were unsuccessful by late Tuesday.
Do curfews work?
Overall, there is no consensus on whether curfews help security issues for patrons and tenants at malls.
The International Council of Shopping Centers reports more than 100 shopping malls in the U.S. having some policy limiting access by minors.
Northlake Mall Marketing Director Scott Anderson said Tuesday that mall’s policy has “generated positive feedback from our shoppers.”
Lance Sturges, Eastridge Mall general manager, said several months of work went into the policy there — meeting with police and the district attorney’s office, adding security and providing more ongoing training. As a father of three sons, Sturges said it was important to find a way to accommodate customers of all ages.
“It wasn’t we were mad at the kids or thought they were being bad. We were trying to create an environment within the mall that would be family-friendly,” he said.
Sturges said before the curfew, parents would drop kids off and there were fights and other problems.
“We’re delighted with the results,” he said. “Customers say they appreciate it. Today we don’t think about that.”
Still, he said, Eastridge and other malls can’t anticipate everything and there are a lot factors to consider before enacting a curfew, including tenant revenue. The National Retail Federation says Generation Z — born after the mid-1990s — are important to retailers because they have access to $44 billion in buying power.
“It’s not right or wrong,” Sturges said. “Most of the time young folks aren’t a problem and represent a big part of revenue and sales.”


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Reuters reviews that South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is examining Apple for probable anti-aggressive methods in the united states. This seems to help an early on unconfirmed statement in Korea Times that FTC was analyzing the legitimacy of Apple’s agreement conditions with cellular companies.
Resources claimed Apple Korea has pushed companies into purchasing a minimal amount of promotional iPhones and discussing the responsibility of repair expenses […]
In April, the FTC requested the rectification of 20 unjust procedures in agreements using its licensed repair company associates. The agreements involved conditions the fix companies couldn’t record lawsuits against Apple Korea inside a year after any challenge.
If this been there as well, it’s since it echoes an early on situation in Italy …
Within the French situation in May, the Directorate General for Opposition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) contended that five individual conditions in Apple’s agreements with companies were unjust, including minimum purchase needs over a three-year interval, and companies adding to fix expenses.
The DGCCRF stated then that Apple must have to pay for €48.5M ($54M), containing payment to four various companies and an excellent of €8M. Another situation in Taiwan in 2013 led to Apple being fined the curiously exact quantity of $666k for ‘interfering with iPhone pricing.’
Specifics within the Korea situation are short, Reuters reporting just the FTC is examining “some issues” associated with Apple, and Korea Times having no further comprehensive info compared to above estimate, related to numerous unnamed sources. The document does notice, nevertheless, that Apple doesn’t permit companies to provide subsidized pricing.
Apple doesn’t have some of its stores in Korea, where regional manufacturers Samsung and LG master, but offers through companies and third party merchants. SKT (picture) has got the biggest share of the marketplace.


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Jay Z's new philanthropic deal with Barneys does not address the root problems of shop-and-frisk for African-Americans, a lawyer charged Saturday.
Michael Palillo, whose client Trayon Christian was stopped by cops after buying a $349 belt at Barneys, said the decision to donate 100% of the proceeds from Jay Z's clothing line to aid minority students was laudable.
But he wondered if it was enough.
"Is this statement an acknowledgment that racial profiling and discrimination did occur?" the lawyer asked. "Or is this damage control?
"Will those who were falsely arrested and illegally detained solely due to the color of their skin sleep better this evening by reading Mr. Z's comments?" he wondered.
On Friday, the hip-hop icon announced that his collection of pricey gear, watches and other items will debut as scheduled Wednesday at Barneys.
His Shawn Carter Foundation, originally slated to receive 25% of the sales proceeds, will now get all the money.
Christian, 19, was one of two black Barneys shoppers detained in what their lawyers say were cases of racial profiling.
Jay Z said he will work with the heads of major city retailers to combat profiling.


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On October 14 -16, 2015 the International exhibition of products and services for aesthetic and cosmetic medicine "Aesthetic medicine” will take place at the CEC EXPOFORUM in St Petersburg.
Injectables and beauty tools
On October 14-15 International conference Aesthetic Medicine
The exhibition and conference will be held within the 2nd St. Petersburg International Health Forum, unique platform for the health professionals of the Northwest of Russia.
Aesthetic Medicine is the perfect place to develop your business on the market of health and beauty!


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Netflix chief Reed Hastings — who has been an ardent and vocal supporter of net neutrality rules to ensure service providers don’t discriminate against internet content companies — said the U.S. reversal on net neutrality won’t have an impact on the streamer’s business.
“Around the world, net neutrality has won as a consumer expectation,” Hastings said, speaking in a post-Q2 earnings announcement interview hosted by Netflix. “I would say the net neutrality advocates have won the day, in terms of those expectations, so we don’t see any changes of that in the U.S. or other countries.”
Last December, when the Federal Communications Commission voted along party lines to repeal the Obama-era rules, Netflix came out firmly against the decision.
“We’re disappointed in the FCC’s decision to gut the net neutrality protections that ushered in an unprecedented era of innovation, creativity and civic engagement,” Netflix said at the time. “Netflix will stand with innovators, large and small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.”
This past May, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to restore the FCC’s net neutrality rules but that would still need approval by the House and to be signed by President Donald Trump, who has opposed the need for net neutrality. Trump’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, has expressed strong opinions against net neutrality.
In years past, Hastings himself has argued strongly in favor of net neutrality laws. In 2014, the CEO weighed in on a court defeat nullifying the Obama administration’s Open Internet rules at the time (after a legal challenge by Verizon), saying in a letter to shareholders that Netflix would “vigorously protest and encourage our members to demand the open internet they are paying their ISP to deliver.”
Since then, Netflix has grown its subscriber base dramatically and has cut direct deals with ISPs including Comcast to guarantee dedicated bandwidth for its video traffic.
On Monday, Hastings said that regardless of whether any given country has net-neutrality laws, “broadly, around the world, consumers have the expectation [of net neutrality] and ISPs are delivering it.”
Hastings’ comments downplaying the impact of the U.S.’s reversal on net neutrality came after Netflix missed its Q2 subscriber forecast target by about 1 million. That sent the company’s historically volatile stock down 14% in after-hours trading Monday.
Despite the shortfall, Netflix ended the quarter with 130.1 million global streaming customers, up 25% year over year, and for the first time ever generated more revenue abroad than in the U.S.


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Kalispellís Dressbarn store will be among those affected by the announcement last week that the womenís clothing chain expects to close its 650 stores by the end of 2019.
Management at the Dressbarn located in the Spring Prairie Shopping Center was asked not to speak publicly about the upcoming closure. The Kalispell location and the store in the Rimrock Mall in Billings are the only sites in Montana.
Dressbarnís closure adds to the retail stores that have gone out of business in the Flathead Valley in recent years, including Shopko, Payless Shoes and Herbergerís.
Dressbarnís owner, Ascena Retail Group Inc., has said it wants to focus on its other brands, such as Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant. An executive said Dressbarn wasnít profitable enough.
Ascena said in a regulatory filing that that it couldnít yet determine how much Dressbarnís closure would cost the Mahwah, New Jersey-based company.
Dressbarn, which has been selling womenís clothing for nearly 60 years, employs about 6,800 people.


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International interest continuesto build in SIAL, the international food exhibition that will take place at the Paris-Nord Exhibition Center on October 22-26, 2006.
With 5,256 exhibitors from 100 different countries, SIAL organizers expect 136,000 visitors, over half of them international (that is up 15% from 2004 show figures, with countries like Japan, China, Argentina and Brazil expanding their participation, notably in the meat category.)
Show attendees will find many additions to the event since SIAL 2004. These include a newly renovated Trends and Innovations Area, a special hub that offers visitors an overview of the newest food products from around the globe.
For more information on visiting SIAL 2006, visit www.sial.fr


text: Frito-Lay has updated the Lay’s bag for the first time since 2007. The refreshed logo and packaging are meant to make the brand feel more modern and contemporary, says Jon Guerra, senior director of design at Frito-Lay, with a new logo that is smaller and centralized with radiating rings. The font is slightly different, with a cursive “y” and a smaller “L”. The real change is that that the chips are now shown from a “top-down” angle — an homage to the rise of food photography on social media, said Guerra. The redesign, which took two years to complete, is meant to keep the brand relevant in the era of social media and content regeneration, explains Guerra. The redesign is global but starts in North America and will extend to 115 products across more than 25 flavor varieties. Supporting advertising and promotion will start in late October. The design process was led by the PepsiCo and Frito-Lay internal design team.


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Refund for overseas shoppers in Hainan
Updated: 2010-12-31 13:58
By Bao Chang (China Daily European Weekly)
Island visitors can reclaim 11 percent of purchases
Overseas tourists to Hainan province will be able to reclaim taxes paid on purchases, including clothes and cosmetics, from New Year's Day as part of plans to turn the tropical island into an international travel and shopping paradise.
The policy, approved by the State Council, applies to travelers from foreign countries and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, who buy goods worth more than 800 yuan (92 euros) in one day at a single department store in Hainan. They can then apply for a tax rebate of 11 percent of the total price of their purchases, effective from Jan 1.
Hainan provincial government will name at least two department stores as pilot shops on Jan 1.
The island, with a land mass slightly bigger than the Netherlands, is a popular destination domestically and internationally and plays an increasingly significant role as the country boosts its tourism appeal.
"The policy, in essence, is to provide overseas tourists coming to Hainan with goods at a low price, to stimulate consumption and drive tourism, the pillar industry of our province," Lu Yong, vice-director at the island's finance department, said on Dec 27.
Overseas tourists can obtain a value added tax refund at the island's Haikou Meilan International Airport or the Sanya Phoenix International Airport before leaving China.
The policy covers the purchase of 21 categories of goods, including garments, footwear, headwear, electronic appliances and cosmetics. Purchases in renminbi and other currencies are covered.
The policy stems from a provincial government proposal in 2009. The State Council backed it and announced plans to develop Hainan into an international resort island and China's second largest international shopping destination, after Hong Kong.
According to the State Council, Hainan will be a destination reflecting global standards for traveling and shopping services, management and human resources by 2020.
"With the support of the new policy, tourist shopping will account for 40 percent of all revenue spent by travelers in Hainan province next year, up from the current 20 percent," Wang Keqiang, deputy director of the island's commerce department, told China Daily.
Hainan is China's largest special economic zone. In the first 11 months of 2010, 596,600 overseas visitors traveled to the island, spending 1.94 billion yuan.
Nationwide, 122 million trips by overseas travelers contributed $31.6 billion (24 billion euros) to the economy.
"The implementation of the new policy is one part of the central government's development plans for Hainan," Lu said, adding that innovation is the key to promoting the island as a globally famous resort.
Lu said the policy will also help improve the country's system of refunding taxes on exported goods.
Shanghai is working on a similar plan to give a tax rebate to foreign shoppers, in a move to attract overseas spenders, said an official with the local commerce commission on Dec 29.
"Now that Beijing has given a green light to Hainan, we don't see why we can't get the nod too," said Chen Yuxian, deputy head of the Industry Supervision Department of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.
Unlike Hainan, which will implement the policy on all parts of the island, the tax refund in Shanghai will be limited to certain department stores, the official said.
China and the world set to embrace the merciful, peaceful year of rabbit
Historical records and Caucasian features of locals suggest link with Roman Empire.
Coastal Yantai banks on little things that matter to grow
The State Council launched a new round of measures to rein in property prices.


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Credit to Author: hniitsu| Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2019 08:29:55 +0000
SINGAPORE — All Ms Foo Yen Pyng wanted was to enjoy an early Chinese New Year snack. But when she bit into it, she was horrified to feel something hard and sharp.
Promptly spitting it out, she saw that it was a piece of metal that had been hidden in her kok zai.
“I was so surprised… Had I not been chewing slowly, I could have swallowed it!” said the 48-year-old analyst.
She told The Straits Times on Saturday (Jan 12) that her 76-year-old father had bought the mini peanut puffs last week from a Giant supermarket at Block 316B Ang Mo Kio Street 31, near their home.
In response to ST’s queries, a Giant spokesman said that it takes food safety and quality issues very seriously.
“We immediately conducted a random check on a similar batch of the product at the store but no similar issues were found,” said the spokesman.
Giant has since removed the product from all stores pending the outcome of investigations. It added that its quality assurance and food safety team is working with the distributor and supplier to look into the issue.
It has also apologized to the customer and will be arranging for a refund.
Photos provided by Foo to ST show that the snack comes in plastic containers with red packaging, has a net weight of 300g and is a product of Malaysia. The product is certified halal.
The importer is listed as Mac Taste Bakery & Confectionery, while the local distributor is Espine Marketing & Investment.
A curved, hook-like metallic object can be seen in one photo.
In a reply to Foo, Mavis Ong, head of customer service for Dairy Farm Singapore, Giant, offered her assistance and said she was looking into the matter urgently.
“Please allow us some time to conduct a full inquiry and follow up with you on Monday,” she added in the e-mail sent at about noon on Saturday.
Separately, Foo said she has reported the incident to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
AVA confirmed it has received feedback on the incident and said it would look into it.


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The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 200 points early Tuesday despite better-than-expected U.S. jobless claims.
Among the Dow Jones leaders, Apple (AAPL) fell 0.3%, while Microsoft (MSFT) lost 0.1% in today’s stock market.
On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6%, while the S&P 500 moved down 0.55%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite reversed lower to fall 0.2% in morning trade.
Early Thursday, the Labor Department said initial jobless claims were better-than-expected at 709,000, down from 757,000 the week before. Econoday estimates expected 737,000 jobless claims.
Among the top Dow Jones stocks, Apple moved down 0.3% Thursday, extending Wednesday’s 3% advance. Shares continue to rebound from their 50-day line.
The blue-chip giant is the No. 1-performing Dow Jones stock for 2020, with a 62.8% advance through Wednesday’s close.
MacDailyNews Note: Since that report was filed, Apple shares have nosed into the green, up 11-cents to $119.60 (+0.09%). Obviously, U.S. jobless claims is good news for the macroeconomy which, in turn, is good news for Apple which has a slew of new products on the market just in time for Christmas shopping season!


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VIENNA - Philips Healthcare is highlighting its expanding prowess in data analytics at ECR 2016 this week, as well as additional upgrades and enhancements across its product portfolio.
Philips is leveraging the technology and expertise in data analytics developed over the years in its equipment service operation with the HealthSuite digital platform (HSDP), moving it forward to enable customers to analyze their own operations. The company is now helping sites analyze and interpret data in a way designed to prevent problems before they develop.
Philips is in the process of enabling its customer sites to use the cloud-based HSDP network, which for years has been storing customer data that the company uses for its maintenance and service accounts. The vendor is in the process of "productizing" the network, according to Robert Cascella, CEO of the company's Imaging Systems business group.
In the realm of big iron, Philips is promoting its broad range of products in its booth at ECR 2016. The company has made a major priority of simplifying its product line to make its systems easier to use, Cascella said.
In MRI, the company is highlighting ScanWise Implant, an automated guided user interface for selecting the best scanning sequence for patients with MRI-conditional implants. Users simply enter the type of implant a patient has along with other patient characteristics, and the most appropriate scan sequence is selected. ScanWise Implant is initially available on Philips 1.5-tesla scanners such as the Ingenia 1.5T S, and it is not yet available in the U.S., pending regulatory clearance.
Also in MRI, Philips is highlighting its MR In-Bore Patient Experience, designed to help patients cope with claustrophobia during scans with a video display monitor outside of the scanner that can show soothing content like nature scenes. Philips recently added the ability to display patient instructions on the monitor.
In addition, mDixon XD is an MRI sequence for fat-free imaging that is designed to improve sharpness and help radiologists visualize abnormalities that might otherwise be obscured by fat, serving up two contrasts in a single scan.
In CT, Philips is emphasizing its IQon spectral CT system, and a new Spectral Magic Glass on PACS mode that enables users to review and analyze spectral data retrospectively on the PACS. Philips' goal with IQon is to allow users to perform spectral CT without having to change their workflow. The company is taking orders for IQon, and the system will begin shipping in the second quarter.
Other Philips highlights include its ultrasound portfolio with the Epiq, Affiniti, ClearVue 850, and CX50 ultrasound scanners. The company's Lumify transducer, which plugs into a smart mobile device to enable app-based ultrasound, is being shown as a work-in-progress.
The latest release of the company's IntelliSpace Portal 8.0 software is also being shown, which includes advanced data sharing, analytics, and visualization. Introduced at RSNA 2015, the platform offers applications to manage workflow and follow-up of oncology patients, including multimodality tumor tracking, characterization, and assessment. What's new is a fast, quantified 3D rendering protocol and analysis of tumor imaging for research into therapy response.
Other highlights in the company's ECR 2016 booth include its MobileDiagnost wDR, which will receive a sliding column in the near future, and MobileDiagnost M50, which will be released shortly and is being shown as a work-in-progress. In interventional x-ray, the company is demonstrating tailored interventional suites such as NeuroSuite, OncoSuite, and Hybrid Suite on its AlluraClarity angiography system. New innovations include EmboGuide and VesselNavigator, which improve 3D imaging to support interventional oncology.


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Google has reportedly been fined 150,000 euros ($203,500) by CNIL, France’s data protection watchdog for what it deems to be privacy violations. This is apparently the most they can fine a company, though it can be doubled in the case of a repeated offense.
The policy hasn’t been much of an issue here in the U.S., but France and other European countries have been very vocal in their opposition to it since it was announced.
Bloomberg News shares a statement from Google:
The fine is hardly a huge blow to the tech giant. A $22.5 million fine the U.S. Federal Trade Commission handed to Google in 2012 was pretty much considered a mere slap on the wrist by man, considering the revenue Google generates. This fine is basically pocket change for the company.


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Whitehorse News - January 2021
Tattoo parlours, beauty salons and food businesses are all in a day’s work.
Every day is different for Sarah Edmonds – and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
After almost 20 years as an environmental health officer, Ms Edmonds thrives on the knowledge that the next day will always be different to the previous one.
“Our role is to educate, protect public health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases,” she said. “It could be anything. It varies from day-to-day and even after doing this with Whitehorse Council for 16 years I am still learning.
“Every food business, every beauty salon, every tattoo parlour has to register under the relevant legislation and then we have to assess it for food safety and infection control at least once a year.”
She first considered the job when couple of environmental health officers talked at her school. A look at the applied science degree at Swinburne – the only university offering the course – listed a diverse range of subjects, from law to physics and chemistry.
The prospect of not being office-based also appealed to her. “I get enjoyment and it’s rewarding to see you can help businesses out there to make sure they are doing the right thing,” Ms Edmonds said.
“We have to be ready for any jobs that come through. That could be noise from a concrete batching plant, early morning supermarket deliveries, sewerage from the next door neighbour’s property, immunisation sessions or farmers’ markets at weekends.”
Ms Edmonds said it was “rewarding” to see they could help businesses succeed through education, supporting them to deliver services to the community safely.
The coronavirus also impacted her role – but in an interesting way, with businesses adapting to no sit-in dining and not as many workers around to buy takeaway food.
“Something that has emerged through this year has been food businesses thinking outside the square,” Ms Edmonds said. “Businesses which tried to come up with new and creative ways to stay open and make money often presented new food safety challenges.”
Pre-prepared meals was one example of this, while there has also been a rise in home-based businesses this year, with people registering their home kitchen to make food that they can sell. Now Ms Edmonds can’t wait to see what the next day will bring.