The 24th Istanbul International Mothers-Babies-Children-Products Fair

SHANGHAI, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Istanbul International Mothers Babies Children Products Fair (MBCP) is the third largest fair in Europe in its concept that has continuously grown for 22 years and a unique trade show sourcing platform in Turkey for products for newborn babies, children up to 16 years old and expectant mothers including baby and maternity care products; baby carriages, car seats and furniture, home textile; baby food and healthcare products; baby’s and children’s clothing, footwear and accessories; maternity clothing, underwear and accessories; toys, educational products and souvenirs.
The 22nd MBCP fair had results in four days of exhibition (19 – 22 January 2012), covering an area of 30,000 sqm in a total of 250 exhibitors and 450 brands, including brands, such as Pegperego, Avent, Chicco, Mamajoo, TOMY, Lamaze, Quinny, NUK, GRACO, MAM, Medela, Britax, Romer, Koala, Bright Starts, Bugaboo, GRACO, Nuby, Maclaren, MAXI-COSI, Kraft, Nattou, FEBER, BREMED, Losan, and Mayoral etc. The 24th MBCP fair will cooperate with Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME) which is organized by UBM China to enhance the reputation of the show.
In the three days, the 22nd MBCP attracted over 50.000 visitors, 10.000 trade visitors from 50 countries and regions. Most exhibitors and visitors expressed a very high opinion of MBCP Fair. Visitors were extremely satisfied with the exhibitor quality and product range.
MBCP Fair Istanbul is an excellent opportunity to find distributors in Turkey and to present your brand to the local market. Additionally have a very good geographic potential advantage to Russian and Middle-East Countries.
Turkey is the one of the best country in young population share of 26% in its total population; after India (1,3%) second Country in the world population increase 1,2%. The Turkish market for infant products grows at a rate of 12% approximately .
The 24th MBCP fair will be held 17 – 20 January 2013 in Istanbul CNR Expo Center with a 37,000 sqm exhibition area and more than 300 expected exhibitors with over 500 brands.
If you want to explore the Turkish market, meet with quality suppliers, purchase the best children, baby and maternity products, and see the latest trends of the industry, MBCP is a must-attend event.
Source: UBM China

CapitaLand Leads Short List for the IR Magazine Awards — South East Asia 2012

Malaysian and Thai companies challenge Singapore’s stranglehold on top regional IR honors
— CapitaLand short-listed in eight award categories
— DBS Group, StarHub, SingTel each short-listed in seven award categories
— Malaysia’s CIMB Group follows in six categories
— These five companies battle for grand prix IR award in large-cap category
— Winners will be announced on December 6 in awards ceremony in Singapore
NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — CapitaLand is in the running for eight awards at the IR Magazine Awards ‒ South East Asia 2012. This annual event ‒ now in its eighth year ‒ honors the leading exponents of investor relations in the region and takes place this year at Singapore Exchange on Thursday, December 6. For full short lists, click here.
Singaporean real estate developer CapitaLand is just ahead of a trio of Singaporean companies on seven short lists this year: DBS Group, StarHub and SingTel, which won five awards last year and is the current number one ranked company in South East Asia. This year, however, the traditionally dominant Singaporean companies face stiffer competition from other countries in South East Asia.
The main challenge is being fronted by CIMB Group, the Malaysian bank, which features on six short lists this year. All five of the aforementioned companies will battle it out for the grand prix for large-cap companies, setting up the possibility of a non-Singaporean company winning the top prize for the first time.
The IR Magazine Awards ‒ South East Asia 2012 are decided solely by an independent survey of investors and analysts, all of whom are located in the region. Just like in IR Magazine’s other awards in Europe and the Americas, investors and analysts are asked to vote for their favorite company in each awards category. This year, 436 respondents took part in the survey.
Votes for the awards also determine the IR Magazine South East Asia Top 25, the rankings of the best IR companies in the region. The votes in each award category are added together and the company with the most votes is declared the number one ranked company in the area. The latest rankings will be revealed in the IR Magazine Investor Perception Study ‒ Asia 2012/2013, which will be published soon after the IR Magazine Awards & Conference – South East Asia 2012 on December 6 in Singapore.
CONTACT:

Ian Au
+1-212-430-6871
Source: IR Magazine

WorldVentures Is Looking to Further Collaboration with Non Profits through Manifest Foundation

WorldVentures’ Singapore Independent Representatives and Manifest Foundation Collaborate with Singapore Children’s Society
PLANO, Texas /PRNewswire/ — WorldVentures, the world’s largest travel and leisure direct seller, is proud to announce a new initiative to further collaboration with their global Affiliate Partners through Manifest Foundation. As of September 1 2012, WorldVentures’ Singapore Independent Representatives and Manifest Foundation will be engaged with the Singapore Children’s Society.
“I am very excited that our dreams of care and contribution are realized every day by these wonderful collaborations with our Impact Partners,” said WorldVentures’ Co-Founder Mike Azcue. “We are especially proud of our devoted Independent Representatives and members, who contribute part or all of their vacation time to volunteering through our Voluntourism Trips. We believe that new philanthropic collaborations with additional Affiliate Impact Partners would help Manifest Foundation realize the dreams of more children around the world.”
Established in 2010, WorldVentures’ Manifest Foundation aims to help others create a better life for themselves, and is dedicated to creating lasting, positive change in the world by impacting the lives of economically disadvantaged children and their families.
“Since its establishment, Manifest Foundation has become a part of WorldVentures’ DNA, committed to making a difference for its Impact Partners – nonprofit organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hug it Forward, and many more – and is now looking for additional Affiliate Impact Partners to broaden its global philanthropic effort,” said Executive Director Spryte Loriano.
Affiliate Impact Partners are nonprofit organizations that meet the vetting criteria of the Manifest Foundation and align with its core beliefs, mission, and vision. These partners receive support from Manifest Foundation through either Voluntourism Trips or other promotional activities.
About WorldVentures:
WorldVentures is a social media marketing company and the world’s largest direct seller of travel club memberships. With a network of more than 100,000 Membership Representatives in 21 countries, WorldVentures offers vacationers access to some of the most unique travel experiences available anywhere at any price.
Source: WorldVentures

Harvest Technologies Corporation Files Patent Infringement Complaint against ThermoGenesis Corporation

PLYMOUTH, Mass., Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Harvest Technologies Corporation (Harvest) announced that it filed a patent infringement complaint on October 24, 2012 in the US District Court of Delaware against ThermoGenesis Corporation (ThermoGenesis). The complaint alleges that ThermoGenesis’ Res-Q™ 60 BMC system (*also known as ART 21®) infringes two patents for which Harvest Technology owns the rights. These patents relate to Harvest’s proprietary floating shelf technology that has been shown in studies to provide superior cellular concentration. The complaint also requests an injunction against further sales of the product in the U.S.

“Harvest Technologies respects the valid intellectual property of others and expects that its competitors will do the same. Harvest has invested millions of dollars in development of its cellular therapy products for many years and cannot allow others to profit by our innovations,” said Gary Tureski, President and CEO, Harvest Technologies Corporation.

Harvest Technologies is the leading Cellular Therapy global manufacturer that has developed point-of-care products to process and concentrate multiple biologics. These include high-density platelet rich plasma (APC+®), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC®) and adipose tissue. The company is headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is one of several subsidiaries of Terumo Corporation of Japan that is focused in cellular therapies and biologics. For more information, visit http://www.harvesttech.com or call 508-732-7500.

Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation is one of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers with $5 billion in sales and operations in more than 160 nations. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes world-class medical devices including products for use in cardiothoracic surgery, interventional procedures, and transfusion medicine; the company also manufactures a broad array of syringe and hypodermic needle products for hospital and physician office use.

Harvest is a registered trademark of Harvest Technologies Corporation. Terumo® is a registered trademark of Terumo Corporation. Res-Q is a trademark of ThermoGenesis Corporation.

*ART 21 is a trademark of Celling Technologies®

Mars To Lead Discussions On A Sustainable Future For Business

MCLEAN, Va. /PRNewswire/ — On Thursday, October 25th, 2012, Mars will be featured at two prominent conferences on both sides of the globe, addressing international audiences on the role of business in securing a sustainable future.
BSR Conference 2012 in New York and Global Entrepolis 2012 in Singapore will feature two of Mars’ leading spokespeople and industry authorities, both discussing what is required to build a sustainable future and the role that businesses must take in helping to secure that future.
Barry Parkin, Global Commercial Vice President, Mars Chocolate, will speak at the BSR Conference 2012 in New York, a leading platform for sustainable action within business, addressing the audience during a session entitled ‘Reaching into the root of supply chain: Perspectives from an End User.’
During his interactive session at BSR, which will encourage participation from the audience, Parkin will highlight the industry opportunity to act responsibly and within Mars, to continue to make a difference to people and the planet, through performance. Parkin will look at how sustainability is a fundamental component of a successful business model and how important the help of external partners from science, academia, government and sustainability is to realizing this success. It is this collaborative approach, he will suggest, that allows Mars to take a long-term approach and tackle the bigger challenges faced by society and the Mars business.
“When it comes to understanding the sustainability landscape of business we need to look through a lens and ask ourselves, ‘How big is the issue? What can we influence and are we responsible for leading the change?'” commented Barry Parkin. “We have our own goals within Mars to work with our supply chain and bring about innovation and change wherever and however we can,” he added.
At the Asia Pacific Sustainability Leadership Forum 2012, a leading sustainability event held as part of the Global Entrepolis at Singapore, Andrew Hobday, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mars, Incorporated, will address business leaders on the following ‘Creating a sustainable future: making tomorrow better.’ In his speech, Hobday will discuss how business can create “actionable” solutions, which track progress, deliver on promises and continue to shape business sustainability, communities and environment across the globe.
“Our objective is to manufacture and distribute food products in a manner that creates a mutuality of benefits for all our stakeholders. This objective has guided Mars, Incorporated since its inception,” commented Andrew Hobday. “We work hard to identify, understand and prioritize the many ways that our business impacts people and the planet, using science to define the challenge or opportunity and promote innovative thinking and solutions.”
Both conferences come shortly after the publication of the second annual Principles in Action Summary, which details Mars’ approach to business and its commitment to put its Five Principles into action to make a difference to people and the planet through performance.
To find out more, please visit: http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/people-planet-performance.aspx
About Mars, Incorporated
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 70,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.
Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™, WISDOM PANEL™ and SERAMIS®.
For more information, please visit http://www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars.
Source: Mars, Incorporated

Policy Makers Join the Call for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation-Related Strokes to be Made a National Healthcare Priority

Urgent Need to Reduce the Devastating Personal and Economic Impact of these Severe Strokes
BRUSSELS/PRNewswire/ — Ahead of World Stroke Day 2012 (October 29), European and Malaysian Policy Makers have joined over 90 Medical and Patient Organisations, and more than 100,000 people, in supporting the Global Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Patient Charter and calling for National Governments and the World Health Organisation to act to make the prevention of AF-related strokes a priority. The Charter outlines ways to improve the diagnosis and management of AF which, if implemented, could stop thousands of preventable strokes from occurring each and every year.
To view the multimedia content associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/57497-sign-against-stroke/
Why Action is Needed Now?
This is an epidemic already in progress in Asia. In China alone, up to eight million people suffer from AF – the most common sustained abnormal heart rhythm. This is very worrying because people with AF are five times more likely to experience a stroke than those without AF. Furthermore, these strokes are more severe than those that are unrelated to AF and therefore more costly in terms of impact on individuals and health and social services budgets.
“I think it is very important that National Ministries of Health pay attention to the Global AF Patient Charter,” said Member of the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee Dr Cristian Silviu Buşoi. “The Charter recommendations could help governments achieve the aims of the European Heart Health Charter and the recently adopted United Nations target to reduce Non Communicable Disease mortality by 25% by the year 2025. This could limit the human trauma and substantial impact on health budgets caused by AF-related strokes.”
Stroke is a major cause of death and biggest single cause of disability worldwide. In the Asia-Pacific region in 2004, the approximate number of patients who had survived a stroke at some point in their lifetime was 4.4 million in Southeast Asia and 9.1 million in the Western Pacific region. In the same year, the number of first-ever strokes was 5.1 million across these regions. This was higher than the estimated number of new cases of cancer. Strokes also cause a significant economic burden on national economies in Asia for example, China will lose $558 billion in national income due to the combined consequences of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The personal impact for AF-related stroke survivors and their families cannot be underestimated with more than a third of survivors returning home with some level of permanent disability. AF also increases the risk of medical complications following a stroke with survivors suffering more frequently from conditions such as pneumonia and accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
Strokes are Preventable: Prevent Them!
However, the majority of these strokes are preventable. Whilst there is no quick or easy solution, there are steps that can be taken to improve awareness, detection, diagnosis and management of AF to reduce the number of people whose lives are devastated every year.
“National governments should work together with Medical and Patient Organisations to make AF-related stroke prevention and care a national healthcare priority and put in place national stroke prevention plans,” said Member of the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee Edite Estrela. “We should all do our best to increase access to education, early diagnosis of AF and appropriate management to prevent AF- related strokes.”
A Worldwide Unified Voice
The Global AF Patient Charter is supported by over 90 Medical and Patient Organisations around the world. Its supporting campaign, Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation, is calling for individuals around the world to sign their names on SignAgainstStroke.com to demonstrate their support for the Charter and ask National Governments to implement its recommendations to prevent AF-related strokes.
“The incidence of stroke across the Asia-Pacific region is continuing to grow and constitutes both a major public health issue which is why it is so important the Charter recommendations are implemented.” Said Dr. Sim Kui Hian, President Elect, Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology. “I welcome the support of Policy Makers in Malaysia and Europe in drawing attention to the need to prevent AF-related strokes and urge Policy Makers across Asia-Pacific to do the same.”
About The Global AF Patient Charter and Sign Against Stroke Campaign
The Global AF Patient Charter has been developed by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from Patient Organisations, including AntiCoagulation Europe, Arrhythmia Alliance, Atrial Fibrillation Association, Irish Heart Foundation, StopAfib.org and Stroke Alliance for Europe, in collaboration with 39 founding Patient Organisations from 20 countries. A full listing of collaborating organisations is available on the website, http://www.signagainststroke.com.
People can learn about AF and stroke, read and sign the Charter, which is available in 22 languages, and hear what policy makers have to say on the Campaign website, http://www.signagainststroke.com. All signatures contribute to driving action to prevent AF-related strokes and improving future outcomes and quality of life of people diagnosed with AF.
Bayer HealthCare is proud to support the Global AF Patient Charter and Sign Against Stroke Campaign.
Source: Sign Against Stroke

Australian Crowdsourcing Service DesignCrowd Launches in Singapore

SYDNEY /PRNewswire/ — Australian crowdsourcing marketplace, DesignCrowd, has launched its crowdsourcing service in Singapore via DesignCrowd.com.sg, a new crowdsourcing website for Singaporean businesses and designers.
DesignCrowd is seeking to find local businesses and recruit designers to the service and will offer both local crowdsourcing — a feature that allows Singaporean businesses to crowdsource designs from Singaporean designers — and international crowdsourcing — that will allow Singaporean businesses to access over 90,000 designers from around the world.
DesignCrowd CEO and founder, Alec Lynch, said: “Singapore is DesignCrowd’s largest source of sales in the region and a heavy user of crowdsourcing already. We are very pleased to launch DesignCrowd in Singapore which will provide the perfect base to help us to pioneer design crowdsourcing in Asia.”
Over 2,000 Singaporean designers and business owners have already been using DesignCrowd despite DesignCrowd’s head office being based in Sydney, Australia with one Singaporean designer Design Possibilities featuring in DesignCrowd’s Top 20 designers.
In addition to its launch in the Singapore, DesignCrowd is also launching in the Philippines and India as part of a broader Asian growth strategy. DesignCrowd’s entry into Asia comes three months after its launch in Canada and the UK (where it was named Wired Magazine’s UK “Startup of the Week”) and one year after it received a $3M investment from Australian venture capital firm Starfish Ventures.
Following expansion into Asia, DesignCrowd will be targeting growth in the United States and will also be assessing opportunities in South America and Europe.
About DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd is an online marketplace that specialises in helping businesses outsource or “crowdsource” design projects to a network of freelance designers from around the world. More than 90,000 designers participate in thousands of design contests launched on the company’s platform each year.
Source: DesignCrowd Pty Ltd