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Tesla is outwardly seeking to change to AMD “Navi” chip for its onboard media laptop (MCU), in line with a brand new leak.
Initially, Tesla used Nvidia Tegra chips in its Media Management Unit (MCU), which is completely different from its Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) computer systems that use Tesla’s personal chip.
As Tesla began working to transition away from utilizing Nvidia’s chips for its Autopilot laptop, the automaker additionally switched from Nvidia to Intel for its onboard MCU media laptop.
Now, we’ve discovered that Tesla is once more seeking to make a change in its MCU, and it’s seeking to transfer to AMD.
Patrick Schur shared a doc exhibiting that Tesla was seeking to transfer to AMD’s new Navi 23 chip earlier than eradicating the doc because it might probably reveal the supply:
That is AMD’s newest chip powering its new GPU playing cards, they usually declare extra energy and effectivity:
“Groundbreaking AMD RDNA™ 2 gaming structure delivers as much as 2X larger efficiency and as much as 54 % larger performance-per-watt in comparison with AMD RDNA™-based graphics playing cards“
Larger performance-per-watt is one thing that Tesla is at all times intently for the reason that automaker is seeking to enhance effectivity by way of each sub-system inside its automobiles in an effort to enhance total effectivity and, subsequently, vary.
It’s unclear when Tesla can be shifting to the brand new chip for its onboard laptop.
I wouldn’t put this within the “utterly confirmed” column simply but, however it seems to be like a stable supply.
Tesla is at all times seeking to enhance computing energy inside its automobiles, and that’s a pattern that I’ve been calling ever since Tesla employed Jim Keller again in 2016.
Vehicles are more and more changing into computer systems on wheels, and it’ll be essential for automakers to at all times preserve pushing for larger efficiency in an effort to compete.
Tesla appears to have understood that early by each engaged on its chips and seeking to purchase the most recent expertise from chip makers, like AMD.
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Duff's Famous Wings to close West Henrietta Road shop
The Rochester-area shop for Duff's Famous Wings will be closing later this month, the Buffalo-based chain announced on social media on Thursday.
In a Facebook post, the owners of Duff's Famous Wings in Rochester announced it would permanently close its restaurant at 2425 West Henrietta Road in Brighton on Dec. 27. In the post, owners said that the global pandemic and its corresponding state mandates and limited dining capacity within the eatery, and a lack of business caused the eatery to shutter.
The restaurant opened in 2015 in the former Friendly's restaurant. Aside from the Brighton store, there are currently five Duff's locations in New York, one in Texas and three in Canada, according to the chain's website.
After the local closure, gift cards will be honored at the other Duff's locations.

domain: news


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Effective June 1 2022, VR Rajesh will be elevated to group president, Ogilvy India.
As group president, he will lead the integrated Ogilvy India P&L across all offices and will be responsible for the acceleration of all core capabilities in India – advertising, brand and content, experience, health, PR and influence, and Ogilvy consulting.
Piyush Pandey, executive chairman of Ogilvy India said, “I am delighted that after a stellar performance at Ogilvy India, Kunal is moving to head Ogilvy Singapore and Malaysia. This important responsibility will add international exposure to Kunal’s rich experience across the many aspects of the communications business. I am sure he will be successful in his new role. VR Rajesh, who takes on the baton from Kunal, is an Ogilvy stalwart and I am confident he will take Ogilvy India and our clients to greater heights. On behalf of the Ogilvy India Board, I welcome VR to this new responsibility.”
Jeswani said, “Ogilvy India is easily one of the best agencies in the world and it has been an absolute privilege to spend the last 17 years in the company of giants who I love, respect and have grown with. As I move to a different market and a different Ogilvy experience – Ogilvy India is bigger, better and more vibrant than it has ever been. The company is in fantastic hands with immensely talented business, strategic and creative leaders. I am sure that under VR’s leadership, our client relationships will thrive, and our work will shine even brighter.”


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Venmo’s Debit Card Lets Users Pay Without Their Phone
The mobile payment app is optimizing its user experience by letting members pay with their Venmo balance via debit card, facilitating and expanding the use of the service while also eliminating the need for a phone
Venmo is jumping from its users phones right into their wallets with the release of its debit card. Created with MasterCard and useable wherever the financial service is accepted, the Venmo debit card synchs with user accounts and allows the balance to be spent or withdrawn from an ATM.
The card comes with a $400 limit on daily cash withdrawals, with a $2.50 transaction fee, and is currently available under a limited release with a waitlist. Venmo has always been an app aimed at creating ease for its users, from squaring up debts between friends to digital bank transfers, and this debit card eliminates some of the more time-consuming aspects of the service.
Wish you could use your Venmo balance in more places, like restaurants? Bars? Clothing stores? Now, you can. Introducing Venmo card. Save your spot in line today: https://t.co/5tuLUwzE1O pic.twitter.com/Desogsk96D
— Venmo (@venmo) June 25, 2018
Linking one’s phone to a payment card eliminates the need to wait on bank transfer dates, which gives Venmo an edge over other cash-sharing apps. By introducing a little bit of analog to its digital world, Venmo is prioritizing the customer convenience of its service, and continues to show that perhaps entirely card-less or solely digital transactions can be optimized through the implementation of a more tangible form of payment.
Lead image: paying with card stock photo from goir/Shutterstock


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It has been the third time within two years we’ve been commissioned to execute a hall in the area operated Budapest Free Port Logistics Ltd. This River Danube port is part of one of Europe’s busiest inland waterway. This time Weinberg is building halls for MASPED Logistics Ltd, one of the biggest and oldest players of the Hungarian logistics market.
Following construction of two “green” logistics centres here our team has a fair knowledge of the location and excellent routine. The two storage halls to be executed have a surface of 10 and 6 thousand square metres and a height of 14 metres.
During the summer months we were able to make good progress with this new task. In the case of the 6,000 sqm hall the roof and façade cladding has already been achieved. Work in progress includes the pouring of the floor, placement of side elements, and fitting of windows and doors.
It is intended to commemorate here in this new hall, in a ceremony organised on 16 October, of the 100th anniversary of the port and the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Masped.


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Olympus and Panasonic have announced three more companies have joined the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) System standard. Read more
Canon's new D850 packs an 24MP APS-C format CMOS sensor paired to a Digic 8 processor, which enables 7fps shooting.
Last week Nikon officially announced their latest flagship DSLR, the D6, and this week we had the chance to spend just 24-hours with this impressive camera.
The rumours are true: Canon are working on a successor to the EOS R, and it will feature 8K video, 20fps burst shooting and on sensor image stabilisation.
Olympus have announced the successor to the four-year-old E-M1 Mark II, with the announcement of the E-M1 Mark III.
Nearly five months after first confirming its development, Nikon has finally released details of its newest flagship DSLR, the D6.
Fujifilm's 2020 X-Summit included a ton of new product and software announcements, with one tasty tidbit right at the end.
Ricoh has announced the latest iteration of its rugged compact camera: the WG-70.
Fujifilm have announced the fifth iteration in the X100 series, bringing a bigger MP sensor, newly designed lens, weather resistance, and a new tilting rear LCD.
Tamron have announced the newest addition to the Japanese company's Sony E-mount lens lineup, with the announcement of the Tamron 20mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 lens.
Sony's A9 II may not look like its breaking any new ground, but lift the lid and you'll find a camera that's faster, more refined and arguably much more versatile than the camera it succeeds.
The new update to the six-year-old D750 inherits tech from both Nikon's mirrorless and DSLR siblings.


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Nike’s Blank Canvas Project to raise funds for Australian grassroots basketball
Nike and basketball go hand in hand. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James to Kobe Bryant and of course that Australian rookie by the name of Ben Simmons, all rock with the swoosh.
With December 3rd marking the 35th anniversary of the Air Force 1, Nike Australia is celebrating by bringing local customisation to Australia and giving back to local basketball community programs with the exclusive Blank Canvas project.
The Air Force 1 is an icon of basketball sneaker history and by selling locally customised sneakers, Nike will raise thousands of dollars for grassroots basketball in Australia.
There will be 70 pairs going up for grabs – 35 Triple White AF-1’S and 35 Triple Black AF-1’s – with all proceeds raised being donated to the YMCA.
These customised AF-1’s will be like none other. Sydney street artist Phibs will work his magic on each pair of kicks and just like his street art, will be a sight to behold.
All 70 pairs of AF-1’s will go on sale from 11am Sunday 3rd December via footlocker.com.au and at the Battle Force event in Melbourne.
The event, which will be held in Melbourne on 3rd December, is presented by Nike, Footlocker and Melbourne Streetball Madness.
It’s fair to say these AF-1’s will be hot property. With one of a kind Nike’s rarely being attainable, basketball fans and sneakerheads alike will be dishing out the cash – all for a good cause.
As basketball popularity and participation continues to grow in Australia, the funding of grassroots basketball programs is extremely important. With Nike donating all funds to the YMCA for basketball programs, these shoes may just be helping the next big thing chase their dream.
Thank you for loving Aussie hoops! From Kein, Damian and #TeamPnR


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The root problem is that in the U.S., corporations and their lobbyists are allowed to write laws which the Congress then passes, hence the section of Copyright law known as the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act).
Earlier this year a federal court in New York, acting in response to a complaint filed under DMCA provisions by AACS-LA*, issued an injunction that required among other things that the DVDFab internet domains be blocked and that payment processors cease providing services related to the sale of the product. All social media accounts were also closed. The case is grinding its way through the system.
*AACS-LA is a consortium of technology and content companies that includes Intel, Microsoft, Disney, Sony, Toshiba, IBM, Warner Bros., Panasonic and other enemies of Fair Use.


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It seems to be a rite of passage that as technology billionaires get older, they spend more time chasing dreams they might have fantasized about as kids. There’s Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos with their rockets, and now Mark Zuckerberg,
CEO Mark Zuckerberg, speaking at the company's live virtual and augmented reality conference, said the new name reflects his focus on building the metaverse.
Tech billionaire and Facebook founder, acquisitor and amalgamator of WhatsApp and Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg has created a meta company called Meta which would include Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. The others will retain their names
The social media giant said it hopes the machine will help lay the groundwork for its building of the metaverse, a virtual reality construct intended to supplant the internet as we know it today.
Already jittery markets have punished pandemic-era darlings including Netflix for disappointing results, with Meta getting a taste of that after its $10.3 billion quarterly profit and daily user-growth fell short of expectations.
The campaign will also support the objectives of the 1 Billion Meals initiative, which will provide food aid to the underprivileged and undernourished in 50 countries across the globe.
Is anyone on Facebook anymore? Silly question. Of course they are. Facebook — sorry Meta — still has a tonne of users on its various networks and is still making a tonne of money. It’s just the growth that’s stalled. But the global fall in user numbers,
In the wake of damning revelations from whistle-blower Frances Haugen and the leaking of the “Facebook files”, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg decided it was the right time to go ahead and announce his ambitions for an even more mesmeric and invasive
From its new base in Dubai, Meta will serve its markets in the Middle East and North Africa region and support 3 billion users of its platforms worldwide.


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Hello blog readers. I know it has been awhile since I last posted and I have been trying hard but unfortunately, the Bio-Materials newsletter is my top priority these days (to supplement my shopping habits ha!) and I have also been tied attending several conferences last month. This month, I will be attending the ICIS Pan Oleochemicals Conference in Miami (October 16-17) and the World Bio Markets USA in San Diego (October 27-29). Follow my twitter account @DGreenblogger for live updates! But of course, it is better to be there in person.
And now for the bio-succinic acid news. I have already reported about Reverdia’s recent announcement on the licensing of its Biosuccinium technology last week.
BioAmber also announced this month that it has signed an exclusive 5-year supply agreement with polyester polyols producer, Xuchuan Chemical, based in China. Xuchuan operates 4 production facilities in China, with a total capacity of 150,000 tons per year. The market opportunity for bio-succinic acid at Xuchuan is several thousand tons per year, according to BioAmber.
The supply contract will run from 2015 to the end of 2019, where BioAmber Sarnia, a joint venture with Mitsui & Co., will ship bio-succinic acid from its Sarnia, Canada, facility, to Xuchuan’s Chinese facilities. Polyester polyols are used to produce a wide range of products including paints and coatings, polyester resins and synthetic leather.
Xuchuan is initially launching PU systems for cast polyurethane elastomers (CPU) made with bio-succinic acid in replacement of adipic acid. CPU is used in applications including automotive instruments, caster wheels, industrial and mining equipment, power tools, industrial tires, coating rolls, drive belts, mold makers and hoses.
Xuchuan said bio-succinic acid offers better properties such as more abrasion/scratch resistant and more resistant to solvents. The forecasted succinic acid volumes in the contract for this initial application are 300 to 500 tons per year. Xuchuan plans to expand its line of sustainable, bio-succinic acid based polyester polyols to other applications, including resins for shoe soles, coating and synthetic leathers. BioAmber projects the long-term sales potential to Xuchuan for these applications could be several thousand tons of succinic acid per year.
BioAmber said its bio-succinic acid is price competitive in the Chinese market. Xuchuan said it can now offer its Chinese customers and export markets a new generation of products that have superior performance and an improved carbon footprint
BioAmber’s Sarnia plant is expected to be completed in early 2015 and will have an initial capacity of 30,000 tons per year. BioAmber has signed take-or pay agreements that commit 50% of the output over the first three years of production, and has committed the balance of available capacity in 2016 and 2017 by signing 20 supply and distribution agreements.
Last month, Myriant announced its partnership with specialty chemicals distributor company, Azelis Group. Myriant appointed Azelis to distribute its bio-succinic acid in the Nordics, Benelux, France, Iberia, Italy, the UK and Ireland. Myriant currently supplies bio-succinic acid from its 30 million pounds/year Louisiana facility. Not much information of course was in the press release but Azelis is a pretty big global distributor and it seems all the bio-succinic acid producers now have very good distribution network so far based as seen below:
- Azelis – Nordics, Benelux, France, Iberia, Italy, UK, Ireland
- Sojitz – Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan
- Bayegan – Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa
- Helm – Europe


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The clothing store opened its new location, at 18 South Broadway, last month. We wanted more space, but it wasnt so much an inventory issue, says owner Matthew Brown. We wanted to be larger so we could cater more to non-retail events. We wanted to have in-stores, we wanted to have DJs come in more, and we wanted a seating area. The store is just another animal now.
The grand reopening officially starts with a trunk show at 7 p.m.; Andy Butler goes on at 9. More information can be found at www.fancytiger.com.
Fri., Feb. 4, 2011


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Small cars and tiny city hatchbacks have come a long way in the past decade, all the while getting cheaper. Apart from dominating the sales charts (small cars are now the single biggest segment), they’ve also evolved into more comfortable, convincing machines.
The recently arrived new Toyota Corolla and the upcoming (revived) Nissan Pulsar are both $19,990, plus on-road costs, and better equipped than ever.
But the landscape is changing. A car that didn’t exist a decade ago – the Mazda3 – is now the bestselling car in the country.
The Corolla, on the other hand, has history on its side, while Nissan’s decision to bring back the Pulsar will revive what was once one of the most popular small cars.
Even the Astra has made a comeback, albeit wearing an Opel badge rather than a Holden one. Don’t expect Ford to revive the Laser in a hurry, though.
The market won’t remain static either, especially with a new Volkswagen Golf around the corner and the newMazda3 due next year. It’s only pointing one way – to even more in the way of small-car sales, led by the next breed of (better) cars.


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Original Drink Contest takes place on Thursday
March 27, 2012 by James
San Clemente bartenders are getting a chance to show what they’re made of on Thursday through this year’s San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Original Drink Contest.
Held every year on the last Thursday of March, members of the chamber will be able to watch these professionals mix, shake, and stir their specialty drinks and then judge for themselves which one is the best. An event that’s expected to be full of fun and laughter, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon. What makes this stand out even further is the step the chamber has taken in making sure that its members get a chance to promote themselves.
As a starting point, organizers have made sure that only member restaurants are able to participate in the contest. However, even those who aren’t a part of the food services industry can gain some exposure through this event. According to the same page on the chamber’s website, there are multiple sponsorship opportunities available to business owners here.
Starting at costs as low as $250 and going up to as much as $1,000, there’s plenty of room for people with all sorts of budgets to work with here. With perks that include the ability to advertise via banner printing, the inclusion of the logo on the marketing material that’s being used at this event, and recognition on the chamber website, the exposure is sure to be worth it.
With limited seating available, however, San Clemente professionals who would like to be a part of this one can’t go wrong.


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MORRISONS is recalling its packs of “4 Salmon Skewers in a BBQ Dressing” and has warned people allergic to milk not to eat the product.
The packaging doesn’t list milk correctly as an allergen, meaning the fish snack is a threat to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk.
A common allergic reaction to the white stuff is caused by lactose intolerance – where a person has an adverse reaction to milk sugar.
Symptoms can include swelling, vomiting, and wheezing.
It can also cause anaphylaxis – a rare and severe life-threatening allergic reaction.
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Morrisons customers with a milk intolerance have been told they can return the product and receive a full refund.
The supermarket giant has confirmed no other products are affected by the issue.
In their product recall notice, Morrisons wrote: “We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at email@example.com or call 0207 782 4368


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The agreement between the EU and China to settle their long-running trade dispute could boost the global PV market, according to the CEO of German polysilicon manufacturer Wacker Chemie.
The two parties agreed on Saturday to set a minimum import price on Chinese PV modules entering the European market.
Rudolf Staudigl, CEO, Wacker said as the company released its quarterly results that if the deal ran its course the benefits would reach beyond Europe.
“Our chemical divisions performed well during the April-through-June period. In polysilicon, low price levels and trade-policy risks remain a challenge,” said Staudigl on Tuesday.
“A compromise has now been found in the solar dispute between the European Union and China. If this settlement is implemented, it could mark the start of another global photovoltaics upturn.”
It is hoped that the deal will conclude months of uncertainty once its details are released next week.
Finlay Colville, vice president with analysts NPD Solarbuzz told PV-Tech that the deal was not a “happy ending” and that the dispute was likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Industry group EU ProSun has already declared that it will be taking the European Commission to court over the agreement with China. EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said it was the group's right to take legal action but they did not have a case to answer.
Wacker announced group sales were down 6% compared to the same period last year at €1.15 billion.
Wacker Polysilicon reported sales of €203.3 million (US$270 million) between April and June 2013, down 29% on the previous year.
The company reported that falling solar silicon prices, down one third compared to last year, were the principal reason for reduced sales in this sector of its business.


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Those who are prone to using the phrase “it’s just a game” should start worrying about their existence since this is a huge sin to say something like this in the gaming world. Don’t forget that seasoned and passionate gamers take things very seriously when it comes to gaming. Additionally, the less experienced players love […]
DLSS and FSR have sucked up the limelight in PC gaming performance, but another feature has been lurking in the background, largely ignored by developers.
Apple Store employees in Maryland have made history by voting to officially unionize, becoming the first Apple retail location to


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Ilford has been crowned the credit card acceptance capital of the UK, with 51.6% of those who applied for a credit card being accepted.
The Credit Index1 and interactive map released today by TotallyMoney.com, the credit comparison experts, paints a picture of a shifting credit landscape in England, Wales and Scotland.
TotallyMoney.com’s Credit Index and interactive map ranks one-quarter-of-a-million credit card applications based on the likelihood of acceptance or rejection. This data covers 123 areas in the UK over the year.
Nationwide, research reveals that the number of consumers being accepted for credit cards has risen to 40%. This figure is up 1% on the previous year, but there are still stark divides between the regions and the research uncovers the postcode lottery facing credit card applications.
Nigel Pocklington, CEO of TotallyMoney.com comments: “Our Annual Credit Index has again revealed insights into credit card application rejection rates across the country.
“We’ve seen urban regeneration in East London reflected in improved credit application acceptance, but there are still many people struggling to access affordable credit, particularly in the North and Scotland.
“A key finding of this study is that the overall credit card acceptance rate actually rose last year.
“This may reflect an optimism and confidence among lenders that they can relax their acceptance criteria or that consumers are making better-informed decisions about credit.
“With most consumers facing a less than a 50:50 chance of being accepted, it’s more important than ever that consumers use a service like TotallyMoney.com that shows how likely you are to be accepted before you apply for credit.
“Fear of rejection leads more than one-third (36%)2 of credit card holders to hang on to their existing card and potentially miss out on huge savings. Switching to a market leading credit card saves the average balance transfer customer over £800 over the lifetime of the deal – This dwarfs the average savings made from switching energy provider or taking out new insurance.”


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For nearly three decades, the first place viewers could get films to watch at home was the local video shop. Dominated by BlockBuster, these were the libraries where movie buffs could get their education. Today, however, much larger stores are available for anyone to watch almost anything instantly online, on smart TVs and on phones and iPads, and this week BlockBuster slipped barely noticed into administration. It just couldn’t take the tablets.
In a pointed demonstration of what went wrong, TV giant Sky today reveals that its own, new download service will launch this week. With 3 million people already using its Sky Go service to watch programmes on tablets and phones, now up to four users for every one of its 11 million subscribers will be able to download films and TV to watch wherever and whenever they want thanks to Sky Go Extra. That means the only place you can now download the latest new Hollywood movies, all the Bond films, Harry Potter and countless more TV shows online in the UK is via Sky.
Luke Bradley-Jones, brand director of TV products at Sky, says that it’s commuters and families eager to entertain their children that have driven massive growth in the existing service’s popularity. “We’re adding hundreds of thousands of users a month,” he claims. “And it’s in the last six months that it’s become well known and rapidly adopted.”
Thanks to Sky’s grip on new movie rights, Sky Go Extra immediately puts intense pressure on much-vaunted video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon’s LoveFilm. While LoveFilm may have a huge archive of older films and Netflix specialises in TV, neither has Sky’s catalogue of the latest Hollywood films.
Key to the growing rivalry between such services is the difficulty in getting access to content. Film distribution remains thoroughly stuck in a model that sees new releases first in cinemas, then on aeroplanes, followed by pay-per-view, then subscription and free TV services. Netflix has, for instance, been reduced to bidding for individual titles – as a result it will show The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey first, after it closes in cinemas – but Sky’s catalogue of the newest releases remains far deeper. And while it is hard to see that many people would sign up to Netflix just for The Hobbit, it is also trying to increase its range of unique programmes: the remake of the classic House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey, for instance, will be a Netflix exclusive from February 1.
Indeed, Sky too claim that once users become accustomed to on-demand content, they don’t merely watch BBC programmes on the iPlayer. Outside the standard programme guide, with BBC One and Two at the top, other shows get a better look in. According to Bradley-Jones, “viewing patterns are changing quite rapidly”, with 2.5 million views for Sky’s series An Idiot Abroad alone.
Even so, researchers GfK estimate that 20 per cent of the UK adult population – about 10 million people – use the iPlayer every week. As if to emphasise the growing integration between online services and traditional broadcast TV, Netflix claimed last year that its target was Sky Movies rather than rival services such as LoveFilm or increasingly Google’s YouTube.
Bradley-Jones acknowledges that Sky must continue to offer “extra value to subscribers”. Sky Go Extra will cost an additional £5 per month, after a two-month free trial, and is just part of a plan to entice the subscribers required for Sky to keep producing and buying new programmes.
That makes it all the more crucial for Sky to retain its current critical mass, driven by exclusive sport and movies which are not available on any other online film subscription service for a least a year afterwards. The new downloads service will no doubt use tablets and phones to drive greater loyalty.
Rivals may want to challenge Sky’s dominant position, but for now at least it looks unlikely that distributors want to change the system. Indeed, Netflix’s Kelly Merryman concedes that at the moment “The equivalent of “this season’s model” is paying iTunes to own a film and “last season’s model” is Netflix,” albeit at a lower price.
Unfortunately, its new programmes, from films to TV, that people primarily want to watch. And they want to watch it in more places than ever, with more devices than ever. That makes downloads vital. “The way customers are thinking about the whole TV experience is changing again,” says Bradley-Jones, “and it’s ultimately all about the content – however people want to watch it.”


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Verance and Fincons Group Win Award for First End-to-End HbbTV ADB2 Implementation.
Paris, France, November 25, 2021 – The HbbTV Association, a global initiative dedicated to providing open standards for advanced interactive TV services through broadcast and broadband networks to connected TV sets and set-top boxes, has unveiled the winners of the HbbTV Awards 2021, showcasing and celebrating excellence in the HbbTV community.
The winners of the HbbTV Awards 2021
HbbTV Scale-up Project
Nowtilus, Serverside.ai Full-Break [email protected]
Technology Innovation in a Product or Service
Fincons Group & Verance, First End-to-End HbbTV ADB2 Implementation
Tool or Product for Service Development or Delivery
Dotscreen, Salto Electronic Program Guide
Thi Thanh Van Nguyen, Samsung
Award for HbbTV Newcomer of the Year:
Mediaset España for LOVEStv and Mitele services
“Congratulations to the winners of the HbbTV Awards 2021! We are impressed by the participants’ amazing, both mature and innovative, future-oriented applications, services and contributions, reflecting the important role of the HbbTV specifications in creating a compelling viewing experience across all platforms,” said Vincent Grivet, Chairman of the HbbTV Association.
The winners were selected by an independent jury of international industry experts. A total of 27 submissions from 9 countries were received during the call for entries.
The prizes were awarded at a glamorous ceremony on November 24, 2021 as part of the 9th HbbTV Symposium and Awards in Paris, co-hosted by the HbbTV Association and French streaming platform Sal
Verance® Aspect™ is a global watermarking platform that powers broadband features on broadcast television by enabling sports betting, dynamic advertising and interactivity across all screens and distribution paths. Aspect supports new and existing industry standards including ATSC 3.0 and HbbTV and works in today’s ATSC 1.0 broadcasting environment. Leading programmers such as FOX, NBC and PBS are currently deploying Aspect.
Verance content measurement and enhancement technologies are at the forefront of innovation and set the industry standard for television, movies and music. Our solutions have been adopted by over 100 leading entertainment and technology companies and deployed in over 350 million consumer products worldwide. For more information, visit: http://www.verance.com< Back to list


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January is the perfect time for some fresh thinking. It’s a great time to think big—and for big-picture thinking. The experts are doing it, and you can, too. Here are some big-picture insights for the coming year to help stimulate your own thinking about what 2014 could hold for you and your business.
Business Insider reports on nine big ideas that will define 2014. The list includes some of the most fascinating ideas submitted when LinkedIn asked some of its top influencers for big ideas they believe will shape the coming year. These are broad-brush insights about how the world could change and/or events could unfold on a big scale. But because everyone (and every business) is influenced by trends and events, big and small, it’s important to think about these in the context of your own business: Could this change how I operate? Does this bring opportunities for new products or services? What impact might this have on my customers—and what they need from my business?
So here are the nine big ideas; you’ll want to click the link above to get all the details.
Fox Business got even more specific and took on What 2014 will bring to your business. This Fox article says that the growth businesses experienced in 2013 has raised expectations for an even more profitable 2014. But the year is not going to be without its challenges, the biggest of which could be understanding—and being able to tap into—alternative funding.
Fox looks at five predictions for small businesses in 2014:
And what would the big picture be without a nod to potential missteps? Forbes cautions small businesses to avoid these five mistakes in 2014:
Image courtesy of num_skyman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


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Mahindra 2-Wheelers announced the launch of the Mojo Tribe, a club meant exclusively for owners of the recently launched Mojo motorcycle. The club brings together a group of biker enthusiasts who navigate every turn to welcome the magic of possibility, the lure of freedom, the excitement of adventure and the power of untold tales.
The catchy Mojo Anthem released embodies the true ethos of the Mojo tribesmen as they forge the trails to make Mojo Tribe a one of its kind experience.
The thrill for riding just got bigger with the new season of the Trails of Mojo Tribe 2016 – 17, which celebrates the spirit of riding through 4 thrilling trails, each promising a different terrain and experiences of lifetime. One could enjoy conquering new peaks on the Mountain Trail, chasing the winds on the Coastal Trail, exploring nature on the Jungle Trail or pushing oneself to the extreme on the Desert Trail. All these trails culminate into the Mojo Rising Trail, an annual get together of Mojo owners at Goa, to share countless moments of exhilaration with fellow riders and of course, your Mojo!
The show bike was seen in a new ‘Yellow’ shade too, which is speculated to be on-sale sometime this year.
Speaking on the occasion, Vinod Sahay – COO, Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd. said –
“The Mahindra Mojo has been a head turner right from the day of its launch with accolades from riders and industry experts alike. Built with precision, the Mojo is a vehicle crafted for versatility to deliver superior riding experience. The Mojo Tribe brings together a brotherhood of people who exemplify the true spirit of riding”.
Mahindra has also launched the Mojo Tribe Mobile App exclusively designed for Mojo owners, providing them a platform to share their experiences and connect with their fellow tribesmen while on the go.
To read more on Mahindra Mojo 300, Click here


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Greece recalled its ambassador from Austria, following Austria's decision to close its border for migrant. While majority of people are not satisfied with government's way in handling economic crisis.
Earlier this month, Chinese state-owned company ChemChina reached an acquisition deal of $43 billion with Swiss company Syngenta. After clearing regulation requirements in China, ChemChina is now seeking out loans of more than $35 billion from bankers to fund the purchase.
The US economy recorded better than expected performance during the fourth quarter enabling it to conclude 2015 on positive mode. Surpassing the forecast of 0.7 percent, the US economy grew one percent during September-October quarter in 2015 giving much leverage to the US government to tighten monetary policy.
Britain's exit from the European Union will have a negative impact on the economy of the country, according to officials. The UK prime minister pledges to negotiate a better agreement for the nation in the union.
Telstra is backing up external venture capital funds to seek investments in Asia. The company is focusing more on technology investment in Asia as it experiences a drop in the viability of internet services and phone calls.
Year 2015 was dubbed as year of fintech. As financial technology startup companies flourish and gain huge fund. Global regulators are closely monitoring the fintech startups and will propose rules to regulate them.
GE have been trying attract tech workers since last year. In its new Oscars ad, GE mock the startups and proclaim itself as a tech company and an industrial company.
Gap Inc. has announced its fourth quarter earnings on Thursday. The clothing retailer has represented a comparative feature with its year ago performances. It has also predicted for weaker earnings during the current year.
The Kraft Heinz Company on Thursday reported its fourth-quarter earnings that outstripped analysts' estimate. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.575 per common share.
S&P and Moody’s have downgraded economic outlook of Azerbaijan during the previous month. On Friday, the other US Stock Exchange Commission recognized rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has also downgraded the outlook. Country’s government and central bank adopted measures have apparently gone in vain to tackle the economic turmoil.
White people were once ruling and oppressive class in South Africa, As government wipe out the apartheid, unskilled white people are ousted and have to live in slums. There are more than 400,000 white people live in poverty.
Venezuela has announced on Wednesday reaching a $5 billion venturing deal with Gold Reserves. The government is expecting to enrich its ever decaying foreign currency reserve with the fund under agreement. But analysts assume, the government may hardly use the fund since Gold Reserves and several other plaintiffs’ proceedings with ICSID are going to be concluded shortly.
Did Kuaidi, the largest ride-hailing service in China is about to raise $1 billion the same amount that Uber spent last year for its expansion. It is going to be a tough competition for both companies since they are being backed up by other large companies such as Alibaba and Tencent Holdings Inc.
Retailers can manipulate consumer regret to beat competitors
The French luxury group gains full control of the 70-year-old Parisian fashion house Christian Dior in a mammoth deal worth around €12.1 billion.
UK luxury fashion retailer Burberry posts lackluster set of results for its second half following an impressive result in the third quarter, a retail analyst stated.
What seemed like a perfect hacking operation turned out to be a failure as Kaspersky has spotted a mistake on the part of the Lazarus hackers. It found a brief connection that came from North Korea - proving their identity and origin.
A lawsuit has been filed by a Democratic political consultant and Fox News contributor on Monday alleging, among others, that Roger Ailes denied her of a permanent hosting job after she turned down his sexual advances.
South African leader, Jacob Zuma, has sacked finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a move that drove the country's currency down five percent in value. The president calls for a midnight reshuffle in his Treasury members who he felt were disloyal to his political intentions.
The US president has long promoted a change on how foreign businesses should run their operations - and that is to revive American manufacturing. Uniqlo head showed he didn't like being given an ultimatum by Trump.
Cemex, one of the world's largest cement producers, has not participated in the first round of bids that is currently underway but said it is open to providing quotes to supply the raw materials for Trump's promised border wall.
Arket, which means 'sheet of paper' in Swedish, will cater to a modern-day market with products for men, women, children and the home.


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The victim was taken to hospital after eating a chicken tikka meal containing almond powder after he ticked the 'no nuts' option in his online order A customer who ordered a curry on-line had stated “no nuts” but when it arrived it contained almond powder, magistrates heard today. Read full article from here:
Have you ever heard of a food business being prosecuted? The reality of it is that, many food businesses get prosecuted every year for various reasons. However, you can avoid being prosecuted in most of the
One of the main reasons why food businesses get prosecuted is because they ignore warnings from the local authority inspectors.
Lets look at a typical scenario:


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Last year, when Smart Displays were still relatively new, we asked if you were interested in them. 43% of those who responded said they were interested, followed by 39% of people saying they weren’t. It’s time for a followup.
It’s almost 2020 and Lenovo has recently launched a new 7″ Smart Display (pictured above). We’ll have coverage of that device soon — we literally plugged it in this morning. Google has also released a few smart display devices under the Nest brand, including the Nest Hub Max and standard Nest Hub. Point being, there’s a solid list of options out there for interested buyers.
Because we’ve seen them on sale from time to time, and we know for sure that Black Friday and Cyber Monday will be a good time to pick one up, we’re curious if you’ve gone ahead and picked one up for your own home or plan to do so.


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Sources broke the news that Apple is developing the next generation of entry-level iPad, the new iPad will be equipped with an A14 Bionic chip, support a 5G network, and will support the USB-C interface for the first time. The current entry-level iPad starts at $372, making it Apple’s cheapest iPad model. Because of this, the entry-level iPad’s design hasn’t changed much, and it doesn’t support the USB-C port, making it the last iPad model to use the Lightning port.
The entry-level iPad that Apple is developing is the tenth-generation product, code-named J272, and will be officially upgraded to a USB-C interface. Apple adopted the USB-C interface on the iPad Pro released in 2018, the iPad Air released in 2020 was upgraded to a USB-C interface, and the iPad mini released in 2021 was upgraded to a USB-C interface.
Supporting the USB-C interface means that the device is more scalable and has faster data transfer speeds. Currently, the ninth-generation iPad is equipped with a 10.2-inch LCD screen, and the next-generation iPad will use the same resolution screen as the iPad Air.
If you like our news and you want to be the first to get notifications of the latest news, then follow us on Twitter and Facebook page and join our Telegram channel. Also, you can follow us on Google News for regular updates.


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Tim Cook Reveals How iPhone X Is Key to Apple's Next 10 Years
The Apple CEO is not giving up on the phone just yet.
Apple is not giving up on the iPhone X just yet. Despite reports that sales of the $999 smartphone have been sluggish and the company plans to pull the plug later this year, CEO Tim Cook struck a positive tone during Apple’s first quarter earnings call Thursday afternoon, dropping hints at how the radical redesign paves the way forward.
“I think at the beginning, we don’t really comment on future products,” Cook said in response to a question from Mike Olsen, senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray. “But I would tell you that we’re thrilled with the reception of iPhone X. And as we said when we launched it, we were setting up the next decade. And that is how we look at it. And so that’s the reason it’s chock full of incredible innovation. And so you can bet that we’re pulling that string.”
Cook also squashed rumors that slow sales of the phone — which has the highest starting price of any iPhone ever produced — would lead to a rethink. He revealed that Canalys analysis showed the phone was the world’s best-selling smartphone in the December quarter, it’s been the company’s top-selling phone every week since it launched, and revenue from the new 2017 lineup was the highest in company history.
The company released a new ad last week to highlight its camera capabilities:
In the same call, Cook highlighted some features of the phone that hint at how the X will influence the coming years. He described augmented reality as “profound,” with the “ability to amplify human performance instead of isolating humans,” a feature that is boosted by the X’s A11 Bionic processor, iOS 11 developer tools, and high-quality camera. He also said that the new face scanner has been “incredibly well received,” suggesting the company will stand by its decision to remove the fingerprint scanner with future device releases.
It’s not the first time Apple has suggested the X will form the design of iPhones for the future. At the device’s unveiling in September, on stage at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, Cook claimed the phone would “set the path of technology for the next decade.” In October, soon after the device’s unveiling, designer Jony Ive described it as “a new chapter” in the company’s history.
With reports that Apple would halve first quarter production targets for the new phone to just 20 million units, it seemed the company may have been planning a step back to reconsider its options. Cook doubling down on the company’s future plans seems to suggest otherwise.


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All The Covid-19 Vaccination Incentives Hongkongers Can Receive: #OurBestShot
- Philanthropic Vaccination SchemesPhilanthropic Vaccination Schemes
- Lucky Draws For Vaccinated Hong Kong ResidentsLucky Draws For Vaccinated Hong Kong Residents
- Travel-Based Vaccination IncentivesTravel-Based Vaccination Incentives
- Dining-Based Incentives For Vaccinated PeopleDining-Based Incentives For Vaccinated People
- Attractions-Based Vaccination IncentivesAttractions-Based Vaccination Incentives
- Shopping-Based Vaccination IncentivesShopping-Based Vaccination Incentives
- Insurance Based Vaccination IncentivesInsurance Based Vaccination Incentives
- Hong Kong Businesses Offering Incentives To Their EmployeesHong Kong Businesses Offering Incentives To Their Employees
The latest news on the incentives and perks you can receive once you've got your Covid-19 vaccine in Hong Kong—from property prizes to staycation savings, F&B perks and more. This article was updated with the latest news on October 21, 2021.
At Tatler, we believe that the Covid-19 vaccine is our best shot to ensure we protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities, and get Hong Kong back to the thriving, vibrant city we know and love. With studies showing that the vaccine is safe and is helping to protect communities around the world from the virus, we believe now is the time for us all to play our part and get vaccinated, to help end the city's travel restrictions and social distancing measures.
We're fortunate that all adults in Hong Kong have had access to free-of-charge WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines since April 15. Now, to encourage take-up of these shots and to help Hong Kong get back to business, a consortium of the city's biggest companies and brands are offering money-can't-buy incentives and prize draws to residents who get vaccinated.
Read on for our up-to-date guide to the incentives you can receive after getting the vaccine in Hong Kong––from property prizes to shorter quarantine times, F&B perks and more.
We'll be updating this list daily with new offers and vaccine prize draws, so keep checking back and bookmark the page in your browser to stay up to date.
How Can You Prove Your Covid-19 Vaccination Status In Hong Kong?
There are two different ways to show your Covid-19 vaccination status. The first is with the paper confirmation you received at the vaccination centre (Tatler tip: if you're planning to use this, we recommend you get it laminated so that it stays in good shape). More digital-first options are the government's iAM Smart mobile app or the Leave Home Safe app. To add your vaccination record to either, simply scan your paper vaccination record's QR code when you have the app open. Your vaccination details will then be stored within the app.
Philanthropic Vaccination Schemes
New World Development Company
Asia’s Most Influential honoree Adrian Cheng’s New World Development Company has announced a subsidy programme to help the city’s most in-need citizens to get vaccinated. Designed to assist Hongkongers that are not able to get vaccinated as easily as others––due to health or employment reasons, the beneficiaries will be selected by a number of NGOs. The first batch of the subsidy scheme will directly benefit 5,000 Hong Kong citizens, who will each receive $1,000 once they are fully vaccinated. The first group of recipients will be selected by Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, LC-HKS, the Society for Community Organization and St James' Settlement, and the scheme will begin at the end of this month. More details on the rollout will be announced soon.
K. Wah International Holdings Limited
The property development group––which is owned by celebrated philanthropist, Lui Che-woo, has announced that it will donate HK$1m to support underprivileged residents to get vaccinated. The money will be used for pre-vaccination check-ups at the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. More details on the scheme will be announced soon.
Lucky Draws For Vaccinated Hong Kong Residents
Vaccination Lucky Draw
Giving Hongkongers the chance to win a HK$10.8 million apartment in Kwun Tong plus twenty additional cash prizes, the Sino Group and Chinese Estates Holdings Limited sponsored Covid-19 vaccination lucky draw made headlines when it was announced last month. Open to Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 or above who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccines in Hong Kong on or before September 1 2021. The winners were drawn and announced on September 8, 2021, including the winner of the apartment, a 35-year-old chef.
The second prize of twenty HK$200,000 scholarships for young adults aged 12-17, was drawn on October 7, 2021. See the list of winners here.
Sino Group has announced they will give away one more flat in Kwun Tong, this draw will only be made if more than five million Hong Kong residents receive one dose of a Covid-19 vaccination before November 30, 2021. The draw is open for registration here.
The group has also announced a draw to encourage senior citizens to get vaccinated. 200 prizes of HKD$10,000 will be given to 200 randomly selected fully vaccinated residents aged 70 and above. The draw is open from now until November 30, 2021.
Cheung Kong Group
The Cheung Kong Group––owned by Hong Kong’s richest man, Li Ka-shing––is the second group to announce a property-based prize in their vaccination prize draw. As part of the HK$20 million prize pot, one entrant will win the grand prize of HK$5M of vouchers––which are valid for the purchase of a flat. Other top prizes include vouchers totalling between HK$3m and HK$50,000, which can be used at ParknShop, Watsons, Fortress, and other Cheng Kong managed companies and hotels. The results of the lucky draw were announced on September 20, 2021.
The property development group has announced their own Covid-19 prize draw, with over HK$20 million of prizes for residents who get vaccinated. Prizes up for grabs include free hotel stays at the group's Nina Hotel properties, dining passes for the group’s F&B outlets and cash vouchers. The Chinachem vaccination lucky draw is now closed.
The Hong Kong Association of Banks
All HKID holders who have already received both doses of Covid-19 vaccines in Hong Kong were eligible to join this lucky draw. Among the top prizes were HK$100,000 spending credit or shopping vouchers.
Goodman Hong Kong
Prizes including a Tesla Model 3 Long Range valued at over HK$500,000 are included in the global property group’s vaccination incentives package. All residents (HKID holders) who have been vaccinated by August 31, 2021, are invited to enter, with total prizes being offered totalling more than HK$1 million. The Goodman Hong Kong Lucky Draw closed on September 2, 2021.
See the winners here
Sun Hung Kai Properties
Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited has announced two lucky draws––one for fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents, and one for Sun Hung Kai Properties staff––with prizes worth a total of HK$10 million. As part of their vaccination incentives programme, the group will give away two iPhone 12s every day in July and August along with a SmartOne 5G service plan each. The lucky draws are now closed, with the full list of winners available here.
Win gold with Henderson Land Development
The property developer––which is owned by Lee Shau-kee––will hold six vaccination lucky draws between June and September 2021. One winner will receive a grand prize––60 taels of 24 Karat gold, worth over HK$1M. Other prizes include shopping vouchers, totalling over HK$1M and a total of 300 taels of 24 Karat gold. The draw is now open to fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents aged 18 and over. The winners of the final grand draw and previous lucky draws can be found here.
The Hong Kong utilities company has announced a vaccination prize draw, with prizes worth over $HK3 million in total. 50 winners will each receive a $10,000 shopping voucher––which can be used at Towngas Customer Centres, Towngas Cooking Centre, Flame at Towngas Avenue and Towngas Fun. 2,500 winners will win a $1,000 voucher.
Win a Mercedes Benz and more with Jardine Matheson
The Hong Kong-based conglomerate has announced that they will be giving away HK$10m of incentives to fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents. As well as three brand new Mercedes Benz cars, prizes include staycations at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, and shopping and dining vouchers which can be used at Maxim’s, Wellcome, Mannings, IKEA, Pizza Hut and KFC. The draw was run by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and was open to HKID holders who are fully vaccinated by the end of September.
Link Real Estate Investment Trust
The retail real estate investment trust has announced a lucky draw for vaccinated Hong Kong residents. Prizes include 400 HK $5,000 dining vouchers, and consumer tech items worth a total of over HK$2m. Winners can redeem vouchers at any of the companies’ Hong Kong retail properties, which include Stanley Plaza and Temple Mall in Wong Tai Sin.
The business conglomerate announced a series of vaccination lucky draws, which will take place in October, November and December 2021. Fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents will have the chance top prizes, including a Nissan Serena e-Power 7 seater (worth HK$390,000), a pre-paid CITIC Bank International credit card with a value of HK$100,000, shopping and dining coupons for outlets including McDonald's and Dah Chong Hong Food Mart.
Win gold bars with Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange
Hong Kong’s only physical gold & silver exchange launched a lucky draw to encourage residents to get vaccinated.The list of winners of the previous draws can be found here.
Win book vouchers with Sino United Publishing (Holdings)
Bookworms, rejoice! Sino United Publishing has announced that they will give away HKD$2M worth of book vouchers to vaccinated Hong Kong residents. The lucky draws––which have been created in partnership with an anonymous donor––gave away a grand prize of five HK$10,000 Gift Vouchers for each draw. 1,900 runners up each received a HK$1,000 voucher. The winners of the lucky draw can be found here.
Travel-Based Vaccination Incentives
Cathay Pacific Prize Draw
With foreign travel feeling like a distant memory for many of us, Cathay Pacific’s Covid-19 vaccination prize draw was music to our ears. Offering one winner the chance to host a private party on the airline’s new Airbus A321neo aircraft, the carbon-neutral flight will take guests high above the skies of Hong Kong. In addition, the airline will be giving away 20 million Asia Miles. All HKID holders who have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine can enter.
In case you missed it: These Are The Countries Open To Vaccinated Hong Kong Travellers
Fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents can book a staycation at 50% off the room rate and save 50% on dining at The Langham, Cordis and Eaton hotels as part of Great Eagle Group’s “Stay Safe and Save” packages. Guests who book the special rates must show their vaccination records at check-in. This offer has now closed.
Unlimited Free Stays with Shangri-La for an Entire Year
The luxury hotel brand is set to launch a prize draw, offering one traveller a whole year of free stays at any of their 100 plus hotels in 76 destinations around the world. Also valid for the group’s four Hong Kong properties, the draw was open to all vaccinated Hong Kong residents aged 18 and over. The Shangri-La lucky draw has now closed. Winners can be seen here.
Win Free Hotel Stays With Dorsett Hotels’ “It Takes Two To Travel”
Dorsett Hospitality International has announced that they will give away 1,000 free room nights as part of a prize draw for fully vaccinated Hongkongers. Playfully named “It Takes Two To Travel”, 500 people will win a two-night stay at select Dorsett International hotels across the world––including London, Singapore, Shanghai, and their brand new property on Australia's Gold Coast––which can be used until December 2022. Knowing how much Hongkongers love to travel to Japan, 300 of the stays will be provided by strategic partner, Agora Hospitality Group––which has properties throughout the country. Winners will also be able to redeem the stay on Hong Kong hotel quarantine stays. Dorsett Hospitality International––headed up by Winnie Chiu––has been supporting Hongkongers since the start of the pandemic, providing hotel quarantine facilities, and free rooms for key workers and victims of domestic violence.
More details of how to enter the giveaway will be announced soon.
Win Marriott Bonvoy Points With Marriott International
The international hotel brand has launched a lucky draw for fully vaccinated residents. Five million Marriott Bonvoy points will be given away to Marriott Bonvoy members––with ten lucky winners receiving 500,000 points each. These can be redeemed against any of the group’s 13 Hong Kong hotels––which include the sky-high Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, and St Regis–– their dining properties, or any of their other 7,600 worldwide locations.
Dream Cruises' Go! Super Seacation Prize Draw
The cruise brand ran a sweepstake for vaccinated residents. Open to all Hong Kong residents aged 18 and over the grand prize was an “All-You-Can-Cruise” Annual Pass to a Deluxe Balcony Stateroom––valued at HK$3.8 million. Other prizes included a two-night cruise for up to six guests on Dream Cruises’ Genting Dream in The Palace, and other staycations at sea for winners and their guests. The winners of the prize draw were announced on August 6, 2021.
Free MTR Travel For A Year
The MTR has announced that it will give away 500 travel tickets––each offering unlimited travel on the MTR network for one year to fully vaccinated residents. More details on how to enter are set to be announced soon.
Win trips to Japan with Dongying Travel Service Co
The tour operator is giving away numerous Japan-based travel prizes, with a grand prize of a year’s free stay at Osaka Hinode Hotel and the Okinawa Hinode Resort and Hot Spring Hotel. The lucky draw is open for registration now and will close on September 15, 2021.
Win free tours with the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Discover a new side of the city with the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s vaccination lucky draw. Giving away over 10,000 local tours, winners can choose the chance to explore Central’s hidden gems, take a day trip to Lamma, explore Hong Kong’s arts scene and lots more. The lucky draw has now closed.
Win a year of vacations with Club Med
As part of their drive to encourage Hong Kong residents to get vaccinated, the all-inclusive resort brand has launched a lucky draw. Open to fully vaccinated residents aged 18 or over from now until September 30, one winner will receive the grand prize of four all-inclusive week-long stays for two at any of Club Med's resorts. The prize is inclusive of food and drinks, activities and accommodation. Runner up prizes include trips to Club Med ski resorts and Club Med Kani in the Maldives and HK$5000 cash vouchers to be used on their properties around Asia.
Reduced Quarantine Time For Inbound Travellers To Hong Kong
As well as staycation savings and free prize draws, being fully vaccinated reduces hotel quarantine time for some inbound travellers to Hong Kong. The hotel quarantine time is determined by the country you are travelling from, and all travellers are still required to submit self-monitoring Covid-19 tests in the week after they exit hotel quarantine. The current quarantine times for vaccinated inbound travellers to Hong Kong are as follows:
Group A–– Travellers from Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, and the UK––21 days hotel quarantine for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.
Group B––travellers who are arriving from destinations that are not in group A or group C (not including Mainland China)
14-day hotel quarantine for vaccinated travellers, 21 days hotel quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.
Group C––Travellers from Australia and New Zealand—7-day hotel quarantine for vaccinated travellers, 14 days hotel quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.
Find out everything you need to know about antibody testing, where to book an antibody test in Hong Kong, and the countries that are eligible here.
Find more information about quarantine requirements for inbound travellers on the Hong Kong government coronavirus website.
All hotel quarantine must still be undertaken in one of the government’s approved quarantine hotels.
Dining-Based Incentives For Vaccinated People
Save 50% On Dining
As part of the “Stay Safe and Save” packages, diners at The Langham, Cordis and Eaton hotels can save 50% on their meals. Diners must show their vaccination status when dining to receive the discount. Diners can also save 15% at Great Eagle Group's Michelin-star Ming Court in Wan Chai. This offer has now ended.
Win dining vouchers with “K. Wah Cares”
In addition to their HK$1M donation to help underprivileged Hongkongers get the vaccine, K. Wah International Holdings Limited has announced a series of weekly lucky draws for fully vaccinated residents. Held from now until August 31, entrants will have the chance to win a HK$2,000 electronic dining voucher, which can be used at InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong. A total of HK$1M in dining vouchers will be given away.
Eat free at Kam Kee Cafe for life
The popular Hong Kong restaurant has announced a vaccination lucky draw, giving one winner a lifetime free pass to dine at the restaurant. Second and third prizes of free meals for a year, and free meals for three months will also be given out. T To enter, diners must spend HK$50 and enter their details online. The only catch? Winning diners will be subject to a HK$3000 a month spending limit. The lucky draw is now closed.
Win dining vouchers with the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre's lucky draw gave giving fully vaccinated residents the chance to win a host of F&B based prizes. The grand prize––which three people will win––is for unlimited meals at the centre’s Congress Plus dinner buffet. Runners up will win prizes including HK$1000 dining vouchers. Now closed, the lucky draw will be made on September 9, 2021, with winners announced three working days later here.
Larger Group Dining Gatherings And Later Opening Hours
As announced on April 27, from April 29, restrictions on dining were eased for vaccinated Hong Kong residents.
Named "vaccine bubbles", these divide restaurants into four category levels, based on vaccination status:
1. Group A: Restaurants that do not participate will only be allowed to operate with up to two people per table until 6pm.
2. Group B: Restaurants that require staff members to be tested every 14 days and customers to use the LeaveHomeSafe app will be allowed up to four people per table, operating until 10pm.
3. Group C: Restaurants, where all staff have received one dose of the vaccine and whose customers use the LeaveHomeSafe app, will be allowed to seat up to six people per table, and operate at 75 per cent venue capacity until midnight.
4. Group D: Restaurants in which all members of staff have been fully vaccinated––and where customers have received at least one dose––will be allowed to operate until 2am, with up to 12 people per table, at 100 per cent capacity. Venues who fulfil these criteria will also be able to host banquets with up to 180 people–– provided that at least two-thirds of patrons have received at least one dose vaccine.
Attractions-Based Vaccination Incentives
Win Movie Tickets With Empire Cinemas
As part of a giveaway being managed by The Hong Kong Chamber Of General Commerce, the cinema chain will give away 20,000 tickets to fully vaccinated residents. Emperor Group––who owns the movie theatres––will also raffle off a two-day staycation and shopping vouchers to staff members who have got both Covid-19 vaccinations.
Win “Free movie tickets for 365 days” with the Hong Kong Theatre Association
Five fully-vaccinated Hong Kong residents will receive 365 movie vouchers, courtesy of the Hong Kong Theatre Association.
See the winners here
Shopping-Based Vaccination Incentives
Free Shopping Vouchers For Vaccinated Residents
Pacific Place and Cityplaza owner Swire Properties have announced a Covid-19 lucky draw for vaccinated residents. All HKID holders can enter for a chance to win one of 500 HK$10,000 shopping vouchers, to be used at the group's shopping malls.
Regina Ip to give away a diamond Rolex
Regina Ip’s New People’s Party has announced a vaccination lucky draw, with a selection of luxury prizes––including a diamond Rolex from Ip’s personal collection. Other prizes on offer include consumer tech items, cash vouchers and sought-after Da Hong Pao tea leaves. The value of the prize draw totals over HK$1 million and is open to fully vaccinated members and employees of the party aged 18 or over in Hong Kong.
HK$1 million Shopping Vouchers Up For Grabs
The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong has announced a prize draw for over HK$5 million worth of shopping vouchers and gifts for vaccinated residents. Two winners will each receive a HK$1 million prepaid card. More information about how to enter will be announced soon.
Free Sasa Vouchers
Sasa will hold a prize draw with over HK$1 million of SaSa cash coupons to be won. Fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents will be eligible to enter. A lottery was held every week for 10 consecutive weeks, with over HK$100,000 of prizes being given away in each draw.
3 Hong Kong
Telecomms brand 3 Hong Kong is running a prize draw for 33 iPhone 12 Pro handsets, open to fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents who sign a new contract or renew their existing contract.
Win Electronics With TCL
Open to fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents consumer electronics company TCL is running a series of vaccination prize draws. The grand prize is a 55"MINI LED TV worth over HK$20,000.
Win Prizes At Wing-On
Fully-vaccinated customers who spend over HK$200 at Wing-On Department stores or online are eligible to enter the brand's vaccine lucky draw. Fourteen lucky draws will be made between August 2 and November 7, 2021, with the total prize pool worth HK$1,800,000.
Insurance Based Vaccination Incentives
Prudential Hong Kong
The international insurance brand has announced a lucky draw for fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents. Ten winners will each receive a 10-year complimentary coverage for PRUHealth VHIS VIP plan––with an annual health insurance cover of an annual cover of HK$12 million each year. Ten additional winners will get a 10-year individual cover of PRUChoice Travel Insurance plan each, with cover up to HK$1.2 million per trip for an unlimited number of trips in each policy year. More details on how to enter will be announced soon.
Manulife Hong Kong
The insurance company has announced a lucky draw for fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents aged 18 and over. 100 winners will each receive a HK$10,000 voucher, which can be used to pay for premiums on new or existing Manulife insurance policies.
In a second lucky draw, which is open from August 16-September 30, 2021, fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents have the chance to win pension benefits. Part of Manulife’s 85th-anniversary celebrations, the grand prize is HK$850,000 in bonus pensions rebates for existing Manulife policy holders.
Hong Kong Businesses Offering Incentives To Their Employees
Hong Kong Government Employees
All employees of the Hong Kong government will be entitled to one additional leave day for each vaccine dose that they receive.
All fully vaccinated Hong Kong employees will receive one additional day of annual leave.
Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels
The parent group of The Peninsula Hong Kong––owned by Michael Kadoorie––is offering HK$2,000 to each employee that gets vaccinated. If the company reaches a 70% vaccination rate by August 31, all employees will receive a further HK$2,000.
The group is offering one additional day of leave to all fully vaccinated employees, plus a HK$2,000 shopping voucher. Company staff can also enter in a prize draw to win staycation and travel gifts.
The luxury property group is offering two extra days of annual leave to employees upon completion of two doses of the vaccine.
Are you a business owner who is offering incentives to vaccinated Hong Kong residents? Please email us firstname.lastname@example.org with details of the offer (including how long it is running until) as we will be regularly updating this list.
This article was first published on June 4, 2021, and was updated on October 21, 2021.


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A Hezbollah member carries a Hezbollah flag while leader Hassan Nasrallah talks on a screen during a televised speech at a festival celebrating 'Resistance and Liberation Day'.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Can’t get enough of Hezbollah? Well, if you have an iPhone, the Shi’ite Lebanese terrorist organization has the solution for you – an app courtesy of the group’s official media organ Al Manar.
The app, Trust News, is apparently an effort by the organization to maintain a presence on iPhone despite a previous failed attempt.
“Last month, al-Manar, Hezbollah’s media arm, which is listed as a ‘specially designated global terrorist entity’ by the US government, launched Trust News, a new iPhone app,” the Anti-Defamation League said. “Available through the Apple online store iTunes, the app streams al-Manar’s live television broadcasts and news and provides access to al-Manar’s social media platforms.It also provides the latest speeches of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.”
The ADL said the new app is designed to circumvent a previous ban on Hezbollah by Apple by not including any official insignia or reference to the group.
“Al-Manar’s web¬site posted a link which directs its visitors to the iTunes store to download the mobile app,” the ADL said. “ADL has alerted Apple about this new app.”
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INEOS Styrolution and Recycling Technologies sign joint development agreement for recycling polystyrene
Frankfurt/ Germany and Swindon/UK, August 6, 2020
- Recycling Technologies’ chemical recycling solution, currently used for mixed plastics to be developed to recycle polystyrene
- The project’s aim is to create a deeper circular economy for polystyrene
INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, and Recycling Technologies, a specialist plastic recycling technology provider announce today the signing of a joint development agreement (JDA) to further advance the development of recycling of polystyrene in Europe. Both companies share the same goals to make plastics a sustainable material. This agreement recognises the commercial value of post-consumer plastic waste to prevent this important resource being incinerated or ending up in landfills.
INEOS Styrolution has extensive knowledge and expertise in polymer science and production backed by its advanced technology and process.
Recycling Technologies possesses extensive knowledge, technology and expertise in the area of building reactors, suitable to thermally recycle mixed plastics using pyrolysis.
Recycling Technologies has already completed a detailed research and trial process with INEOS Styrolution. This activity included scientific research and processing of polystyrene on Recycling Technologies’ Mark II test reactor producing excellent results. Both companies will now further advance this depolymerisation solution based on Recycling Technologies’ fluidised bed technology, currently used for mixed plastics to adapt it for the commercial recycling of polystyrene.
INEOS Styrolution and Recycling Technologies believe depolymerisation has the potential to close the loop, creating a circular economy for polystyrene making the material a more valuable polymer. This recycled polystyrene has the potential to meet the high specifications demanded for food packaging regulations making it attractive to the food industry.
Sven Riechers, Vice President, Business Management, Standard Products, EMEA at INEOS Styrolution comments: “Recycling Technologies’ fluidised bed technology is a very promising technology to drive our joint agenda forward. I am looking forward to a fruitful collaboration in the interest of the environment, our customers and the consumers.”
Adrian Griffiths, CEO & Founder of Recycling Technologies Ltd., adds: “We are delighted to enter this partnership with INEOS Styrolution to develop a commercial solution to recycle polystyrene. This partnership creates the basis for a more circular economy in polystyrene allowing its users to achieve their challenging recycling targets set by all their stakeholders. To date we have focused on the recycling of mixed plastic waste, this initiative will allow us to develop and expand our feedstock recycling technology solutions to address a new and important market, recycling polystyrene.”
About INEOS Styrolution
INEOS Styrolution is the leading global styrenics supplier, with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. With world-class production facilities and more than 90 years of experience, INEOS Styrolution helps its customers succeed by offering innovative and sustainable best-in-class solutions, designed to give them a competitive edge in their markets, and at the same time, help make the circular economy for styrenics a reality. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including automotive, electronics, household, construction, healthcare, packaging and toys/sports/leisure. In 2019, sales were at 5 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,600 people and operates 20 production sites in ten countries.
About Recycling Technologies
UK-based company, Recycling Technologies, is on a mission to accelerate the evolution of plastic into a more sustainable material. Currently, 88% of the plastic used in the world is either buried, burned or leaked into the environment . This means that the world recycles only 12% of the 359 million tons of plastic produced each year . Recycling Technologies has developed an innovative technology, the RT7000, which turns hard-to-recycle plastic such as films, bags, laminated plastics into an oil, called Plaxx®, used as a feedstock for new plastic production. The RT7000 is modular and small-scale, designed to fit easily onto existing waste treatment and recycling sites, providing a scalable solution to recycle waste plastic anywhere in the world.
Source: Recycling TechnologiesOctober 5, 2020


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GM Korea Co. on Friday it would be the first to begin producing GM’s new Malibu midsized sedan.
The company said that the new model will go into production at its plant in Bupyeong, Incheon during the third quarter of the year.
Chevrolet Malibu (GM Korea Co.)
Korea will also be the first among the 100 countries where the vehicle will be marketed to see the Malibu launched, the company said. The Malibu will be released here during the second half of the year, replacing the Tosca.
The vehicle will be produced at the Bupyeong complex’s plant assembling the upper-midsized sedan Alpheon and the Captiva sport utility vehicle. The complex’s other plant produces the Aveo subcompact.
“The Malibu is an important vehicle that will change market trends, and consolidate the Chevrolet brand’s presence in the midsized segment, which is the most fiercely competed segment in Korea,” GM Korea chief executive Mike Arcamone said in an emailed statement.
“The fact that Chevrolet’s first global midsized car is making its debut on the Korean market first reflects GM Korea’s importance as GM’s strategic base.”
According to the company, the Malibu has already raised significant interest from local motorists, with Malibu-related clubs counting more than 30,000 members.
The vehicle will be fitted with the new 4-cylinder Ecotec engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
By Choi He-suk (firstname.lastname@example.org


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Craig Wright has reportedly served Roger Ver, CEO of Bitcoin.com, with a libel suit at a London Bitcoin Cash meetup.
Roger Ver News
Named the Bitcoin Jesus, Roger Ver is one of the first to make a serious investment into bitcoin in early 2011. Not only has he invested millions of dollars in different startups connected with cryptocurrency, his company was the first to start accepting it as a payment. These days, Roger Ver speaks at various conferences and meetings connected with Bitcoin.
The latest news about Roger Ver mostly concerns the division of the blockchain between the familiar Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). The new currency uses the same blockchain, but with blocks which are 8x larger, which is supposed to allow for more transfers. In addition, BCH doesn't have a specific team of developers like BTC, but rather several decentralized groups. Such decentralization implies better security for the protocol from recurrences or destruction.
- Bitfinex and Tether Move for Case Dismissal Over Lack of Jurisdiction
- BlockFi Crypto Management Firm Adjusts Interest Rates
- Report: Chinese E-Commerce Giant JD.com Has Applied for Over 200 Blockchain Patents
- Bitcoin Approaches $8,000 as Bitcoin SV Doubles in Value
- Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, EOS, Litecoin, Binance Coin, Stellar, Cardano, TRON: Price Analysis May 20


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Rockstar Games is set to expand Grand Theft Auto Online once again with The High Life Update. The new update will add spanking new features like high-end apartments, multi-property ownership, four new rides and a Bullpup Rifle. The new update is set to drop on May 13.
This automatic - and free - update also adds new options for buying property in prime Los Santos locations and with the new multi-property ownership you can finally have two pads at once.
More garage space means more rides. The Enus Huntley S (SUV), Dewbauchee Massacro (Sports), Pegassi Zentorno (Super) and Dinka Thrust (Motorcycle) will all be available as well as a new race mode to test them out.
The Bullpup Rifle and a new Mental State stats give you new ways to protect your turf. Player stats show just how passive or "psychotically unhinged" fellow gun owners in your multiplayer game are so you'll know just how dangerous the player your near is.
The High Life Update also includes new wardrobe options, vehicles horns – because why not – and player toasts and celebrations as well as 15 new Jobs.
[via Rockstar Games]


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A plaza space, additional pedestrian walkways and bike paths, smaller parking lot, LEED certification, and three exit lanes are some of the recent changes made to the design plan of a proposed Target store on the west side of Lake Bluff.
Plans for the proposed 140,000-square-foot store on the former site of Shepard Chevrolet, a 14-acre lot located near the intersection of Route 176 and Waukegan Road, were explained at a recent public hearing of the Lake Bluff Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals by Kimley-Horn and Associates, engineers for Target. The plans also include a 4,200 square-foot bank and two retail or restaurant spaces, one 4,162 square feet and the other 5,240 square feet.
The plaza area and social space between the bank and one of the retail spaces would feature a public sculpture by a local artist.
"The purpose of that plaza is to have something more in tune with keeping with Lake Bluff's downtown, something that allows people to stop and take time to actually linger, socialize, sit down on a bench and enjoy the space," said Brandon Stanick, assistant village administrator..
Other changes include preventing the Target bull's-eye logo from extending above the roof line, more transparent windows on the northwest corner of the building, landscaping and green space increased from 7 to 10 percent, and parking reduced to 106 spaces. The firm also explored beautifying the traditional Target facade by using a darker brick mixed with stone.
Efforts also have been made to increase bike and pedestrian connectivity to pathways on the site, reduce pavement widths, preserve existing vegetation, and improve crosswalks and traffic signals to increase safety. With those changes, the building could qualify for LEED Silver Certification, according to Kimley-Horn and Associates.
To address traffic concerns, the plan calls for one entrance lane and three exit lanes, one right turn lane, one left turn lane, and one straight lane.
"They're widening that entrance at the intersection of 176 and Shagbark Road to ensure adequate traffic flow," Stanick said.
Despite improvements made to the design, several residents at the public hearing voiced concerns over Target's effect on local businesses.
"They haven't convinced me yet that we need a Target in this area and that that's the best use for this space," said Susie McMurray, a resident who owns the store Voila in Lake Bluff. "My customers have said if Target comes in, we're still going to support you. In the long run though, there's enough crossover merchandise that it could put a dent in the bottom line."
Other residents praised Lake Bluff's charm and character, including a former Lake Forest resident who moved to the quaint community to retire. Many cautioned patience and asked the joint commission and board to consider the lifestyle of the town.
"Changes to the plan are impressive, but they don't change economic impact of a big box retailer coming to a village of this size," said Kathryn Briand, a Lake Bluff resident. "I'm asking you to consider this. We all have ideas of what our community is like and what we want it to be like in the long term. You hitch yourself to this wagon, and it's a wagon that has no roots in this community."
The joint commission and board will continue the public hearing and asked the engineering firm to return with a final plan at the May 15 meeting, said Stanick.


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In a positive surprise, industrial production bounced back into expansion in January, mainly due to good performance of mining and manufacturing sectors, coupled with sharp increase in output of capital goods segment. As per the data released by the Central Statistics Office of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2004-05 for the month of January 2017, stood at 191.3, which is 2.7 percent higher as compared to the level in the month of January 2016 and (-) 0.4 percent in December 2016. The cumulative growth for the period April-January 2016-17 over the corresponding period of the previous year stood at 0.6 percent.
On the sectoral basis, the Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of January 2017 stood at 146.1, 199.2 and 195.6 respectively, with the corresponding growth rates of 5.3 percent, 2.3 percent and 3.9 percent as compared to January 2016. The cumulative growth in these three sectors during April-January 2016-17 over the corresponding period of 2015-16 has been 1.4 percent, (-) 0.2 percent and 5.0 percent respectively.
In terms of industries, 9 out of the 22 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during the month of January 2017, as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. The industry group ‘Electrical machinery & apparatus n.e.c.’ has shown the highest positive growth of 42.4 percent followed by 21.8 percent in ‘Radio, TV and communication equipment & apparatus’ and 12.4 percent in ‘Basic metals’. On the other hand, the industry group ‘Office, accounting and computing machinery’ has shown the highest negative growth of (-) 16.0 percent followed by (-) 14.8 percent in ‘Food products and beverages’ and (-) 13.4 percent in ‘Other transport equipment’.
As per Use-based classification, the capital goods segment grew by 10.7 per cent in January against a contraction of 21.6 per cent in the same month of last financial year. The basic goods category expanded by 5.3 percent against 1.9 percent growth in January 2016. On the other hand, the intermediate goods category contracted by 2.3 percent. The consumers goods segment contracted by 1 percent in January. It comes over a 0.1 percent decline in January 2016, despite quickening of remonetisation process. In the consumer goods segment, durable items expanded by 2.9 percent, but non-durable contracted by 3.2 percent. IIP as a whole had contracted by 1.6 percent in January 2016.


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A first-of-its-kind collaboration between a major U.S. athletic league and a blockchain startup is quietly changing the sports collectibles game. Possibly for good.
Since its closed beta launch in May 2020, NBA Top Shot has brokered at least $10 million in sales of a decidedly old-school sports product: highlight clips.
NBA Top Shot markets these clips as “video trading cards.” But they’re far more sophisticated than both the SportsCenter-style highlight reels we all know and love and the actual trading cards readers of a certain age remember from their youths (or adulthoods, sure).
The magic happens behind the scenes. Every NBA Top Shot clip is authenticated by Flow, the proprietary blockchain solution developed by crypto standout Dapper Labs. This ensures that every step in the chain of ownership is documented and authenticated, just as every step in cryptocurrency chains of custody is verified by the underlying blockchain technology. Blockchain virtually guarantees that NBA Top Shot clips can’t be forged, duplicated, or otherwise tampered with. A scarce but unimpeachably authentic supply of top-quality NBA highlights is preserved for fans who’ll accept nothing less than the genuine article.
This, clearly, has vast potential to enhance value. And, so far, it’s living up to that potential. A report by Bloomberg casually notes that one of NBA Top Shot’s top-performing clips, a mesmerizing freeze by Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant that climaxes in a humiliating dunk over then-Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes, lists for more than $43,000. (It certainly doesn’t hurt that the clip ends with footage of a deflated Baynes jogging back up the court as the full magnitude of what just occurred sinks in.)
Four other videos, and counting, list for more than $20,000 on the NBA Top Shot marketplace, according to Bloomberg. Two show more or less the same footage: a dunk by Lakers-era LeBron James over a hapless Sacramento Kings defender.
That points to another game-changing innovation: the potential for blockchain-aided verification processes to multiply value, not only enhance it. Thanks to Flow, which confirms prior ownership and authenticity for each clip, there’s no question that both James clips are genuine. And because both are unique — and, let’s be frank, totally awesome — it’s entirely reasonable to expect that two different fans with money to burn will want to claim them as their own.
The thesis seemed solid enough in the opening weeks of 2021, as the marketplace notched its best run to date. Clips worth about $1.3 million changed hands in the span of a single week last month, according to Bloomberg. Hot releases sell out within minutes, suggesting that a growing base of avid fans watches the platform closely for new material, and often sell for well above their initial market value on secondary markets.
It’s the law of scarcity in action. And it should be no surprise given the pedigree of the shop responsible for NBA Top Shot.
Before hooking up with the NBA, Dapper Labs was best known for developing the devilishly addictive CryptoKitties game, which in 2017 disrupted the ethereum blockchain and threw the market for the Bitcoin competitor into total chaos.
There’s no sign so far that NBA Top Shot will literally seize up the market for NBA collectibles, but it’s clear that the newcomer has the potential to be every bit as disruptive as past crypto-adjacent innovations.
The biggest question mark remaining is what happens if and when the long-awaited market correction arrives, says sports card appraisal expert and Hall of Fame coach David Houle. History tells us that the frenetic run-up in asset prices since the depths of the pandemic crash won’t last, and recent volatility in other blockchain-enhanced asset classes (namely, cryptocurrency) hints at what might happen if collectors suddenly feel the need to raise capital.
NBA Top Shot’s backers aren’t concerned. They believe the marketplace is a first mover in a space poised to grow exponentially in the years ahead. If NBA Top Shot isn’t quite the “Uber of blockchain,” it may well be the hook that brings non-techy types aboard.
“We thought this would be the killer app that would bring people to the blockchain,” Roham Gharegozlou, Dapper Labs’ Chief Executive Officer, told Bloomberg. “We just needed to find a partner at the scale of the NBA that would let us do a first of its kind product and one that would last 100 years if we do our job right.”
They found that partner. Now the world waits to see if they come down with the dunk.


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After taking a beating from the hurricanes that pummeled Puerto Rico in September, Dish Network said Thursday it paused service for 145,000 customers who lost service on the island so they wouldn’t be stuck with a bill. But that led to a six-figure quarterly subscriber loss for the Douglas County satellite TV service.
Dish, already bruised from the loss of customers nationwide in recent years, reported a loss of 129,000 subscribers in its third quarter, which ended Sept. 30. Excluding the one-time, temporary loss of all of its 145,000 Puerto Rican customers, Dish gained 16,000 net new TV subscribers. Last year, Dish lost 116,000 customers.
“In an effort to ensure customers would not be charged for services they were unable to receive, DISH proactively paused service for those customers,” the company said.
Dish also said net income dropped 6.7 percent to $297 million in the third quarter compared to a year earlier. Revenues also declined 5 percent from last year, to end the quarter at $3.48 billion.
As a result of Hurricane Maria ,”substantially all customers in those areas were unable to receive DISH service,” the company said in its earnings report. At the same time, Dish was battling over fees with Lilly Broadcasting, which broadcasts CBS and One Caribbean Television in Puerto Rico. Lily blacked out the channels for subscribers on the island on Sept. 30 but resumed the broadcasts the next day “to help those that can still see the networks (and) keep informed as to what is happening in their region,” Lilly’s Chief Operating Officer John Christianson told Satellite Business News.
Dish’s customer count includes subscribers to its internet-only Sling TV service, which analysts believe is growing.
According to market research firm Parks Associates, Sling ranked as the tenth most popular online-TV services, based on subscribers. Last year, Sling ranked sixth. But the drop isn’t because Sling is shrinking, said Brett Sappington, senior director of research, Parks Associates.
“Sling has continued to add subscribers at a rapid pace, but other services have grown more quickly,” he said. “Sling TV was originally designed to capture cord-cutters who wanted a pay-TV-like service, but at a lower price point. In that sense, it is an alternative to pay-TV. While pursuing original or exclusive content could help Sling in acquiring subscribers, it is an expensive and risky approach.”
Competitors HBO Now, Starz and CBS All Access ranked higher because of original content and exclusive access to other TV shows or movies.
Hulu and Sling were the only services in Parks’ Top 10 list that offered a mix of live TV network and typical cable channels. The newer online TV services like AT&T’s DirecTV Now, YouTube Live and PS Vue are noticeably absent. Hulu, however, only launched its live TV service last Spring and previously existed for years primarily as an on-demand video
“DirecTV Now is not on the list primarily because it is a relatively new service,” he added. “If its rate of growth continues, DirecTV Now could very well find itself in the thick of the top 10 next year.”
Dish’s shares, trading as DISH on the Nasdaq exchange, were up 4 percent Thursday.