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Apple Computer, which has made much of its image as the computer corporation with heart, has terminated the in-house program that helped build that image. But the way Apple pulled the plug speaks volumes about how much its corporate culture has changed since the company's financial woes began, and calls into question Apple's continuing commitment to disabled people. The Worldwide Disabilities Solutions Group, a team of five Apple employees that ensured that each Apple product and accessibility plug-in met the needs of disabled people, was fired on 31 January 1998.
The group, founded in 1985 by Alan Brightman, had been the industry's most active and innovative team. And while group staffers said the pink slips were expected, they were surprised at the harsh treatment Apple gave to their major project, a Web site called Convomania for kids with life-threatening diseases.
According to ex-group members and children actively involved with Convomania, Apple initially permitted them to keep the site running on a voluntary basis under the name Convonation, rather than abandon children who had grown accustomed to using it on computers in their homes and hospital rooms.
But when they tried to modify the site, Apple balked, saying they were essentially modifying the company's online property without consent. When Apple threatened suit in February, the Web site's organizers said, they had no choice but to shut down the site.
"We'd hoped they'd facilitate the transition, but they did everything but that," said Peter Green, former Solutions group member and coordinator of the Convomania project. "As much as I still have enormous respect for Apple and what they did for us over the years, I can't understand why they would go out of their way to prevent this community from going on."
It was, he said, not the typical "Apple" way of doing things.
"They're probably right about that," said Rhona Hamilton, an Apple spokesperson. "I think it was handled more from the corporate way of doing things than the way Apple is used to, but that seems to be happening a lot around here these days."
As Brightman and his erstwhile group colleagues looked for new jobs, the former Convomania kids searched for ways to stay in touch. Previously, kids would link to outside chat rooms through Convomania, which also included mailing lists and other ways to contact each other and post messages about upcoming chats. And while some Convomania veterans would often forego the Web site and move directly into pre-arranged chat room meeting areas, for newcomers and computer newbies the site was an essential navigation tool.
However, as the former group personnel battled Apple, the site was down for approximately six weeks, starting two weeks after the group was nixed and continuing until a month after Apple's threatening legal gesture. During that time, according to the site's regular users, new kids were shut out of chats, as were kids who didn't know how to find the chats without the help of the site.
"We definitely noticed that there were kids who weren't getting to the chats," said Matt Maronna, a 17-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida. "Especially in the beginning, it was slow."
With no corporate support, the kids did the only thing they could: They got things running again themselves. A core of seven so-called "Convomaniacs" shook the trees for Internet freeware and hardware and a T1 host, and started building content for the site. With the help of one adult volunteer, a former Convomania coordinator, Convonation has begun to build content and add new kids to the list of participants.
Some of the kids say they've benefited from Apple's departure. "It's been great," said Lucy Alston, a Convo veteran, in an email from Australia. "For the first time in the history of Convo, the kids [are] deciding what's best for them instead of a group of adults doing the deciding for them."
Others, however, say that without financial support, it will be difficult to build content and awareness of the site. Peter Green said he's hopeful that another corporate supporter can be found within six months.
Meanwhile, most of the kids say that while they're not happy with the level of communication Apple showed during the transition, they understand the company's actions. "When you lose a billion dollars in a year, you can't afford to have a nonprofit organization within the company," said Merrick Brown, a 16-year-old Convo veteran who donated the hardware for the Web site and secured free T1 access.
As for the Solutions group's contribution to the company, industry observers say it was providing more than just a feel-good dimension to Apple: It opened access to a large market that everyone else was ignoring.
"Apple was doing things [to ensure disabled access] when it wasn't even on anyone else's radar," said Gregg Vanderheiden, director OF Trace Research & Development Center at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "But now that they don't have people dedicated to working on the topic, they won't be at the top anymore."
Hamilton said the company is "still very much interested in disabilities solutions," but that it simply couldn't afford the Solutions group program costs, which Brightman estimated at "in the neighborhood of US$1 million per year."
"Our whole focus now is on productivity and technology, and sustaining profitability," Hamilton said, adding that the company would pursue accessibility solutions, but in a "less centralized" way. "So yes, our focus has shifted somewhat."
Brightman said he understands Apple's position -- sort of. "Apple will say there are no sacred cows, and I buy that. But for what we cost, the return was enormous, not only in reputation and caché, but in dollars. But, I guess it was small enough to leave on the table."


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Console gamers that are looking to make the jump into PC Esports gaming, may be interested in a new PC controller which has been created called the NACON GC-400ES Alpha Pad.
The NACON GC-400ES has this week launched via Indiegogo with the aim of raising $30,000 to go into production. The PC controller has been designed by a team of five developers based in Madrid Spain and has been specifically designed to offer a professional PC gaming controller to rival any mouse and keyboard.
Check out the video below to learn more about the unique features of the NACON GC-400ES Alpha Pad from the ability to add extra weights to the tangle free cable that can be detached for easy transportation. The development team explain more about the PC controllers inspiration.
Professional video gaming has experienced an astronomical rise in popularity over the last five years. However many PC eSports enthusiasts, particularly those with console gaming backgrounds, are discouraged from entering competitions due to the lack of a gamepad that can challenge the success of keyboard and mouse control.
Having already developed a reputation for producing innovative PC gaming accessories, NACON’s latest pioneering product is set to change that. The Alpha Pad is a PC controller capable of elite-level performance across all gaming genres. The world’s first eSports-ready gamepad, it offers the ergonomic and intuitive movement control benefits of a controller and the precision and customisability of a mouse and keyboard.
Developed with the help of world champion pro-gamer Norman “GEN1US” Chatrier and the French eSports Academy, the Alpha Pad has been put through its paces by top professional players. With its unique abilities and affordable price point, it offers PC gamers a whole new way to take part in eSports.
The NACON GC-400ES Alpha Pad is now available to back via the Indiegogo crowdfunding website with pledges starting from just $59, which includes shipping to Europe, US and Canada. Jump over via the link below for full specifications and more details.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
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domain: news


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It pays to be Selfish. Kim Kardashian's selfie addiction has proved lucrative. The reality star and DASH clothing store co-owner has landed a book deal for her self-taken photography.
Titled Selfish, the 352-page hardcover book is set to be released on April 7, 2015 by Rizzoli New York and will feature some of the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star's best selfies.
Kim started getting photos together during a recent trip to Thailand that was documented on her family's reality show. She said it was for a personal book of sexy shots for her husband Kanye West, but we suspect these pics will pop up in her new business endeavor. Source: ET, LA Times. Buy This Book.
For the first time in print, this book presents some of Kim's favorite selfies in one volume—from her favorite throwback images to current ultra-sexy glam shots—and provides readers with a behind-the-scenes look into this larger-than-life star.


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ATM maker Diebold is on the block
Diebold Nixdorf, a North Canton, Ohio-based maker and servicer of automated teller machines, has hired Credit Suisse and Evercore to explore a possible sale, according to CNBC's Alex Sherman.
Why it's a big deal: Diebold is the world's largest ATM maker, with a reported 32% share.
- Those expressing interest include rival NCR and private equity firm Bain Capital.
- Diebold no longer makes voting machines. It sold off that business in 2009.
More from CNBC's Sherman:
"Diebold shares have been in a freefall since forecasting lower-than-expected EBITDA earlier this month and revealing it would use cash on hand and tap its revolving credit line to buy $160 million of Wincor Nixdorf shares, the German company Diebold [mostly] bought in 2016."


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Canon’s strong commitment to sustainability recognised in Quocirca’s Sustainability Leaders’ Report
Today, Canon Europe announces that it has been named a leader in Quocirca’s Sustainability Leaders’ Report 2023 – an important market analysis which closely examines the actions that print vendors are taking to lower their carbon emissions. Within the report, Canon is noted for its market leading sustainability strategy and vision, which is helping it to significantly reduce environmental impacts across its entire business.
Quocirca highlights the steps that Canon has put in place to advance its sustainability efforts – these include ambitious net zero targets and a wealth of initiatives to drive efficiencies across its operations and supply chains. The report also outlines how Canon is carefully considering sustainability across its product lifecycles – with more compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient product designs and recycling programmes being developed to help Canon’s customers achieve their own sustainability goals.
Initiatives which contributed to Canon being recognised as a market leader in Quocirca’s report include:
- Refurbished and Remanufactured Products: The imageRUNNER ADVANCE ES office printer range, which is made with at least 90% renewed materials, is cited as an example of how Canon is leading the market in this area. Quocirca also refers to Canon’s five global recycling plants, which includes a dedicated facility for refurbishment and remanufacturing in Germany. The report outlines that since 2008, Canon has used these sites to take 44,343 tonnes of plastics from used products for recycling – as well as reusing 35,216 tonnes of products and parts directly.
- Recycling: Canon launched its first recycling programmes more than 30 years ago and has since continued to evolve, including with its take-back initiatives for responsible disposal and recycling of used devices and consumables, which were called out as strengths in Quocirca’s report. This includes the fact that Canon has recycled approximately 454,000 tonnes of ink cartridges in 24 countries and regions. The business was also recognised for its efforts to reduce its waste – such as its zero to landfill policy and the fact that 97% of its waste is currently recycled. Canon is also working to reduce its packaging waste, with the goal of eliminating single-use plastic and polystyrene from its packaging.
- Supply Chain: Canon is involved in various initiatives to maintain and advance its supply chain and procurement standards, including its collaboration with suppliers to set and meet science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Digital Transformation: Canon has an extensive range of digital transformation services including Managed Print Services, workspace collaboration and cloud digital workflow solutions – which help businesses to optimize their workflows and have more control over processes such as office printing and device usage. Canon also offers sustainability assessments to help its customers drive and identify efficiencies throughout business workflows.
“We are delighted to be recognised as a leader in Quocirca’s Sustainability Leaders’ report.” comments Hiro Imamura, Executive Vice President, Digital Printing & Solutions at Canon Europe. “This important accolade recognises the vital importance of sustainability to Canon and the steps that we are taking to reduce impacts across every single part of our business. We will continue to accelerate actions which will help us meet our net zero emissions target – and as a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, we are committed to working towards supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals by their 2030 deadline.”
Last Updated on 1 month by Middle East News 247


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Cigarville has been open since early October, and according to co-owner Mario Villacis, business has been solid. "We've had a very good response here," said Villacis, who with Paul Mruczinski also owns a cigar store in South Plainfield.
Villacis conceded interest is more level than it was during the late 1990s, when plenty of men and even a few women smoked cigars in public. "But we still have a lot of cigar smokers," he said.
And to help them enjoy their puffs, Cigarville sells a wide range of cigars, most of them handmade and produced overseas. According to Villacis, most hail from the Dominican Republic, Nicagarua and Costa Rica.
Dominicans Have Much Of Cubans' Allure
Villacis said Dominican cigars now have many of the same qualities that made cigars from Cuba popular for decades until the Fidel Castro revolution led to an embargo on Cuban cigars in the United States in the early 1960s.
"All Dominican Republic cigars are pretty much premium," he said. "Seeds were imported from Cuba."
According to Villacis, the secret to the success of Cuban cigars is the land's red soil and no, that's not a pun on Cuba's Communist status. The soil "makes the leaf of the tobacco more flavorful than that of other countries."
He said it will be "interesting" to see what happens in the post-Castro era should the embargo be lifted and Cuban cigars are again legally for sale in the United States.
Other Items, Too
The store sells not only cigars, but related items such as what Villacis called "a different variety of beautiful humidors," many of them from old Spanish cedar. Lighters are also available.
Those who prefer pipes rather than cigars can purchase pipes from Italy and pipe tobacco from Holland and other countries.
Cigarville also features a lounge where smokers, banned from many similar places due to regulations, can puff to their heart's content while watching satellite TV. Live blues and jazz are held in the lounge each Friday, Villacis noted. There are even tobacco roll-ins each month for those who like to pack their own.
Villacis said he met Mruczinski, who had been in the garbage disposal business, one day at a cigar store. They decided to open one in Mruczinski's hometown of South Plainfield, and when that went well they expanded into Warren.


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Ford COO Mark Fields is expected take the CEO spot.
Benz's Concept Coupe SUV moves to prototype status.
Nissan says car washes are history with its dirt-resistant paint
GM reported a $0.1 billion net income in the first quarter, surprising considering the massive recalls.
Subtracting the "S" and two cylinders.
Brazilian futbol player Neymar da Silva Santos Junior takes on Gymkhana king Ken Block in his rally-prepped Ford Fiesta to see who can score the most goals.
Tell us which cars are the most iconic for their respective brands in today's Thread of the Day.
Currently the automaker has received orders for more than 11,000 i3 EVs, though only about 5000 have been produced.
Fans can enter for a chance to win a 2015 Dodge Charger or Challenger, a Mötley Crüe VIP experience, and autographed memorabilia.
The winning contest photos of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 have been revealed, showing the drop-top in all its glory.
Older Mazda Tribute models have been recalled for a suspension issue, in addition to some Jaguars and Range Rovers.


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by Florin Oprea
Moxy Ying – Bloomberg (subscription)
New Zealand’s stock market has become too small for Xero whose market value has soared about 70-fold to NZ$4.28 billion ($2.98 billion) since its debut a decade ago.
DNT: Check our FREE ARCHIVE to find out more about Xero’s hard way out of New Zealand’s stock market!
Lynsey Barber – City A.M.
The British government has given everyone an early Christmas present, publishing the sectoral analysis papers for more than 50 sectors in relation to Brexit – including fintech.
FAO: Uhh, that’s nice. Is it a delay-action present?
Gareth Allan & Yuki Hagiwara – Japan Times
Alipay is chasing Chinese tourists to Japan, where it’s signing up a growing number of retailers and eyeing the long-term potential of the nation’s $45 billion digital payments market.
FAO: Oh Jack Ma’s chasing his conationals almost everywhere in the world…
JD Alois – Crowdfund Insider
The Securities Commission Malaysia has announced that parties interested in establishing and operating an Alternative Trading System (ATS) in Malaysia can apply to participate in regulatory sandbox sessions under the SC’s FinTech Innovation Lab (aFINity – alliance of Fintech community). This follows the Budget 2018 announcement on the introduction of ATS in the Malaysian capital market.
Via Mondovisione – Ronald Martin, former Executive in Residence At Bain Capital Ventures is joining BlockEx as COO.
JD Alois – Crowdfund Insider
In partnership With SuperCharger, CFTE, Cyberport, UNSW Sydney and MicRosoft, the University of Hong Kong has opened up registration with Asia’s first Fintech Massive Open Online Course.
FAO: If you find out about any educational initiatives regarding fintech and blockchain please send us a quick email too, we will promote them. For free!
The Australian (subscription)
The Victorian government is partnering with technology hub operators Stone Chalk and YBF Ventures, formerly known as York Butter Factory, to put Melbourne on the map as a premier fintech destination.
FAO: Oh, finally some news about this project. In June the Victorian government announced plans to build a fintech hub in Melbourne’s Docklands. Reports in October said they were still working on the plans.
Georgeta Gheorghe – Business Review
According to a global survey conducted by KPMG in several countries, including Romania, financial institutions perceive fintech as being the main source of disruption in the sectors they are active in (as seen by 57% of respondents, compared to 51% for regulatory changes and 46% who see new business models as the main disruptor).
A Dubai-based peer-to-peer lender and a British biometric payments firm are among the 24 start-ups to vie in Hong Kong for a cash injection.
Hongtao Li – Seeking Alpha
Qudian a Chinese online micro-loan provider, went public on NYSE on October 18, 2017, pricing the fourth-largest U.S. IPO this year. However, since then QD’s stock price has taken a nosedive, plummeting from its $24 IPO price to $12.9 as of 12/19/2017. Given QD’s strong earnings and fast growth rates in the past, the current price may appear to be a great bargain. Is that true?
DNT: Read this analysis to find out a possible answer.
FAO: Maybe you recall the fact that earlier this month Qudian was hit with lawsuits claiming false IPO information. This came after their business practices have been criticized by Chinese media in October. More here.
DNT: Happy Holidays to everyone!
FAO: That’s All Folks! See you in 2018!
FAO: Florin Adrian Oprea, Editor-in-chief FinTech Daily News
DNT: Decebal Nicolaie Todarita, Editor FinTech Daily News


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Private residential prices accelerated in Q1 2021, registering 3.3% qoq in Q1 2021 as compared to 2.1% in Q4 2020. This marks the third consecutive quarterly growth since Q3 2020. The increase in prices was driven by both landed and non-landed segments with non-landed and landed prices growing by 6.7% and 2.5% qoq respectively. Landed prices saw a robust rebound in Q1 2021 as high demand for landed properties and Good Class Bungalows drove prices higher. This attests to the growth of the wealthy population in Singapore and their preference for landed homes which reflects prestige and exclusivity. The non-landed segment grew 2.1% qoq in Q1 2021, fueled by growth in the RCR and OCR segments which grew by 6.1% and 0.9% qoq respectively. CCR bucked the trend and fell slightly by 0.3% qoq.
The fall in CCR prices could be due to Midtown Modern which was launched in the third week of March and achieved good take-up rates, of around 66% in March. The median price for transacted units at Midtown Modern was around $2,723 psf, and this compares to nearby Midtown Bay’s median transacted price $3,123 psf for Q1 2021. The disparity in prices due to their positioning could have dragged down prices in that submarket. The strong growth in RCR prices was driven by well-received new launches such as Normanton Park and The Reef At King’s Dock which sold 730 and 341 units respectively in Q1 2021. RCR new sales transactions reached 1,798 units (or 22% of total sales) in Q1 2021, almost doubling sales in the prior quarter. OCR prices have continued to grow characterised by ongoing demand from HDB upgraders, first time buyers and investors due to their affordability.
Total private residential sales reached 8,188 units in Q1 2021, a 18.2% qoq and 91.8% yoy growth respectively. The surge in volumes is a testament to strong underlying demand for private residential homes but it’s also characterized by the current unique situation where international borders remain largely closed and home buying activities are not distracted by the seasonal factors such as travel during Chinese New Year and the March school holidays.
Amidst strong new sales which reached 3,581 units in Q1 2021, unsold inventory has continued to fall, reaching 21,634 units, the lowest level of unsold inventory since Q4 2017. Notably, the current levels of unsold inventory are below that in Q2 2016 of 23,282 units, when the last enbloc cycle started. As unsold inventories dwindle, enbloc activities should pick up. However, rising prices which will raise owners’ expectations and the rising possibility of new cooling measures being implemented may lead to a gap in expectations between developers and owners, which will limit the number of successful deals.
Private residential rents rose by 2.2% qoq in 1Q 2021. The increase in rents could be driven by higher levels of incoming visitors as Singapore progressively opens up and covid situation remains largely under control. Singapore economy is poised to jump back to pre covid levels by the end of 2021 and business activities are picking up. Changi Airport monthly passengers’ movements have risen to above 100k since November this year. Also given rising private residential prices and ABSD, some homeowners could have offloaded their existing property to avoid ABSD and bought a new launch which is nearing completion. So, in the meantime they have entered the rental market, driving up demand in the rental market. Given current safe management measures and labour constraints, construction and renovation activities have slowed, this would limit available new supply into the rental market. As such, amidst limited supply, rising demand and the evolving COVID-19 situation on other countries, we could see sustained demand for the rental market into 2021. Rents could stabilise by 2022 as more units become available for rent in 2022.
Islandwide vacancy rates reached 11.9%, increasing 1.2 percentage points in Q1 2021. The increase in vacancy rates was mainly driven by downtown core that saw a decline of 312,200 sf in net absorption, as occupiers readjust their spatial requirements and give up space to adapt to the hybrid work approach. As hybrid working persists, companies would continue to adjust office footprint. Financial institutions, the key demand-driving occupiers in central area, are already scaling back their office spaces in the central region. Citigroup is releasing three floors in Asia Square Tower 1, Mizuho is cutting back 16% of its space in Asia Square Tower 2, and DBS is giving up 75,000 sf in Singapore's Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) Tower 3. We estimate that at least 500,000 sf office spaces in central area may be released by banks as secondary or shadow space over the next two years. Hence, downtown core vacancy rates can continue to edge higher, putting pressure on rents over short term.
Despite higher vacancies, landlords have been holding firm on their rents, in anticipation of people returning to the office and further relaxation of safe measurement measures. Indeed, central area office rents rose by 3.3% qoq in Q1 2021, after 3 consecutive quarters of decline. The increase in rents could have been driven by high quality office spaces as flight to quality ensues. Albeit having lower space requirements going forward, firms are considering higher quality offices that will provide a better environment for their employees and incentivize employees to return to the office. As such, the premium for prime quality grade A offices over conventional grade A offices may widen as tenants take up better but smaller spaces.
Rents are expected to bottom out in the second half of 2021, with further resumption of economic activities and rollout of vaccines to keep the pandemic at bay. The long-term outlook for Singapore’s office market is positive, underpinned by strong demand from best performing industries such as technology which are attracted to Singapore’s political stability, pro-business policies and proximity to the Asean region.
Central area, which includes the Central Business District (CBD) and Orchard, experienced a larger qoq decline of -5.8% and -4.8% qoq in retail prices and rents respectively, amid the prolonged impact of border restrictions and higher levels of remote working. Due to their close proximity to residential catchments, fringe area retail fared better, with prices increasing by 1.6% qoq despite rents falling by -1.3% qoq. Accessibility to essential services and amenities, the lack of international leisure travel as well as the government’s efforts by to raise spending power of less well-to-do, such as the Household Support Package, will continue to support the retail market in more suburban locations.
Nevertheless, vacancy rates in Orchard remained stable at 11.6% in Q1 2021. Historically, this remains the highest vacancy rate for the Orchard precinct according to available data since 2011. Nonetheless, the stable vacancy rate affirms that the status of Orchard as an iconic shopping district. In fact, retailers are still taking up space in Orchard despite the dearth of tourists. Love, Bonito opened a 5,600 sf flagship outlet in ION Orchard, whereas Senreve is opening its first Singapore store at Takashimaya Shopping Centre soon. Established e-tailers are taking up physical retail spaces since Q4 2020, seeking to provide additional customer touch points and a holistic omni-channel experience. Physical spaces allow online-born retailers to better connect with their customers which can translate to higher quality personalised customer service and increased sales.
In contrast, vacancy rates in downtown core continued to rise to a record high since Q3 2017 to 11.7%, reflecting the impact of flexible working that has led to lower footfall in CBD. But as Singapore further reopens with more employees return to the office, footfall from workers can help to shore up vacancies in downtown core and the central area on the whole.
Retail spaces continues to be relevant with their destination locality that is ideal to carve out larger-scale experiential components that are difficult to replicate digitally. The Lazada pop-up store at Raffles City, which has taken over formerly Robinson’s space, is an example. A showroom featuring the latest smart home products, this pop-up store allows consumers to touch, test and feel products in person.
Despite current headwinds, the retail market outlook may bottom out towards the end of 2021 as retail sales will be on the track to recovery with increasing social group sizes and capacity limits for malls and stores. The latest retail sales data as of February 2021 shows that retail sales rose 8% ytd, a turnaround from the record -14.4% decline in retail sales last year. In 2021, we still expect a further decline in retail rents due to challenging market conditions, albeit at a lower rate.
Hear more from Xian Yang on MoneyFM's Powering Your Property podcast.


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A revamped retail precinct is the centrepiece of a $20 million-plus refurbishment of landmark office tower Allendale Square in the heart of Perth’s CBD.
Property group Mirvac revealed its vision for the prime corporate address yesterday, with plans to transform the ground-floor lobby, plaza and arcade.
An artist’s impression of the Allendale Square refurbishment, which aims to contribute to the revitalisation of the Perth CBD. Image: Supplied
Mirvac’s group executive of office, Andrew Butler, said the retail upgrade was a big part of its repositioning of the 32-storey building.
“The refurbishment of Allendale Square will give this prestigious office tower a new lease on life and reflect the high calibre of its tenants,” he said.
“The new-look Allendale Square will also contribute to the revitalisation of Perth’s CBD with improved pedestrian linkages and a premier food and beverage hub. More than a premium commercial building, the transformation of Allendale Square will make a striking contribution to the city, appealing to Perth’s discerning business community.”
The retail upgrade is a big part of Mirvac’s strategy to reposition the 32-storey landmark building. Image: Supplied
Mr Butler said the retail precinct would revolve around food and beverages and draw in not only its office workers but the wider community as well.
On the corner of St Georges Terrace and Sherwood Court, Allendale Square links to Perth’s shopping malls and central train station. The area has seen higher pedestrian traffic recently because of its proximity to Elizabeth Quay and Cathedral Square, with its newly opened David Malcolm Justice Centre.
“As the buildings adjoining Allendale Square begin to fill up again, there will certainly be more people in the area wanting to eat and shop,” Mr Butler said.
Access will be improved with upgraded escalators and entranceways as well as pedestrian linkages. Image: Supplied
The retail precinct will provide a total of 1600 square metres for about 18 tenancies. Its design will embrace an urban industrial feel, with exposed concrete and a ceiling feature of extruded aluminium.
There will be better food court seating, while upgraded escalators and entranceways, including a reactivated Sherwood Court entrance, will improve access.
The redevelopment will also see a remodelled lobby and upgraded lifts. New end-of-trip facilities will include bike storage, lockers and changerooms.
Allendale Square has been a Perth landmark since it was built in the 1970s. Photo: Tony McDonough
The 31st floor, with its sweeping views of the Swan River, will be converted from conference centre to office space.
The main St Georges Terrace entrance will have a makeover, with architecture firm Christou Design Group’s concept involving a glass canopy framing the lobby to provide a striking entry point. Two ‘transparent’ retail pods will be built on either side of the entrance to provide more dining options.
“Our vision for Allendale Square is to transform the plaza and retail amenities into welcoming spaces where people can meet and relax,” managing director James Christou said. “The revitalisation will result in a clean, efficient, activated hub, while also remaining sensitive to the architectural integrity of the existing tower.”
At 132 metres, the aluminium-clad building was the tallest tower in Perth when it opened in 1976 – although it only held this title for a year. It has been included in the Australian Institute of Architects’ list of nationally significant 20th century architecture.
Mirvac purchased Allendale Square for $231 million in 2013.
“We clearly saw that the asset needed investment – it was starting to look tired,” Mr Butler said. “We certainly envisaged that we would be spending money to bring the building back to a higher-quality A-grade standard.”
The 95 per cent leased office tower is home to a number of prominent tenants, including banks and legal firms. In April, law firm Francis Burt Chambers signed a new 15-year lease, expanding its chambers from 5100 square metres to about 6000 square metres.
“We are ensuring we are investing the right amount of money to ensure that we keep our current tenants now and into the future,” Mr Butler said.
The refurbishment is expected to be completed early next year.
Keep up with Commercial Real Estate news.
Keep up with Commercial Real Estate news.


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Mobile Out of Office
An 18-year-old male, whose name has not yet been released, was left marooned off the Cornish coast last week after his dinghy capsized.
According to a survey of 1,500 UK couples between the ages of 18 and 30, smartphones are getting in the way of private time - in the bedroom, to be precise.
Emojli will be launching soon on iOS, as a clutter-free social network where all communication, including status updates and usernames, will take place using emoji icons only.
A new survey compiled by TalkTalk Mobile has found that using the wrong amount of kisses in a text message is the biggest mistake made by couples conducting their relationship via text.
Microsoft's Lumianaut trolls invade Heathrow airport: Terminal Samsung Galaxy S5 not out of this world
The last year or so has been a fairly painful period in Nokia's history, but it looks like the company has finally rediscovered its mojo, albeit as a Microsoft subsidiary.
A Brazilian police officer's life was saved after his Nokia Lumia 520 smartphone deflected a bullet. Two gun men opened fire from behind, but thankfully the mobile was sitting in his back pocket.
April's FashTech invaded the Net-A-Porter offices for an evening of fashionable networking and technological presentations, focusing on wearable tech and iBeacon.
A team of scientists in Bristol have designed bubbles that can have images projected onto them and pop with a specific scent, predicting that it could be a new way of displaying information.
Samsung has announced a partnership that will see Deezer come free with Galaxy S5 smartphones. Subscribers will have to part with cash after six months though.
The game, which claims to be a direct sequel of "Flappy Bird", has shot to the top of the charts in multiple app stores.


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Earlier this year Valve took a stand against account hackers by introducing additional security measures that can be used by Steam account holders to better protect their Steam Account. However, as the industry moves forward, so does the dishonest elements working within its shadows, so for some, the security measures are becoming a more mandatory affair.
When you delve deeper into the statistics behind the radical move, you can easily see why, a recent report shows that over 77,000 accounts of users are being hacked on a monthly basis. This alarming statistic comes following the introduction of Steam Trading, which has created a “black-market” for virtual items in Steam and big business for those who wish to exploit it. According to Steam, these accounts don’t just consist of new and naive users; professional gamers and long-term Reddit users have also been targeted and because not everyone follows the optional security measures, more often than not these hacks are successful.
Valve say that these hackings are now more widespread than ever and as a result they’re tweaking their “Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator” so that restrictions are placed on account holders that are trading, but not using the Authenticator. Thus forcing them to use it.
“Anyone losing items in a trade will now need to have the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator enabled on their account for at least seven days and have trade confirmations turned on. Otherwise, items will be held by Steam for up to three days before delivery. If you’re trading with a friend of at least one year, items will be only held by Steam for up to one day.”
What this means is, in effect, that item trading will still continue to be a thing on Steam, but without the authenticator it’s going to be a much slower process. For the sake of keeping things above-board, you’re probably better off just using it. It’s a shame really that these steps are being implemented but frankly it’s a minor inconvenience for the sake of keeping your account safe.
[Source: Venture Beat]


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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit gave Microsoft a win in its patent battle with i4i: A stay of an injunction that would prevent the software giant from selling Word.
Microsoft filed the motion Aug. 18 after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ordered the company to pay i4i $240 million.
The injunction would have become effective Oct. 10. Now the injunction is stayed until the appeal process is finished. Microsoft will present the opening volley of its appeal on Sept. 23 (Techmeme).
According to the injunction, Microsoft would have been enjoined from selling “Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007, and Microsoft Word products not more than colorably different from Microsoft Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2007.”
Download the PDFs in the case: i4i’s 2007 complaint against Microsoft (with patent in question), the Aug. 11 injunction, and judgment against Microsoft.
More: Examine the patent that made selling Microsoft Word a crime


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Pay more for liquor, Kerala government toldApril 17th, 2012 - 7:38 pm ICT by IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, April 17 (IANS) The Kerala Bottlers Federation (KBF) and the Association of Distillers, Brewers and Vintners of India Tuesday urged the Kerala government to raise the price of liquor purchased from them as input costs have risen.
“The cumulative inflation from 2007 has increased by 84 per cent for ENA, 95 per cent for glass bottles, 67 per cent in freight and yet the price increase given by KSBC is mere five percent. Kerala being a non-sugarcane growing state is a net importer of alcohol from other states like Maharashtra and Karnataka and here too the prices have jumped,” KBF president Vijaya Kumar told reporters here.
Extra neutral alcohol (ENA) is a raw material for production of liquor and beer. Its price has gone up due to a shortage in the country.
“Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) has not been giving us the required purchase price increase every year. The last time the price was increased was in 2009-10 by an average of five per cent, that too after a gap of four years,” Kumar said.
The demand comes at a time when liquor sales in the last fiscal is expected to cross an all time high of Rs.7,000 crore and the revenue to the state government by way of taxes is also expected to cross Rs.6,000 crore.
Kerala today has 708 bar hotels, 383 state-owned retail outlets.
- Kerala liquor suppliers threaten supply shutdown - Jun 21, 2012
- Kerala distilleries seek hike in liquor prices - Dec 20, 2011
- Liquor prices to go up by 6 per cent in Kerala from Aug 1 - Jul 30, 2012
- We're in dire straits: Kerala distilleries - Aug 19, 2011
- ABD launches new brandy in Kerala - Feb 02, 2012
- Chandy asks liquor firms not to stop supplies - Aug 24, 2011
- Rs.70 crore liquor sold on Onam days - Aug 30, 2012
- Rum gives Kerala a high as state coffers swell - Aug 24, 2010
- Kerala in Catch-22 situation over bar timings - Aug 27, 2012
- Liver ailments rise in Kerala - Dec 21, 2011
- Alcohol worth Rs.34 crore sold in a single day in Kerala - Sep 01, 2009
- Liquor sales in Kerala reach 'dizzy heights' - Apr 16, 2011
- Kerala government says no to new liquor vends - May 27, 2011
- Kerala set for a gala Christmas - Dec 23, 2011
- Mayawati announces steep hike in sugarcane price - Nov 08, 2011
Tags: bottlers, brewers, crore, distillers, ena, gap, glass bottles, input costs, karnataka, kbf, ksbc, liquor sales, maharashtra, neutral alcohol, raw material, retail outlets, rs 6, sugarcane, vijaya kumar, vintners


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RED BLUFF, Calif. - Tehama County is in the purple or widespread category under the state's new system.
Under the state's new guidelines movie theaters can operate outdoors.
Prime Cinemas co-owner Brian Young tells Action News Now they plan to have an outdoor move experience by using part of their parking lot and showing movies on the side of the building.
Young says movie-goers can buy social distance squares which can sit up to four 4 people
“This is going to mirror an experience you might have going to a park and watching a movie outside,” said Young. “We want to show that we're doing everything to keep going because we don’t want the town to lose their movie theater.”
Movies will show one at a time and start once it gets dark. The theater plans to sit no more than 100 people. Prime Cinemas plans to debut its outdoor cinema this weekend.
To help keep business afloat, Prime Cinemas has also been selling concessions on the weekend.
Meanwhile, restaurants have continued to face a tough time since going on the watchlist, but even with the new guidelines, it will still be a long road to recovery.
Jeff Tausch, the owner of Boar Hunter Barbeque says he’s only doing half of what he used to do. But has managed to stay afloat thanks to outdoor seating and some regulars.
“We are coping with the outdoor seating and we're fortunate to have a decent spot for outdoor seating," said Tausch. “We have a lot of great customers that are willing to put up with that.”
While outdoor seating is not the most ideal situation customers say it's better than nothing.
“When it's 110 degrees outside, it’s hard to sit outside and eat all the time, and I understand why they’re doing it,” said Andrew Berry, a regular.
“I just hope that the small business are able to stay afloat during this time,”
Tausch says even will all these hurdles, they’ll keep pushing forward and does not see his restaurant closing any time soon.
As businesses in Tehama County continue to adapt to the state's new reopening guidelines, the changes are giving businesses a little bit more leeway.
“I've only seen a third of my customers held back, it's been really hard I know a lot of people are scared out there,” said Ruben Aguirre, the owner of Rue’s Barbershop.
Under Governor Gavin Newsom's new guidelines Ruben Aguirre can once again have customers come inside his barbershop. But only at 25% of capacity.
“We've been trying to work with the rules and stuff like that but we've been taking customers by appointment only,” said Aguirre.
The state placed Tehama County on the watch list on August 26, and Aguirre immediately halted all operations.
“We were worried, and we immediately had to shut down because that's when we had to,” said Aguirre.
Aguirre reopened Monday after the new guidelines came out. Now he’s taking the necessary steps to keep clients and his barbers safe. Steps like wearing masks and only doing appointments. Customers say they're okay with the protocols just as long as their barber can keep his doors open.


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North End store owner illegally selling cannabis, bear spray: Police
The owner of a North End retail business has been charged with illegally selling bear spray and cannabis products.
The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said the Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Control Act (LGCCA) investigation began Mar. 28, when Manitoba Finance investigators inspected a business in the 600 block of Alfred Avenue. The business owner was not present for the inspection.
Investigators found several illegal items, including 18 full canisters of bear spray, three partial canisters of bear spray, and more than $1500 worth of packaged cannabis products.
The cannabis products were not labeled for sale, and the business was not licensed to sell either cannabis or bear spray. Police issued an arrest warrant for the store owner the next day.
Earlier this week, the province passed new, tougher restrictions on bear spray sales in an effort to reduce its use in crime.
On April 7, police arrested the suspect at a home in the first 100 block of Castle Ridge Drive.
A 28-year-old Winnipeg woman faces several charges, which have yet to be proven in court.
She has been released on a promise to appear.
View original article here Source


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Following Apple's highly-anticipated iPhone 8 announcement, Amazon have just unveiled a brand new bundle deal that gets you a brand new smart phone and an Echo dot - for just over £200.
Picking up the Wileyfox phone will set you back £209.99, but considering that the Echo Dot alone costs £49.99, that's a pretty decent discount.
Wileyfox may not be the first name that springs to mind when you think about getting a new phone - but with a £50 freebie, you may want to cut it some slack.
The bundle celebrates the arrival of Amazon's Alexa assistant on Wileyfox smartphones, with Naeem Walji, CMO of Wileyfox stating that: “Not only will Wileyfox be the first brand ever to retroactively bring Alexa to an already-available phone, but we are now offering new owners a connected home device as well.
The added versatility offered by having Alexa on your Swift 2 X, and by having the Amazon Echo Dot available as a smart home assistant or Bluetooth speaker is incredible – and I look forward to hearing about the innovative ways our customers use them.”
While it may not be the best smart phone out there, the Wileyfox Swift 2 is still pretty good for its money, boasting a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5.2-inch full HD screen.
With it, you'll also get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage, as well as the option to expand it with a microSD card.
You can read our full breakdown on whether or not the Wileyfox is a good value for money or not here.


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Public prosecutor, Presidential candidate, Vice President, Momala, Kamala Harris has chalked up many accolades in her lifetime. On January 20, 2021, she became the 46th Vice President of the United States of America.
From August 22 to 24, Kamala Harris was in Singapore to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Halimah Yacob at the Istana to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, bilateral cooperation and regional developments.
Harris also participated in a roundtable with business leaders, involving Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, to discuss the importance of supply chain resiliency.
Here are some key takeaways about the woman of the moment.


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For Immediate Release
Ed Mierzwinksi firstname.lastname@example.org
US PIRG Statement on Credit and Debit Card Security Announcement
WASHINGTON - Statement of Ed Mierzwinski, Consumer Program Director with U.S. PIRG, on today’s announcement of steps to improve credit and debit card security:
"U.S. PIRG commends the President for using the government’s buying power to accelerate improvements in credit and debit security that are critically needed by American consumers and businesses. Recent breaches at major merchants and the nation's largest bank have demonstrated the need for better protections for card information. By announcing that all cards for government users and government benefits such as EBT will be Chip and PIN compliant as of January 2015, the President has moved beyond the Chip-only upgrades proposed by the bank and card networks, which would not have done enough to move past obsolete magnetic swipe cards. Smart chips only prevent cards from being cloned. Adding PIN requirements as well will ensure that cards are used by the right people. Implementing Chip and PIN together will dramatically reduce fraud in retail transactions.
"We still need to drive new solutions to online fraud, but today's announcement of a cyber-summit is a step toward that goal as well. We also believe that consumers need strong legal protections when they use any plastic cards. Currently, credit cards only enjoy the strongest protections by law while strong debit card protections are by bank promise only. We also welcome the improvements to idtheft.org. We look forward to working with the administration, the CFPB, and the FTC on these and the other proposals announced today.
"Finally, any national breach proposal should be based on the strongest state laws and continue to allow states to take the lead to protect the privacy of their citizens."
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U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), stands up to powerful special interests on behalf of the American public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. With a strong network of researchers, advocates, organizers and students in state capitols across the country, we take on the special interests on issues, such as product safety,political corruption, prescription drugs and voting rights,where these interests stand in the way of reform and progress.


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You've Got Government-Certified Mail
Page 1 of 1
The U.S. Postal Service has launched an electronic version of Certified Mail aimed at letting government agencies send and receive secure documents over the Internet.
The technology, called NetPost.Certified, was developed with management and technical support from AT&T Corp., IBM and Keycorp Ltd., an Australian software developer.
First to use the new service will be the Social Security Administration, which will receive data on vital statistics from state governments.
The new service, basically an electronic version of Certified Mail, uses passwords and ID cards embedded with computer chips to provide proof that a document arrived safely in the hands of the intended recipient. The system will cost 50 cents per use, regardless of the size of the transmission, the Postal Service said.
Deputy Postmaster General John Nolan was quoted as saying the system should speed up government services and cut down on paperwork.
The Postal Service estimates usage of NetPost.Certified could reach 6 billion transactions each year, Stephen Kearney, USPS senior vice president for corporate and business development, told Bloomberg News.


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ECONOMYNEXT- Social media blackouts and protectionism hurt women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) which rely on online platforms for sales, a preliminary study from a think tank has found.
The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) a semi-government think tank based in Colombo, said new businesses which are cropping up on social media exclusively use such platforms to sell products, based on a survey of 40 businesses operating on Facebook and Instagram.
When social media is blocked, 83 percent of businesses dependent on such platforms reported a fall in sales, with a majority facing over 40 percent fall in revenue, the preliminary study conducted by IPS researchers Kithmina Hewage and Harini Weerasekara had found.
Social media has been blocked in recent years when communal violence flares up. Social media was blocked following the Digana clashes in 2018 and multiple times after the Easter Bombings which sparked sectarian violence.
Around 70 percent of social media-based MSMEs are owned by women, and 70 percent of those surveyed have just one or two employees. Eighty percent of the business owners are below 30 years of age.
There is scope for the businesses, most of which are informal due to their size, to grow. However existing policies present challenges, the survey showed.
Just 27 percent of the respondents believed that the existing policy framework supported growth of social media-based businesses.
In addition to social media blackouts, the lack of legislation to effectively protect interests of both the businesses and consumers and provide dispute resolution was found as a constraint in the study.
Costs of production were high among the small businesses, due to high tariffs and paratariffs, IPS said.
Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming a nationalist protectionist economy, and is one of the most protected economies in the world.
Protectionism reduces the incentive for suppliers to produce better quality goods at lower prices, profiting from political clout that disconnects them from world market prices.
Undergraduates in global universities typically learn of the drawbacks of such poor policies in introductory economics lectures.
The IPS study said protectionism reduces profit margins and price out small businesses from importing higher quality ingredients and products.
“Overall, the nature of the businesses, current market market for social media-based e-commerce and wider policy related factors inhibit the ability for small online-based businesses to scale up in the future,” IPS said.
Sri Lanka is currently grappling with low growth and has constantly turned to debt-fuelled construction to provide short-term boosts to growth.
Economists have identified female participation in the labour force and female entrepreneurship as a potential source of sustainable long-term growth, which can be harnessed easily with the right policy reforms, including improvements to public transport, childcare, safer workspaces and closing the gender pay gap.
Sri Lanka’s female labour force participation is low at around 35 percent.
Many women who want to own a business however have to manage Sri Lanka’s high interest rates due to regular monetary instability, which push them to open businesses with low overheads, such as those operating on social media.
Just over half of the respondents in the preliminary study’s survey were retailers, while 30 percent prepared food and 18 percent were personal services.
Over 70 percent of the businesses had begun after 2017, while 75 percent operated from home.
Just 89 percent of the businesses were based in the Western Province, but they have large customer bases outside the province.
The survey showed 35 percent of the businesses having customers in Kandy, while 25 percent made sales in Galle and 18 percent in Jaffna.
IPS said the businesses surveyed may not be nationally representative and the preliminary study was conducted to find the feasibility of future research into the area.(Colombo/Mar04/2020: Updated 08:05)
Reported by Chandeepa Wettasinghe


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Freetrade, which calls itself a challenger stockbroker, has raised £30 million in debt financing led by a clutch of existing investors.
PrimeXM has reported weaker trading volumes for April 2022, in line with other institutional and retail platforms that saw the activity of their clients dropped compared to a month earlier.
Sydney-based FX and CFDs broker, ACY Securities has appointed FX industry veteran Andrew Taylor to the post of Managing Director, following a career of over 30 years in the financial industry.
Hong Kong’s securities regulator has banned a former licensed representative of China Tonghai Securities Limited from re-entering the industry for 18 months after he was convicted of conducting unauthorized trades from clients’ accounts.
Barcelona-based payment service provider PayRetailers has bolstered its commitment to Latin America with the acquisition of two online payments platforms, Chile’s Paygol and Colombia’s Pago Digital.
The proceedings going on in the case of Ido Fishman have finally come to an end after an agreement was signed by Ido Fishman, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner of iTrader. As per the settlement in the case, Ido Fishman and Gal Media have been asked to pay a fine of NIS 590,000.
TradeStation Crypto, the digital asset-focused subsidiary of Monex Group’s TradeStation Group, today announced the soft rollout of its services in Puerto Rico. Trading will launch imminently, the company indicated.
Exegy offers a range of solutions, from market data to signals and analytics, to algos and automation, and execution.
Hashdex’s WEB311 ETF replicates the “CF Web 3.0 Smart Contract Platforms Index” by CF Benchmarks and is dedicated to Smart Contract Blockchain Assets.
Nomura acknowledges that digital assets such as cryptocurrencies, security tokens, and non-fungible tokens are gaining presence as a new asset class and a new range of services is emerging as distributed ledger technology is applied to traditional finance.
Uphold, the US-based platform offering cryptocurrency trading and debit cards, has received a regulatory go-ahead to launch its services in the UK.
Mark Foulger has left his position as Head of Sales at London-based market maker Tokkyo FX. The two-decade FX veteran, mostly spent his career in the City, is quitting after more than two years in this role to build up a new FX and crypto brokerage firm, Ellipse Trading.
Germany’s federal financial supervisory authority (BaFin) today warned cryptocurrency investors about the risks of following investment tips made on social-media platforms.
Blockchain startup Millicent today said it has secured government funding in the form of a UK Research, and Innovation (UKRI) Innovate UK Smart Award.
Amber Group will aim to make the most out of the opportunity to operate a registered CAESP as it allows the company and WhaleFin Japan to introduce regulated crypto exchange and custody services.
LiquidityBook, a provider of FIX and OMS trading solutions for both the buy and sell-side, has added James Baxter to its sales team in the firm’s New York office, reporting directly to CEO Kevin Samuel.
Hong Kong’s banking regulator has fined 33 Financial Services Limited (33FS) HK$875,000 ($113,000) for breaches of anti-money laundering rules.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission awarded $4 million to several whistleblowers whose information resulted in enforcement actions.
Playtech, the London-listed gambling software developer, said its shareholders will convene on February 2, instead of January 12, to vote on a takeover bid from Australian gambling giant Aristocrat.
All the latest trends, analytics, and research from the currency, Forex, CFD, electronic trading and multi-asset trading world.


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FTSE opens 0.3% lower as HSBC, BHP results disappoint
Source - SMW
UK stocks opened lower on Tuesday after market heavyweights HSBC and BHP both revealed disappointing earnings results.
At 0852, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 23.66 points, or 0.3%, at 7.195.81.
HBSC shed 3.3% as a 16% rise in annual profit missed market expectations and the bank warned that slowing growth in China and Brexit uncertainty could hurt its performance in the current year.
Mining giant BHP slipped 1.1% on reporting a fall in first-half profit, owing to lower copper prices and unplanned production outages.
Bakery chain Greggs was having a better morning, rising 8.8% as it upgraded its outlook on profits following an 'exceptionally strong start' to the year, driven by the launch of its vegan-friendly sausage roll.
InterContinental Hotels rose 1.9% after it reported rising earnings boosted by higher occupancy numbers in China, easing the blow from subdued US performance.
Bus operator Firstgroup gained 3.4% as it reported 13.7% growth in winter revenue amid a strong performance at its student bus segment.
Rival transport company Go-Ahead advanced 0.4% as it agreed to buy FirstGroup's Queen's Road bus depot for £11.17m.
London-focused residential property developer Telford Homes added 1.1% after it exchanged contracts for the sale of a build-to-rent development site in Walthamstow.
Specialist manufacturer Synnovia slid 10% on warning that it expected rising annual revenue to be offset by losses from currency hedging, cost pressures and 'minor' delays at its films division.
Instrumentation and controls company Spectris reversed 0.2% on posting a 22% fall in annual profit owing to one-off restructuring and acquisition costs. The company's underlying performance improved but it warned of weaker revenue in 2019.
Renewables Infrastructure Group fell 0.6%, despite booking a 37% rise in annual profit underpinned by an uplift in the value of its asset portfolio.
Plastic packaging company RPC said it was continuing to engage with potential suitor Berry Global Group regarding a potential counter-bid to an existing agreed offer from Apollo Management. Its shares inched higher to 794.4p.
Luxury furniture company Walker Greenbank slumped 12% after announcing that it only expected to eke out a modest increase in sales amid a challenging UK retail environment.
Insolvency litigation financing company Manolete Partners gained 3.6% as it said it expected to post annual results ahead of market expectations, with operating profit growth of 70%.
Patagonia Gold plunged 46% on news that it had ceased operations at two mines in Argentina due to lower-than-expected production volumes. At 8:58am:
(LON:BHP) share price was -13.7p at 1785.9p
(LON:FGP) FirstGroup PLC share price was +2.53p at 94.03p
(LON:GRG) Greggs PLC share price was +110p at 1712p
(LON:HSBA) HSBC Holdings PLC share price was -23.3p at 640.4p
(LON:IHG) InterContinental Hotels Group PLC share price was +76.5p at 4705.5p


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Square Enix has released a new patch for its Final Fantasy themed kart racing sim Chocobo GP.
This patch will finally address numerous bugs present in the game, including an issue where the game stopped progressing at the rankings screen at the end of a race or while matchmaking for the next race.
It will also attend to an issue where finishing in fourth place or higher was treated as being eliminated due to lag.
As well as this, players should also notice an improvement in character behaviour within the game.
Square Enix goes on to say it will "continue updating 'Chocobo GP' to improve the player experience".
Finally, the developer apologises to its Chocobo community for the "inconvenience" this has all caused, and thanks everyone for their "understanding".
We've worked on a fix for the currently occurring bugs relating to players’ internet connection environments in a #ChocoboGP.— FINAL FANTASY (@FinalFantasy) March 29, 2022
We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Read the full patch notes here: https://t.co/80qjzztlKo pic.twitter.com/1CpHEPhCCb
It is fair to say that the game has not exactly had the best track record since its release on the Nintendo Switch in March.
On its launch, many fans were left disappointed by the game's general state, as well as its heavy reliance on in-game currencies and microtransactions.
Square Enix did address these concerns in a lengthy statement, but clearly there is still plenty more work to be done to get the game up to an acceptable level.
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NEW YORK — Nearly 18 months into their investment in Catherine Malandrino’s company, Elie Tahari and Arthur S. Levine were busy last week helping the designer talk up her new diffusion collection.
This fall’s debut at retail of the Catherine Catherine Malandrino label is the first major move by the trio since they joined forces. The line will be unveiled this week at WWD Magic in Las Vegas. During a preview of the designer’s most affordable looks to date, their outlook was a united one, with each giving the others ample time to express their thoughts without jumping in. “As you can see, this is a real admiration society,” Levine said.
So much so that Tahari arrived at Malandrino’s West 39th Street studio Thursday with a small, heart-shaped box of chocolates and a red stuffed teddy bear for her. (He quickly gave credit to his girlfriend, Joanne Blessinger, for the idea.) The seeming lovefest kept going during a photo shoot, when Tahari kiddingly helped Malandrino adjust her dress to accent her décolletage, Levine deadpanned, “I have the same problem with my stomach. RELATED STORY: Catherine Malandrino Fall 2013 >>
Lighthearted as all this seemed, Tahari and Malandrino said they have “honest exchanges” about each other’s designs (sometimes solicited, sometimes not), which are valued and, more important, helpful. Everyone is in agreement about taking their time to rebuild a business that overexpanded and paid the price when the economy faltered in 2008. Tahari said, “In this industry, we have, all of us, an issue with egos. If people would remember to control their egos, then the sky is the limit. This is our issue and we say, ‘No issues, only solutions. If you have an issue, I have a tissue.’ ”
Tahari continued, “My experience has been it’s not about us. It’s about, ‘How can we contribute something to somebody and do it better?’ ”
Malandrino’s business should ring up sales of $40 million to $50 million this year, which would be a significant improvement considering the business was around $23 million before Levine and Tahari stepped in, the former said. Shannon Bouthillette has been named president of sales at Catherine Catherine Malandrino. She previously worked at Betsey Johnson.
“This is really like an in-house project. It’s not like giving a license to a company and having to monitor them and worry about them,” Levine said. “We know whatever we do is going to be first class. And if it isn’t perfect, it’s not going to happen.”
About 25 to 30 people from Malandrino’s 100-person team are working on the diffusion collection. In the company’s leaner days before Levine and Tahari stepped in, there were about 30 staffers or so. With further growth on the horizon, the partners are moving forward with measured steps. “Whatever will be the extension of the brand, we want to make sure we keep it well controlled, because we feel creativity has been at the heart of our success and we want to make sure that is always our first concern,” Malandrino said. “I like to work with a small team that is more like family. Of course the team will get bigger and bigger, but I want to keep the spirit around me as a family spirit with value of love, dedication, friendship and trust.”
When the first shipment of the 150-piece Catherine Catherine Malandrino collection lands in department and specialty stores in August, there will be blouses starting at $79 and faux leather jackets retailing for as much as $400. Geared for stores such as Dillard’s, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, the new label is expected to compete with Michael Michael Kors. The aim in the first year is to generate sales of $15 million to $20 million, said Levine, who hopes he and Tahari will see the degree of growth with the collection that they saw when they first teamed in 2001 to launch the Tahari ASL business, which includes the Tahari Arthur S. Levine brand of suits and dresses. Levine was at one time chairman of Kasper ASL and, before that, principal and chief executive officer of Anne Klein and president and ceo of Kasper.
When they first joined forces, Tahari Arthur S. Levine generated annual sales of about $28 million and about $75 million in the second year — a figure that Levine hopes to exceed with Malandrino within the next three to five years.
Recalling those early days, Tahari said, “I had no expectations. I went with my intuition about Arthur — the same I feel about Catherine. It wasn’t about numbers. It was about delivering the truthful and honest product to the customer. That’s what we’re working for.”
Relaying Malandrino’s whimsical style as well as the quality and make of the new collection is essential, but Levine allowed, “Of course, we can’t use cashmere and the yarns that Catherine does [in her main collection], but certainly we can achieve her look and give it to the working woman.”
With Catherine Catherine Malandrino up and running and the designer’s Black Label gaining doors at Neiman Marcus, there is interest in expanding its outerwear and other areas. “Catherine has got a great eye — shoes, handbags, jewelry, underwear — those are categories that are untapped for us,” Tahari said.
Talks are under way for a signature fragrance, which would be launched next year. As for the timing of other new pursuits, Levine said, “Basically, there are so many coals on the fire…things will probably start to pop in another two months.”
Freestanding stores will be added down the road too. As of now, Malandrino has remodeled boutiques in New York’s Meatpacking District, SoHo and East Hampton. Off to Europe this week, Levine will be looking for a new address for a Paris store. China is a major area of interest for freestanding stores, they said. There are also plans to open a boutique in Istanbul, and a second store in Russia, in St. Petersburg. The existing one is in Moscow, not far from Red Square.
“The goal is to build a global brand and this is one step in that process,” Tahari said. “The world consists on many levels, with many products and many categories. Fashion is becoming more of a global business especially for America, not for Europeans — it’s always been global. More and more people are looking for American designers. When we go to stores in Europe, all the American designers have shops that never happened before. For global expansion, we knew that we needed this category that is being launched now.”
The French-born Malandrino has also seen some changes since she relocated to New York. “I’ve been working on the designer level in America for 14 years and it has changed. You have to make sure you are able to give something original, creative and well priced, which is certainly what the world is looking for,” she said. “To achieve this challenge would make me complete in my profession.”
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
For men’s fall 2018, @giuseppezanotti drew on elements from streetwear, sport, biker, combat and rock ‘n’ roll. Pictured here are a pair of shoes from the collection, featuring zippers, rhinestones, and silver hardware. Head to WWD.com to see a roundup of the accessories from Milan’s men’s fall 2018 shows. #wwdfashion (📷: Andrea Delb)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of @ralphlauren’s snowboarding collection, the brand is mining its archives. The iconic brand is reintroducing vintage styles and dropping new designs for a color capsule that will be available in Ralph Lauren stores and @openingceremony on January 25. The capsule will consist of 10 pieces, including the Snow Beach Pullover, pictured here, which is a collector’s item that rapper Raekwon wore in Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” video. #wwdfashion (📷: Tom Gould)
For @rochasofficial’s pre-fall 2018 collection, creative director Alessandro Dell’Acqua channeled the sophisticated and intriguing Catherine Denevue in the film “Belle de Jour.” Polished collarless coats, midi skirts, suits and ’60s graphic motifs were all featured in the collection, adding a sense of discreet luxury. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion
“We tried to produce clothing of that couture quality, but the most daunting part was that we only had a matter of days [to do it],” said costume designer Lou Eyrich, who recreated Gianni Versace’s iconic looks for @americancrimestoryfx. Eyrich searched online retailers and vintage shops for original pieces from the design house and for @penelopecruzoficial, who plays Donatella Versace. Head to WWD.com to read how she created the Versace world. #wwdfashion
Only three months after her stellar debut catwalk season, @kaiagerber has inked her first big design collaboration –– with @karllagerfeld. The collection blends Lagerfeld’s Parisian chic aesthetic and the model’s signature West Coast casual style via RTW, accessories, footwear and more. The #KarlLagerfeldxKaia collection will launch in September with a series of events. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews


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FourFour is pleased to announce that we have joined forces with Six, our new partner for digital media.
Our team has been working closely with Six for over a year to bring you our latest, most compelling and best content.
Our editorial team will be taking the lead with the launch of FourFour, which will offer you exclusive content from our partners and our writers.
FourFour has always been an independent, trusted and trusted partner of Six and this partnership will give you a unique platform to share your stories and views.
We look forward to making FourFour even more accessible and compelling than ever.
“The FourFour app is already a massive hit, and now that we’ve added the Six team, we’re excited to expand the app with the help of their talented team of writers and editors,” said Chris Johnson, Vice President, Product at FourFour.
“We’ve worked hard to bring the FourFour experience to the iPhone, iPad, and Android, and we’re thrilled to be working with Six on this exciting partnership.
We’re looking forward to delivering a premium experience that will be just as popular with our readers and followers as the app is with our customers.”
Six is the company behind the FourFive app for Android and iOS, which has become one of the most popular apps in the Apple ecosystem.
FourFive will be available on the App Store for free for a limited time, but users will need to subscribe to the Six app to gain access.
For more information about FourFour’s new product, visit www.fourfour.com


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-Interactive platform launched on the sidelines of the 2018 STEP Conference in Dubai
-H.E. Buamim: New portal paves the way for fruitful cooperation that will enhance Dubai’s reputation as an attractive hub for the region’s startups
Dubai, UAE: Dubai Startup Hub, an initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced the launch of its new and improved website which aims to provide comprehensive support and guidance to startups in Dubai and further develop the emirate’s entrepreneurial eco-system.
The interactive website was unveiled during the 2018 STEP Conference in Dubai, while visitors to the Dubai Startup Hub stand at the event were given an opportunity to learn all about the features, tools and information that is available on the platform.
The website is a clear and comprehensive platform that aims to foster cooperation between companies, startups, investors and other stakeholders within Dubai’s entrepreneurial community.
The platform provides valuable information on key events, accelerators, incubators, jobs, and courses, workspaces, as well as relevant and interesting content published through blogs and videos. In addition, it includes an engaging forum where users can have their common and pressing questions answered in an efficient manner.
By registering as a member of Dubai Startup Hub, startups and entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to participate in a number of programmes which are designed to offer support and access to new growth opportunities. Membership is currently free of charge until the end of this year.
Commenting on the website launch, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, said: “Today, we are launching an interactive platform that is designed around the needs of Dubai’s fast-growing startup community. By providing an ideal environment where startups, companies and investors can connect and collaborate online, we are paving the way for fruitful cooperation that will enhance Dubai’s reputation as an attractive hub for the region’s startups.”
H.E. Buamim added: “At the same time, the portal enables the Chamber to engage directly with startups, take the pulse of this diverse community, and provide them with access to valuable support, relevant content and access to business and networking opportunities. I encourage all startups in Dubai to explore the useful features and tools available on the new Dubai Startup Hub platform and take advantage of the benefits that it can offer them.”
Dubai Chamber initially launched Dubai Startup Hub in 2016 to connect startups, entrepreneurs, developers, venture capitalists and students, enabling them to learn about new opportunities and create new partnerships that stimulate economic growth.
Dubai Start Up Hub collaborates with the most experienced and trusted partners to provide aspiring young entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge they need to launch and manage a successful business.
Other programmes and initiatives organised under Dubai Startup Hub include Youth Business Voice, Market Access, Smartpreneur Competition, and Tejar Dubai, which have seen the launch of several innovative and successful business ventures.


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Tag Archives: NC Soft
Tue, Nov 05, 2013 | 11:39 GMT
Guild Wars 2: The Nightmares Within is ArenaNet’s next living world update. The studio has now dated and detailed the release.
Tue, May 14, 2013 | 09:17 BST
Guild Wars 2 publisher NC Soft has discussed the “consistent and strong” performance of the MMO’s in-game gem transactions, suggesting that when stacked against sales of the game itself, digital revenue is driving the game onward.
Fri, Feb 08, 2013 | 12:17 GMT
Wildstar is the new MMO from Guild Wars 2 publisher NC Soft and developer Carbine. They have released a new batch of screenshots set in the dusty Deradune Zone.
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 | 14:51 GMT
Guild Wars 2′s Lost Shores event is kicking off November 15. It’s a one-time island-hopping event that will change the world of Tyria forever, and sees heroes battling it out on the beaches against giant enemy crabs, exploring dank coves and more. Publisher NC Soft has just revealed a batch of gameplay screens. Check them out below.
Thu, Aug 02, 2012 | 14:01 BST
WildStar the upcoming MMO from Carbine and NC Soft has received a new trailer today, outlining the game’s housing system. You can’t stake a claim in a massive MMO world without a home after all.


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Across various parts of the country, health department officials are asking restaurants to voluntarily pull CBD-infused foods and drinks off menus.
The latest local and regional governments that have reportedly taken steps against CBD are New York City, California, Texas, and Ohio banning the substance from restaurants and retail stores.
For example, according to the New York City’s official government website, beginning July 1, New York City restaurants that don’t comply with the CBD ban voluntarily could be embargoed of their CBD products by the health department... and by October 1, officials “will begin issuing violations to restaurants and retailers for offering CBD-laced foods and drinks. Violations may be subject to fines as well as violation points that count toward the establishment’s letter grade.”
CBD, or cannabidiol, which derives from cannabis, doesn’t cause the psychoactive effects for the lack of enough THC—the compound that gives people the “high” sensation.
In fact, CBD proponents claim the substance is mainly used for its therapeutic benefits helping people relax, ease pain, anxiety, insomnia, and even depression.
Despite the fact that not many studies have been done on cannabidiol in human trials, as pointed out by a recent New York Times article, we are seeing an immense amount of CBD products being sold across the country, with Walgreens as the latest retailer to announce plans to sell creams, patches, and sprays in nearly 1,500 stores in select states.
So, why is it being pulled out of the restaurant space, specifically?
Although, the farm bill that was passed in December 2018 legalized industrial hemp in the U.S., this only means industrial hemp was removed from the controlled substance category. Anything that is put in foods and drinks has to be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and, as of right now, CBD is not determined safe or effective for other health conditions aside from being an active ingredient in an approved drug that treats two rare and severe forms of epilepsy.
The FDA regulations are something different and there’s a huge push from lawmakers to change this.
Since there is no federal law specifically addressing CBD-laced edibles, some states, like Colorado and Maine, have already attempted to clarify the status of the substance by passing laws allowing the addition of CBD to food, as reported by Reuters. California and Texas have introduced bi-partisan legislation to do the same, as reported by the Associated Press.
Last week, the FDA slated the first public hearing to take place May 31 to discuss how to regulate CBD food and beverage products.
In the meantime, here at Foodable, we are tracking the latest in this arena:
In a podcast episode of Chef AF, Chef Brandon Foster shares with us a personal anecdote about how CBD has positively affected a local farmer to The point where this person wanted to dedicate the rest of his available land to grow hemp for the CBD industry.
In an On Foodable Feature episode, our host Layla Harrison breaks down for our audience some of the CBD-infused products that have stood out from the rest.
And in a Barron Report podcast episode, we learned about Azuca— a company offering CBD and THC products ranging from edibles to sweet syrups.
We expect to continue hearing about ‘Culinary Cannabis’ and its impact on the restaurant business and society as a whole. so, stay tuned for more interesting content!


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Journalist Danny Buckland featured the issue of health problems with Christmas lighting and lighting more generally in an article for the Daily Express in the UK and the Daily Mirror in Ireland. The article also features LightAware.
“The Christmas lights are twinkling around Britain, and while most people are enjoying their festive sparkle, some are retreating into the shadows as they suffer severe headaches, nausea, burning skin and fatigue. And this is not simply a festive phenomenon – increasing numbers of people are reporting how their lives are blighted year round by modern lighting.”
You can read the whole article here


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Last winter’s edition was perhaps the most popular installment of Brewing Up Cocktails ever, featuring acclaimed drinks like the Hot Scotchy, Wassail, and the Furburger, all three of which will make their return on December 10th. There will also be four brand new beer cocktails to set your head right and warm the cockles of your heart as the holidays near.
The new beer cocktails run the gamut of styles: Three varieties will be served hot to fend off the winter cold, an effervescent and citrusy take on the French 75, a fruity and hoppy punch made with IPA, and a silky smooth beer flip. There will be something for everyone at this event, even an ugly Christmas sweater contest!
Visit Brewing Up Cocktails for details on the featured drinks, including the four brand new beer cocktails. The event runs from 6pm to 9pm.


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WHERE TO WATCH
San Francisco District Attorney Erases Marijuana Convictions Dating Back To 1975
March 5, 2019
Updated 1mo ago
San Francisco District Attorney, George Gascón, spoke to Cheddar Business about the more than 9,000 marijuana-related convictions dismissed by a computer algorithm.
The Startup That's Eliminating Single-Use Cleaning Products
Apr 19, 2019
New England Treatment Access Gearing Up For First 420 As A Recreational Dispensary
How are Massachusetts cannabis dispensaries preparing for marijuana's biggest holiday? Amanda Rositano, the director of compliance at New England Treatment Access, joined Cheddar to discuss.
Apr 19, 2019
TribeTokes Co-Founders Talk Celebrating 420 In New York City
Recreational marijuana still isn't legal in New York, but there are plenty of ways to celebrate 420, including sales on surrounding CBD and cannabis lifestyle products. TribeTokes co-founders, Degelis Tufts and Kym Byrnes, joined Cheddar to discuss their products and gave us a preview of their 420 plans. RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA STILL ISN'T LEGAL HERE IN NEW YORK BUT THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF 420 SALES SURROUNDING CBD AND CANNABIS LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS. JOINING US NOW WITH A PREVIEW... Day-ja-lee Tufts & Kym B, THE CO-FOUNDERS OF TRIBE TOKES.
Feb 1, 2018
Other Cities Considering Following San Francisco's Lead in Clearing Marijuana Convictions
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón says three other California cities reached out to his office after he announced this week the city is wiping out Marijuana convictions dating back to 1975. Cheddar's Baker Machado spoke with Gascón about why he felt it was so important to clear these convictions.


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New Delhi: Fintech startup Jupiter Cash on Fridays stated it has appointed Anuj Rathi as its chief product and advertising and marketing officer.
Rathi beforehand led product, income and development at Swiggy. He’s an IIT-Kanpur alumnus, and has earlier labored with companies like Flipkart and Walmart.
In his senior management function, Rathi will lead product, design, development and advertising and marketing on the neo-bank and can intently with Jupiter founder Jitendra Gupta.
“Having somebody of Anuj’s pedigree, expertise and monitor file will likely be a useful asset to Jupiter as we proceed to double down on our mission of enabling monetary wellness for tens of millions of Indians. We felt that Anuj is probably the most suited chief to play an essential function for Jupiter’s subsequent part of development. I’m personally very excited to welcome him to Jupiter Cash,” Gupta stated.
Jupiter is a neobanking app that gives a number of monetary providers, together with a debit card, SIPs, mutual funds, personalised financial savings choices, expense administration, UPI funds, and extra.
The platform, launched in 2019, just lately secured a non-banking monetary firm (NBFC) licence from the Reserve Financial institution of India to enter into the lending enterprise.
In January this 12 months, Jupiter had raised about ₹100 crore in enterprise debt from Alteria Capital to scale its lending. In 2022, the startup had secured round $87 million from Tiger International, QED Traders, Sequoia India and Matrix Companions.


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Symantec announced over night it had purchased Blue Coat Systems for $4.65 billion, and also named Blue Coat CEO Greg Clark to the same role at Symantec.
It was a stunning turn of events for Blue Coat, which was sold just last year to Bain Capital for $2.4 billion. By all reports Bain intended to take Blue Coat public this year until they got an offer they couldn’t refuse from Symantec.
Bain makes a tidy profit off of the deal just a year after buying Blue Coat and intends to take $750 million of the proceeds and plow it back into the combined business.
With Blue Coat, the two companies are combining to create an enterprise security giant. The companies are betting that bigger is better and that as a single company, it can become a force in the enterprise security market.
It’s similar to the strategy Dell is taking with its $67 billion deal with EMC, albeit a much larger bet. Interestingly, Silver Lake, which is a big Dell Investor is also involved here, tossing in $1 billion dollars as part of the deal.
More to come


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Stock Alert: Avenue Therapeutics Jumps 16%
Shares of specialty pharmaceutical company, Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (ATXI) are surging more than 16% Thursday morning after the company provided a regulatory update following receipt of the official meeting minutes from a November 2020 Type A meeting with the FDA relating to a path forward for its intravenous tramadol.
The company today said it plans to resubmit the NDA in February 2021, barring any Covid-19 related or other setbacks.
Avenue had requested this Type A meeting to address a Complete Response Letter (CRL) it received from the FDA regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for IV tramadol.
Intravenous tramadol is a potential alternative to conventional opioids, for patients suffering from acute pain.
ATXI, currently at $4.29, has been trading in the range of $2.85- $12.34 in the last one year.
Stock Alert: Accenture Hits New 52-week On Quarterly Results, Raised Outlook
Shares of Accenture plc (ACN) are rising almost 8 percent or $19.51 in Thursday’s morning trade at $266.96, after hitting a new 52-week high of $271.18 as the consulting firm’s quarterly results beat estimates and it also raised its full-year outlook.
Thursday, Accenture reported first-quarter net income of $1.50 billion or $2.32 per share, up from $1.36 billion or $2.09 per share in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings were $2.17 per share. Revenue rose to $11.76 billion from $11.36 billion last year.
On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $2.05 per share for the quarter on revenues of $11.36 billion.
For fiscal 2021, Accenture now expects revenue growth in a range of 4 percent to 6 percent in local currency, up from the prior range of 2 percent to 5 percent. The company now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share in a range of $8.02 to $8.25, up 8 percent to 11 percent over adjusted fiscal 2020 earnings per share of $7.46.
The Street expects earnings of $8.05 per share for the year on revenues of $46.72 billion.
Accenture has traded in a range of $137.15 to $271.18 in the past 52 weeks.
Swiss court rejects Russian appeal against Olympic ban for doping but cuts ban length
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Swiss court on Thursday upheld doping sanctions that will prevent Russian athletes from competing at major international events under the country’s flag, but reduced the period of the ban to two years from four years.
The ruling will leave Russian athletes without their flag and national anthem at next year’s Tokyo Olympics and at the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar, a severe blow to Russian sport which has been tarnished in recent years by a string of doping scandals.
Mercedes Benz ends luxury car prodution in Brazil, shutting down small plant
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Mercedes Benz said on Thursday that it would wind down car production in Brazil, shutting down its small factory dedicated to producing luxury vehicles in the city of Iraccemapolis, costing some 370 jobs.
The company said in a statement that the pandemic had caused a drop in demand for luxury vehicles that made it unsustainable to keep the factory open.
FDA Approves CNS Pharma’s IND Application For Brain Cancer Drug Candidate Berubicin
CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CNSP) said Thursday that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the Investigational New Drug or IND application for the company’s lead product candidate, Berubicin, for the treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM.
Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer.
The company said it will initiate its phase 2 trial during the first quarter of 2021 to investigate the efficacy of Berubicin in adults with Glioblastoma Multiforme who have failed first-line therapy.
Following correspondence between the company and the FDA, the company has modified the previously disclosed trial design, including designating overall survival as the primary endpoint of the study, CNS Pharma said.
Overall survival is a rigorous endpoint that the FDA has recognized as a basis for approval of oncology drugs when a statistically significant improvement can be shown relative to a randomized control arm.
In Thursday pre-market trade, CNSP was trading at $2.84, up $0.66 or 30.28 percent.
REVIEW: The $208,000 Audi R8 Performance is a relic of supercars long gone, and that's what makes it special
- The 2020 R8 is Audi's halo car, with a naturally aspirated V10 positioned between its two axles.
- There are currently two versions of the R8 available: the V10 Quattro and the more powerful V10 Performance Quattro.
- My loaner was the more powerful version, starting at $195,900. Fees and extra options brought it up to $208,245.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
If it feels like the Audi R8 has been around for a while, it's because it has. Why fix what isn't broken, right?
The 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance Coupe Quattro is Audi's halo car: a sleek mid-engined, two-seater coupe with all-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated V10 nestled between its axles. Compared to Mercedes-AMG, which only sports a front-engined coupe as a halo, and BMW, which has no halo at all, the Audi stands out.
The R8's clout further increased when videos popped up on YouTube of owners taking their R8s out in snowstorms that would have all but stranded a Ferrari. Fitted with proper winter tires, R8s were shown tanking around in weather only snowplows would dare venture out in.
A 5.2-liter V10 engine, sourced from the Lamborghini LP560-4, was added to the lineup later on in 2009. It has since stuck around.


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Isabelle Duterte is celebrating her 18th birthday tonight, January 19, at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
These past few weeks, the granddaughter of President Rodrigo Duterte had attracted the public’s attention with her extravagant pre-debut pictorial at Malacañang Palace and her save-the-date video shoot in Australia.
Now here’s a first look at our debutante.
Isabelle was pretty in pink.
Winn Ramos did her makeup; Allan Vicentico styled her hair.
With couture fashion as one of the main attractions of Isabelle’s pre-debut shoots, people looked forward to the designer gown that the eldest daughter of Paolo Duterte and ex-wife Lovelie Sangkola Sumera would wear to her grand party.
The young lady had worn a total of eight dresses—from the collections of Rica Rico, Rosenthal Tee, and Garimon Roferos—for the two shoots.
On her big night, she made a grand entrance in a voluminous gown designed by no less than Michael Cinco.
Before the party, event host Eco Sala posted on Facebook a photo of the debutante showing the gown's intricate bead work.


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Amazon boss says the company will not remove anti-Semitic films
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Wednesday the company has no plans to stop selling the anti-Semitic film, which recently rose to fame after Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving tweeted an Amazon link to it .
Pressure on Amazon to stop selling the film, titled Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, has mounted since Irving shared the link to the documentary with his millions of Twitter followers in October. Amazon’s synopsis states that the film “unveils the true identity of the children of Israel.”
Speaking at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York City, Jassy said it’s difficult for the company to determine what content is crossing the line where Amazon isn’t making it available to customers.
“As a content retailer for hundreds of millions of customers with many different viewpoints, we need to provide access to those viewpoints, even if they are offensive – offensive and different from our particular viewpoints,” the Times quoted Jassy as saying.
He said making decisions about what content to delete is “easier” in some cases, such as when it’s “actively inciting or promoting violence or teaching people to do things like pedophilia.”
Dozens of celebrities, public figures, as well as Jewish organizations and the Nets have called on the company to remove the film or add a disclaimer explaining why the documentary and accompanying book are problematic.
Amazon told the newspaper earlier this month that it was looking into adding a disclaimer to the documentary’s main page. But that didn’t happen.
The Seattle-based company didn’t respond to The Associated Press’s inquiry earlier this month about whether or not it would add a disclaimer. Jassy, who is Jewish, said on Wednesday that Amazon has employees labeling content, but scaling it more broadly could pose a challenge.
“The reality is we have very extensive customer reviews,” he said. “For books that get a lot of attention — especially public attention — clients do a good job monitoring other people.”
Irving was suspended by the Nets on Nov. 3 after refusing to provide the apology requested by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for releasing the link to the film. He returned after apologizing more than two weeks later. He missed eight games.