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AutoTrader.com’s June Trend Engine report, which provides analysis of site traffic as it relates to consumer shopping behavior, shows that trucks and SUVs have gained consumer interest since May and that interest in compact cars is starting to subside.
Though gas prices are still far from where they were at the beginning of the year, consumers have begun to feel some relief at the pump, which is likely a contributing factor to the rising interest in larger vehicles and the declining interest in more fuel-efficient models, according to AutoTrader.com analysts.
Consumers shopping on the site started considering more fuel-efficient models when gas prices hit the $3.50 mark, and now that prices are heading back toward that threshold, they appear ready to get back to larger vehicles.
Consumer interest in big trucks is already on the upswing, especially in the new vehicle segment, with the Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F-250 and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 all moving up on the list of most-searched vehicles in June. The largest of the full-size trucks showed the most significant gains, as the new Ford F-250 moved up five spots month-over-month to No. 13, and the new Chevrolet Silverado 2500 moved up six spots month-over-month to No. 18. Demand for both of these vehicles also showed in the increase in asking price, as the F-250’s price increased 8.2% and the Silverado 2500’s price increased 10.6% year-over-year.
Trucks also made a big comeback on the list of most-searched used vehicles, with the used Ford F-150 reclaiming the No. 1 spot, the used Chevrolet Silverado 1500 moving up one spot to No. 3, the used Ford F-250 moving up two spots to No. 6, the used Dodge Ram 2500 moving up one spot to No. 17, the used Toyota Tundra moving up two spots to No. 19. The biggest mover on the list of most-searched used vehicles in the truck segment, however, was the used Chevrolet Silverado 2500, which leapt four spots to land at No. 13. Average asking prices for the majority of used trucks dropped slightly (less than 5%) year-over-year. One notable exception was the Toyota Tacoma, which gained 8.6% in average asking price year-over-year.
On the certified pre-owned (CPO) front, the CPO Ford F-150 moved up two spots month-over-month to land at No. 10 with an increase in average asking price of 6.1%, and the CPO Toyota Tundra moved up one spot to No. 4 with an average asking price increase of 5.5%.
SUVs across the most-searched lists for new, used and CPO vehicles also garnered notable interest from consumers. On the new list, the new Jeep Wrangler moved up two spots to No. 4 and the new Ford Explorer moving up one spot to No. 11. Both of these vehicles also showed a year-over-year increase in asking price, with the new Ford Explorer showing the biggest increase of 10.6%. The list of most-searched used cars showed a similar story for SUVs, with the used Jeep Wrangler moving up two spots to No. 5, the used Chevrolet Tahoe moving up four spots to No. 10 and the used Jeep Grand Cherokee moving up one spot to No. 18. With the exception of the used Tahoe, the other two SUVs showed an increase in average asking price year-over-year.
There were six SUVs on the list of most-searched CPO vehicles. Of these, four held their position on the list month-over-month, one moved down one spot and the rest moved up. The CPO Jeep Wrangler showed the biggest month-over-month jump, moving up five spots to No. 20; the CPO Chevrolet Tahoe moved up two spots to No. 9. As the only luxury SUV on the list, the Acura MDX show a slight decrease in average asking price year-over-year, but the rest of the SUVs all posted increases in this arena. The Toyota Highlander had the biggest average asking price increase of 11%, with the Toyota 4 Runner coming in second for price increases, with a 9% year-over-year jump.
With the precipitous rise in gas prices earlier in the year, consumers held out as long as possible before turning their eyes toward the small car segments. However, the steady decline in gas prices through June gave used car shoppers just enough confidence to begin diverting their attention from these cars, AutoTrader.com said.
Compact cars, as well as small luxury cars, on the list of most-searched used cars all declined in their position on the list month-over-month; however, the year-over-year average asking prices for those vehicles rose. The used BMW 3-Series dropped one spot month-over-month, landing at No. 2; the used Honda Civic dropped three spots to No. 8; the used Audi A4 dropped three spots to No. 16; and the Volkswagen Jetta dropped four spots to No. 20. The luxury used smaller cars on the list showed year-over-year increases in their average asking prices, with the BMW 3-Series increasing 4.6% and the Audi A4 increasing 1.2%, the non-luxury compacts posted the biggest increases in average asking price: the Honda Civic's price rose 10.9% year-over-year, and the Volkswagen Jetta's price rose 10.3% year-over-year.
Interest in smaller CPO cars also showed slight declines; of the four smaller cars on the list, two remained steady month-over-month while two dropped in their position on the list. The CPO BMW 3-Series and the CPO Honda Civic did not move on the list, but the CPO Audi A4 dropped one spot month-over-month to land at No. 5, and the Volkswagen Jetta dropped three spots to land at No. 12. Similar to the trend seen on the list of most-searched used cars, average asking price increases for the more affordable smaller CPO cars outpaced those in the luxury segment. The asking price for the Honda Civic rose 10% and the asking price for the Volkswagen Jetta rose 7.9% year-over-year.
The increases in average asking prices for used and CPO cars are consistent with the industry-wide trend of these cars commanding higher prices in the face of limited availability of quality pre-owned vehicles.


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SEOUL -- Genie Music, the online and smartphone music subscription service wing of South Korea's biggest telecom company KT, has acquired a controlling stake in Millie's Library, a top domestic online book subscription service, targeting the audiobook market estimated at about 30 billion won ($25.6 million)
While audiobooks became popular via schools and libraries in the western world throughout the 1970s to the late 1990s, it took a long time for South Korean readers to get used to the way of "listening" to books. Audiobooks were first introduced in South Korea about two decades ago for visually impaired people, but the actual market for talking books was formed after some 93 percent of the country's population carried smartphones.
Audiobooks gained popularity in South Korea in 2020 after many people chose to stay at their homes due to a coronavirus pandemic. Readers enjoyed listening to books narrated by famous actors and narrators. Millie's Library launched in 2016 has some 3.5 million registered users. In 2020, Millie's sales stood at 19.2 billion won, up 75 percent from a year ago. With a monthly subscription of 9,900 won, users can gain unlimited access to different types of e-books including texts, audio, and interactive chatbooks.
Genie Music said in a statement on September 10 that the company invested 46.4 billion won to acquire a 38.6 percent stake in Millie's Library to become the largest shareholder. Genie said that the online music service operator seeks to become South Korea's top artificial intelligence-based audio platform.
"We decided to acquire Millie's Library to overcome the sluggish online music service market and gain competitiveness in the global market," Genie Music CEO Jo Hoon was quoted as saying. He said the company will upgrade its brand value by expanding Genie's business areas out to connected cars using AI technology.
According to Genie, an AI-based audio platform is a platform that offers various audio-based services including music, audiobooks, and audio shows integrated with AI technology. Millie's Library has about 3,000 audiobook content with some 1,000 audiobooks to be added to the library every month.
Genie said that through the acquisition, Millie's Library audiobooks will be provided through Genie's music platform by the end of 2021. The online music service said that users can enjoy audiobooks through a variety of platforms including smartphones, wearable devices, and a car infotainment system. Genie will also release a bundle-type subscription plan that harnesses the subscription plans of Genie and Millie's Library.
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A major sale of Impressionist and modern masterpieces made almost half a billion dollars today, smashing all previous records to become the most expensive art auction ever.
Works by several artists set new records in what Christie’s auctioneer Christopher Burge described as ‘the most extraordinary sale’ of his career.
A portrait by Gustav Klimt looted by the Nazis and restored to the heirs of its rightful owners earlier this year sold for 87.9 million dollars (£46.1 million), making it the priciest work by the artist ever sold at auction.
A Tahitian period painting by Paul Gauguin went under the hammer for a record 40.3 million dollars (£21.2 million) in New York, while a work by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner also reached a new high when it was bought by the city’s Neue Galerie for 38.1 million dollars (£20 million).
In total the 84 lots made 491,472,000 dollars (£258 million) The previous record was set in May 1990 when a Sotheby’s sale in the city raised almost 290 million dollars (£152 million).
All prices included the buyer’s premium.
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REVERE ACADEMY TAHITIAN PEARL JEWELRY DESIGN CONTEST
WILL SEND STUDENTS TO TAHITI !
SAN FRANCISCO – Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts spreads a bit of island fever for the second year in a row with an expanded Tahitian Pearl Jewelry Contest. The competition, open to all current and former Revere students – approximately 10,000 individuals – grows this year to include a category for past and present Revere Academy instructors. Grand-prize winners in both categories will receive two round-trip tickets to Tahiti.
Revere stressed that the organic Tahitian pearls offer students an opportunity to focus on green, sustainable designs. One of the reasons Revere found this project so appealing was the ability to highlight a product of fair-trade and sustainable development in contrast to industrially produced and manipulated materials.
Selection committee for the contest will be master goldsmith and author Revere, award-winning jewelry designer Sarah Graham and award-winning jeweler, designer and President of the American Jewelry Design Council Barbara Heinrich.
The contests for both student and faculty will each award a grand prize as well as cash prizes in two categories: jewelry over $1500 and jewelry under $1500 retail. In addition to the two grand prizes, student categories will have a first, second and third place cash prizes, while instructors will have second and third place cash prizes.
“It has always been our standard that instructors are working, professional jewelers, who bring real-world experiences to share with our students,” Revere said. “I think including these instructors in their own category will really enhance the contest. We look forward to incredible designs from both groups.”
Revere students and instructors can submit entries at http://bit.ly/ReverePearlContestEntry. Deadline for submissions is August 28. Winners will be announced on Sept. 15. For more information, see the Revere Academy website at revereacademy.com/tahiti


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In 2012, Graham residents shot down a proposal that would have allowed the sale of liquor, beer and wine at local businesses but folks who are looking at making Graham "wet" again say a small change may help it pass this time.
Graham Wet... It's Time, is a committee made up of Graham residents, who say the new push will not include the sale of liquor.
Organizer Mike Elmore says If it passes, it would only allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores and gas stations but residents say they are still split on the idea of going wet.
A.W. Erwin says, "Well anywhere you go outside of town you can run right into it. It's there. If you need it that bad, maybe you just need to move closer to that. I don't know. It's not such a big deal, I guess to me, that you have to be able to swing in and pick it up like a carton of milk."
However, others support it.
Jamie England says, " If it is local, it would actually maybe kind of help our economy in the town a little bit. The stores, the local stores, the grocery stores, convenience stores; it would boost their sales."
Elmore is trying to collect 1,200 signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.
Graham Wet... It's Time will be outside of Walmart and the Conoco on 380 on Wednesday.
Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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China's government has made new rules limiting online gaming for children to three hours a week. The government says the move is meant to protect the health of children. It's just one of many recent steps China has taken to limit the effects of the internet.
Posts tagged as “technology”
A self-driving ship named after the Mayflower has been forced to turn back as it tried to re-create the cross-Atlantic trip made by the original Mayflower in 1620. The group behind the effort says the journey will begin again soon.
In recent years, a kind of digital money, called "cryptocurrency" has been getting more and more attention. Many people are excited about the way the money works, and believe cryptocurrencies will become even more popular in the future.
A computer attack has forced one of the largest oil pipelines in the United States to shut down. Colonial Pipeline, which provides 45% of the gasoline and other fuels used by the US East Coast, shut down on Friday following the attack.
New York City's police department has decided to return a robot dog that it was testing. Though the robot worked well, it upset many people. Some thought it was "creepy". Others worried that it would invade their privacy.
A company called Neuralink has shared a video which appears to show a monkey playing a video game. That's fairly unusual, but what makes the video even stranger is that the monkey is playing the video game with just its mind.
NFTs are an unusual idea sweeping through the world of electronic art, allowing people to prove that they own the art. Now, digital artworks that can prove they are one-of-a-kind are being sold for huge amounts of money.
Car makers around the world are being forced to make fewer cars because they can't get enough computer parts. Several factories have been closed temporarily as a result. The problem is expected to continue for several months.
Scientists at MIT have managed to change ordinary spinach plants into natural sensors which can detect chemicals used in bombs. Using a cheap and small computer system, the spinach can even trigger a warning email.
Australia's parliament is considering a bill that would force the search website Google to pay for showing links to Australian news websites. Google says if the bill isn't changed, the search company will stop working in Australia.


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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici this week urged UPS and TerraCycle to consider Portland as a pilot city for its eco-friendly Loop system that reduces consumer reliance on single-use packaging.
The four Oregon lawmakers wrote top UPS and TerraCycle officials that Portland’s proven commitment to sustainability makes it an ideal candidate for a test market as their companies move toward full implementation of the program delivering products that can be collected, cleaned, refilled and redelivered.
“The eco-conscious community that is present in Oregon makes a city like Portland an excellent pilot for Loop,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “We are eager to build domestic markets to accommodate our waste and to help support our recycling market in the face of challenges in the industry. We ask that you help us meet those challenges by considering Portland, Oregon as a pilot city for Loop.”
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer and Bonamici also noted that in the year since China implemented a ban on recyclable waste products, Oregon recycling officials and local governments have been experimenting with new regulations and pushing education efforts.
“This is an example of the Oregon Way – in the face of tough problems, Oregonians work together to find solutions,” the lawmakers wrote.
Text of the entire letter is available here.
A web version of this release is available here.


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It’s been eighteen years since the first Sims game arrived and the franchise’s popularity among gamers has been getting bigger ever since. EA, the developer, kept on improving the Sims franchise with every new release by adding new features, improved graphics and thousands of in-game accessories such as furniture and clothing items.
On the downside of things, EA is not rushing to launch Sims 5. Even though everyone is waiting for a new Sims game to arrive, EA decided to focus on creating DLC content packs for Sims 4 instead. While the DLCs are giving fans something to do and a reason to keep playing the game, Sims 5 is what they really want.
Sims 5 Leak
Sims 4 launched back in 2014 and the game is being kept alive by DLCs. However, fans of the game are getting bored and they want another title. Knowing that EA is not one to miss out on an opportunity to generate profits, we think it’s safe to say to Sims 5 is being developed right now.
Expected Release Date
EA has made it a tradition to release a new Sims game after the current title has been active for five years. Considering that Sims 4 has been out for four years already, speculation has it that EA is planning to announce Sims 5 during 2019.
In case you didn’t know, the reason why EA waits so long between releasing new games is that DLCs are profitable. The game developer tasks a small developer team with creating new DLCs and then millions of people purchase them.
We should also mention that EA loves to use the element of surprise every time it launches a new game and this is why the company is surely developing the game in “secret”.
While Sims 5 details might be scarce, EA is surely going to announce the game during 2019’s E3 event. EA always holds conferences during E3, just take this year for example where EA invested lots of revenue into creating a clever marketing campaign for all its upcoming games that were announced during E3.


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LANDMARK LANDING: Anya Hindmarch is planting more flags in Asia, with plans to open a store in The Landmark in Hong Kong on Oct. 15. It is her second store in the Chinese city, with the first located in Causeway Bay.
The 350-square feet store will reflect the designer’s “Do Computers Dream When They Sleep?” theme from her runway show last February, and will carry the fall 2016 range.
Store interiors will feature smiley face artwork from London-based designers Julie Cockburn and Ryan Callanan.
The designer recently set up shop in Singapore last month. The 1,640 square feet store is located in the Takashimaya department store, and features furniture designed by Martino Gamper.
Hindmarch currently has 53 stores globally, and the brand is sold in department stores including Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Isetan and Colette. In Asia, the brand has 59 points of sale, in China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
The designer was in Hong Kong earlier this year for an event with Lane Crawford. She noted that she has a special fondness for China — her son studied in Beijing for a year during his university days, and her husband’s grandfather was the British ambassador to China in the Thirties. The designer traveled through Asia to meet with customers at Lane Crawford’s stores in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Last month, the brand appointed Jason Brown as the new president for its operations in Japan. Brown replaced former president Masayoshi Kitada, following his retirement. Brown, who has over 25 years experience in managerial positions for brands such as the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE-owned jewelry label Fred Jason, Saint Laurent and Hermès, reports directly to Anya Hindmarch chief executive officer Helen Wright and has also joined the company’s executive committee.


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11 babies would be unaffordable… but the new Nando’s meal is priced just right!
Johannesburg, South Africa (29 August 2021) – Nando’s has done it again, this time with a hilarious advert featuring a couple from the Ekurhuleni who had 11 babies… that cannot be found!
“There’s fake news everywhere, heh Jessica we are live. Just get our new Prego & Chips for R49, and it won’t leave you feeling Pietrayed.”
A new Nando’s product means a new Nando’s TV ad to go with it. This advert (like all of them) is expected to prick the balloon of the current status quo. It’s a timely reminder we can’t afford to fall for anything that will lighten our pockets. But we can afford the new Nando’s Prego and Chips for R49, no scam, just nje.
“This campaign was brave, smart and very funny. I was most excited about the scripts because they had a real backstory. Given that they are inspired by actual events, figuring out how to stay true to the story while still making it my own was an interesting process. I really like that not everything is revealed in the first viewing. There are so many layers to each commercial, so the more you watch the spots, the more you pick up on,” Jabu Nadia Newmann, Director of the new Nando’s advert.
Watch the advert here:


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Facebook spend more than 20 million for Zuckerberg’s safety
The official data provided by Facebook revealed that the company’s compensation package for its CEO Mark Zuckerberg had risen to 22.6 million dollars in 2018.
These include many undisclosed items, but most of them go to the personal security of Marc Zuckerberg, who maintains his annual salary by only $1.
The year 2018 saw a big leap in Zuckerberg security and protection compensation, with annual compensations of up to $10 million, which meant more than doubling last year.
Zuckerberg also received $2.6 million for use as personal aircraft, which is necessary to increase personal protection and is part of the security and protection costs.
On the other hand, official data revealed that the Chief of Operations Sheryl Sandberg had been charged 23.7 million dollars for 2018, which was less than the previous year, where it received 25.2 million dollars.


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By now, Overwatch gamers are accustomed to getting updates. Blizzard keeps spoiling us with new characters, modes, and events. They in turn keep the game fresh for returning players 14 months down the line. Judging by its latest announcement, the developer will keep tightening the screws on its well-oiled blockbuster. For its sixth competitive season, Overwatch is receiving a decent shake-up.
Amazon's well and truly got football fever. It seems securing the rights to select NFL games for Prime Video wasn't enough, it's now also got the hook-up for Madden 18. The latest instalment in the long-running sports franchise just dropped. And, Twitch Prime members who own a copy will receive in-game goodies that could prove handy to their Ultimate Team. As part of the latest offer, you'll get an 83-rated Madden Legend and a Collectible per week throughout the season (25 in total). To kick things off, your first freebie will be an 85-rated Reggie White and five Collectibles -- combine the two and you've got a 90-rated Legend straight off the bat. Just link your Twitch account with Amazon Prime to reap the benefits.
It's going to be a bit before we can play Alto's Odyssey. The followup to the ridiculously relaxing snowboarding game Alto's Adventure won't be out any time soon, developer Built By Snowman writes. "The endless desert still awaits and it's even vaster and more mysterious than we envisioned when we first conceptualized a new adventure for Alto and his friends," a blog post reads.
Stop me if you've heard this before: The makers of a huge multi-platform game want to unite their disparate users so everyone can play together, regardless of whether they're playing on PC, PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, and Sony is blocking that. This time, it's Ark: Survival Evolved. Lead designer was answering questions on Twitter recently and when someone asked if cross-network play would ever happen, he replied with the following. "We have it working internally, but currently Sony won't allow it."
Miss out on the SNES Classic pre-orders that went up (and promptly sold out) overnight? Nintendo has a consolation prize for you. Sort of. The storied game-maker will release a Super Nintendo-themed 3DS XL this October 13th. There's a catch though: It'll only be available in Europe. As Polygon notes, last year Japan got a Super Famicom-styled 3DS XL, and it still hasn't made its way to our shores. But given that the Super Famicom itself was exclusive to Japan, that makes sense. The same can't be said for the SNES one. We've reached out to Nintendo for more information and will update this post should it arrive.
Square Enix is bent on bringing Final Fantasy XV to every platform imaginable, and that includes the phone in your pocket. It just unveiled a Pocket Edition of the road trip role-playing game that will hit Android, iOS and Windows 10 (yes, despite its dwindling influence) this fall. Its first episode will be free to play, while you'll have to fork out an unspecified amount to continue the tale of Noctis and crew. The title includes the "main story" and characters, but don't expect a carbon copy of the game you can buy on your console.
State of Decay 2 wants you to decide who lives or dies -- and whatever happens next. The sequel aims to double-down on what made the 2013 original work: a more sophisticated game world, and bothy more elaborate skill trees and settlements, whether that's medical facilities or just better zombie-deflecting defences. The invasion may be delayed, but you'll be in charge of your own survival when it finally hits in 2018. I got to see the game in action here at Gamescom, and if you've ever wanted alternative to The Walking Dead where anyone and (nearly) everyone could die, this is for you.
PayPal has been on the Xbox One and PS4 stores since day one of each, but so far, Nintendo users haven't had the option. That has changed, though, as Nintendo says that Switch owners can now pay for games with PayPal directly on the console's eShop or at its web store. Wii U and 3DS owners, meanwhile, can't use PayPal directly from their consoles, but can use the payment service to buy games from Nintendo's online store.


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BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shares closed mixed on Tuesday as investors showed caution towards strong retail data and moderate growth in industrial production and urban investment.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.03 percent, or 0.71 points, to finish at 2,237.49.
The Shenzhen Component Index inched up 0.40 percent, or 34.50 points, to finish at 8,554.17.
Combined turnover on the two bourses increased to 198.85 billion yuan (32.54 billion U.S. dollars) from 182.58 billion yuan the previous trading day.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday that retail sales rose 13.7 percent year on year in November, accelerating from the 13.3-percent growth recorded in October.
On the other hand, industrial production growth softened in November, with industrial value-added output expanding 10 percent year on year. Urban fixed-asset investment growth also cooled to 19.9 percent in the Jan.-Nov. period.
Tuesday's rises were mainly led by the textile machinery, motorcycle and furniture sectors, up 2.52 percent, 2.15 percent and 1.74 percent, respectively.
The property sector gained 0.90 percent, led by Jilin Guanghua Holding Group Co., Ltd. based in northeast China.
Sectors that posted strong performances on previous trading days fell back on Tuesday. The shipbuilding industry lost 2.95 percent, with its main player China CSSC Holdings Limited down 5.28 percent to 20.82 yuan per share.
China's auto sales, output hit record highs in Nov.
BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's automobile sales and output both hit new highs in November, according to official data released Tuesday.
Sales rose 14.12 percent in November year on year to 2.04 million units, while production surged 21.17 percent from a year earlier to 2.13 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement. Full story


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But it could also be helpful for mobile software companies who have invested a lot in Apple's iOS mobile app platform -- in that they could possibly delay or cancel plans to start developing for Google's rival Android app platform.
One example: This morning, we met with a mobile startup that has spent the last several months exclusively developing its mobile app for Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. (It has a mobile website, too, but no other native apps.)
Because Verizon Wireless is so big, and is mostly pushing Google Android-based smartphones these days, this startup founder told us that he thinks his company will have to release an Android app in the next year or so, to get access to Verizon's customers.
But he says, if Verizon starts selling iPhones, and people start buying them, maybe not... Or maybe not as fast, at least.
This person admits that his company will probably have to make an Android app eventually. But he basically said -- only slightly tongue-in-cheek -- that he was praying for a Verizon iPhone ASAP so he could continue to put it off.
To be sure, this is just one story based on one situation. Many companies will continue to develop for just one platform or the other, or both, regardless.
But it's one more small reason why Apple must quickly sell the iPhone at Verizon, before Android gains too much ground.


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Complete transparency can be challenging for companies of all sizes and sectors, but is a goal that should be strived for. As the resignation of Mozilla’s CEO Brendan Eich shows, the subject has never been more topical than it is today.
CEOs often have to make tough decisions involving mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, salary freezes and more. Certain events, even when they are the best decision for the long-term health of the company, can generate widespread fallout, including damaging the reputation of the CEO. Communications consultants David Johnson and Don Middleberg offer tips to help CEOs handle negative reputational issues.
Few doubt that mobility will drive future operational efficiencies and new revenues across nearly every business sector. But to date, only a small group of early adopters are seeing a return on their investment. Despite slow payback, however, CEOs should be accelerating their mobile efforts, given the potential benefits.
History shows that ignoring or missing a major consumer trend or behavioral shift can have significant detrimental effects on brand survival. Some never recover, but others have learned how to reinvent themselves. Here are some suggestions for revitalizing a brand, from CEOs who have achieved it.
Listening to John Veihmeyer brings to mind the old saying, “May you live in interesting times.” His message: today, companies across every sector face an inordinate number of global challenges, many of which will demand radical transformation. After 36 years at the global audit, tax and advisory services firm KPMG, Veihmeyer would certainly have the perspective to know.


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Pinnacle Speciality Vehicles
(PSV), a leading vehicle conversion unit of Pinnacle Industries Limited, has announced
Gautam Gambhir as its brand ambassador ahead of its participation and launch at
upcoming Greater Noida Auto Expo 2018. Gautam Gambhir exemplifies excellence in
his field and also represents the brand values of PSV in terms of unique style,
elegance, versatility and the promise of delivering the best.
The brand is all set to
showcase ‘Finetza’, India’s 1st expandable and luxuriously customised Motorhome
at the Auto Expo. Gautam Gambhir will be unveiling Finetza on 8th February
Signing on Gambhir as their
brand ambassador, who is one of the most prominent faces and part of Indian
sports legacy showcases PSV’s commitment to become a dominant brand in personal
and commercial vehicle conversion segment. PSV will launch multi-dimensional
campaigns and marketing initiatives involving Gautam Gambhir, including digital
promotions, product launches, as well as dealers and customer-focused
PSV’s association with him
also extend sto Gautam Gambhir Foundation and will collaborate with Gautam to
customise vans for his community kitchen and various food drive initiatives.
The first of its kind in the
Indian market, the Finetza series, a converted motorhome aims to transform road
trip experiences and is fully equipped for amazing outings with family and
friends. PSV will also showcase, Opisia Series- the modified executive business
van, Magnifica series - the modified tourer van, and a modified product display
Bolt, India’s largest EV charging network, announced the launch of Bolt Lite, India’s first safest, smartest and most affordable universal EV charging socket.
Renon India, one of India’s leading energy storage companies, has launched its swappable smart batteries, Groot, for electric 2-wheelers. The Li-ion battery pack for low and medium speed EVs is built ...
MG Motor India introduced ‘MG Service on Wheels’ initiative to provide customers with car repair and maintenance services from the comfort of their homes. This service outreach programme reinforces th...


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HSBC Customers in Great Britain Launch Social Media Attack on New ‘Secure Key’
Call it the Internet strikes back. Almost as soon as financial services giant HSBC rolled out “secure keys” – that generate temporary passwords for online banking customers as part of a two-factor authentication upgrade – the Web exploded with opposition, as users expressed frustration and anger.
Alun Morris posted: “Online banking users: even if you are not with HSBC, you're next. Stop compulsory security keys. I'll end up having to put five of them on my keyring if this carries on.”
On Twitter, meantime, anti HSBC posts also flourished. rkbake wrote: “I HATE HSBC's new stupid secure key. what a great way to make internet banking more INCONVENIENT.”
The Internet row has grown so vituperative that even the mainstream press has covered the online complaints of HSBC customers, now required to use the secure keys. Leading broadsheet The Telegraph, for instance, on Saturday ran a story titled, “Facebook Campaign by Angry HSBC Customers Over New Online Security Key.”
HSBC, for its part, told the UK publication Computing that it did not plan to back down from the rollout. A spokesperson elaborated: "The HSBC Secure Key is simply the introduction of a two-factor authentication process into our Internet banking. It works by having one piece of information that remains the same [a username, for example], and one that constantly changes but is based on a unique set of information for each user [the secure-token generated PIN]. The code is not sequential, so it can't be guessed, and expires after 30 seconds so can't be generated and used at a later date.”
The spokesperson added, “We have a duty to strike the right balance between ease of use and the highest level of security our customers demand of us."


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"We plan to end distribution of free Web content and make our news gathering capabilities service our customers." Those were the words of Cable Vision CEO Thomas Rutledge during an earnings call yesterday. Said free Web content refers to Newsday, the New York-based paper the company purchased last year.
It's not easy finding people online who agree with the decision--between the amount of content currently being giving away for free online and the fact that fewer and fewer of us have money to burn, these, days, it's hard to imagine the move having a positive impact on the paper's revenue stream.
All Things D speculates that the true value to readers is not so much the news content as the paper's classifieds, particularly to those in the Long Island area. With the ever increasing number of Craigslist competitors on the Web, however, it's tough to imagine readers finding too much value even in that.


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Dark Horse Comics has relaunched a handful of the old Gold Key Comics titles in the past few months, including Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom. This new version is written by Jim Shooter, the comics-industry vet who previously revived Solar in the ’90s as part of the Valiant Comics line. Courtesy of Dark Horse, we’ve got an exclusive preview of the new Doctor Solar #3, for which new artist Roger Robinson comes on board; in this sequence, Solar goes up against Moloch, who may or may not be a revived Mesopotamian god. The issue comes out October 6.
Click to enlarge


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China's Chengdu aiming to be world's next Silicon Valley
Published on Dec 30, 2012 11:58 AM
CHENGDU, China (AFP) - Entrepreneurs in China's southwest are dreaming of turning the city of Chengdu into the world's next Silicon Valley as the government encourages more investment outside the booming coastal regions.
Small start-ups as well as big-name western companies have flocked to the metropolis of 14 million people, attracted by cheap labour costs and favourable government investment policies and hoping to tap into China's rapidly expanding consumer market.
And the Silicon Valley dream is becoming reality as the city, already a hi-tech manufacturing hub, seeks increasingly to become a magnet for software development and innovation.
Between one-third to one-half of the iPads sold worldwide are assembled in Chengdu, while computer giant Intel makes up to half of its chips in the city.
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The key reason for caution is that the economics of the counterfeit drug industry suggest a continuation of pharmaceutical spam. One security researcher involved in the Rustock takedown observed that the money the Rustock botnet operators were making from sending pharmaceutical spam “was off the chart.” According to an Interpol official, criminals spending $1,000 to make counterfeit medicines can earn as much as $450,000. There is a lot of money flowing between the counterfeit drugs industry and the botnet industry.
This big money means there will likely be replacement botnets or alternative online marketing methods to drive traffic to fake pharmaceutical sites. Cybercriminals may develop new botnets via increased malware infections. Or they may find new ways to drive traffic to fake pharmaceuticals websites. Current botnet operators could also form alliances to take up some of the slack in email distribution after Rustock. The point is there’s just too much money at stake for the Rustock takedown to be the last word in pharmaceutical spam.
Post-Rustock, pharmaceutical brand owners should remain vigilant and monitor their brands, especially across websites, business-to-business exchanges, and search engines. An effective online brand protection strategy must address distribution channels as well as promotional touchpoints. Such an approach is the best way to protect customers from being diverted to places on the web selling fake, potentially harmful pharmaceutical drugs.


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The economic news out of Australia is getting gloomier.
As China-driven mining investment slows, auto manufacturers prepare to close up shop, domestic consumption falters and unemployment rises to levels not seen in more than a decade, Australia's long streak of good fortune appears to be nearing an end.
Property prices have been heading up again since the middle of last year, expanding at their fastest clip in three years. Chinese and other foreign buyers remain big players, turning Sydney and Melbourne into two of the world's least affordable cities. For debt-laden Australians fortunate enough to own their homes, the big threat is a steep price decline – if not an actual U.S.-style burst bubble – as the economy weakens and incomes come under pressure.
The jobless rate climbed last month to 6 per cent from 5.8 per cent in December. That would look good to Washington, Ottawa or Brussels. But it's the highest level in Australia since July, 2003. The numbers have been headed in the wrong direction since the middle of last year and employment growth has been flat over the past year.
In another ominous development, Toyota Motor Corp. announced this week that it will stop making vehicles in Australia, joining Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. in a rush to the exits. All three auto manufacturers say rising costs and a shrinking share of the domestic market make it uneconomic to keep producing in the country.
Auto sales in Australia hit a record 1.14 million last year, but domestically made products accounted for a fraction of the total. Observers predicted that if even one car maker left, the others would inevitably follow, because it would cause the automotive parts base to shrink, making the industry even less competitive.
That effectively means Australian federal and state governments have poured billions of dollars in subsidies down the drain. (Toyota, in fact, got a $23-million grant just last year.)
All of this serves as a cautionary tale for Canada, another country inordinately dependent on resource extraction and auto manufacturing for jobs and export growth.
But it would be wrong to make too much of the similarities.
For one thing, Canada's more diverse economy may already be past the worst of its problems, particularly if the vital U.S. market continues on its current path to recovery. If you have to tie your fortunes to a single large foreign market, I'd rather bet on the U.S. than China and its desperate efforts to engineer a soft landing while keeping its fragile banking system from imploding.
On the auto front, it's hard to see the car makers abandoning decades of production in Canada. Australia used high tariff walls to lure manufacturers to a sizable but rather isolated market. And then the tariffs began coming down. Canada's attraction was no duties for U.S. manufacturers, a lower cost base and convenient plant locations close to major markets.
Still, there are a few lessons to extract from their woes. Australia was one of the few developed countries to steer through the global financial crisis without a hiccup. But it may now be paying the price for an overreliance on the resource-gobbling Chinese juggernaut, as well as an overvalued currency that have made manufacturing uncompetitive. Something to bear in mind the next time you feel like bemoaning the weakening loonie.


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India’s Ministry of Finance has claimed that Bitcoin and the other digital currencies are “like Ponzi schemes” and investors should take extra caution when investing in them, in a statement issued this Friday.
The ministry added that the cryptocurrencies lack “intrinsic value,” as well as the backing by any assets and “mere speculation” is the only reason why their prices continue to increase.
In its statement, the Ministry reiterated that there is a real and heightened risk of an investment bubble in the cryptocurrency market that is similar to Ponzi schemes. This may result in an immediate and prolonged crash where investors, particularly the retail consumers, may lose all their hard-earned money.
Part of the statement reads:
“There is a real and heightened risk of investment bubble of the type seen in Ponzi schemes which can result in sudden and prolonged crash exposing investors, especially retail consumers losing their hard-earned money. Consumers need to be alert and extremely cautious as to avoid getting trapped in such Ponzi schemes.”
The government of India is yet to introduce regulations covering the digital currency market, but it already created an interdisciplinary committee to research and to develop a regulatory framework for the sector.
The committee’s members included the country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Meanwhile, the Indian Supreme Court has issued an appeal to the government in November to start the drafting of a regulatory framework to ‘control the flow of Bitcoin’ in the country.
Despite its latest warning, the finance ministry has not implemented a total ban on virtual currency trading and has not announced any measures that will curb the adoption and trading of digital currencies in India.


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December 9, 2021 at 9:55 pm #5159aishatownson6Guest
Bukele, who at 40 years old is an unusually young world leader, went on to joke about the Bitcoin price drop on Twitter. “Buying the dip,” he tweeted with a winking Emoji, a quip commonly made by cryptocurrency traders exposed to sharp price drops. He said El Salvador bought 150 Bitcoin this morning, bringing its total to 550. (At current price, that’s $25.7 million-worth.)
31, above the average estimate of $6.83 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Earnings were $1.17 per share on an adjusted basis, 6 cents more than expectations, according to Refinitiv data. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Leslie Adler and Richard Pullin)
It said Wednesday that outstanding inventory purchases and long-term supply obligations were $6.90 billion, up from $2.57 billion a year earlier. The company made a $1.6 billion payment in the third quarter alone to secure supply.
Use odds/price evaluation websites and do not just adhere to familiar bookmakers just because you know them. For UK horseracing, your choices are perhaps restricted beyond the main bookmakers for Each Way gambling. But, but even here in the UK there are bookies that it seems punters may not be making complete use o
The brand aligns closely with Flutter’s safer gambling strategy, a key area for us.’ Flutter, which also owns Betfair and Sky Bet, has 3.1m online customers in the UK and Ireland and 625 betting shops.
President Bukele, whose political party is literally called “New Ideas,” hopes that the mass adoption of Bitcoin will spur forward-thinking foreign investment in the country, and also lower the cost of remittance payments, which currently make up 24% of El Salvador’s GDP, according to World Bank data.
Announcing the takeover, Flutter chief executive Peter Jackson said: ‘As the time comes for Phil to hand over the reins, I would like to thank him for building the success story that the business is today.’
The online realm that uses augmented and virtual reality to help users interact has captured more attention after Facebook , now renamed Meta, said it would boost capital expenditure and shift focus from its social media business.
The beauty brand has said they will ‘curate beauty looks across Riot Games and content, aiming to highlight the multifaceted and diverse beauty landscape that celebrates beauty in all of its forms — including animation’.
Tensions between these city-states boil over with the creation of hextech — a way for any person to control magical energy – in Piltover; and in Zaun, a new drug called shimmer transforms humans into monsters.
Instead of staking 100 on one bookie, try to spread your bets so you stake 50 with one bookie and 50 with another. This reduces the effect of one bookie getting a big hit. Making the effort to spread your bets around at many bookies means that you are able to get on smaller volumes of money easily on your terms when you need t
European stocks have eked out small gains this week to stay near record highs as strong earnings and comediansfordean.com signs of economic momentum counteract concerns around a fresh COVID-19 surge in Europe and inflation.
Arcane, based on the video game League of Legends, has a 98/100 score on IMDB – the highest for any Netflix original – and is also the most watched show of all-time on the streaming service within three days of its release
n Successful gambling is all about discovering value and that value is all about getting the best odds.
So to keep making your gambling pay, we need to figure out methods to keep the best prices open to us for as long as possible. Although limiting your stakes is almost unavoidable with some bookies there are methods to keep your bookies accounts open and here is ho
The adoption of Bitcoin has been poorly received among many other citizens, however. Over 1,000 gathered in San Salvador to protest the move, which they say won’t help the country’s poorest residents. “This is a currency that’s not going to work for pupusa vendors, bus drivers or shopkeepers,” a resident told Reuters.
Try to use different bookies as much as possible when putting your wagers.
For example, you might use Corals a lot just because you have got plenty of cash in there. Try not to do this, if different bookies provide the same prices. If 5 bookies offer the same prices, use the one that you have not bet with for a whil
Prince Charles says The Queen is ‘all right’ but admits… How to decode YOUR dreams: Psychologist reveals what the… A Kennedy family reunion: Lookalike cousins Maria Shriver,… Mother, 36, who ate eight bags of crisps and 15 ice lollies…
Travel and leisure stocks fell 1.7%, dragged down by Swedish online gaming company Evolution. (Reporting by Anisha Sircar and Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Alexander Smith)
The company last month released website Omniverse Enterprise, a set of software tools that will allow companies to collaborate in building virtual worlds, the computing power for which comes from Nvidia’s chips.


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Exports from Wales hit £17.2bn last year - a 4.2% hike on 2017 - with a majority heading to other EU countries.
This was compared with an increase of 2.6% for the UK as a whole.
Exports from Wales to the EU increased by 5.6%, while sales to non-EU countries rose by 2.1%.
This saw EU exports make up 61% of trade out of Wales - highlighting the importance of securing a good trade deal after Brexit.
Germany was the top export partner.
It accounted for 18% of exports from Wales for the year.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “Once again we are seeing considerable growth in the Welsh economy. The value of Welsh exports is at a record high of £17.2 billion, with exports to both EU and non-EU countries on the rise.
“This highlights the global demand for our first-class products and services, demonstrating the success of Welsh businesses who have taken the leap into international markets.
“It is encouraging to see UK Government efforts to increase exports as a proportion of GDP from 30% to 35% making significant progress.
“As a government, we will continue to open new markets to Welsh businesses and support firms through every step of their export journey, ensuring this upward trend continues.”
The Welsh Government’s Minister for International Relations, Eluned Morgan said: “It’s great to see the value of exports from Wales increasing – up £700m compared to the same period the previous year with exports to EU countries up by £556m.
"Now accounting for over 61% of Welsh Exports, today’s figures demonstrates the importance of the EU market and its 500 million customers to Wales and the need to avoid a catastrophic no-deal Brexit.
"I am determined to ensure that the Welsh Government does everything possible to ensure growth is maintained, by continuing to support Welsh companies export their goods and services.”
Business Wales, the Welsh Government’s advisory service for businesses, believes there is plenty of scope for decision makers in companies across the region to explore the potential that exporting has to transform their business.
While many businesses across Wales have increased their sales, growth and stability by exporting to overseas markets following Welsh Government support, many don’t know where to start.
Welsh Government’s specialist export team work with companies on a one-to-one basis, assisting in the identification of market opportunities and actually getting to market. For information on how to get started contact Business Wales on 03000 6 03000 or visit www.businesswales.gov.wales/zones/export .


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Lil’ Kim’s got a bun in the oven!
During her performance at the fashion house’s after-party, Kim, 39, reportedly told the crowd, “I’m a mom, but I can turn it up a little!” Decked in a body-con dress that accentuated her bump, Kim told Us Weekly, “I’m so excited! I’m a few months along, I can’t wait to be a mom!”
But don’t expect the Queen Bee to let pregnancy slow her down. “The baby has made me even more of a beast!” she added.
Kim is keeping the identity of her baby’s father under wraps.


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New York City's education department has taken steps to block access to OpenAI's ChatGPT on school devices and networks. Authorities are worried about ChatGPT's accuracy and impact on learning.
Latest Windows 11 Preview brings more Widgets, fixes right-click issues, and more
windows 11 insider preview
Latest Windows Server LTSC Preview out in 18 languages with ISOs
windows server insider preview
Prevent Microsoft Edge from making desktop shortcuts with every update
microsoft edge shortcuts
Latest Windows 11 Beta (KB5022358) fixes ReFS bug, file copy bugs, and more
windows 11 insider preview
Microsoft Teams has added new features for educators before the start of the new school year. It brings Reflect, so students can share opinions on assignments and a new, more useful home page.
Google has announced its Chromebook repair program, publishing documentation about how to do basic repairs yourself. It has encouraged schools to adopt it and wants it as an elective for students too.
Logitech has announced a $64.99 Pen for students using Chromebooks in educational environments. The peripheral offers 15 days of use on a single charge and 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Apple is being sued by Chinese students for failure to include a charger with an iPhone. They say that the USB-C to Lightning cable provided doesn't work as advertised by Apple and want compensation.
Microsoft is reportedly developing a new Surface laptop device targeting educational markets. It will feature a plastic exterior, an 11.6-inch 768p display, up to 8GB of RAM, and "Windows 11 SE".
Google has released a new curriculum that educators can leverage to teach their students how to write Android apps using Kotlin. Google recommends that instructors have some programming knowledge.
Amazon Future Engineer has launched in Canada to help students gain important skills in computer science. The firm will invest $3 million over three years which will benefit over a million kids.
College students can now access Hulu's ad-supported plan for $1.99 per month, a discount of $4 from the plan's usual cost. The offer is restricted to students living in the United States.
Three is offering disadvantaged school children free unlimited data upgrades to help them engage in remote learning. The data is being provided in partnership with the UK Department for Education.
The firm is attempting to enable connected learning by offering discounted wireless data plans, including free hotspots. It is also committing $10 million to help underserved communities.
Apple has suspended future business with its supplier, Pegatron after it was found to be using student labour outside of normal rules. Pegatron said it's taking corrective measures.
Many of the firm's nature documentaries, including Our Planet and Babies, have been uploaded to its US YouTube channel. Subtitles in more than 12 languages will be available later this week.
The new world for Minecraft: Education Edition revolves around the retrieval of armor relics through observance of different forms of mindfulness. It is available for download starting today.
Spotify's Premium for Students plan now includes a subscription for Showtime as well as Hulu at the existing price of $4.99/mo. Additionally, new subscribers get Spotify for $0.99 for first 3 months.
Reports claim that the Bangladeshi government has blocked mobile internet in some regions after protests against the killing of two students in a road accident turned violent, with over 100 injured.
In addition to the new Windows 10 S laptops and tablets unveiled today for students and schools, Microsoft has gone into more detail about what has recently been or will be added to its Office suite.
A recent study by researchers at Stanford University found that while young people are indeed social media savvy, they have difficulty determining genuine news from sponsored content.
Microsoft is offering significant discounts to students who buy a Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book with an Xbox One - and savings of almost $500 are available on even the most inexpensive bundles.
Microsoft wants to find the most promising students, aged 14-18, with an interest in computer science, to join it for a special experience day at its world-renowned research lab in Cambridge, UK.
With over 400,000 teachers and 3.5 million students now using its Class Notebook for OneNote, Microsoft is launching a new Add-in, designed and built with teachers in mind - and with their input.
Acer, in collaboration with Microsoft has unveiled the TravelSmart B117, a notebook made for the education market, aiming to make collaboration between teachers and students much easier.
A recent study has revealed that banning students from using their phones at school improved their test results. It also showed significant improvement of the test scores of underachieving students.
Considering all the hype around the upcoming Apple Watch, which will be available this April, several UK universities have started banning the use of watches in exam halls altogether.
To help the millions of broke college students out, we've compiled a list of some of the top tech-related student discounts from a variety of vendors.
Based on the newest video compression standard, DivX HEVC strives to deliver up to 50% better compression than its H.264-based predecessor, DivX Plus HD.
Just after a year of creating the Internet.org project, Facebook is at it again. They have made plans with the Rutherford County School District to bring free WiFi to its students.
Teachers warn of infants struggling to play with building blocks, children with poor social skills and teenagers unable to handle pen-and-paper exams, due to 'overexposure' to tablets, phones and PCs.
Microsoft is extending its offer for schools to buy Surface RT tablets for just $199 each, along with price cuts for Touch and Type Covers, from August 31st to September 30th.
Starting today, and until August 31 2013, Microsoft will be making its Surface RT 32GB tablet available to students for just $199, through their schools and universities.
Microsoft has launched fourteen Innovation Centres across four Indian states. The centres allow for students to gain certification with Microsoft's products, with seven in Andhra Pradesh alone.
India's president, Pranab Mukherjee, has unveiled the country's Aakash-2 tablet. A successor to the original Aakash, the new model brings Android 4.0 to the table and is aimed at students especially.
Students enrolled in Microsoft's DreamSpark program will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 starting on August 25th, according to a Microsoft blog post.
Samsung are to release a new variant of their Galaxy Tab 7.0. Entitled the 'Student Edition', it includes extras and retails for the same price as a standard model.... for some reason.
Microsoft's Imagine Cup is a global competition that fosters innovation and creative thinking to solve some of the most complex challenges that we face everyday.
The blogosphere has been abuzz with discussion in recent weeks over rumours that Google is poised to launch its new Chrome-powered notebook under an innovative package that would eschew an up-front fee in favour of...
Last week Neowin reported on a shocking case at the Lower Merion High School district in Pennsylvania, U.S. The FBI confirmed later that they will be opening up a criminal investigation over the matter. Students issued...
The federal privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into Facebook after University of Ottawa law students complained the site breaches Canadian law by disclosing personal information to advertisers without obtaining proper consent. The students, some...
Students from anywhere in the world can sign up for the Google Online Marketing Challenge, a hands-on competition which will give undergraduate and post-graduate students direct experience with online advertising and marketing. Student groups will...
For college students who want Office 2007, but don't want to pay Microsoft a fortune, the software maker is offering another option: Steal it. Well, actually Microsoft isn't encouraging piracy. Rather it is launching a...


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Say it ain’t so, Pappy.
In an act of treason against every man who’s ever pressed his face nose-deep into a snifter of their otherworldly Kentucky bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle has asked a Kentucky judge to order 28 bottles recovered from a 2013 theft to be flushed down the drain.
The haul, which includes reserves aged 23, 20 and 15 years that would retail for around $3,000 and could fetch $20,000 on the secondary market, were going to be sold at auction after the criminal case was wrapped up ... until the fine folks at Pappy had a change of heart and asked the judge to step in.
Their (alleged) concern? That the booze bandits might have tampered with or contaminated the bourbon after spiriting it away. Though some have lauded Pappy, which produces about 100,000 bottles annually, for its concerns about quality control, others think the company’s motivations are more sinister.
"The conspiracy theorists say the Van Winkles are loving the attention… again," says bourbon writer Fred Minnick, alluding to the distiller’s (or perhaps their PR team’s) penchant for making headlines. His personal opinion, though? Chuck it. “You will only validate criminal activity giving a stolen Pappy auction any credence."
Our drains are efficient and definitely not retrofitted with a discreet filtering apparatus, should they need any assistance.


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Startups urged to unlock value of Malaysia Digital Hubs with launch of special deal
By Digital News Asia August 14, 2020
- MDEC launches affordable ‘Digital Hub Pass’ for entrepreneurs to use coworking spaces
- Malaysia Digital Hubs will take aspiring startups to next level, become regional players
In conjunction with the #Saya Digital Month, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has partnered with Malaysia Digital Hub operators to address their daily business operation challenges by offering affected startups and entrepreneurs with an affordable daily ‘Digital Hub Pass,’ an ideal package to grow their businesses during post-COVID-19.
Malaysia Digital Hubs is an extension of the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre that was created for startups and digitally-powered businesses. It is specifically designed as hotbeds for innovation, digital coworking spaces and incubators using digital technologies in their respective fields of specialisation.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected most startups, especially in continuing their business operations as they are faced with difficulties such as paying high rental costs and long-term contract durations. These startups are looking at flexible and cost-effective options, which MDEC believes that incubators and coworking spaces like Malaysia Digital Hubs can assist with.
Through these facilities, startups can access vital assistance such a mentorship, funding opportunities, accelerator programmes, corporate partnership and other business and digital development programmes.
The ‘Digital Hub Pass’ offers two packages, from as low as RM10 (per day) or RM40 (per week-5-day pass) for entrepreneurs to start their operations at the participating Malaysia Digital Hubs.
According to Gopi Ganesalingam, vice president of MDEC’s Global Growth Acceleration (GGA) division, tech startups are undeniably the key drivers of digital transformation in the country.
“To recapitulate MDEC’s #Saya Digital campaign, going digital is no longer a corporate mantra but part of our daily lifestyle, especially from contactless payment transactions, to e-learning in schools, digital ID at dwellings and remote working solutions, where all these have become instrumental in transforming our societies and social norms,” says Gopi.
Looking at these vast opportunities, he stresses that MDEC is steadfast in its support of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by digitally-empowering Malaysian businesses, while supporting the country’s economic recovery. “We are delighted to partner with the Malaysia Digital Hubs operators to offer this ‘Digital Hub Pass’ which will certainly help them scale, build business acumen and innovation skills,” Gopi explained.
In total, there are seven certified ‘Malaysian Digital Hubs’ supporting over 400 startups. The Malaysia Digital Hubs are also in partnership with other accelerators and tech-based multinational companies (MNCs) like Google, Amazon and Microsoft to build talent pool and provide funding opportunities (through partners like Cradle Fund, Gobi Partners, community engagements, events, mentorship, training, hackathons and various accelerator programmes.
The Malaysia Digital Hub is part of MDEC’s initiative to accelerate Malaysia’s digital economy growth, while ensuring socio-economic inclusivity by focusing on three key pillars: Digitally-skilled Malaysians, Digitally-powered businesses, and Digital investments.
At the moment, among the ‘Malaysia Digital Hubs’ that are supporting the ‘Digital Hub Pass’ initiative include Common Ground, CO., Dojo KL, UnionSPACE and WORQ located in the Klang Valley area.
Tech entrepreneurs, who are not existing tenants of the participating coworking spaces can obtain the Digital Hub Pass directly from the selected Malaysia Digital Hubs, starting today until 31 August 2020. More information on the Digital Hub pass may be obtained here.
To encourage more startups to participate, there are more than 13 accelerators and coworking spaces in the pipeline, and soon will be participating with the Malaysia Digital Hubs to offer the Digital Hub Pass.
The Malaysia Digital Hubs provide rich ecosystem components, which include high-speed broadband and various soft infra offerings.
This initiative also coincides with the recent acknowledgment of Kuala Lumpur being ranked as the 11th emerging startup ecosystem in the Global Start-up Ecosystem Report 2020 (GSER2020) by Start-up Genome. The report positioned Kuala Lumpur as an ideal location for startups, citing low costs; the high quality of living and availability of talent; providing fast-tracked visas; and robust government support which are some of the prime reasons for entrepreneurs to either start or move their businesses to Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur’s startup ecosystem is valued at US$15 billion (versus global average of US$10.5 billion) and is ranked as the 4th emerging ecosystem in the Asia Pacific. The overall scores achieved by the country provides compelling evidence that the country is taking the digital leap to attract digital investments and raise the profile to become the Heart of Digital ASEAN.


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Fiat 500 Abarth spied ahead of 2016 launch
Source : Fiat 500 Abarth spied ahead of 2016 launch
power as well as also also hot design tweaked edition of the Fiat 500. due for Discharge from the spring of of which year
slot as well as also also a modest lane due for Discharge sometime from the spring of of which year, is actually likely to get increased power along with the disk to its design.
like a normal 500 , as well as also also modifications from the physical as well as also also Abart be modest, however these test mules as well as also also says the item will get completely new taillights, restyled bumpers as well as also also various alloys.
is actually likely to be powered by a completely new edition of its predecessor from the type 2016 turbo engine of 1.4 liters, with the peak of the growing production 133bhp current car
pictures of mule with quad exhaust setup seems to be proposing 595 – copy hotter than 500 – the item is actually also from the final stages of development. having a similar increase in performance, as well as also also can power of of which type around the edge of the 200bhp mark, allowing 0-62mph time of under 7sec.
on the inside, the completely new Abarth will inherit as well as also also added a dash, information as well as also also entertainment coming from the latest 500 system, having a trim specific Abart seat sports steering wheel as well as also also contrasting stitching to celebrate as a type performance.
pricing Abart is actually likely to be similar to the outgoing type’s, so the item is actually expected of which the figure starting around £ 14,700.
Autocar late last year of which the biggest Fiat 500X also seems to receive treatment Abart . of which car could be launched in 2017 with about 170bhp as well as also also four-wheel-drive.
by Autocar via RSS


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Lava Pay will allow feature phone users to make and receive payments without the need of an internet connection.
Lava Z71 has been launched in India. It is priced at Rs 6,299 and will be made available via both online and offline markets.
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Lava mobiles have launched a new ultra-budget Android smartphone in India. The Lava Z50 is the first smartphone in India to come with the Android...


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While Infinity Ward has only revealed the single-player portion of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare so far, we do know quite a fair bit of info when it comes to multiplayer. Well, we can chalk up another new info that’s known today, and that’s Modern Warfare factions and the existence of it.
Below, what appears to be the full set of Modern Warfare factions and their emblems can be seen, which were spotted on new officially licensed Modern Warfare apparel (via Twitter user ShadowDeathGaming).
It’s currently unknown whether these are Operator emblems or factions is something new that will be introduced in multiplayer. Regarding Operators, Activision has already mentioned that these will only be cosmetics-only and won’t be like Specalists in Black Ops 4 that can affect gameplay.
For now, we’re going with factions since that’s what the NewEra tags it with.
How will factions work in Modern Warfare? Let’s hope the multiplayer reveal will come soon though don’t expect that to come at this year’s E3, since all Infinity Ward is talking about is single-player.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Multiplayer Details:
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Multiplayer to Support Up to 20 Players
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Cross-Play to Be Based on Input Matching
- Here’s Our First Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 Multiplayer Screenshots, Juggernaut Suit Coming Back


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Well, it turns out that everything we’ve been assuming about the ascendency of streaming video and binge-watching television shows is right on the money. More people are willing to watch multiple episodes and shut themselves in their houses and order Chipotle from Seamless than ever before, with 70% of viewers admitting to binge-watching.
This statistic was revealed in the 10th annual Digital Democracy Survey by the media gurus at consultancy firm Deloitte, who looked at how and where people are watching television. (Not where as in which room, but where as in which device.) Their findings pointed out a lot of things we could ascertain through common sense, but the speed at which people are flocking away from linear television toward an all-on-demand-all-the-time model is faster than anyone could have guessed. Here are their top five findings.
The age of the binge is upon us
Thanks to Netflix everyone is bingeing. As stated, 70% of people have binged television in the past year and 31% of people binge-watch on a weekly basis. The top reason respondents gave is because they like to watch what they want when they want and without commercials. The average number of episodes per sitting is five. Although some streaming services such as Hulu and NBC’s new comedy streaming service SeeSo are offering their original series week by week like linear television, viewers are still looking to get their TV fix all at once.
The streaming wars have only just begun
It might seem like everyone you know has a Netflix subscription, but a majority of Americans still don’t pay for a streaming service. The gap is closing, however, with 46% of people subscribing to at least one service such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime (but that might just be for free two-day shipping on exotic soaps from Brazil). What’s surprising is how streaming dominates with younger viewers, which are the future of the medium. Those aged 26-32 have an average of three streaming subscriptions and 50% of 14-25 year-olds spend more time watching streaming services than linear television. This means streaming companies are going to start fighting for more viewers and that is mainly going to be done by creating original content and paying top dollar to acquire the shows that people crave the most. Things between Netflix and Hulu are going to put anything that happened between Coke and Pepsi to shame.
The show is the most important thing
While we know 53% of viewers binge-watch dramas, we don’t know the specifics of what kinds of shows they are bingeing on. Is it all House of Cards and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which were conceived and presented to be downed in one massive gulp, or are they waiting for shows such as The Americans to survive a couple of seasons and catching up all at once? Are people waiting for the entire season of The Walking Dead to go by on AMC and then gobbling it all up on Netflix instead? It’s unclear, but it seems people are seeking out series more than they have in the past. Conventionally mediocre shows could get by thanks to the network they were on or the time slot they were plopped into. That is no longer the case. With so many channels and so much available on demand, viewers seem to be seeking individual programs.
Cable TV isn’t dying
We hear a lot about cord-cutters, but the multi-platform television culture that we are currently experiencing isn’t going to quite kill everyone’s cable subscriptions just yet. As a matter of fact, when respondents were asked to name their favorite subscription services, 79% mentioned pay TV, which is up 21% from 2012. It seems like consumers have so many alternatives that creating an atmosphere where everything is must-see TV makes people happier to pay, in general. Either that or they all assumed “pay TV” meant HBO and they just really can’t wait for the next season of Game of Thrones.
No one is watching TV on TV
One third of people and half of millennials watch their shows on something other than a television set, whether that’s a mobile phone, a tablet or a laptop. When asked to rank the most essential piece of electronic equipment in their homes, TVs came in fourth behind mobile phones, laptops and desktops. These days it seems a screen is a screen is a screen. In fact, most people are watching more than one screen at a time. Ninety percent of people said when they watch TV they are multi-tasking – usually checking email, toying with social media, playing video games or sending text messages. Spilling melted ice cream all over your blanket while you try to watch Scandal, tweet about it, and conquer another level of Candy Crush with a pint of mint chocolate chip in your lap all at the same time is not considered another task.


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We need your help to hold powerful special interests accountable and empower hardworking Americans. Join our fight today!
Showing the Latest Stop the “Bank Lobbyist Act” Results
Trump says he’s open to rolling back Dodd-Frank regulations that protect consumers and the economy from larger banks.
Dems Who Voted with GOP to Pass Massive Bank Giveaway Have Taken Nearly $19 Million From Wall Street
Thirty-Three House Democrats voted for a massive Wall Street giveaway that strips away Consumer and Market Protections put in place after the 2008 economic collapse.
Massive Wall Street Giveaway Passes House After Leadership Cuts Deal to Consider Host of other Anti-Consumer Proposals
Legislation had stalled in House as Rep. Jeb Hensarling pressed for 29 changes to Senate bill that would make It even more hostile to consumers.
Trump Cabinet official is embroiled in scandal after it was revealed he rented a house from a D.C. lobbyist – Sen. Crapo (R-ID) threw monthly fundraisers in the same house.
Among other disasters in the making, Hensarling’s changes would remove CFPB’s supervision of 99% of banks leaving consumers vulnerable.


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Fresh vs Frozen: Save time and money by buying frozen vegetables
posted by WM Admin on 28 June 2018
lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz compared the cost of fresh versus frozen vegetables based on prices at Countdown online supermarket.
They find that frozen vegetables are a saviour in winter, mostly coming in at a fraction of the cost of fresh vegetables. Not only are they a far better bang for your buck, they won’t go off in a few days like fresh vegetables do. The best thing is – they’re already prepped and chopped ready to go, saving time and money.
To read the story, including tips for using frozen vegetables and how to make fresh vegetables go further, go to: https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/fresh-vs-frozen-save-time-and-money-by-buying-frozen-vegetables/


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It’s true, Nintendo fans. The Big N revealed today that they will be showing off a brand new Mario game for the Wii U at E3, well, it’s a brand new game if you never saw the tech demo last year. Nintendo’s plans for it’s flagship mascot are based off the tech demo that was shown to E3 2011 visitors last year, which included Mushroom Kingdom locales and the ability to actually play as your Mii in the game.
While this doesn’t come a much of a surprise, it is slightly upsetting to see Nintendo show something that pretty much has already been seen. However, what we haven’t seen is how the Wii U’s controller will function during the game, so Nintendo could still have a few tricks up it’s sleeve. With both E3 and Botcon coming up in just a few short months, you can be sure that JustUs Geeks will have all the latest news, so keep watching this spot for more updates!


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The "NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139..." release date has been set, and pre-orders for the " NieR Re[in]carnation " have begun.
NieR: Autom ata," which still boasts high popularity even after more than three years have passed since its release, is scheduled to be released as a polystone figure.
The NieR series, with its stylish design and worldview, has been the subject of many collaborations with apparel brands.
One of the most popular collaborations is with SuperGroupies, and a special interview with voice actress Yui Ishikawa, who plays the role of "2B," wearing one of the items from the collaboration has been released!
Wearing 2B model outerwear and sneakers
This video is a collaboration between NieR: Automata and " Anime in Fashion! This video was made to celebrate the release of a collaboration item between NieR:Automata and SuperGroupies, a brand that proposes fashion items in collaboration with anime and video games based on the concept of "Bringing anime to fashion!
Yui Ishikawa, who plays 2B in NieR: Automata, wears 2B model outerwear and sneakers and was photographed in two styles: " BLACK, " a grayish color that evokes a desolate world, and " WHITE," a dazzling white color with a clean feeling. The video is a collection of interviews with the 2B models.
Yui Ishikawa, who plays the role of 2B, wears the items of 2B model, which is like an appearance of the model herself.
The interview is a great opportunity to see how cute Ms. Ishikawa is, which is different from the cool image of 2B, so be sure to watch it until the very end!
For more information about the photos taken in the video and ordering the collaboration items, please visit the "NieR: Automata" Special Shooting on SuperGroupies' official website!


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For most of us, charging a device every six to eight hours (and sometimes even more often) can be a burden.
But a new, flat fuel-cell battery developed by a startup called Ardica could change all of that.
Researchers in Los Angeles will soon launch a battery that attaches to any device, including iPhones, Fitbits, and Kindle readers, and provides seven days of run time on a single charge. If they can make this technology work — and sell it — you may never have to scramble for a public wall socket to charge your phone again.
Ardica has intentionally stayed under the radar so that it can build the technology before potential competitors get wind of it. I recently talked with the team at an Intel Capital event in San Diego, when one of Ardica’s angel investors suggested I meet an engineer behind the project. Fortunately for me, the research is far enough along that the company is speaking publicly about the initial product, recently posting a demo video on YouTube.
Ardica is onto a huge opportunity if (and that’s a big if) it can execute on its ambitious goals and manufacture enough of the batteries to meet potential demand.
From the military to the average Joe
Ardica primary users so far are soldiers who have an “unmet need for power,” according to the company’s director, serial entrepreneur and University of California, Los Angeles, professor Jeff Scheinrock. The military frequently send people on off-the-grid missions that take days, even weeks, without contact with another group or an opportunity to restock their supplies.
Ardica chief technology officer Tibor Fabian said the military product, dubbed the WFC20, can reduce a soldier’s load for a four-day mission by up to 17 pounds. “We have combined the newest concepts in fuel cells with high-performance energy-storage material,” he explained in a video highlighting the research.
The military is notoriously secretive about its technology, so Ardica has kept much of its research private. However, we heard some buzz about the company in 2009, when this technology found use in a battery pack-powered system that retailers could build into heated jackets.
Fabian is currently working on a smaller, more consumer-friendly product, a battery pack that is light enough to fit in a handbag or briefcase. The goal is to bring it to market by 2015 and sell it for less than $10 per pack.
Early research and results
Ardica’s team believes it’s possible to achieve 1,200 to 2,000 watt-hours per liter of energy density, which is three to four times the performance of today’s rechargeable lithium ion batteries.
Scheinrock describes the results of recent pilot tests as “promising.” He told me that Ardica is currently developing a working prototype to showcase to select manufacturers in December 2013. The startup will spend another year or two refining the technology, striking partnerships with vendors, and ironing out any regulatory issues.
Scheinrock showed me a video of the not-yet-released technology in action. It shows a close-up of the military product, which can replace 30 AA batteries at a fraction of their weight. The company released a shorter version of this video (it’s at the end of this story).
Scheinrock also runs a software development and investment firm called Originate, which (among other things) connects engineers to fast-growing startups. Cofounder Fritz Prinz is the Robert Bosch Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University and is one of the most well-respected materials-science experts in the world.
“We have intellectual property protecting our system and design,” Scheinrock told me. “The fuel that powers the cell is the secret sauce, [and] we have a patent on that.” Ardica has raised some $15 million in investment from a variety of sources to fund this research.
When will this technology fuel our devices?
For Apple, Samsung, LG, and the rest, this technology could prove to be a huge competitive advantage. Many of us would rush to stores to scoop up a device with Ardica’s technology.
Ardica wouldn’t reveal much about its go-to-market strategy, but it hinted that it will work with numerous manufactures.
It’s not just smartphones and tablet makers that could benefit from an Ardica fuel cell. One of the biggest hurdles for emerging technologies, such as drones and wearable devices, is battery life. And medical device manufacturers could use this fuel cell tech to build more efficient pacemakers, glucose meters, and so much more.
Still, Michael Kanellos, the vice president at Eastwick, a contributor at Forbes, and a former editor-in-chief of Greentech Media, had two words for Ardica: “Good luck.”
“Many have tried. None has succeeded. Portable fuel cells are the boulevard of broken dreams,” he said.
However, Kanellos is confident about the team’s ability to deliver, particularly Prinz. “If he has come up with a new type of membrane that lasts long, doesn’t get fouled, and can be produced inexpensively, they might have something here,” he said.
Can Ardica succeed where others have failed? Check out the video below to learn more, and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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Cough syrups are very common in the world right now. These medications help people cure themselves at home when they have the common flu, cold, and cough. However, such medication is very concentrated and should only be taken in the prescribed amount and misuse can be fatal. WHO has recently discovered that cough syrups might be linked to children’s deaths. According to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to Reuters, the World Health Organization (WHO) is looking into if there is any connection between the manufacturers whose tainted cough syrups it has linked to the deaths of more than 300 children in three countries according to Reuters.
The WHO is looking for more information about the specific raw materials used by six manufacturers in India and Indonesia to produce the medicines linked to the recent deaths, as well as whether the businesses obtained them from some of the same suppliers, the person said, citing “unacceptable levels” of toxins in the products. The WHO has not identified any vendors yet.
Beginning in Gambia in July 2022, cases of pediatric acute kidney injury spread to Indonesia and Uzbekistan. According to the WHO, the deaths were caused by youngsters using over-the-counter cough syrups for common illnesses that included either diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol, two known toxins. The WHO has so far identified six medicine manufacturers who made the syrups in Indonesia and India. These producers either chose not to comment on the inquiry or denied utilizing contaminated products that were a factor in any fatalities. The corporations the WHO has named are not guilty of any misconduct, according to Reuters.
Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which the WHO described as “toxic compounds used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be lethal even in little levels,” were found to be present in the syrups. Their poisonous effects include death, renal damage, and the inability to pass urine.
Repercussions Being Taken
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said, “This is of the highest priority for us, to see no more child deaths from something that is so preventable,” without commenting further on the details of the organization’s work.
The United Nations health agency announced on Monday that it had expanded its inquiry to four new nations: Cambodia, the Philippines, East Timor, and Senegal, where the same goods may have been sold. It urged other countries and the international pharmaceutical sector to conduct immediate audits in order to weed out inferior medications and strengthen control.
In October 2022 and earlier this month, the WHO issued specific alerts for cough syrups produced by two Indian companies, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, and Marion Biotech. According to the notifications, the use of these syrups had been related to deaths in the Gambia and Uzbekistan, respectively. The manufacturing facilities in Marion and Maiden have both been shut down. After the Indian government announced in December that its testing had discovered no issues with Maiden’s products, Maiden is now attempting to reopen.
The rising fatalities
The fatalities have drawn attention to possible weaknesses in the global regulation of routinely used drugs, including control of manufacturing facilities and supply chains, particularly those producing goods for developing nations that lack the means to monitor the safety of pharmaceuticals.
However, unfortunately, the WHO establishes worldwide standards for the manufacture of medicines and aids nations in their investigations of any flaws, but it lacks the mission or enforcement power to prosecute offenders directly.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.


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Where to Focus Retail Technology Investment in 2023
Technology will reach an inflection point in the fashion industry this year, as the development of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates and the hype around web3 transitions to more realistic applications focused on utility, creativity and community. Concurrently, a global economic downturn is impacting growth opportunities and putting more pressure on businesses to ensure digital and physical retail ecosystems are optimised for success.
As a result, retailers need to be laser-focused on the path to purchase, balancing exploration of new tech-driven opportunities with investing in the channels, functionality and solutions that are driving results. Up to 73 percent of consumers plan to delay discretionary expenditure, trade down brands and seek savvier retail experiences, reconciling their fiscal caution with their spending impulses by being highly selective about which brands and experiences to engage with, according to BoF and McKinsey’s State of Fashion Report 2023.
“Start with consumer empathy — understand the individual experience, and then move as fast as technology will allow you,” said Maju Kuruvilla, chief executive at checkout technology company Bolt during the BoF Professional Technology Summit in New York. “The technology that is available today is amazing, whether AI or web3, there are many options to connect or activate consumers. Do not wait 12 to 18 months to implement change, because the world will be a very different place then.”
This is all the more important as privacy regulations and technological changes reduce the effectiveness of paid digital marketing, despite the fact that costs have grown dramatically. In 2022, customer acquisition costs rose on average 70 percent on TikTok and 39 percent on Meta platforms, according to The State of Fashion 2023 report. In response, business leaders are expecting internal data collection strategies to pick up the slack and enable deep customer profiling and behaviour analysis.
Indeed, this is increasing the pressure on technology leaders to integrate new technologies like AI, experiment in emerging web3 channels and refine increasingly atomised retail ecosystems, by optimising the path to purchase as much as possible. Coresights Research in partnership with Bolt found that today, 76 percent of online shoppers abandon their carts at checkout — a poor ROI on increasingly expensive marketing and brand expenditure.
To discuss this inflection point in the industry, BoF and Bolt hosted an executive roundtable during the BoF Professional Summit in New York last week, welcoming executives from Ralph Lauren, Tapestry, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, Farfetch, Saks, Rag & Bone, Proenza Schouler and Urban Outfitters.
Here, BoF shares anonymised insights from attendees from the conversation, conducted under the Chatham House rule, on driving growth through technology in turbulent markets, the channels that matter most and why customer-centricity is more critical than ever.
Invest in Product to Drive Growth
Referring to the importance of technological investment in nurturing returning customers, one attendee said “You do not want to pay to have your consumer come back — they should want to come back, and that will only happen if you invest in better experiences than those at your competitors.”
If you can get a rapid iterative approach and feedback, that gets you to a place where you are interacting and adapting to the customers’ changes.
“Right now, the battle is in personalisation, including how well can you personalise the path to purchase, and make sure that you understand your customer and have the technology to do so. Beyond that, focus on the end-to-end journey, down to making payments, which at present is quite inefficient with fraud being an especially big deal,” they added.
Trial New Solutions Quickly
“Speed matters now more than ever,” one participant said of trialling and adopting innovation to the consumer journey. “It is harder now because [business functions are] busy with their own things, and [when approached with a new idea they might] say, ‘Don’t come back and talk to us until August of next year’ — that is a long time.”
They further added businesses must minimise “the latency between seeing a signal and [identifying] where we can win quickly.” Companies should look to experiment with different tools and refuse the temptation of assuming they themselves can predict the future or the needs of various cohorts of customers.
Analyse and Adapt Your Attribution Model
As one event attendee mentioned, successful attribution “is not about being right, [but] being less wrong,” meaning that your attribution model should be under constant evaluation, with ingrained agility.
“If you build [your attribution model] yourself, you drag all of that upfront work with you, [when] you need to be able to change it quickly every time the market changes. Ultimately, we have to think about the journey in the same way our customers think about the journey.”
Training executives to be customer-centric is a more important solve than the specifics of digital.
One example of an evolving attribution model came from “Amazon, [which] completed a long-term-value (LTV) study and found that a customer who checked out of the Amazon site with a bottle of wine had the highest LTV — you would never have guessed that, no human would have ever guessed that. If you are trying to be predictive yourself, you are doing it wrong — that capability builds over time. If you can get a rapid iterative approach and feedback, that gets you to a place where you are interacting and adapting to the customers’ changes.”
Avoid Generational Bucketing
One participant highlighted the importance of creating unique consumer journeys, as opposed to assuming consumers’ preferences based on generic data like age. “We are assuming that generations are all the same, saying ‘younger generations behave in X way’. We need to step out of assuming that everybody in a generation acts in a consistent way.”
They added: “We also have to recognise that the value exchanges [for personal data that customers are willing to enter into] are very personal and not a generational point, which adds a huge amount of complexity. There is no easy way of solving that problem, but the insight of starting with not just a customer-centric view, but an individual view of each customer, is critical to personalisation.”
“The way that younger consumers shop is constantly changing, it is not a binary. Executives need to think like the consumer, they need to put themselves in their shoes [to understand] how they shop. While I am sure everyone in retail is striving to reach the Gen-Z consumer, we are also striving to reach all the other consumers — Gen-Xs, Millennials […] Training executives to be customer-centric is a more important solve than the specifics of digital.”
This is a sponsored feature paid for by Bolt as part of a BoF partnership.


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The Deputy of Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin, in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday, said that the meeting was held at the Stanley Hotel, Port Moresby, Saturday evening.
Starting the meeting, President Jokowi congratulated President Xi Jinping for the success of the PRC in holding an international export exhibition in Shanghai which took place recently.
"I would like to congratulate you on the holding of The 1st China International Import Export Expo in Shanghai recently, where Indonesia became the `Country of Honor`," said President Jokowi.
In addition, President Jokowi also appreciated the PRC for expressing sympathy and cooperation given in handling natural disasters in Lombok and Central Sulawesi.
The two heads of state then discussed several matters related to the relations between the two countries. In the trade sector, the President hopes that the two countries can work together to overcome the Indonesia-China trade deficit through various means.
These methods include the ease of export of tropical fruit from Indonesia to China, such as fresh pineapple, dragon fruit, avocado, rambutan, mango, banana and durian.
"The ease of import of swallow nests from Indonesia," he continued.
The President also hopes for the sustainability of palm oil exports and derivative products, including cooperation in developing biodiesel such as B5, B20 biofuels and replanting oil palm.
In addition, President Jokowi wants China to not apply a quota or anti-dumping for Indonesian manufactured products such as steel.
"I also hope that His Majesty can encourage Chinese tourists to visit Indonesia, especially to Bali and 10 new Bali," he added.
The two Heads of State also discussed cooperation in the investment sector, including to develop industry 4.0.
In this bilateral meeting, the President was accompanied by Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Pratikno.
Reporting by Agus Salim
Editing by Eliswan