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Digital TV News: Sorenson
Nielsen rolls Sorenson Media acquisition into new addressable advertising initiative
Feb 21, 2019 – Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) has launched an initiative, Nielsen Advanced Video Advertising, that will focus on addressable advertising for Smart TVs and beyond. As part of the initiative, Nielsen has acquired Sorenson Media.
News categories: Nielsen, David Kenny, Kelly Abcarian, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, MnA, USA, Worldwide
dataxu debuts TotalTV for Advertisers, spanning linear, connected and addressable TV
Sep 20, 2018 – dataxu has announced TotalTV for Advertisers. TotalTV includes a unified planner for TV that creates buying plans to reach de-duplicated audiences among more than 120 million households, whether viewers are watching linear TV or streaming through any OTT device.
News categories: dataxu, Sorenson Media, Sandro Catanzaro, James Shears, Sarah Wilson, Advertising, Digital TV, USA, Worldwide
Sorenson Media launches addressable TV advertising platform for live linear programming
Jul 26, 2018 – Sorenson Media has announced that it is live with Sorenson Addressable, a targeted advertising platform for television. Sorenson Media has also revealed that AMC Networks is first company to use the new platform.
News categories: Sorenson Media, AMC Networks, Pat Nola, Adam Gaynor, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, USA, Worldwide
ITV partners with Sorenson Media to launch linear addressable advertising
Nov 9, 2017 – ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster, has announced a partnership with Sorenson Media. ITV will use Sorenson Media’s technology to execute addressable advertising campaigns across ITV’s range of linear broadcast channels starting early next year.
News categories: Sorenson Media, ITV, Brian Jentz, Kelly Williams, Advertising, Apps, Digital TV, OTT, Smart TV, UK
Accedo powers increased device support for New Zealand's Lightbox
Jun 9, 2015 – Accedo is powering extended device support for Spark New Zealand’s Lightbox TV service. Initially deployed on an Accedo VIA powered iPad app, Lightbox is now available on a range of devices, including tablets and smart phones, PlayStation3 and PlayStation4, Smart TVs, Airplay and Chromecast.
News categories: Accedo, Lightbox, Michael Lantz, Matt Kossatz, Jakob Sorenson, Apps, Digital TV, Games Console, Mobile, New Zealand, OTT, Smart TV, UX
VeriSilicon introduces Hantro G2 video decoder IP with HEVC and VP9 support
Jun 19, 2013 – VeriSilicon has announced the availability of its Hantro G2 multi-format video decoder IP supporting Ultra HD 4K decoding of HEVC video. The G2 IP also adds support for the upcoming VP9 web video format from the WebM Project.
News categories: VeriSilicon, Semiconductor, Silicon IP
Sharp Licenses Sorenson Spark Video Decoder for Inclusion in Mobile Chipsets
Aug 14, 2012 – Sorenson Media has announced that it has licensed the Sorenson Spark Software Developers Kit (SDK) to Sharp (Tokyo:6753) to enhance the company's online video family of semiconductor systems on a chip (SoC).
News categories: Sorenson Media, Sharp Corp, Mobile, Semiconductor, Silicon IP
Trident Announces New Generation of Advanced Set-Top Box SoCs
Sep 7, 2011 – Trident Microsystems (NASDAQ: TRID) has unveiled a new generation of high-performance set-top box (STB) system-on-a-chip (SoC) designed for the worldwide satellite, cable, and IPTV markets.
News categories: Trident Micro, Digital TV, ICs, Semiconductor, Set Top Box
Renesas Expands EMMA Family with Set-Top Box SoCs Supporting 3D and Internet-Based Content
Jun 21, 2011 – Renesas (TSE: 6723) has announced the availability of a new SoC for set-top boxes (STBs), the EMMA™3SE/P, that supports worldwide digital TV broadcast video standards and a variety of video formats required to play internet-based content.
News categories: Renesas, Digital TV, IBC2019, ICs, OTT, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, VR
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The Kenyan regulatory agency accuses the Nigerian-based FinTech startup, KoraPay of breaching its policies and committing money laundering which the KoraPay has reacted by denying all allegations from the Kenyan regulators. The Kenyan Asset Recovery Agency tends to add KoraPay to its list of startups company undeniable to be scolded by its policies yet KoraPay despises such allegations of fraud.
KoraPay has reportedly kept upright business dealings to have secured its liquidity management as the basis of its functions as a startup. The KoraPay company is developed as a FinTech API for payment issuance and disbursement of payout. The collections of FinTech services by KoraPay to leverage corporate affairs with settling liquidity in a large amount.
KoraPay has consistently stretched across its host country, Nigeria integrating financial management as a service and liquidity management for leveraging active cash transactions virtually. Founded by Dickson Nsofor, KoraPay has entered the Kenyan marketplace for provisional FinTech servicing which the regulatory agency is currently contradicting due to the lack of trust for Nigerians. KoraPay is not ready for the Kenyan regulatory agency to jeopardize its recognition as a profound payment channel in Africa.
The Central Bank of Kenya has reportedly underestimated KoraPay’s resourcefulness whereby freezing the $250,000 the FinTech startup has in its corporate fixed account in Kenya to sponsor its business remittance in the diaspora. The cash coffers the CBK probed KoraPay for are the same funds the Nigerian FinTech startup kept in Kenyan as its business capital which the Kenyan regulatory agency demanded commencing operations in its country per license issuance.
The ARA claims not to be biased in probing KoraPay noting that Kandon Technologies Ltd is also shortlisted to undergo its regulatory scolds for alleged money laundering and a $50m fraud. The ARA appealed to its domestic court to consent to the fraud schemes African startups from the diaspora as committed in the economy.
“Unfortunately, KoraPay has been dragged through Kenyan courts on empty, unfounded allegations of money laundering since May of 2022. As a responsible corporate citizen, we have consistently challenged all these allegations in court and will continue to do so; we have documents that support our position. We are confident that the Kenyan courts will come to see that the accusations against us are not only wholly baseless but borderline malicious.”
The Kenyan court has continued to freeze the capital accounts of the suspected money launderers – the capital account under the ARA jurisdiction for investigation was banked with the UBA. The Kenyan regulations told the court that the suspects are probed for fraud and using its economy as a frontier which is unaccepted for fraudulent practices. Still, Nsofor’s KoraPaypay denies all allegations with fidelity.
Flutterwave has been dragged by several regulatory agencies for the same issue of perpetrating money laundering likewise the ARA has seized several billions of coffered capital belonging to Flutterwave. Now KoraPay is added to the list of Kenyan regulatory anti-money laundry prospects to keep the economy free of fraudsters.

domain: news


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Swansea University is turning the old home of Happy Home Furnishers, which occupied a city centre unit for nearly three decades, into the home of a new exhibition venue.
Since then, the huge unit in the centre of Swansea has been vacant, with permission sought to change the use of the building from retail into food and drink use back in October 2018.
But now Swansea University has stepped in to fill the unit instead, with its 'Oriel Science' branding already erected along with posters teasing its upcoming arrival.
Oriel Science is a Swansea University project that takes the university’s research and packages it into inspiring and interactive exhibits designed to nurture curiosity and showcase it to the community.
Find out what else is being planned in your area...
A Swansea University spokesman said: “Oriel Science is delighted to be returning to the heart of the city centre with a new exhibition venue that will showcase Swansea University’s world-class research.
“It will build on the success of the pop-up venue which welcomed almost 16,000 visitors during its 100 opening days in 2016-17 and hope it will inspire a younger generation to become future engineers, doctors and innovators.
“The venue will be open to visitors of all ages and we look forward to welcoming everyone in a safe way with social distancing measures in place.
“There will be more information to follow in due course.”


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Microsoft and French communications company SAGEM have developed a wireless Pocket PC with an integrated phone capable of high-speed Internet connectivity, the companies announced yesterday in Paris.
The SAGEM Pocket PC is based on Microsoft's Windows Powered Pocket PC platform. It has a built-in, dual-band GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phone, enabled with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service).
GPRS is a GSM bearer service using high-speed, packet-switched technology with data transmission speeds of up to 115K bps. Products should be available in the UK by the end of the year.
GPRS allows the user to surf any Web site, rather than ones optimised for wireless devices or those subscribing to a wireless service.
The SAGEM PDA will be priced around £500 without a subscription to an Internet service provider or a mobile telephone service provider, though pricing is likely to follow the mobile phone model where users pay for services rather than the hardware.


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Serving Queen Creek, Gilbert, Mesa, San Tan and the entire East Valley
Especially with the average U.S. household having $7,027 in revolving credit card debt and Americans owing a total of $416.1 billion in credit card debt, according to a recent Nerdwallet study, some Americans will have credit card debt for the rest of their lives. However, what happens to credit card debt when you die?
Over the years, several high-profile celebrities have died without either properly updating their estate plan or having one at all. The list includes Princess Diana, Prince, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson and Kurt Cobain, all of whom were worth millions and among the most famous people on the planet at the time of their death.


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Fish exports reached US$3.75 billion in 2007, a 12% increase in volume over last year and making Viet Nam one of the world's top-10 seafood exporters, announced the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday.
Farmers collect basa fish in the Mekong Delta
The ministry said that after a year of WTO membership the number enterprises meeting difficult international market standards had doubled. Twelve hundred enterprises are now permitted to export aquatic products to the European Union, China, Canada, the Republic of Korea and other WTO nations. Viet Nam’s aquatic products are now being sold in over 130 countries.
Seafood exporters shipped various products. Besides traditional frozen or refrigerated seafoods, such as shrimp and catfish, more processed seafoods have been exported. Shrimp have been the nation’s major aquatic export for several years making up some 40% of total aquaculture exports. Catfish had also become a major export revenue earner.
The goal of organized seafood exporters for 2008 is to reach US$4.25 billion in export revenues. The ministry suggests world market demand for seafood now exceeds demand and this is an opportunity for Viet Nam’s exporters to make significant inroads into the world market.
However, the ministry warns, Viet Nam’s fish exports still face several challenges because of the increase of new non-tariff barriers importing nations.
The ministry has confirmed it would more closely manage and control the quality of products, especially for hygiene and safety.


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Apple announced it is donating $100,000 to the “No on 8” campaign, citing its history as one of the first California companies to offer equal benefits to its employees’ same-sex partners: “We strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights—including the right to marry—should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.”
Big grin from this all Apple techie. The story is here.
Could YOU be a White Supremacist?
2 hours ago


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Just about anywhere you go, long-time residents of Tallahassee say the same thing about The Tallahassee Mall; it's just not what it used to be.
"I've been here for four years now and I've seen it on the tail end of its downslide. It's sad," said Tallahassee Resident, Madeline Lessirard.
Several stores have closed over the years and now there's one more adding to that list. The Chick-fil-A located near the food court inside the Tallahassee Mall will serve customers for the last time on March 26th.
The Mall manager did not wish to speak on camera but did confirm that the restaurant will not renew its contract at the end of the month.
"With Chick-fil-A closing, it might be one of the last strongholds that the Tallahassee Mall has," said Lucas Parsons, a Tallahassee resident.
A WCTV viewer contacted us saying several people in the community suspect that rent is going up, causing many vendors to close up shop.
The Mall Manager would not release information about rent, citing confidentiality. In fact, he says he hasn't even heard that and dismissed suggested rent hike as a rumor.
Despite the mall's mounting troubles residents feel the answer is quite simple; follow the trends of larger, more metropolitan cities.
"In Jacksonville there's one of those little outside malls, you know," said Parsons.
"I think they should try to make it an outlet mall to be honest, because it's so close to the highway it seems like it makes sense," said Lessirard.
Either way, the community says something needs happen and it needs to happen soon.
Eyewitness News went to several other stores to ask if their rent was going up. They all said they haven't received any notice about an increase in rates.
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Baby Matters, LLC of Pennsylvania is being sued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to protect children after the company’s infant recliners had been linked to the deaths of five children. The Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill infant recliners are tied to the deaths of four and one infants, respectively. Another seventy children have reportedly fallen out of the product.
The complaint filed by the CPSC alleges the Nap Nanny Generation One, Nap Nanny Generation Two, and the Nap Nanny Chill have substantial defects in the instructions, warnings, and design present a substantial risk of death and injury to infants. The suit was filed after negotiations between Baby Matters and the CPSC did not result in an acceptable voluntary recall plan for the recliners.
Over two years ago the company, in partnership with the CPSC, issued an $80 coupon to owners of the Nap Nanny Generation One to be put toward the purchase of a newer model, along with better instructions and warnings to owners of the Generation Two model.
If a baby product has injured your child, a defective products attorney may be able to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. For more information, call 1-888-BURNETTI.


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As mobile phone companies compete for our custom, new, keenly priced tariffs and bundles are appearing more and more frequently. Read our dedicated tariffs and bundles news section to find out about all the latest cheap tariffs and bundles.
The first UK network to do so.
In the pink at CPW.
It's great that customers in rural areas are finally getting noticed. But- there are still too many areas...
Get is now a cover for in-app purchases. Very few fully free games now exist.
so it's wprse than all those cheap chinese knock offs?


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Big celebrations for small business in NSW Government's Back to Business Week
Media release | 24 February 2017
On Sunday 26 February businesses, councils and communities across the state will roll up their sleeves to run events in celebration of the inaugural Back to Business Week initiative, thanks to the NSW Government.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business, John Barilaro, today announced the initiativein Cooma and said Back to Business Week would be a public acknowledgement of the outstanding contribution that over 690,000 small businesses make in NSW.
“NSW is a powerhouse of opportunity, and with almost 98 per cent of all businesses in this state run as small businesses, we have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The NSW Government has provided funding to 128 Councils, who have set up almost 160 events in conjunction with local business advisers and business groups across the State.”
Mr Barilaro said Business Connect advisers have also been lending a hand by providing low-cost, independent, experienced advice as part of the events, seminars and workshops during Back to Business Week.
“Event topics include how to start a business, plan for growth, marketing strategies, customer service, digital innovations, cash flow and social media – it’ll be an exciting week for all small businesses and I encourage everyone to get involved.
“I am looking forward to getting behind the counter of my local café, and visiting some of the friendly faces of my local small business owners in Cooma tomorrow, to lend a hand and say thanks.
“The NSW Government is working hard to make sure small businesses remain confident, creating jobs and driving economic growth in our communities.”
To find out more about Back to Business Week, visit: www.industry.nsw.gov.au/backtobusiness
Download media release


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Groupon is building an entire experience around these four simple words with a unique little app called Groupon Now.Â The idea is that users open the Groupon Now mobile application and are presented with two buttons: â€œIâ€™m hungyâ€ and â€œIâ€™m bored.â€ After selecting an option, the application presents users with a list of time-sensitive deals based on their location.
“It makes Google’s market look quite small if we get it right. It’s really tapping into the largest part of commerce in the U.S.â€”local,â€ says Groupon investor Harry Weller.
Thatâ€™s where the ingenuity of Groupon Now lies. Offering consumers the ability to receive and redeem a mobile coupon one step after theyâ€™ve decided to buy drastically deviates from the traditional consumer purchase-decision process. In fact, it streamlines the entire process by eliminating the need to search for information and evaluate alternatives. The closest business offering the best deal will win. This one application could have the power to change the way consumers, well, consume.
There is, however, one very obvious flawâ€”the Groupon Now concept isnâ€™t completely revolutionary or original. Afterall, the idea of couponing has been around for decades, and sites such as LivingSocial and Yelp! have built solid business models around people being hungry, bored or sometimes both. And those two sites donâ€™t even being to scratch the surface of the growing list of daily-deal services.
Over the last year, 400 businesses have emerged with business models similar to Groupon. Everyone from bootstrap startups, such as Tippr and BuyWithMe, to Internet giants, such as Google and Facebook, has a horse in the daily deals race.
â€œGroupon Now is an attempt to build something that’s much more difficult to replicate: a huge, liquid market for consumer foot traffic,â€ says Businessweek reporters Brad Stone and Douglas MacMillan
Still not sold? Think about this: A December 2010 Microsoft survey reported that 50 percent of people in the US with GPS-enabled mobile devices used location-based services. Among that group, a third used location-based services for shopping or coupons. Within the next year, that means 14 million people will be looking for location-based coupons.
And, if you havenâ€™t noticed by now, this isnâ€™t your grandmotherâ€™s couponing.
â€œGroupon clearly believes Groupon Now is the future, so much so that its employees call the current iteration of its daily deals service â€˜Groupon 1.0,â€™â€ says Mashable Blogger Ben Parr. â€œThe coupon giant believes that its new offering will provide it with a unique technology and value proposition that will keep it ahead of the pack. With 70+ million subscribers and growing, Groupon will also have a big head start.â€
Is Groupon Now a sign of things to come? Well, we wonâ€™t have to wait long to find out. The mobile app is slated to launch this month.


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A seemingly innocent rescue dog has become an overnight viral sensation online after his picture and the grim details of his past were posted online.
Rumpelstiltskin might seem like any ordinary canine companion, but he’s actually something rather special. Dubbed the “survivalist pupper” by his current owner Tyfaneec Fortuna, Rumpelstiltskin’s story came to light after his picture was posted in the Facebook group the Dogspotting Society.
The group is designed specifically to celebrate pet pooches in all their different shapes and sizes and it was here that Tyfanee decided to share a grim store. “This is Rumpelstiltskin and he is 4lbs of love and nervous shaking,” she wrote alongside the post. “I adopted him 1yr ago from an animal shelter because his owner died.”
All pretty standard stuff, so far, but it’s here that things getting a little weird, with Tyfanee adding the following: “Bonus info: his owner was dead for a considerable time before anyone noticed and he did eat his human to stay alive. +1 for being a survivalist pupper.
“His legs are weirdly long for his small body and also bowed out in a way that makes them look like a fancy table. He likes food, undivided attention and sleeping for many hours at a time.”
Being eaten by your pet dog is a pretty grim concept but there are a few extenuating circumstances to consider in the case of Rumpelstiltskin. For starters, his owner was already dead. In fact, they had been dead for two whole weeks before their body was found.
In that time Rumpelstiltskin was left locked in the home, alone and without food – any dog would have ended up eating their Apparently the dog’s previous owner had been dead for two weeks before their body was found. In that kind of situation almost any pooch would probably be tempted – they are animals after all, driven by survival instincts.
In any case, the dog has proven a hit with followers on the group. The post has attracted over 4,300 likes on Facebook and close to 700 shares. He’s also gone viral on Twitter with plenty seemingly won over by his super-cute pictures.
Though it might seem like a nightmare, the prospect of dying and being eaten by your dog is pretty remote. A 2015 study pulled together just 63 recorded incidents of what is professionally referred to as “indoor scavenging”.
It’s pretty random but when it does happen it can be absolutely horrifying. In 24 per cent of the cases outlined in the study, less than a day passed before the body was partially eaten and that, in some cases, dogs still had access to normal food which was left uneaten.
Turns Out Chatting To Your Dog Is A Sign Of Intelligence
Loaded staff writer Jack Beresford has produced content for Lad Bible, Axonn Media and a variety of online sports and news media outlets.


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LONDON: Musician and TV presenter, Ben Ofoedu will host this year’s fashion showcase in London alongside Tidi Kwidini, organisers have announced.
The show, titled #ThisIsAfrica is scheduled for 28 September and will take place at Tramp, one of the most exclusive private clubs in the capital.
Chiedza Ziyambe, CEO of Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase(ZFS) said: “ZFS has always been about giving people an exclusive and first-class experience and this year is no different.
We are excited about hosting the event at the prestigious venue, Tramp, which has such a rich history. It’s great to be a part of their 50th year, and we’re so thrilled that Ben is on board for the celebration.”
Ben, who has had a successful career as a musician, joined the band Benz in 1993 and later became the lead singer of Phats & Small – who are known for their hit single ‘Turn Around’.
In 2000 he released a solo single ‘Your Love’ and in 2001 joined the band REDhill with former Boyzone member Shayne Lynch.
Ben has appeared on a number of TV programmes with partner and journalist Vanessa Feltz, including Celebrity Wife Swap in 2007.
They also raised £150,000 for a cancer charity when they appeared on celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Five emerging African designers
The high-class fashion show will feature five emerging African designers and over 40 designs. This year’s showcasers include Isabella Sitsha, Millicent Poku and Sandra Chinogurei.
“Over the years ZFS has grown and we’ve seen designers who have used this platform excel and go international. More so, it is a platform that continues to celebrate and highlight upcoming African designers because they are the future.
The market has untapped potential, and with the talent we have in the sector, African fashion can evolve and hold a real global presence,” added Chiedza.
Earlier in the month, two new showcasers were added to the list, with Chipo Musa of Mimi Florence Designs and Gveny founder and creative director Samuel Kaiser announced.
Samuel, who used to drive London’s famous amphibious duck boats before he swapped the tourist trade for fashion design, graduated from University of East London in 2016.
In January 2019, Samuel lost his entire collection worth approximately £500,000 in a suspected arson attack, weeks before he was due to showcase his work for a second time at Paris Fashion Week when a fire broke out at a self-storage depot in Croydon.
The avant-garde collection had featured in Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 a few months before and had received rave reviews. He was due to showcase again in March but had to cancel.
Crochet designer, Chipo rounds off the list of designers who will showcase this weekend. Having crocheted for approximately 18 years for friends and family she established Mimi Florence Designs two years ago, naming it after her mother.
Under the brand, Chipo has created bespoke bikinis, crop tops, handbags, flip flops, dresses, skirts and tops, including a winter collection that has a range of snoods, scarves and shawls.
Meanwhile, organisers have announced that London based saxophonist, Jermaine Jones will perform at the event. The multi-talented musician is well known for his high energy performances and is due to release his EP soon. Resident DJ, Welly Tee will return for a second year and will be on rotation throughout the afternoon.
Silent auction for charity
ZFS will be hosting their first ever silent auction, with proceeds going to the Domestic Violence Intervention Project – DVIP.
The charity has been supporting women and children for 25 years and ensuring those affected by domestic violence are able to seek help and are kept safe. The organisation has services across London and have a cross-functional team who help to reduce the harm that abuse causes women, children and families.
Some of the auction items include six medical-grade skin peels sponsored by Dr Mary Thompson. Mimi’s Organics have sponsored a range of skin care products. Aloe4Life have provided a hamper of aloe vera products, while Golden Image Spa will give the lucky winner a comprehensive treatment voucher. Chiedza Ziyambe has also put forward a gift hamper.
The prestigious club Tramp in Mayfair, London, has for half a century been one of the most exclusive private clubs in the world and has hosted artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Drake, Rihanna and supermodel Naomi Campbell, among others. Set behind a discreet entrance on Jermyn Street, the venue offers a unique, magical and timeless enclave to dine, entertain and party.
This year’s event sponsors and partners include Molah Media, Loma Media, Peter Cripps Photography, Tichpfupsphotography, Retreat 2 Relax and Bespoke Petals & Events.
First held in 2015, ZFS highlights emerging African designers in the UK, mainly from Zimbabwe. Prominent public figures and designers such as New York based Farai Simoyi and the Mayor of Birmingham have previously attended the annual fashion show.


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TNT Express, a company for Dutch logistics, has released an issue regarding the fresh alert regarding the weak growth and fierce competition’s impact in the core markets that it has, shorter than two months since it made warnings of margin squeeze, making its shares decrease over seven percent.
Bringing an operating loss for the third quarter of 59.7 million dollars, worsening its condition due to a provision worth 50 million euros to have a fine settled from the competition authorities of France. The transport group and the mail mentioned that it didn’t expect a lot of relief for the remaining parts of the year.
The comments it has might have a bigger significance in the economy, considering the logistics sector being projected as a top indicator for the economy’s state, being somehow sensitive to the stock purchases and the forward planning of companies.
According to Maarten de Vries, the chief financial officer, if people are going to look at their western European core countries such as France, Germany, Benelux, Italy and the UK, they see an environment that is really challenging.
He also said that they are seeing increased competition, more especially in their UK, Italy and France-based domestic markets, also in the pressure on prices in the said markets.


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More COVID relief on the way for business
Council looks at pop-up spaces for artists in empty shopfronts
Sunday, October 24, 2021
EMPTY shopfronts along Brunswick’s main shopping strips could be converted into temporary arts spaces as Moreland Council searches for ways to revive a local economy which has been battered by COVID lockdowns.
The council will investigate the feasibility of pop-up arts spaces following the adoption of a raft of relief measures to help businesses which have been struggling the weight of COVID-19.
The council will waive business registration fees for all of 2022 for businesses such as hairdressers, beauty therapists, tattooists, and some health-related businesses that are considered to be among the hardest hit by lockdowns.
All food businesses throughout Moreland – apart from supermarkets – will also have their registration fees cut by 50% in the first half of 2022.
The renewed COVID hardship package was adopted by Moreland Council at its October meeting.
Although the fee relief is individually modest and worth at most a couple of hundred dollars to a single business, it will cost the council’s bottom line by about $480,000.
Other elements of the package include extending the council’s financial hardship policy for the payment of rates for another 12 months, a three month rent holiday for not-for-profit organisations which are tenants of council buildings and $103,000 in grants for local artists and craftspeople.
The relief package follows a report to the council that warned the toll of COVID on small businesses in Moreland was widespread and significant.
“Lockdowns and related restrictions have had the most significant impact on the hospitality, beauty and education sectors,” said the report, prepared by the council’s Community Development Director, Eamonn Fennessy.
“Our bricks and mortar retail and hospitality shopping strips have particularly suffered with visits to shops and cafes decreasing and continuing to fluctuate widely as restrictions remain in place and a portion of the local workforce continue to work from home.”
A recent survey by the Sydney Road Traders Association found that almost one-in-five shops along Brunswick’s main strip were empty.
The area’s once-vibrant arts scene has also been impacted: in September, Brunswick art gallery Tinning Street Presents announced it would be closing immediately after more than a decade. It blamed ongoing lockdowns for the decision.
Councillor Adam Pulford said the arts community required extra assistance because they have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
“Not only did they lose so much of their work and their livelihoods last year, it’s also played out again this year when they and all of the community were hoping this year would be much different,” he said.
In addition to increasing grants to artists, Councillor Pulford successfully advocated for consideration of a program to allow artists to make use of vacant shopfronts.
He said the City of Melbourne, where one-in-five shops are also vacant, was pursuing a similar policy and the same approach had been adopted in the past elsewhere in Australia.
“We have had more businesses close during the pandemic leaving behind vacant shops and as life starts to return there’s an opportunity for council to facilitate the filling of shopfronts with artists and creators and startups,” he said.
“That will activate those shopfronts and give artists more space to work. Council in the past has been able to run a MoreSpace program to allow artists and creators to be able to showcase their work in shop windows, but not actually occupy the building as a working space.
“There ’s real benefits to actually giving artists space to create and having people in their to give new life to the shopping strips.”
The council will also redirect $24,000 from the budgets for the cancelled Coburg Night Market and Fawkner Festa to other arts projects and events in those communities.
But although the hugely popular Sydney Road Street Party will also not go ahead next March, no funding for replacement events was discussed by councillors last week.
Moreland has allocated more than $6 million since March last year to its local COVID response, including rates and fee relief, grants to community organisations and businesses and other support programs.
The council has also provided logistical and other support for COVID testing and vaccinations, and 300 people were temporarily employed by the council earlier this year as a result of a pandemic jobs program.
Fifty-four households in Moreland made up of 261 people required emergency food relief in September because they tested positive for COVID or were forced to isolate for 14 days.
“Agencies providing services and support to young people in Moreland have reported a growing and unmet demand, particularly for mental health support, but also in relation to social isolation, family violence, school disengagement and assistance required by those at risk of homelessness,” the council report said.
“People with insecure housing or employment have faced significant impacts and people with disability and their carers have experienced additional and unforeseen costs, with some facing extreme financial hardship.”


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Microsoft and Fortra go after Cobalt Strike abusers, a new online criminal marketplace, and more.
Welcome to Cyber Security Today. It’s Friday, April 7th, 2023. I’m Howard Solomon, contributing reporter on cybersecurity for ITWorldCanada.com and TechNewsday.com in the U.S.
Microsoft, Fortra and the Health sector information and sharing analysis centre (Health-ISAC) are going after a big tool used by threat actors: Cracked versions of Fortra’s Cobalt Strike software. Cobalt Strike is sold to legitimate penetration testers. But crooks have been copying and re-selling it so it can be used to orchestrate an attack on a vulnerable network. The three organizations said Thursday they have been granted a court order by an American judge allowing them to disrupt the IT infrastructure threat actors are using with Cobalt Strike. Disrupting cracked legacy copies of Cobalt Strike will hopefully slow its use in cyberattacks and ransomware.
A new online marketplace for buying and selling tools and goods for cybercrooks has emerged. According to researchers at Resecurity, it’s called Styx. It may have quietly been around since last summer but it seems to have officially opened at the beginning of the year. It focuses primarily on financial fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Crooks can buy and sell cash-out services, data dumps, SIM cards, denial of service tools, multifactor authentication bypasses, fake and stolen IDs and much more. With the closing this week of the Genesis Marketplace, Styx may be where a number of crooks will take their business.
There’s another online place where threat actors are increasingly doing business: The Telegram messaging service. According to researchers at Kaspersky, use of Telegram by crooks has been soaring since the end of 2021. It’s especially popular with those creating phishing emails. They use Telegram for everything from automating their workflows to selling phishing kits to other hackers. In fact, Telegram is a platform for those who want to learn for free how to start sending phishing emails. If they have money they can buy phishing pages with geoblocking functions, stolen bank login credentials or bots that be used to bypass multifactor authentication. One wonders why Telegram doesn’t do more to stop this.
The website of the United Kingdom’s criminal records office, known as ACRO, has been closed following a cyber incident. Instead of being able to apply online for a copy of a criminal record or a police certification, users temporarily have to email their requests. The attack ran between January 17th and March 21st. ACRO has emailed people who made online applications between those dates, because their names, addresses phone numbers and any criminal conviction data may be at risk.
Finally, Ukrainian hackers from the Cyber Resistance Group claim they sent tens of thousands of dollars of sex toys to a pro-Russian blogger. Why? He had raised $25,000 to buy drones to assist Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. Instead they spent it for him. They allegedly spent broke into his account on the AliExpress online shopping market and bought him dildos and strap-ons. According to security reporter Graham Cluley, the blogger admitted his shopping account was hacked.
That’s it for now. But later today the Week in Review podcast will be out. This week guest David Shipley of Beauceron Security and I will talk about the takedown of the criminal Genesis Marketplace, the 3CX supply chain attack and the newest ransomware strain.
Follow Cyber Security Today on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or add us to your Flash Briefing on your smart speaker. Thanks for listening. I’m Howard Solomon


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West African bitcoin drive
The conference is organized by Ghana’s Dream Bitcoin Foundation (DBF), which shares the principles of the SLLG and believes economic freedom transcending national boundaries is the best way to build African economies.
The DBF’s campaign page for the seminar reads:
“We will also demonstrate to them how bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are the irrepressible tool for Liberty, which will rapidly replace the existing corrupt system that keeps them all in poverty and suppression.”
The DBF is working in conjunction with bitcoin entrepreneurs both locally and from the US. In addition to organizing the conference, the DBF is also experimenting with the idea of its own local cryptocurrency, called Dreamcoin, as a promotional and educational tool.
Both DBF and SLLG hope that cryptocurrency use, bitcoin or otherwise, will streamline local economies as well as open up new markets internationally for local sellers.
Images courtesy Sierra Leone Liberty Group
- ^ Sierra Leone Liberty Group (www.sllg.info)
- ^ donations via bitcoin (www.coindesk.com)
- ^ skyrocketed to over 4,000 (www.bbc.com)
- ^ World Health Organization (www.who.int)
- ^ two (blockchain.info)
- ^ addresses (blockchain.info)
- ^ homepage (www.sllg.info)
- ^ Dan McLaughlin (daniel-mclaughlin.com)
- ^ first regional Bitcoin Seminar (www.indiegogo.com)
- ^ Dream Bitcoin Foundation (www.dreambitcoinfoundation.org)
- ^ in conjunction with bitcoin entrepreneurs (bitcoinmagazine.com)
- ^ group’s website (www.sllg.info)
- ^ Africa (www.coindesk.com)
- ^ Charity (www.coindesk.com)
- ^ ebola (www.coindesk.com)
- ^ Ghana (www.coindesk.com)
- ^ Sierra Leone (www.coindesk.com)


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Each season that our senior varsity athletes participate in a sport, they are able to celebrate one staff member who helped them get where they are today. Students presented their staff member with a special “PROJECT: Gratitude” shirt to as a way to thank them for their support. Our student athletes were so excited to hand out the shirts to their very special staff member.
Check out this video of this season’s honorees receiving their surprise.
Staff members — be on the lookout for a student with a special shirt at your door this spring!


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Domestic firms have been urged to boost exports to China to offset Vietnam’s huge trade deficit with the neighbouring country.
China is a large market with a high demand for products that Vietnam specialises in, such as wood and furniture, agricultural products, foodstuff and raw materials, according to the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Secretariat.
However, it said that only a few Vietnamese enterprises had successfully utilised opportunities to introduce their products and services to Chinese consumers.
As well as facilitating exports to China, Vietnam has vowed to create favourable conditions for Chinese firms to develop industrial and export processing zones in the country.
According to the deputy general director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Asia Pacific Market Department, Dao Ngoc Chuong, these conditions could support the industrial production and export processes.
Chuong also encouraged firms to improve the value of Vietnamese exports for which China has a long-term consumption demand or can re-export to third countries.
The General Department of Customs said Vietnam ‘s trade deficit with its northern neighbour has hit 6.55 billion USD already this year, an amount equivalent to 40 percent of 2012 in its entirety.
During the period, Vietnam exported only 3.88 billion USD worth of goods to China while its imports from the country stood at 10.43 billion USD, the department said.
Since 2000, the structure of Vietnamese goods exported to China, mainly including mineral resources, agricultural products and seafood, has remained unchanged. This is an explanation for the deficit with China rising from 210 million USD in 2001 to 16.39 billion USD in 2012, Chuong said.
During the eighth session of the Vietnam – China Joint State Commission on Economic and Trade Co-operation held last month in Hanoi, the two sides signed an MoU on bilateral cooperation in agro-products trading.
This was an important agreement helping the partners in this sector, especially as Vietnam has the potential to boost the export of these products to China with a view to lowering the trade deficit.-VNA


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Wearable technology is gaining prominence these days with the advent of Google glass, Apple watch, USB necklace, and many more. According to A report by IHS electronic & media – By 2018, the wearable device in the U.S. alone would stand at more than $12 billion. It is evident that, wearable technology has a tremendous potential and it still needs to be exploited. This year further contributed to the growth of this segment as it has witnessed the launch of fitness trackers and smart clothing line and it prompted to declare 2015 as the year of wearable technology. Earlier this year, we saw that Google glass was not very successful in terms of sales. Apple Watch, that was expected to bring a new wave in wearable technology, didn’t do very well and after the initial spur, it wasn’t able to grab much attention. But, there are a few hindrances that are coming in the way of wearable technology. We would discuss the same roadblocks in the following:
Dependance on Smartphones
The biggest obstacle that comes in the way of wearable tech is that if you don’t have a smartphone, then your smart-device would become useless. Wearable technology was taken as a replacement for other gadgets such as smartphones, like laptops and has almost overshadowed the desktops. But, it still has a strong dependence on smartphones and tablets. Let’s take an example of Apple watch, it has to be paired with iPhone 5 or higher, in order to make calls or sending messages. Next example would be of Fitbit flex that is used as a health monitoring wearable tech. And, like Fitbit many free smartphone apps are able to produce roughly the same results. It is very important for the companies that are in the business of wearable technology, that they should come up with something that would function on its own and won’t need any other device to help.
Low battery life: One of the common problems faced by the consumers who use smartphones is Low Battery Life. And, the same goes with wearable technology. A heavy demand for high resolution devices that are compatible and can perform multiple functions at a time as smartphones does. To overcome the power issues with the wearable technology, Microsoft has recently come up with an energy saving system called Wear Drive that increases the battery life of wearable tech up to 3.60 times. However, much research and development is required before these solutions can be implemented on a large scale.
Amalgamating Fashion with Function
These days, consumers not only look for comfort and utility of a device, instead they also focus on design and fashion. And, the financial decision lies majorly on these factors. Google glass, after its launch was criticized hugely by the analysts and consumers for its obstructive design. Many wearable companies have started to call fashion designers to address this issue.And, many fashion designing companies are planning to levearge this trending technology by launching their own designs.
The challenges discussed above are a few of the major obstacles on the way of wearable technology. But, they can be solved with the help of top-notch engineers and fashion designers. However, tech giants are focusing on the pain areas and soon wearable tech will once again pick momentum.


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SEAT is already outlining the details of the new generation of its compact SUV. The second generation of the SEAT Ateca will be a reality for the next decade. It will arrive loaded with important news. Among them, there will be a new variant of more passionate and sporty bodywork. The expected SEAT Ateca Coupé will be a reality.
SEAT is immersed in the development of the facelift that the Ateca will soon undergo. The compact SUV from the Spanish firm will be brought up to date through a mid-cycle update. A revision that will allow the current generation of the SUV to face the rest of the commercial life that lies ahead. However, even though this project is underway, the manufacturer from Martorell is already outlining the future generational change.
There are still a few years to see the second generation of the SEAT Ateca in dealerships. It will arrive for the next decade, but this has not prevented the first details of the new generation from being outlined in the “headquarters” of the brand. There will be important news, and not only in terms of design, technology, and in terms of mechanical options. A new body variant will be brought to life.
The SEAT Ateca Coupé will become a reality with the new generation of Ateca. Since the brand introduced the SEAT 20V20 Concept a few years ago, an interesting conceptual model, speculation began with the idea of seeing a coupé line SUV in the company’s range. An idea that will finally be materialized in a production vehicle to satisfy the public that is looking for a sportier alternative to the Ateca itself.
It is not a new idea within the Volkswagen Group, we can currently find the Audi Q3 Sportback at dealerships. The future SEAT Ateca Coupé will have similar dimensions and will be supported by Volkswagen’s MQB platform. It remains to be seen what its name will be. Let us remember that SEAT used the acronym SC to refer to the three-door Leon.
Whatever its name, SEAT is currently finalizing the design of the next generation of the Ateca. A design that will be transferred to the coupé variant, although with the differences typical of a model with these characteristics. The possibility of CUPRA being the first brand to debut this new SUV Coupé, which will later leap SEAT, is also being analyzed. In the case of the CUPRA model, its mechanical offer will be made up exclusively of a selection of gasoline engines and a plug-in hybrid version.


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What marketers can learn from Facebook Live’s top brand videos
Brands had barely adjusted to the idea that they increasingly need to be publishers today. Now they’re being expected to become broadcasters on platforms like Facebook Live, too. Since Facebook Live opened up to the platform’s 1.6 billion users in April, a deluge of U.K. brands have been experimenting there.
But becoming a broadcaster overnight is easier said than done. Live video is demanding and requires meticulous preparation and the ability to adapt if things go wrong — which, inevitably, they do. Plus, thanks to Facebook’s built-in feature to archive live videos, mistakes can be replayed again and again.
So, what can marketers learn from the videos that have seen the most success on the platform? Using data from Socialbakers, we found the U.K.’s top-five clips this year to find out just that.
With over 380,000 views and over 300,000 comments, Boohoo had the top-performing live brand video of 2016.
Since Facebook’s API opened to developers and publishers, brands have been tinkering with formats that are far removed from presenters speaking to the camera. This is a prime example of a brand leveraging Facebook’s API to deliver live video that isn’t really video at all. Rather, it’s a series of images and trivia questions anyone could answer in the comments, with a countdown timer that flashes up around winners every 60 seconds.
The video is successful in adding drama and urgency to what is a very simple social media giveaway. After all, users in the comments section vying for an off-the-shoulder dress can see their rivals in real time. Plus, it’s a way for the retailer to shoehorn in a bigger promotion around Black Friday, with a link to the site in the video’s description.
This video from workout guru Joe Wicks, the man behind the hugely successful “Lean in 15” franchise, is an example of a brand refreshing tried-and-tested content with a live twist.
Wicks’ workout videos already draw large numbers on Facebook, but the novelty of following along live — or watching from a commuter train — is clear.
Live video requires just such fresh thinking from brands, which tend to create content in advance, said Michaela Branova, lead data analyst at Socialbakers.
“The top Facebook Live videos demonstrate how brands can best take advantage of this new format – react quickly, be relevant and, most importantly, have a clear call to action that drives engagement,” she added.
In this video from Xbox, the company hid a copy of video game Forza Horizon 3 on the day of its release near Buckingham Palace, with the promise that whoever got to it first would win.
According to JJ Foan, content manager at 360i Europe, live treasure hunts have become increasingly popular with brands. “It’s a really smart way to merge social content with activity in the real world,” he added, though cautioned that such gimmicks may be tough to scale once the novelty wears off. “The way in which brands can scale the production values of live content will be the make or break of Facebook Live as an effective marketing tool,” he added.
Oh Polly is a brand that shows how the live format — which Facebook prioritizes in the news feed — can boost smaller outfits too. With just over 250,000 followers, Oh Polly boasted 23,000 views on its video, which showed the brand popping numbered balloons to reveal prizes for commenters.
It plays on the success of publishers like BuzzFeed — with its infamous viral watermelon video — in capturing action that makes the viewer flinch. Plus, there’s the suspense over who will be picked next.
“Both Boohoo.com and Oh Polly further drive engagement by fans entering the competition through comments on the post,” said Socialbakers’ Branova. “Comments create stories, which create a chance for brands to get into users friends’ news feeds.”
On videos like this, there’s also a greater sense of shared experience that’s lost in other social media formats, similar to the experience of watching TV at the same time as the rest of the nation.
Chain Reaction Cycles
The cult of unboxing, which has its roots in YouTube, is spreading to live platforms like Snapchat, Facebook and Periscope.
Within niche communities, live video can help brands deliver the (often obsessive) level of detail their audience craves. In this case, it’s cycling enthusiasts who really care about a new set of tools. Never mind that the video is vertical, wobbly and lacking any dialogue, it still has 229,000 views and over 4,000 reactions.
“Here we call it the rise of ugly social,” said Callum McCahon, senior strategist at Born Social. “In theory, it’s the complete opposite of what live video should be like, but that doesn’t matter at all.”
McCahon added that a pre-recorded video wouldn’t be as exciting for the brand’s Facebook fans as live gives a sense of urgency and shared experience. While FOMO is key to Facebook’s success, live video adds an additional layer of urgency.
How gamers’ engagement with short-form video is changing
To better understand how modern gamers are engaging with short-form video, Digiday teamed up with Gamesight to pull key points from an exclusive report on gamers’ shifting video consumption preferences.
Inside SAG-AFTRA’s new deal with video platform Cameo
SAG-AFTRA and Cameo, the celebrity platform that connects talent and fans, have announced a new agreement that allows members to cover brand deals through Cameo for Business (C4B). Brands will be able to access more fan-favorite professional talent through SAG-AFTRA's health and pension plans.
Digiday+ Research: Extreme pessimism about the end of the cookie levels off among agencies
Agencies are still feeling out who they think the winners and losers will be as the end of the third-party cookie draws near, but they're doing so with notably less pessimism than they have in the past.
SponsoredHow agencies’ relationships with RMNs are continuing to evolve in 2023
This article is also available in Spanish. Please use the toggle above the headline to switch languages. Visit digiday.com/es to read more content in Spanish. Sponsored by Best Buy Ads As retail media networks proliferate, agencies are increasingly identifying RMNs as valuable opportunities for their brand clients as they seek quality audience data, meaningful reporting […]
Jose Cuervo Tequila celebrates UFC’s 30th anniversary with Kevin Holland, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson ads
Mexico-based Jose Cuervo, is the first tequila brand to be a direct advertiser of the UFC with spots featuring UFC fighters Kevin Holland, a Cuervo ambassador, and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
Benjamin Moore is using OOH near big-box retailers to say their paint isn’t there, encouraging people shop local
The 140-year-old paint brand wants to make sure people know that it is only available at local retailers.


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Regal Cinemas owner Cineworld will reopen theaters in the US and UK on July 10 https://t.co/kQsomKsLJO— TheWrap (@TheWrap) June 16, 2020
- Plan to reopen on July 10th.
- 50% capacity with 2 seats between parties (they say "where required by local governance", so I guess if you live in a shit state, you could have a full capacity theater).
- Guests will use contactless payment methods at the box office and concessions.
- Will use ULV “Foggers” in order to clean and sanitize each auditorium.
- Says employees and guests will wear masks "where required by local governance" (which means no one will be wearing masks).
AMC Theatres, the world's largest movie theater owner, has announced that it is planning to reopen its roughly 1,000 theaters around the world next month https://t.co/WaYj3dtMjF— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 9, 2020
- Plans to reopen sometime in July, doesn't give a specific date.
- Doesn't give a whole lot of details on what they'll do when they reopen, but they partnered with Clorox.
- The company reported a net loss of $2.17 billion in its first quarter.
- Plans to reopen on June 19th.
- Will require employees to wear masks but not moviegoers.
- Will have social distancing at the box office and concession stands and 50% capacity in the theater.
- Will supply hand and seat cleaners for guests, stagger movie times to reduce foot traffic and screen staff temperatures before their shifts.
SOURCES: 1, 2, 3


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Joe Scangamor, previously chief financial officer for the Americas region at WPP's Group M, has been tapped to serve in a dual role as global chief financial officer and chief operating officer for the new agency, according to executives familiar with the matter.
Other senior hires in recent weeks include: Ken Segall, executive creative director, who earlier spent time at Omnicom Group's TBWA/Chiat/Day and Havas' Euro RSCG, working on Apple and Intel, respectively; Valerie Hausladen, founder of marketing consultancy Edge Communication Group, who will serve as the new general manager of DaVinci's Austin, Texas, office; and Kelly McGinnis, a former partner at Fleishman-Hillard, who will head public relations.
The agency may still be without a permanent name and CEO, but client and agency representatives nonetheless insist things are moving along on target. "It's up and running," an agency spokesman said. "It does have 90% of its leadership team in place."
The global agency will be headquartered in New York, the spokesman said. Other locations domestically include a large Austin office, a San Francisco office and a Miami office -- focusing primarily on marketing Dell in Latin America.
The ambitious creation of DaVinci is the PC maker's solution for a bloated roster of some 800 different marketing agencies, which will now be trimmed down to a single, dedicated marketing services entity housed at WPP. The holding company won a three-year, $4.5 billion contract with Dell following a lengthy holding company battle for the business.


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A new class action lawsuit alleges that Apple intentionally broke FaceTime on iOS 6 in order to push users towards iOS 7. The move rendered older hardware like iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s inoperable with the FaceTime service. AppleInsider reports that Apple wanted to save money on a pricey data services deal with the content delivery network Akamai.
Developer Jonathan Seals recently released a new piece of work called CoolBooter, an interesting tool which allows some 32-bit devices to dual-boot different iOS firmwares. With a simple reboot it can allow, for example, switching between iOS 6 and iOS 9. Whilst this functionality is commonplace in the desktop computing world, booting multiple operating systems on iOS devices is much rarer.
Sebastien and I talked briefly about the tool on Let’s Talk Jailbreak 157, and in this article I’ll give some more info, as well as a video demonstration of it in action.
For anyone that isn’t much of a fan of the App Switcher Apple introduced in iOS 7 and later, a new free jailbreak tweak in Cydia’s BigBoss repository called VintageSwitcher is taking things all the way back to iOS 6 with a simplified look and feel and a familiar user interface.
Apple has released a fix for the FaceTime app on older versions of OS X, specifically OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
Users of older software, as we reported last week, have been seeing issues with FaceTime, unable to connect and complete calls, for unknown reasons. Apple released version 1.0.5 of the $0.99 app to address the issue:
SixBar is a recently released tweak for those of you who are tiring of the status bar present in iOS 7. It forces the status bar into the old-school black and white mode that was last seen in iOS 6.
SixBar is not a theme, so it doesn’t require WinterBoard or any other theming utility. Once you install SixBar, you’ll need to go to the Settings app to find the tweak’s preferences. Inside the preferences you’ll notice a lone toggle—a kill-switch—used to enable or disable the tweak. When you enable the toggle and respring, you’ll see the familiar black and white status bar inspired by iOS 6…
As we continue to wait for iOS 7.1 to be released to the public, Apple has seeded iOS 7.0.6 to the public this morning. The release comes a month after iOS 7.0.5 landed at the end of January, which also featured bug fixes for certain newer models of iPhones.
It also looks like Apple has released a similar bug fix for iOS 6 users in iOS 6.1.6 Both updates are available either over the air, by visiting Settings > General > Software Update, or by plugging your device in iTunes. Or you can find them on our Download page…
A new jailbreak theme package was just released on Cydia, and it allows users who install it to regain the app icons featured in iOS 6 and below. The theme, which is entitled iOS 6 Theme for iOS 7, is a WinterBoard release that replaces the stock iOS 7 app icons with those from earlier firmware. Take a gander at our full video walkthrough inside to see how it looks.
Good news for folks who stuck around on iOS 6.1.3/4 in hopes of scoring an early jailbreak, developer winocm has confirmed that a public release for his late-version iOS 6 hack will be available in the next few months.
Winocm has been working on an iOS 6.1.3/4 jailbreak for a few months now. He’s shown it off on video, and even let our very own Jeff take it for a spin. And today he answered the oft-asked ETA question: ‘before 2014.’
After being available for just one week, Apple’s new iOS 7 is making daily headlines. The latest kudo to the revamped mobile operating system is a win for best user experience. Measuring how iOS 7 performs for everyday users, the software handily defeats Android, Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10.
Apple’s mobile software rated 73.25, placing it far ahead of Google’s Android with 57.25. The version of Android available on Samsung smartphones ranked third, just behind Apple’s previous mobile software, iOS 6…
We’ve already heard field reports suggesting the iPhone 5s was outselling the colorful iPhone 5c. Now comes hard after the first weekend of sales for Apple’s two new iPhones. The new flagship 5s smartphone is more than three times as popular as the less expensive 5c, according to one analytics firm Monday.
While both of the handsets represent 1.36 of all activated iPhones in the US, the lion’s share goes to the iPhone 5s, with 1.05 percent of all Apple smartphones activated by the country’s top four wireless carriers. By contrast, the iPhone 5c is far behind in adoption, representing just 0.31 percent of activated US iPhones…
Adoption of Apple’s new version of iOS is off to a fast start. Nearly a third of iOS device owners have already upgraded to iOS 7 just 16 hours after the software was released. According to Mixpanel, by Thursday at 10:28am ET some 31.8 percent of iPhones, iPads and iPods had adopted the new operating system, noted for its flat design and a number of new features. Apple officially released the software on Wednesday at 1pm ET…


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Bonmarché says Philip Day offer is too low
Philip Day may have bought control of Bonmarché but his attempt to buy the rest of the firm and take it private could be in jeopardy with the board saying on Friday that his 11.445p per share offer isn’t enough.
Billionaire retail entrepreneur Day already owns 52.4% of the struggling value retailer through his Spectre Holdings investment vehicle and UK rules mean the acquisition of that stake earlier this month made an offer for the rest of the firm a mandatory move.
But the board said that it “considers that the Mandatory Cash Offer materially undervalues Bonmarché and its future prospects.” Day’s offer had valued the entire firm at less than £6 million. The company’s shares had closed just below 15p on Thursday and rose Friday morning after the announcement, hitting 15.5p, presumably as investors thought Day might come back with a higher offer.
The board statement added that “in light of trading in Q4 of the financial year ended 31 March and prior to the announcement of the Mandatory Cash Offer, it had been planning a number of cost reduction actions across the group and anticipates starting the implementation of these shortly.”
And there was a suggestion that the relationship between the current board and Day isn’t as good as it could be. The statement continued: “In view of Spectre's position as the majority shareholder in Bonmarché, the board has sought to engage with Philip Day to discuss the future plans for the business for the benefits of all stakeholders. The board continues to seek positive engagement with Philip Day and looks forward to discussions in due course.”
So what happens now? Bonmarché management is writing to shareholders with its formal response “once the offer document has been posted by Spectre. In the meantime, [its] shareholders are strongly advised to take no action in relation to their Bonmarché shares. Further announcements will be made as and when appropriate.”
On April 2, Spectre had said that it would conduct a thorough store-by-store review and that a number of stores would be closed “unless reduced rents, staff reductions or other cost saving measures can be successfully implemented.”
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Austin, TX, Feb. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Self, a leading fintech startup offering people a way to build their credit while also saving money, today announced a $20 million round of Series C financing, co-led by Altos Ventures and Conductive Ventures. The funding will allow Self to accelerate its company growth by hiring additional members of the team and investing in marketing and product development to improve overall customer success, building even further on rapid growth in 2019.
As consumers set goals for 2020, financial wellness remains top of mind — nearly 100 million Americans have a credit score of 600 or lower or are unscoreable because of a lack of credit information, according to the Financial Health Network*. Coupled with a potential recession that could lead to even more credit card debt, it will be vital for consumers to access the right tools to set them on the path to a better financial future.
“Self inspires us with their dedication to helping consumers take control of their financial future,” said Paul Yeh of Conductive Ventures. “Today, it’s imperative to be aligned with partners with a shared vision that is meaningful and delivers change for the greater good.”
Carey Lai of Conductive Ventures added, "In every interaction we've had with James and his team, we were impressed by their caliber, vision, and most importantly, their mission-driven values. We are very excited and looking forward to Self’s continued success.”
With more than 500,000 consumers and $400 million in CD-secured loan originations, the company has achieved unparalleled growth in the past year by offering a way for consumers to build credit through the Self Credit Builder Account and the recently launched Self Visa® Credit Card, the first-of-its-kind secured credit card that does not require a credit check and enables customers to build their security deposit in installments rather than having to make a large upfront deposit. That’s important in an environment where 41% of Americans can’t cover an emergency medical expense.**
“Our goal from the beginning was to create a mission-driven company that gives the power back to consumers and helps them achieve their financial goals,” said James Garvey, founder and CEO at Self. “We’re thrilled that with Conductive Ventures’ investment, and the continued support from Altos Ventures and our ongoing investors, we can impact so many more consumers on their journey to financial wellness and stability.”
Self is a leading fintech startup with a mission to help people build credit and savings. For more information, visit www.self.inc.
About Conductive Ventures
Conductive Ventures invests in expansion stage companies with a focus on enterprise software, hardware and consumer. The team is led by institutional venture investors and operators with unmatched experience in the sector and focuses on deploying $100M into post-product companies with early customer success. For additional information, please visit www.conductive.vc.
About Altos Ventures
Altos Ventures is a global venture growth investor dedicated to backing exceptional founder-led companies. Altos takes a different approach to building companies, focusing on pragmatic growth and patient partnership. Based in Silicon Valley, Altos manages a portfolio of fast-growing companies that together generate billions in revenue and employ over 10,000 people around the world. For more information, visit www.altos.vc.
*Wolkowitz, Eva and Schmall, Theresa. “2014 Underserved Market Size: Financial Health Opportunity in Dollars and Cents”. Center for Financial Services Innovation. December 2015.
Jadis Armbruster SHIFT Communications firstname.lastname@example.org


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ISC today reported a modest increase in revenues for the first half of the year but said admission revenue continues to be challenged by the economy. Total revenues for the first six months of the year increased to $307M from $287.4M over the same period last year. Net income was relatively flat at $62.9M when compared to $63.4M in '11. ISC Vice Chair & CEO Lesa France Kennedy said, "While generally pleased with our financial results, attendance-related revenues at our events generated mixed results. Our core fan demographic, which is Middle America, still lacks confidence due to slow job and income growth. Until these trends change, we expect our consumer revenues will remain under pressure."
Admissions revenues for the first half of the year increased by $3.8M from a year ago and motorsports-related revenue from TV rights and sponsorship sales increased $13.2M over the same period. The company reported higher Q2 revenue ($179.6M) and operating income ($33.2M) this year because it had two more Sprint Cup races than it did during the same period in '11, when it reported revenues of $138.8M and income of $24.1M. ISC said it has hit 92% of its sponsorship sales goal for the year and secured all but two of its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race entitlements, which it expects to sell. ISC said it still expects annual revenue to be in the $610-630M range.


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The weird and wonderful items Jetstar passengers have been caught trying to bring on board as carry-on luggage have been revealed by the airline.
New Zealand flight staff of the budget airline have found fliers trying to travel with an array of bizarre things, including multi-tiered wedding cakes, horse saddles, and dead fish, not packed in ice.
Colleagues in Australia have also highlighted some of their most surprising stories.
It includes one "very muscley customer" carrying 10kg dumbbells in two bags so he could keep up his gym routine while on holiday.
Other memorable check-in counter experiences included a plumber trying to fly with a 40kg plumbing fixture, a Sydney customer with a full car windscreen wrapped in brown paper, and another with a 40-inch plasma TV.
"We carry more than 25 million customers a year and most of them do the right thing with carry-on baggage but we've also seen some ridiculous items reach our boarding gates," said Jetstar head of customer strategy, Cath Stone.
"There are some extreme examples that are good for a laugh but the trend of packing bigger and heavier baggage as carry-on has been growing steadily in recent years.
"We know many of our customers just want their fair share of overhead locker space close to their seat and we expect the carry-on baggage changes we've recently introduced will help deliver this."
Jetstar this week updated its carry-on baggage policy for all domestic and international flights booked from October 28 this year.
The revised policy allows economy passengers to bring one main item of carry-on baggage and one other small item, with a total combined weight of up to 7kg (previously 10kg).
Any customer with an existing booking made before October 28 will be permitted to bring up to 10kg (economy) or up to 20kg (business) on board.


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Every couple of weeks it's nice to look back and see just how far Apple has come.
Shares of the iPad and iPhone maker eclipsed the $US600 barrier for the first time on Thursday, only about a month after topping the $US500 mark for the first time.
Just a day before Apple's new iPad becomes available in global stores the stock ticked up to $US600.01 ($570) at Thursday's Wall Street open before selling off and closing down 1.1 per cent at $US582.89.
The new iPad, at a starting retail price of $US499 in the US, or $539 in Australia, is cheap compared with one share of the tech giant.
Apple's new iPad went on sale in Australia early today, greeted by a throng of fans hoping to get hold of the tablet computer, which has won good reviews despite stopping short of being called a major innovation.
Apple's rally has been stunning - the stock is up 47 per cent for the year and nearly 10 per cent for the month.
Last month, the company became only the sixth company in US history to top $US500 billion in market capitalization, a significant move for a company whose stock traded at $US10 about a decade ago. None of the others, which include Exxon Mobil and Microsoft, were able to sustain that market value over time.
Earlier this week, Morgan Stanley and Canaccord Genuity both lifted their price targets on the stock to above $US700.
Apple currently makes up about 18.5 per cent of the Nasdaq 100 stock index. It was cut to 12.3 per cent from 20.5 per cent in April 2011, but a surge in price has pushed the stock back up, making this index of 100 well-known companies hostage to the performance of a few technology titans like Apple.
One out of every five stock options trades in Wednesday's options market was in Apple, according to Henry Schwartz, president of options analytics firm Trade Alert. Options trading volume hit a record 2.11 million contracts on Wednesday, according to Trade Alert.
In all, 1.29 million call options and 812,000 put options changed hands in Apple on Wednesday, with the most active March calls at the $US585, $US580, $US590 and $US600 strikes, Trade Alert data showed.
The at-the-money 30-day option implied volatility on the stock jumped 35 per cent to 36 per cent, suggesting traders are expecting much large price swings for shares.


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Apple recently reported positive results for last quarter and gave positive guidance for next quarter so it’s really just a question of when, exactly, it is the company will go out of business.
Writing for Investopedia, Mark Kolakowski explains “Why Apple Investors Cut Stakes by Most in Decade” (Tip o’ the antlers to Jamie.)
It’s simple. Lead paint chips are delicious. Everyone knows this but no one wants to talk about it.
Apple Inc, the world's largest company by market capitalization (roughly $925 billion), has inspired cult-like devotion among its customers…


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Why stealing at a security conference is a bad idea
ISC West is one of the biggest international security conferences, and practically every inch of the expo floor has a camera or two trained on it.
You would expect that such a setup would make attendees reject the idea of stealing items on display on the stands even before it had half-formed in their minds, but at this year’s edition of the conference, one man must have ignored the nature of the conference and the subtle clues by his mind telling him that there are cameras everywhere.
He simply went for it – it being an unsecured iPad which he slipped into a bag after “discreetly” looking around. Naturally, several cameras caught him red handed.


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After decades of serving customers in Coquitlam, fashion giant Le Chateau will be closing down in the city.
Le Chateau Inc. is seeking court protection from creditors to allow it to liquidate its assets and close its stores, including the one at Coquitlam Centre.
The Montreal-based company said Friday that it has spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic trying to refinance or sell the business to a third party that would keep it in operation, but was unsuccessful.
"It’s already evident impact on consumer demand for Le Chateau's holiday party and occasion wear, which represents the core of our offering, has diminished Le Chateau's ability to pursue its activities," the company said. "Regrettably, these circumstances leave the company with no option other than to commence the liquidation process."
This follows a long list of retail store closures in Coquitlam.
Reitmans Canada Ltd., Aldo Group Inc., DavidsTea Inc., are among the dozens of retailers that have all filed for CCAA and closed down stores.
Thyme Maternity and Addition Elle shut their outlets.
Other stores that have disappeared include Microsoft, Frank and Oak and Pink.
Le Chateau said it intends to remain fully operational as it liquidates its 123 stores, but the eventual closures will mean the end of about 1,400 jobs — 500 at its head office and 900 at stores.
-With files from the Canadian Press


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Valley Craft appoints Doug Gates as director of sales and marketing
Valley Craft Industries, Inc. announced that Douglas W. Gates has been appointed director of sales and marketing for this Lake City, Minnesota manufacturer of professional grade material handling and storage equipment. Mr. Gates was previously director of business development for Aetrium – a maker of semiconductor test equipment. Before that he led the sales development activities at two different RFID start-ups – TPT and Aveso. He also spent 14 years with Mitsubishi Semiconductor - which later became a part of Hitachi’s Renesas Semiconductor. “Doug brings extensive experience in business development. He knows how to build a customer focused sales team and he knows how to penetrate new markets.” said Dennis Campbell, President and CEO of Valley Craft Industries. “Doug will play a key role in our efforts to deepen relationships with existing customers while developing new channels, new markets, and new products to grow our business” continued Campbell. Mr. Gates holds a BS in
Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a MBA from Northern Illinois University.


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Possibly we’ve all seen him online: the blue-eyed, porcelain-complexioned young boy, serving steaming tea from a metal ladle. Yes, we’re talking about Pakistan’s 18-year-old tea seller, or chai wallah: Arshad Khan. He broke the internet a few days ago with this look to die for:
This picture was taken by photographer Javeria Ali while on a local market trip on Sunday. She initially shared the image on Instagram, which instantly got popular. Several social media users widely shared the picture, praising Arshad’s Khan smouldering ‘Persian’ looks. Within no time, popular sites like Facebook and Twitter too were buzzing with the photograph.
— Raajeev (@Raajeev_romi) 19 October 2016
As a result, Pakistan-based online shopping site Fitin.pk has taken notice. The business has signed the tea vendor Arshad as a professional model for their brand. All of this is simply because Arshad took the internet by storm! Needless to say, Arshad’s female fans are absolutely thrilled.
— Anushree Majumdar (@captbackspace) 19 October 2016
However, several academicians and social activists see this as a classist reaction by the public. Many even think it is gender discrimination! The reason being: is Arshad being objectified through this picture, and more so because he apparently is underprivileged? Is it that his looks are being valued so much, because it’s shocking that a ‘tea vendor’ can actually look attractive? Some even think that Arshad is being given unnecessary attention. Here are opinions shared on Twitter:
— Raj Kaur Bilkhu (@Journo_Raj) 19 October 2016
— M. Hanzala Tayyab (@HanzalaOfficial) 20 October 2016
While there are several opinions being shared on the internet, Arshad Khan has now got the opportunity to have a glamorous career! Just last week he was only a tea seller, and now he is an internet sensation and possibly a future supermodel. That is definitely going to change his world for good. Especially since Islamophobia is quite a trend globally, and people have a stereotyped view of Pakistan– it’s heartening to see that people have shared Pakistani Arshad Khan’s picture like wildfire!
The biggest takeaway from all of this: human beings across the world are amazing, accepting and friendly. It’s only negative politics which often create discriminatory stereotypes. Secondly, the internet is a great way to make a useful change in people’s lives- what about us using it to now spread global peace and tolerance, just like it made the world realise that an underprivileged tea seller can be a star too?


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Date Announced: 10 Dec 2012 The new LED retrofit luminaire for stage and theatre lighting replaces the 575 watt incandescent lamp with an energy-efficient 90 watt LED array.Collinsville, Oklahoma – Recognized as a major advance in LED lighting technology for the amusement and entertainment industries, the new Crossroads LED RT-ES4 retrofit luminaire was awarded a coveted Brass Ring Award for Best New Product at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Florida. The award recognizes new products and technologies developed specifically for the industry.The IAAPA Expo provided an excellent opportunity for Crossroads LED to demonstrate their revolutionary and cost effective RT-ES4 luminaire for the standard ETC™ Source Four™ stage and theatre light. Amusement parks and entertainment venues have had to rely on incandescent fixtures with limited lumen output or face the high cost of having to buy new fixtures. Crossroads LED found that for many in the industry, retrofitting existing fixtures with state-of-the-art LED luminaires was a more cost effective alternative. The new retrofit LED luminaire has an output of almost 9,500lm and efficacy approaching 105 lm/watt. This generates equivalent light output at one-sixth the power required by the incandescent lamp. “We had a lot of skeptics show up at the IAAPA Expo to see the LED luminaires in action,” said Buddy Stefanoff, VP and Sr. Design Engineer for Crossroads. “One even showed up with a light meter.” Yet, the new RT-ES4 was able to prove its place in the industry by demonstrating its higher intensity and variable beam angles that quickly set it apart.The retrofit luminaires meet the qualifications for many of the rebate programs offered by utility companies. With the energy savings and the anticipated life expectancy of 50,000 hours, which is almost 60 times the life span of a standard 575-watt lamp, it is easy to see where this very quickly becomes an attractive lighting option for venue owners and operators.Also highlighted at the show was Crossroads LED’s new premier wireless control system, the DMX FREE Wireless Interface. This system, one of the most advanced and innovative LED lighting systems on the market today, expands far beyond the capabilities of any other by giving facility and park operators the ability to control all of their DMX FREE LED lighting systems from a single laptop. The ability to walk up to any ride or structure and change the color, effect, and intensity of the LEDs at a distance or from your office with the click of a button is revolutionary. It is the first true "plug-and-play" wireless system developed specifically for the amusement and entertainment industry.Additionally, the new DMX FREE™ technology has broad reaching applications beyond amusement lighting. Crossroads LED is also applying this technology to its line of white interior and exterior commercial and architectural lighting products. With this user-friendly system, it provides the owner/facility manager with the ability to control hundreds or even thousands of individual LED fixtures with a simple and easy-to-use control interface. With the touch of a mouse, architects and facility managers can make energy usage and aesthetic decisions quickly and efficiently.CROSSROADS LED, LLC, located in Owasso, Oklahoma, is an electronic engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in the solid-state lighting (LED) industry. The company provides innovative LED lighting solutions to the amusement, entertainment, commercial and architectural lighting industries.
Buddy Stefanoff Crossroads LED 918-504-6595


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Government and meat industry officials from Denmark visits U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) headquarters in Denver and USDA staff in Washington, D.C., to gain a better understanding of U.S. red meat production.
USMEF opened its annual conference with a status report on the current state of U.S. beef, pork and lamb exports, followed by a discussion of trade policy issues shaping the outlook for exports in 2019 and beyond.
Nine years ago, one of the first bioreactors was installed on Mike Bravard’s farm near Jefferson, Iowa. Last week, that bioreactor was reconditioned, all in an effort to make water cleaner for people downstream.
Genomic editing technology such as CRISPR/Cas9 offers tremendous potential for accelerating genetic progress, but a new ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) appears likely to stifle research and development.
Conley Nelson, a pork producer from Algona, Iowa, was elected USMEF chairman at USMEF's Strategic Planning Conference. Cevin Jones of Eden, Idaho, who operates Intermountain Beef, a custom feedlot, is chair-elect.
It is extremely important for rapid progress to be made in these negotiations if U.S. beef and pork are to remain competitive in the largest value destination for U.S. red meat, says Dan Halstrom, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) president and CEO.
Pork exports totaled 211,688 mt in March, down 7% from a year ago, valued at $520.7 million (down 15%). First quarter exports were 6% below last year’s pace in volume and down 14% in value, says USMEF.


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Nvidia is riding high on the boom in cryptocurrency mining, according to the graphics card (GPU) manufacturer.
Revealed yesterday, the California-based company's second-quarter earnings were up 56 percent year over year, with its GPU division taking in $1.9 billion during the second quarter – a rise of 59 percent compared to the same period in 2016.
Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang struck a bullish tone about the prospects for selling to would-be miners, telling VentureBeat:
"Cryptocurrency and blockchain are here to stay. Over time, it will become quite large. It is very clear that new currencies will come to market. It’s clear the GPU is fantastic at cryptography. The GPU is really quite well positioned."The firm's CFO, Colette Kress, echoed the remarks in statements, citing rising values in the global cryptocurrency market as a primary driver for GPU sales.
"Our PC OEM revenue includes GPUs designed for mainstream desktops, notebooks, and cryptocurrency mining," she said. "The recent rise in crypto coin prices resulted in increased demand in OEM GPU sales."


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Last April, the REALPRO Foundation hosted a fashion show to support the fight against cancer. The event was a huge success, raising almost $2,000 for RI Pink Heals, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families. The fashion show was produced by Lights, Fashion, and Philanthropy, Fountain Street Creative, and Donahue Models & Talent, and featured designers Shaco Couture and Everett Hoag.
Image: Andre Marines, Eduardo Marines, Chris Seelenbrandt, Tina Moretti, Kiona Miranda, & Christopher Ayala
The event was made possible thanks to the support of several sponsors, including Peoples Home Loans, Novus Home Mortgage, Main Street Home Loans, Lapointe Insurance, First Home Mortgage, Shamrock Financial, Semper Home Loans, and George Lough Esq. With the help of these sponsors, the REALPRO Foundation was able to put together an amazing event that raised awareness and funds for a great cause.
The president of RI Pink Heals, Chris Seelenbrandt, was also in attendance at the event. He spoke about the important work that the organization does to support cancer patients and their families. He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the REALPRO Foundation and all of the sponsors and attendees.
One of the unique features of the fashion show was that several of the models were cancer survivors. They bravely took to the runway to showcase the latest designs from Shaco Couture and Everett Hoag. Their presence was a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting those who are battling cancer and working to find a cure for this devastating disease.
The event was held at REALPRO By The Water in Pawtuxet Village, Cranston, RI. This beautiful waterfront venue provided the perfect backdrop for the fashion show. Attendees enjoyed delicious food and drinks while mingling with other supporters of the cause.
In summary, the REALPRO Foundation's fashion show was a huge success that raised almost $2,000 for RI Pink Heals. The event was made possible thanks to the support of several sponsors and featured the latest designs from Shaco Couture and Everett Hoag. With the presence of cancer survivor models, the event was a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting those who are battling cancer. We commend the board members of the REALPRO Foundation for their commitment to philanthropy and their efforts to make a difference in the fight against cancer.


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According to its CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, cryptocurrency exchange FTX is willing to collaborate with Robinhood Markets.
FTX was reportedly looking for ways to purchase Robinhood, according to sources familiar with the situation, although Bankman-Fried refuted such claims.
Bankman-Fried added, “I have always been impressed by the company that Vlad and his team have developed and we are thrilled about Robinhood’s future possibilities and various ways we may work with them. That said, there aren’t any ongoing M&A discussions with Robinhood.
A Robinhood representative referred to the dual-class shareholder structure, in which the company’s founders retain more than half of the voting power, in a reply to TechCrunch. As a result, no agreement to buy the firm may be made without their express consent. Given the tone of the letter, TechCrunch does not believe that the two men who founded Robinhood are drooling over the prospect of selling their company.
After the news of a potential takeover surfaced earlier today, shares of Robinhood rose by 14 percent before dropping by around 3 percent in after-hours trade. Bankman-Fried disclosed last month that he had purchased a 7.6 percent interest in Robinhood Markets.
Although Robinhood isn’t a crypto-focused business, it does provide commission-free trading for equities and exchange-traded funds in addition to a few different cryptocurrencies through its mobile app. On its way to the public markets, crypto-related trading revenues were a major factor in the increase of Robinhood’s revenue, but they have since decreased.
According to a recent Bloomberg story, FTX gathered almost $2 billion to invest in other businesses and make acquisitions in an effort to grow the cryptocurrency exchange. A $2 billion venture capital fund was also established by the business earlier this year to support web3 development teams.


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Rice prices in most markets showed no sign of decrease Thursday, following an emergency ban on exports Wednesday and soothing speeches by Prime Minister Hun Sen this week.
Prices were slightly down in Siem Reap province, vendors said.
A vendor at O'Russei Market in Phnom Penh, who only gave her first name, Sophy, said the rice price remained high on Thursday.
"The price of rice is still high, and now we have not yet heard of any falling prices," she said.
Hundreds of tons of state-sold rice across the country have been sold directly to consumers, but this too had little effect on market prices, albeit after only one day.
Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said Thursday that the government can't reduce all the prices across Cambodia in a short amount of time, but the ministry had prepared hundreds of thousands of tons of rice to sell in markets where prices were significantly increasing.
Meanwhile, some rice exporters said Thursday they were concerned with the future of their businesses, following a two-month ban on exports issued Wednesday.
But many said they supported the national export ban, which was ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen and enacted by the Ministry of Commerce.
Kim Savuth, president of the Khmer Food Import Export Company, in Phnom Penh, said Thursday the government should not ban the export of all kinds of rice.
The highest quality rice enjoys a very high price on the international market, he said, and is a type of rice with little demand among common Cambodians.
"That kind of rice should be allowed for export," he said. "If not, it will reduce the income of exporters."


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The “Back to the Future” series of films gave us several exciting glimpses of what was at the time future technology. While some of it never quite got off the ground—like hoverboards—some of it became a very real proposition. For mobile payments buffs, the notion of “thumbing” some cash for the clock tower caught all our interest, and there’s a new report saying Amazon is looking to do something similar. Our friends at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW) dropped commentary our way about the topic, and the response is a little baffled.
The hope, KBW projects, is that the notion will catch on and go beyond Amazon, with Amazon already talking the idea over with a range of credit card issuers to work with terminals that carry out a palm reading to identify a customer and his or her accompanying payment details. This could move into other venues, like quick service restaurants (QSRs) and similar locations.
Since this is still a development in its early stages, KBW notes, there are a lot of unknowns that come along with the development. For instance, just what biometric indicators will be used to authenticate customer payments, how Amazon will share this technology out, and how the system will be able to detect fraudulent transactions.
Additionally, two major factors that KBW cites in determining how far it will advance are what the costs will be to the end user—if Amazon is basically going to set itself up as the new payment processor, that might be worthwhile to the businesses who put this program in place—and just how useful customers will actually find this technology.
That in turn depends on how it works. We’ve known for some time that fingerprints can be an effective security tool; anyone with a model of Android or iOS phone from within the last two to three years can tell you that much. Connecting them to a mobile payments tool isn’t without its sense. The biggest problem here may be that Amazon is targeting a market that often doesn’t have a lot of extra cash to work with on renovations and the like, so persuading low-margin QSR business to buy in may be a challenge even if it does work.
Still, Amazon has a noteworthy plan here, and seeing just how far it goes should be exciting in its own right.


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CBS’s webcast of the NCAA basketball tournament will produce as much as 25 million in ad sales, more than double last year. The March Madness on Demand webcast could reportedly produce a profit of 18 million, according to a spokesman for CBS. The network will offer all 63 games online over three weeks, with advertising from companies including State Farm Insurance and Marriott.
The NCAA tournament starts 3/20. This is the third year the network has aired a free, ad-supported webcast of March Madness on sites including CBSSports.com and NCAA.com.