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Search For "monetary authority of singapore"
Updated : 2 weeks, 2 days ago IST
New Delhi [India], September 19 (ANI): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) signed a FinTech Co-operation Agreement to facilitate regulatory collaboration and partnership in FinTech technology.
Updated : 1 month ago IST
Singapore, August 30 (ANI): Singapore's central bank Monetary Authority of Singapore is contemplating adding frictions on retail access to cryptocurrencies through various measures including customer suitability tests and restricting the use of leverage and credit facilities for such trad
Updated : 1 month, 2 weeks ago IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 16 (ANI/NewsVoir): Luxury hospitality pioneer Soneva is now accepting Bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies across each of its resorts in the Maldives and Thailand. Continually welcoming innovation to allow guests to personalise their bespoke experience b
Updated : 1 month, 4 weeks ago IST
Singapore, August 8 (ANI): Last week, an infrastructure project online portal that connects government, developers, and financiers was launched by Infrastructure Asia, a platform set up by Enterprise Singapore and Singapore's Central Bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Updated : 3 months ago IST
Singapore, July 5 (ANI): India's conservative position on not encouraging trading in Crypto currency is being rapidly vindicated by the negative experiences of various Crypto funds, with the latest being Singapore's Three Arrows crypto fund. In line with the dip in the overall crypto market
Singapore, July 4 (ANI): Last week, Singapore-based crypto hedge fund, Three Arrows Capital (3AC), was reported by various media sources to be in trouble. It is one of the high-profile crypto investment firms that has run into difficulties recently as the crypto market valuation plunged.
Updated : 10 months, 3 weeks ago IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]/Dhaka [Bangladesh]/Singapore, November 16 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Ahead of the SME Day at Singapore Fintech Festival 2021, BRAC Bank, a leading SME Focused Bank in Bangladesh and GlobalLinker, a leading Business Networking and Enablement Platform for SMEs, hea
Updated : 1 year ago IST
New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have announced a project to link their fast payment systems -- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and PayNow.
Updated : 1 year, 10 months ago IST
Singapore, December 7 (ANI): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the nation's central bank, recently announced the winners of Singapore's much coveted digital bank licences.


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The second great social media rush is on – but this time it’s advertisers and not users the big players are looking for. It’s a global hunt for revenue, and Australia is a focus as
Last week, Facebook announced it would axe more than halve its advertising formats to simplify its product range, while Twitter unveiled its second global partnership with an advertising/media agency network – this one with WPP, following a separate deal with Publicis-owned
Twitter, which has until now relied on a reseller model in Australia, is establishing an office in Sydney and has advertised for a country director and other sales positions. Its head of brand and agency advocacy,
There is good reason for Australia being seen as fertile ground for these global giants. Despite the hype about social media, it is a small part of the advertising mix Down Under. In 2012, paid ads on social media represented 4 per cent of the total amount spent by media agencies on display advertising, according to Standard Media Index figures, although there is a significant direct component too. To generate the revenue needed to justify their hefty valuations, social media companies need to attract big brands – but the challenges are considerable.
Recently, The New York Times reported Nissan and Unilever-owned Dove copped consumer backlash over their ads appearing on Facebook pages that promoted sexual assault. Nissan canned its Facebook advertising in response. Facebook says its ads are targeted towards people, not pages, though it is reviewing procedures to deal with hate speech pages.
Barnes says this has never come up as an issue for Twitter, probably because the ad format is different.
Chief digital officer for media agency
“We take it very seriously. We work with Facebook, and we’re a member of the council they have out of New York," Norris says. “We’re planning conversations with them at the next meeting to discuss issues around pages related to sexual assault, which are horrendous. If you think about the scale of content created on Facebook – terabytes of data every day – they have to find better ways of scaling systems that will understand what is inappropriate, without human intervention at every stage because that’s realistically not possible."
There have also been questions about the effectiveness of advertising on Facebook. In March, Marketing magazine in the UK wrote that
Melbourne Business School associate professor
“It’s impossible to meet those expectations among big brands and that’s what we’re seeing now," Ritson says. He believes Facebook has increased the amount of advertising as much as the audience will tolerate; it now needs to convince advertisers to pay more. “Facebook has amazing reach and good cost-per-thousand reach as well, it just has to play a very careful game in terms of how much it pushes out advertising."
Twitter recently started collaborating with Nielsen on a new survey tool for advertisers to measure the impact of Twitter campaigns on brand metrics. Facebook has had a similar partnership for a few years.
The details of Twitter’s new agency partnerships are still under wraps but the chairman of media agency Starcom MediaVest Group in Australia,
“It’s more than just pricing and data analytics, it’s new ad formats, and testing and incubating different ideas and formats using different sort of research techniques," Sintras says. “There’s a number of things we’ve negotiated exclusively on behalf of our clients and we’re very excited about that."
Twitter has 200 million users worldwide, compared with more than a billion for Facebook.
The company has not disclosed how many members are in Australia, but 70 per cent are outside the United States. Barnes’s visit to Australia was part of a global tour to understand how different markets work.
“The good news about Australia is you have a user base that is very sophisticated and very mobile savvy," she said during her visit.
“When you look at the growth of Twitter, accelerating . . . we’re very excited about coming to Australia."
Twitter has three main paid products for advertisers – promoted tweets (to pin a tweet to the top of the stream), promoted accounts (to list the account in the ‘who to follow’ box) and promoted trends (to list a hashtag in the trends box). The advertiser needs to tweet and attract followers but can pay to extend its reach using Twitter’s targeting tools.
Barnes says Twitter is capitalising on two key trends. The first is that given news stories frequently break on Twitter, brands find it’s a good way to “ignite" campaigns by reaching influencers before moving to other media.
“The second big trend that we’re seeing is the correlation between Twitter and television – we know that 95 per cent of the public conversation about TV happens on Twitter," Barnes says. “In the US, we’ve just announced TV amplification products that allow brands to find people as they’re tweeting about a particular show."
For example, when Justin Timberlake launched his album at the Grammy Awards, he also sent out a scheduled tweet sharing links to buy the music or watch extra video. Barnes adds that some brands are skipping the television advertising component altogether and solely targeting the audience of a particular show through Twitter.
One of the roles Twitter has advertised is for a head of media partnerships to work with television companies, but Australian advertisers are already naturally using Twitter this way. For example, Vodafone chief marketing officer
MindShare’s Norris says Twitter’s positioning as a companion to television is a “smart move". His agency is covered by the
Facebook claims 12 million monthly active users in Australia – a figure that has stayed steady for six months. The site booked $10.2 million in agency advertising this year, says SMI data quoted in The Australian Financial Review. The vice-president of global marketing solutions at Facebook,
Easton, the managing director since January, says more than 16 of the top 20 advertisers have used Facebook in the past year, showing the “business is in great shape".
Some of the big Australian brands using Facebook’s advertising suite include
One of Easton’s key hires was
Rogers is well regarded in the industry and Easton would be aware of the importance of agency sales for a digital media business, given his background at Google. When Google first came to Australia, it focused on small businesses to compete with the Yellow Pages. The business took off once it set up an agency sales team to go after the $7.5 billion in ad revenue booked by agencies in Australia.
“We always focus on developing a strong body of people active and engaged on Facebook first and then look at the advertising and marketing product," Burnett says. “So it’s been our more recent focus to talk more to agencies, large corporates and small businesses. It’s an important, growing market and we’ve hired more people this year."
The new jobs are mostly in sales and marketing and include investment in vertical markets such as e-commerce, financial services and travel.
As part of the changes Facebook announced last week about its ad formats, it said it would end sponsored posts and instead include “social signals" in all advertising by default.
MindShare’s Norris says the move to simplify the product suite is sensible.
“You almost needed a doctorate in Facebook ad formats, I think they had 27, but it felt like more," he says.
The audience growth for social media is starting to hit saturation point but the process of converting eyeballs to ad revenue is just beginning.
“It’s not even close to flattening out," Sintras says. “When you compare time spent with where the dollars are going, there’s a huge gap."

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Just recently, it was announced that during the last 24 hours the main crypto increased by more than 2.5% and reached $50,000. Currently, Bitcoin is recovering after the non-beneficial September, when its price sharply lowered at the beginning and the end of the month.
Additionally, not only the price is growing, but the market capitalization also rapidly gains. It is expected that after some time the capitalization of Bitcoin will exceed trillion as it was in the first half of the year.
Other cryptocurrencies which are among the top 10 are continuously growing. It was implied that when the bitcoin will be able to reach about $55,000- $57,000 such coins as MATIC and TRX will be the first coins that will start to grow in the long term period. Today, MATRIX made a statement where it is clearly showing that it is happy for the rise of Bitcoin and implying that the growth of BTC will have a great effect on MATIC.


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Caribbean News, Latin America News:
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Nov. 26, 2020: Since 2014, Indiana farmers needed a research proposal and university association to apply for a hemp license. Now, the newly approved plan will allow farmers to become independently licensed by the state, opening the door to commercial production and processing of hemp which will benefit both farmers and sellers of CBD hemp flowers.
Indiana Approves Commercial Hemp Licensing
“This plan approval is a huge accomplishment for both farmers and our team. We are looking forward to growing this program and offering more efficient licensing for Hoosier farmers and processing companies,” the seed administrator for the Office of the Indiana State Chemist, Don Robison said in a press release.
While a dozen other states are also currently negotiating commercial hemp licensing plans with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Indiana has become one of the twenty-nine states with approved hemp licensing for commercial businesses.
In early November, the USDA approved hemp licensing proposals for several first nation tribes including Comanche, Seminole, and Apaches, and also approved plans for hemp licensing in five other states.
As a majority of U.S. states move towards full commercial licensing for hemp businesses, Indiana is happy to announce they started accepting hemp cultivation and processing licenses in November for the 2021 growing season.
Indiana Hemp License Application Requirements
If you are a farmer in Indiana interested in applying for a hemp business license there are certain requirements and criteria. The state first offers one general “hemp license” and another for “agricultural hemp seed production.
Unfortunately, however, if you’ve ever been convicted of a drug-related felony or misdemeanor in the previous ten years, you are ineligible for a license. This means that those seemingly most familiar with what was once an illegal plant are now barred from participating in the legal industry.
You’ll also be required to submit your personal address, the hemp business’s address, as well as GPS coordinates, and a legal description of the property used for the hemp operation. Those who intend to cultivate hemp are required to also report the acreage size of the field where the hemp will be grown.
Applicants are also required to submit written consent allowing the state police to conduct a state and national criminal history background check. This also means consenting to aerial inspections, as well as physical inspections to ensure hemp grown and planted meets the legal definition of hemp (less than .3% THC).
The application fees in Indiana for a hemp “handler” or “grower” is $750 each, or $1500 for both, and are non-refundable.
Indiana Hemp Plan
The full Indiana hemp plan as put forth by the state can be read here. While Hoosier farmers may be more accustomed to cultivating crops such as corn and soy, it was only a couple of generations ago that hemp was a cash crop for fiber, nutrition, and medicine.
As farmers consider taking risks to try something new, they also have to find markets for the newly legalized crop. A projected $20 billion market rings nice in the ears, but many farms that just harvested in 2020 are struggling to find a market.


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Mobile commerce set to explode: PayPal
A survey released by online payment specialists PayPal has pointed to a dramatic jump in the amount of online transactions being made via mobile phones in Australia. Conducted for PayPal by net ratings group Nielsen, the ‘mCommerce: Secure Insight' report was good news for the Australian ecommerce industry which was ranked among the smallest in the developed world.
In contrast Australia ranks an impressive third behind Japan and South Korea for mCommerce. The report showed that last year Australians spent $155 million online via their mobile phones and predicted the figure to grow sharply over the next few years as smart phone penetration moves towards 100 percent.
Click here to read the full article.


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WORLD'S COOLEST SNOWMAN
18, Classic Media here will release its all-new animated feature, "The Legend of Frosty the Snowman." This comedy-adventure is based on the original 1969 television classic. The movie is narrated by Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds and features the voice of Tom Kenny, who also voices SpongeBob SquarePants. Frito-Lay will promote the release with a special mail-in rebate offer on 10 million packages of Lay's Potato Chips and thousands of retail displays. Other promotional partners include LifeSavers, which will feature characters from the movie on its packages, and Keebler, which will offer a mail-in rebate, as will Renuzit Holiday Air Fresheners. A television ad campaign, print ads in parenting and family publications, radio promotion and a yet-to-be announced Internet partner will support the release. The DVD will retail for $21.98.
DOG-SITTING MADE EASY
LOS ANGELES -- Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander here came up with a method to keep dogs occupied and to donate money to worthy animal charities. "Doggy Daycare," a DVD program, is designed to entertain consumer's furry friends while their families are out of the house. According to a study by the American Kennel Club, New York, and Iams, Dayton, Ohio, close to 50% of surveyed pet owners believe that their animals have demonstrated some interest in watching TV. The one-hour program has special cinematography and soundtrack effects to cater to a dog's visual perspective and auditory capabilities for a "dog's eye view" with sounds that range from Tibetan cymbals to whale songs. "Doggy Daycare" is slated for winter holiday promotion and will retail for $28.95. All proceeds will go to charities such as the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, the Best Friends Animal Society and the Texas Wildlife Relief Fund.
BREAST CANCER CHAMPIONS
MINNEAPOLIS -- Yoplait here, Self magazine, New York, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Dallas, are launching the second annual Yoplait Champions program, a nationwide search for up to 25 ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things in the fight against breast cancer. Between Sept. 19 and Oct. 31, individuals can visit www.yoplaitusa.com to nominate a friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker or themselves for the opportunity to be selected as one of the champions. On behalf of each champion, Yoplait will donate $1,000 to the charity of their choice, totaling up to $25,000 for 25 champions. Applicants are asked to describe, in 1,000 words or less, how the nominee embodies a champion.


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Remember what it was like when consumers could open Napster and then download any song they wanted … for free? Well, the recording industry sure does; it’s never fully recovered from its transition to digital even after Napster has come and gone.
Now, the manufacturing world in general — essentially any company that builds and sells a physical product — is beginning to wake up to the potential of 3D printing to wreak similar havoc on their business.
The reaction, predictably, is a growing movement to shackle 3D printers — machines that use a digital blueprint to “print” a three-dimensional, physical object by repeatedly layering melted plastic — before the horse is out of the barn.
These devices have been around for decades, but long were very expensive and limited to commercial applications where they could be used for tasks like rapid prototyping. That changed with the rise of “maker” culture and the introduction of 3D printers like the Makerbot Thing-O-Matic, aimed at hobbyists. Last year, 3D printers broke the $1,000 barrier and at CES 2013, 3D printers aimed at the home by companies like 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) were generating a lot of buzz.
Bottom line? The industry has progressed rapidly and is on the cusp of going mainstream. Electronics retailers are preparing to clear space on store shelves for them, former Wired editor-in-chief Chris Anderson has predicted that 3D printing will be “bigger than the web” and NewScientist proclaims that 3D printing heralds a second industrial revolution.
Nokia (NYSE:NOK) is already offering Lumia 820 owners plans to 3D print their own cases for the smartphone — a move that has to send shivers down the collective spine of consumer electronics accessories makers. Mobile phone accessories like protective cases and covers made for a $36 billion industry in 2012. What happens when 3D printers are as common as inkjet printers in homes and anyone can just print their own?
Toss in websites like Thingverse, which act as a public library of digital blueprints for 3D printer, and the situation gets even more worrisome. People are trading plans for 3D printable objects — including replacement parts for home appliances, toys and even adapters that let incompatible objects be used together. (The classic example of this is a 3D adapter that lets LEGO bricks be used with wooden Brio train sets.)
To ratchet anxiety up another notch, Makerbot just announced a desktop 3D scanner. This device uses lasers to scan an object in three dimensions; a 3D printer can then make an exact duplicate … no digital blueprint required. It’s the physical object equivalent of photocopying.
For any company that manufactures … well … anything, the 3D-printer progression from industrial-grade equipment to do-it-yourself hobbyist kit to mass-production model aimed at home use is disconcerting to say the least.
On top of that, the government is also waking up to the potential for disruption. Recently, digital plans were released that give a home 3D printer the ability to print a working AR-15 assault rifle with high capacity ammo magazine.
It’s almost no wonder that there is a push to do something about 3D printing before its too late. Intellectual Ventures, a notorious patent investment company, made news late last year after being granted a patent that prevents the printing of unauthorized 3D objects — in other words, putting digital rights management on 3D printers and digital plans.
Wired also wrote about Games Workshop, a UK gaming company that took legal action against a Thingverse-hosted blueprint for 3D figurines that could be used with its Warhammer game. Takedown notices based on copyright claims are increasing against websites that allow people to share 3D designs.
On top of that, with the prospect of widespread adoption — and the resulting increased competition — the industry has even begun turning on itself. 3D Systems filed suit against a Kickstarted Formlabs 3D printer, claiming the MIT-backed device violates its 3D printing patents dating back to 1997.
The legal consensus at this point seems to be that 3D printing is currently governed by patent law, rather than the copyright law that covers music and movies. This is less restrictive, which is exactly what manufacturers of physical products don’t want. Thus, they’re likely to push for tougher regulation.
And as 3D printers begin to show up in homes, 2013 could be the year that “3D printing sparks a patent law Armageddon.”
If that happens, the “maker” revolution may be over before it goes mainstream … and at the very least, it will be delayed and quite likely neutered.As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.


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The world of honey is full of health hazards and risks.But a new study has found that some products contain no more than one of the two banned ingredients in honey.It is the first time there has been a scientific review to confirm that any particular product is safe.Dr Michael Cramer from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, who led the study, said the results were encouraging."It ...
Farmacy honey powder has been given a boost with the announcement of a Rs 50,000 grant from the Dharavathi Government to make it into a dairy product.
The department of food processing and retailing has granted the department an initial grant of Rs 50 lakh to manufacture the honey-based product at Dhanvakur, a village in the state’s North 24 Parganas district.
The department said the project is aimed at increasing the milk yield of the dairy by providing fresh milk and honey to the farmers.
The grant will be used for the production of the honey product at a plant near Dhanvilakur village.
Dharavath Dairy chief general manager Suresh Singh told the media that the grant will help farmers get the products from their fields to feed their families.
The company will use the funds for production of honey powder, and for marketing it.
Dhanvashur is located on a plateau near the village and is home to about 150 families.
Farmers say that there are no fresh water sources in the region and they have to rely on water from the neighbouring Dharvavati lake, which is also affected by heavy monsoon rains.
The Dharvilakus dairy is a cooperative between Dhanvikas Dhanvi and Dhanavati Dhanvesh, who jointly own the Dhanva village.


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Roseau, Dominica – Tuesday, November 29, 2022. This Christmas keeps on giving at Digicel. The holiday
season is a time for being thankful, so Digicel has taken on an attitude of gratitude and is thanking
customers by rewarding them with more from now until the end of 2023. Through Digicel’s exclusive
Christmas plans, customers will get 10GB data every month, for all of 2023, when they buy and stay on a
3 Day Prime Bundle or higher. New customers will also receive a free Sim, on activation of a 7 Day Prime
Bundle plus $30 credit towards their next plan.
Additionally, new customers can take advantage of the Ultimate Christmas Combo of a brand new
discounted DL4 smartphone inclusive of a 30 Day Prime Bundle. Customers can look forward to more
data; more minutes; more rewards and prizes with Pick & Win in the MyDigicel app; more speed, reliability and coverage on the fastest network; and more savings and discounts on our devices and SIMs.
Marva Williams, Marketing Manager of Digicel Dominica said, “We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again,
it’s the Christmas that keeps on giving at Digicel, so we’re offering our customers the gift that keeps on
giving when they sign up and stay on 3 day prime bundles or higher. Every month, new and existing
customers who activate a Prime Bundle this holiday season will get 10GB any use data, on us, when they
remain on the plans all year long. For us, it’s all about continuing to put our customers first, and thanking
them for every interaction they have with us.”
Customers can also win more in the MyDigicel app through Pick & Win, the new gamified way to be
rewarded for any interaction with Digicel. Whether it’s switching to join the Digicel family, buying a prime
bundle, or paying bills in full and on time, customers will get the chance to Pick & Win lots of cool prizes.
For further details on how Digicel is giving customers more this Christmas, visit the website at: Switch to
Digicel Prime | Digicel Dominica (digicelgroup.com)
The post Digicel rewards customers with more this Christmas and all throughout 2023 with 10GB any use data every month first appeared on Emonews.


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Formula 1 fans in India would be familiar with AirAsia and its CEO Mr. Tony Fernades is also the owner of the Caterham F1 team.
Livemint.com reports that the Aviation JV could also result in other synergies between the two groups such as opening an automobile assembly plant in Malaysia to facilitate Tata Motors' entry into the nation.
Tata Motors have been eying all Asian markets since the launch of the Nano and the Tata-AirAsia JV could bear fruits with respect to Malaysia.
According to Livemint's sources, both the parties have come to a "broad agreement" regarding a possible automotive alliance to sell Tata products in Malaysia. If things fall in place, Tata Motors could enter the country with its Nano and commercial vehicles like the Ace and Winger. Tata will begin selling cars in Malaysia's neighbouring country Indonesia this year, and has shown intent in bringing the full lineup there. We believe a similar strategy will be used to step into the Malaysian market.
The Tata Nano's manufacturing plant at Sanand, Gujarat is being under utilized due to a lackluster sales performance of the car in the domestic market. Tata Motors is planning new variants of the car such as CNG and diesel to boost the sales and are also on the look out to export the car to South East Asian nations.
Tata Motors would be happy to embrace the possible automotive alliance with AirAsia.


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NHS workers are being offered free accommodation, drinks and discounted food as companies across the UK chip in to help during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Businesses including Pret and McDonald’s are offering free hot drinks, while hotels and even tour bus companies are offering places to stay.
Starsleeper explained that its buses are not in use due to cancelled gigs, meaning they are available for use by those in the healthcare industry.
In a statement, they said: “We have eight tour buses sat here in our yard near Nottingham doing nothing and perhaps we can offer our vehicles for use to local hospitals for staff to rest or sleep between their long shifts currently.”
The former Manchester United duo own the Stock Exchange and Hotel Football in Manchester and will close both properties to the public from Sunday, giving access to 176 beds to medical staff.
“It is in this moment in time that I think the whole of our industry needs to show solidarity not just for our staff in these uncertain times, but for the people who need the accommodation most in the coming months,” Neville said in a video posted on Twitter.
On Wednesday morning, Pret announced on Twitter that hot drinks would be “on the house” for all employees with a valid NHS staff card, while discounts are being offered on food.
Pano Christou, Pret CEO, said: “The Pret family and the whole world are in uncharted territory, and it is important that we show solidarity and stand by each other in this difficult time.”
McDonald’s and Starbucks have also committed to giving free hot drinks to health workers and emergency services staff.
WHSmith said it would be doubling the NHS staff discount on food and drinks to 20% in all its hospital stores from Thursday.
Mr Christou said: “The teams on the frontline of the NHS are doing an extraordinary job and deserve all our support through this crisis.
“Hopefully this small step helps brighten their day.”


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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Rihanna has had huge success in the music industry and has more recently taken over the business world, with her two companies: Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty. Rihanna is co-owner of Fenty Beauty with French luxury retailer LVMH. Its beauty line, launched in 2017, includes a wide range of makeup products in a wide range of colors for all skin tones and formulas for all skin types.
In 2018, the singer opened another successful business, this time more fashion-related. Savage X Fenty is Rihanna’s lingerie line. The store lives online but also has physical locations opening in the United States. So far, five locations have been opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, Houston, Texas, Culver City, California, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and Arlington, Virginia. According to the Savage X Fenty website, stores will also open in Chicago, Illinois, Long Island, New York, Atlanta, Georgia, Detroit, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri and Newark, Delaware. Forbes reported that the company had a valuation of $1 billion in February 2021.
RIHANNA SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BIRTH OF BABY BOY
Is Rihanna a billionaire?
Rihanna is a billionaire, but not necessarily because of her music. While Rihanna has become a hugely popular musician and has released tons of hit songs, most of her net worth comes from her two companies. Rihanna has a net worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes, making her the richest musician and the youngest self-made billionaire woman. Rihanna owns 50% of Fenty Beauty and 30% of Savage X Fenty. Forbes reported that Fenty Beauty made over $550 million in revenue in 2020 and Savage X Fenty had a valuation of $1 billion as of February 2021.
Is Rihanna married?
Rihanna is not currently married, but is dating longtime friend A$AP Rocky. The couple, however, sparked marriage rumors when they tied the knot in A$AP Rocky’s music video for his song “DMB” in May 2022. In January 2022, the two announced they were having a baby together and in May 2022 welcomed their first child. .
The couple have been friends for a long time and have collaborated on numerous projects and attended events together since 2013. In May 2021, he called her “my lady” and “the love of my life” in a GQ story , who confirmed the suspected relationship.
RIHANNA NAMED A NATIONAL HERO IN BARBADOS, GIVEN THE TITLE OF “THE GOOD EXCELLENT”
In the past, Rihanna dated Chris Brown, Matt Kemp, Karim Benzema, Lewis Hamilton, Travis Scott, Drake and Hassan Jameel.
What are Rihanna’s most popular songs?
Rihanna released her first single in 2005 called “Pon de Replay”. Since then, Rihanna has released major hits like “Umbrella”, “SOS”, “Work”, “Stay”, “Don’t Stop the Music”, “Love the Way You Lie”, “Only Girl”, “What’s My Name”, “Diamonds”, “FourFiveSeconds” and “We Found Love”. She has collaborated with many artists over the years, including Drake, Future, Jay-Z, Eminem, Paul McCartney and Kayne West.
Rihanna has been nominated for 33 Grammy Awards and won nine. She won her first-ever Grammy for Best Rap/Singing Collaboration in 2007 for the song “Umbrella.” Rihanna’s latest album, “Anti”, was released in 2016.
DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS MOBILE APP TODAY
Besides her music, Rihanna has done quite a bit of acting throughout her career. She was in the 2012 film “Battleship” and voiced the lead role in the 2015 animated film “Home”. She was also in “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” and “Ocean’s Eight”.


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Self-publishing: What's trending?
Self-publishing has been an established route to market for authors in a diverse range of genres for over a decade. Orna Ross, author and Founder-Director of the Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi) identifies the latest trends.
Image © Thomas Ball
Self-publishing is an umbrella term, embracing authors with vastly different aspirations, needs and outcomes, from leaving a legacy for family to publishing a bestseller. This article looks at the very latest trends affecting those self-publishers who aim to reach more readers, sell more books and make a living from their work.
Trend #1: Self-publishing Continues to Grow in All Directions
It can be difficult to get accurate data about self-publishing as so many indie authors don’t use ISBNs (the International Standard Book Numbers that the book industry uses) but the most conservative estimates indicate that 30% of Amazon bestsellers are now self-published.
Equally exciting are the new genres and literary forms emerging as indie authors are led by their close relationship with readers. Abby McDonald, for example, created a new sub-genre in the overcrowded market of adult romance by targeting millennials. Readers loved McDonald’s stories about post-college 20-somethings; other self-publishers jumped in, and a new genre was born. A look through Amazon’s categories shows this is a widespread occurrence as digital reading allows for atomisation of interests.
In a Nielsen survey of 2,000 people this past December, about 54% of e-book buyers said they used smartphones to read books at least some of the time
Trend #2: More and More Self-publishers Go DIY
Large assisted publishing companies which, for a fee, put a book through the processes of publishing are losing momentum, as more and more self-publishers go direct, hiring their own editors and designers, and publishing to Amazon (KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing – for e-books, and CreateSpace for print-books) and, increasingly, also to Apple iBooks, Kobo Writing Life and Ingram Spark, while using distributors such as Smashwords and Draft2Digital to reach other e-book outlets.
All these companies offer excellent terms to authors, including up to 70% of sales revenue.
Trade publishing and most assisted self-publishing contracts cannot match this, unless they offer standout marketing services.
Trend #3: Indie Authors Increasingly Work with Trade Publishers Too
Writers increasingly move between self-publishing and trade publishing and consider all possible pathways. Indeed, any indie authors successfully selling online will sooner or later find themselves engaging with the trade, if only around subsidiary rights. It is still much easier for trade publishing to reach bookshops with print books for example and authors need to deal with overseas publishers if they want to sell their translation rights.
Publishers’ Weekly recently reported on a steady stream of authors who took publishing deals in the past few years only to return to self-publishing, while other trade-published authors, like CJ Lyons, do both, side by side. And a survey by Digital Book World found, unsurprisingly, that authors using both methods earn most.
Trend #4: The Rise of Phone Reading
Generally, people are reading more on their phones. In a Nielsen survey of 2,000 people this past December, about 54% of e-book buyers said they used smartphones to read books at least some of the time, up from 24% in 2012. Indie authors have been quick to move on this trend, creating shorter books with phone-friendly formatting.
The global e-book market is expected to reach more than $22 billion by next year says Kobo Book Report, largely thanks to phone reading “The advances that we’re seeing year-over-year are incredible,” Kobo Chief Content Officer Michael Tamblyn said.
Meaningful distribution in conventional bookstores remains a challenge for self-publishers but last year saw the emergence of bookstores exclusively for self-published books
Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon are investing in growing reading technology globally, encouraging reading and literacy as they go. Facebook has just announced the satellite system they will use to launch broadband across sub-Saharan Africa. This is broadband delivery by drone; solar-powered, unmanned planes the size of Boeing 737s that will beam broadband internet into the most remote locations.
While traditional print publishing focuses on bookstores and local newspapers, the focus for self-publishing and e-reading is firmly on what the community calls “going globile”.
Trend #5: Indie only Bookstores
Meaningful distribution in conventional bookstores remains a challenge for self-publishers but last year saw the emergence of bookstores exclusively for self-published books. Children’s author Patti Brassard Jefferson opened the tiny Gulf Coast Books in Fort Myers, Florida, in April of last year. Within six months, she has moved to a 1,700 sq ft store, carrying ten times as many books as its predecessor. Another indie-only bookstore launched in Colorado last month. And, of course, at the end of last year, Amazon opened its first bookstore in Seattle. Early days but it’s easy to see this trend taking off.
Trend #6: Expanding Readership
ALLi was proud to feature Accessible eBook Guidelines for Self-Publishing Authors by Dave Gunn in our recent Indie Author Fringe Online Conference. Published by the WIPO Accessible Books Consortium in conjunction with IAF, the International Authors Forum (ALLi is a member of the Forum), this easy to read PDF is a highly practical overview of the world of accessible publishing, complete with a helpful how-to checklist and a further resources list.
This is a tremendous resource for all authors but indie authors, being nimble and able to implement quickly, can create accessible e-books as soon as they decide to, unlike those who have to negotiate corporate structures.
Self-publishing technologies are also bringing writing and publishing into communities that have traditionally been reading-challenged, with a much wider range of books than the traditional white, middle-class output of trade publishing. This will solve the long-lamented problem of the lack of diversity in books, and will be self-publishing’s most significant and most enduring trend.
Trend #7: Expanding Authorship
Libraries, prisons, ethnic and religious centres, age action groups and many others are waking up to the power of self-publishing in developing new voices. The importance of this was expressed eloquently recently by ALLi author, Pelham McMahon: “As my life is being shortened day by day, and I struggle to see what I am doing, self-publishing is giving me wings to fly and a comfortable feeling that when I am gone my work can live on, no matter what others may think of it. My voice will be heard.”
Orna Ross is an indie author. She writes novels, poems and non-fiction and is Founder-Director of the non-profit Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and Indie Author Fringe. A long-time teacher of creative and imaginative practice, she lives in London and writes, publishes and teaches around the globe, fostering creative writing, creative publishing and creative living. Tweet her: @ornaross.
© Orna Ross


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New Port Angeles ferry dock opens
May 2nd, 2013 - 6:19am
(Port Angeles) -- A new dock for the ferry in Port Angeles is now in use.
For vehicles arriving via the Coho, the new dock that should improve moving through U.S. Customs.
The Black Ball Ferry Line, owners of the Coho spearheaded the upgrade to the dock when they signed a 30-year lease with the Port of Port Angeles.
The company then paid for the dock facility upgrades in return for a reduced lease payment.
The project replaced the original creosote timber with concrete pilings and deck panels to create the new 27,000 square foot dock.
Black Ball's Ryan Anderson says the new dock offers improvements for passengers and vehicles. Mainly he says it allows much more space to get vehicles off the ship and through the customs area, eliminating long backups.
Black Ball plans some more future upgrades to the terminal in Port Angeles.
The company is currently working with Canada's Provincial Capital Commission for a similar upgrade in Victoria.
Black Ball CEO, Ryan Burles, is hoping to negotiate a 20-year lease with Canada's PCC as part of the Victoria dock upgrade.
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The CEO of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders says the supply chain is in meltdown due to ideology — and collusion between truck hijackers, police and other officials doesn’t help
Juanita Maree, CEO of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, says truck hijackings are helping to tear the heart out of the country's supply chain, and far from stopping them the authorities seem to be colluding with the perpetrators...
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Once upon a time, when you booted up a video game, you were either Mario or Luigi or Link or Mega Man. Nowadays, however, you can alter how your characters look. And they, in turn, can alter how you look.
According to a new study from the University of Missouri, having a lean or muscular avatar encourages players to stay in shape when they’re away from a computer. Out of nearly 280 “Second Life” users (yeah, that still exists), those with the hardest digital bodies were most likely to hit the gym and put away the Cheesy Poofs.
“[T]hrough this interplay of one’s online and offline identities, the virtual may become meaningful to the physical body and self,” says researcher Dr. Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz. “That alter-ego can then have a positive influence on a person’s life. For example, people seeking to lose weight could create fitter avatars to help visualize themselves as slimmer and healthier.”
So, giving a crap about your video game appearance makes you care about your appearance in the game of life. Just remember: no matter how attractive your avatar might be, sex in the real world is the only kind that counts.


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September 8, 2021
Self-driving trucking technology firm Plus has announced it will collaborate with Teledyne FLIR on a development project to explore the addition of thermal cameras to the sensor stack used with Plus’ Level 4 autonomous driving technology.
Plus said it takes a multi-modal sensor approach, currently using lidar, cameras and radar to provide trucks powered by its technology with a 360-degree view around the vehicle. While the current system offers improved safety compared to a traditional truck, thermal cameras add another layer of perception that can be useful for heavy trucks that travel the country in low-visibility and high-contrast conditions. These conditions can include nighttime, shadows, dusk, or sunrise; direct sun or headlight glare; and challenging scenarios when fog or smoke is present due to environmental conditions. Depending on the configuration, thermal cameras can detect and classify pedestrians at distances of up to 250 meters (about 820 feet), which is much farther than the reach of typical headlines. The companies said the sensors can provide another layer of perception around the vehicle, which is particularly helpful when the vehicle is backing up or when being overtaken by another vehicle.
“You can never be too safe when it comes to equipment you put on a heavy truck,” said Tim Daly, chief architect of Plus. “Combining thermal cameras with our other sensors would bring an additional margin of safety to our system. Our research pilot will not only assess the technical performance, but also consider cost and scale requirements in order to potentially add this to our product roadmap.”
“We are excited to be working with the team at Plus as they explore the integration of thermal cameras into their current sensor suite, creating even safer autonomous commercial vehicles,” said Paul Clayton, general manager of components, industrial technologies segment at Teledyne FLIR. “By combining thermal imaging with visible light cameras, lidar and radar, Plus can create more comprehensive and redundant systems, allowing these vehicles to more readily detect and classify objects and humans on the road to help save lives.”
Why this matters
Self-driving companies are beginning to explore scenarios and situations that are more complex than regular driving scenarios. The addition of thermal cameras that help a self-driving truck “see” obstacles better is more beneficial and safer than not having those cameras. However, it should be interesting to see whether costs can be kept low in order to not price themselves out of the market.


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AOL will launch a new advertising "upfront" marketplace in September that it said will make it easier for companies to buy—and publishers to sell—digital ad space, delivering bigger profits to websites and greater returns for advertisers on their online investments.
For AOL, the move could also enhance its role as a leader in online display advertising.
An upfront typically brings together sellers of ad inventory, for example, connecting television networks with ad agencies and their brand-name clients. Upfronts are also useful as a way to negotiate rates for large ad buys and for advertisers to reserve inventory ahead of fluctuations in the market. They're also a time for big parties, elaborate presentations and professional networking.
The new upfront, to be anchored by AOL Networks, the Manhattan-based company's ad-tech division, will be dedicated to what's known as programmatic or machine-based buying, which automates the buying and selling process.
AOL Inc. CEO Tim Armstrong announced the launch of what the company is calling the AOL Networks Programmatic Upfront at a dinner for journalists Tuesday evening that was also their introduction to new AOL Networks CEO Bob Lord.
The upfront will be held Sept. 23, the first day of "Advertising Week," the annual industry gathering.
"If you talk to the top 500 advertisers in the world, every single advertiser right now has a programmatic strategy that's disorganized," Mr. Armstrong said. He said that advertisers are under pressure to gain efficiencies through machine-based buying but that has led to rushed decisions and poor planning.
AOL's idea is to bring in other players in the ad-tech space, including Yahoo and Google, along with all the major advertising agencies, to create an event that will stand alongside the spring television upfront and the Digital NewFront, which is dedicated to online video.
But while there may be pressure on advertisers to use programmatic buying, many publishers complain that the use of machine-based ad exchanges drives down pricing for their space. Newspaper websites, for instance, generally reserve programmatic buying for remnant inventory—space the publishers weren't able to sell directly to clients at premium prices. AOL hopes its new approach will increase revenue for publishers compared to what they are getting from the existing system.
Mr. Armstrong says the upfront will improve pricing for high-quality sites by making the automated marketplace, which involves real-time bidding through ad exchanges, more transparent and less fragmented. He added that everyone has a stake in improving the return on investment that is now diminished by an array of ad-tech middlemen that, by his count, chip away between 45 cents and 75 cents of every dollar as it travels from the advertiser to the publisher.
"By doing the upfront, we hope to shed a tremendous amount of light on that and put more money into publishers' hands and more results into advertisers' hands," he said. "I think that will be a very disruptive notion to the overall ad technology landscape."
He added that he was confident in AOL's ability as the No. 2 ad-tech player to offer advertisers technology that helps them with solutions.
The market for programmatic buying is relatively small, but fast growing. According to eMarketer, U.S. advertisers will spend $3.4 billion on real-time bidding in 2013, up from $2 billion in 2012, but still only 19% of the total spent on digital display advertising.
Ad spending on television, by comparison, will come to $66.4 billion.


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Could Going All in on the Cloud Help You Save Money?
That's what a recent study suggests. A new Computer Economics report states that organizations that moved to software-as-a-service platforms ended up being more efficient when spending on IT-related expenses—and that led to more money for new projects.
The benefits of cloud computing aren’t limited to ditching the in-house server rack.
That’s according to a new report from the IT research firm Computer Economics that bucks conventional wisdom on information technology issues. Traditionally, the belief has been that, while hosting a server in-house has a high upfront cost, it saves more money than other methods in the long run because the cost is fixed and carried over time. (In comparison, cloud services, the thinking goes, cost less up front but more over time because fees are recurring.)
Instead, the study explains, cost savings with cloud computing come in other forms, including lower operational costs due to less need for IT staff, as well as reduced data center spending. All in all, the report finds, organizations that rely on cloud-computing-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms end up saving 15 percent or more, on average, compared to the research firm’s benchmark data.
The results surprised Computer Economics President Frank Scavo.
“When we first started this research I expected the answer was going to be that companies that went to cloud computing spent about the same amount on IT as those on-premises but spend it in smarter or better ways,” he told Network World. Instead, he found that companies ended up spending on software more nimbly, with savings coming later as “on-premises infrastructure is significantly reduced or eliminated.”
While the study sample was small, covering just seven companies with between $50 million and $550 million in revenue, Scavo told Diginomica that the results were fairly consistent among the companies. “We hope to get more respondents in the coming months, but I do not believe the conclusions of the report will change,” he said. “The reason I am confident that cloud saves money is that the results are consistent.”
On top of the cost findings, the results of the Computer Economics study suggest that much of the money saved did not go toward upkeep but to new projects—a finding consistent with another recent study from IBM. That study, “Champions of Software as a Service: How SaaS Is Fueling Powerful Competitive Advantage,” found that two-thirds of SaaS pacesetters were seeing increased innovation, and 71 percent reported a shortened time to market for products and services.
The Computer Economics study, “The Economic and Strategic Benefits of Cloud Computing,” is available for purchase on the firm’s website.
(Getty Images News/Thinkstock)


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Thai Tesco deal for solar on stores
Oct 21, 2019 07:48 PM ET
Thailand hypermarket chain Tesco Lotus has entered into a solar PV power purchase agreement with Singapore-headquartered renewables company Cleantech Solar.
The deal covers 19 Tesco Lotus stores across the country and is expected to generate over 21.5 GWh of clean energy. It is part of the Thai retailer’s effort to hit the target of parent group Tesco to source all of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
Cleantech Solar will fully finance the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the solar PV systems.
Miroslav Friml of Tesco Lotus said the deal with Cleantech Solar was “a significant milestone that will help us to deliver on our commitment to renewable energy”.
“In 2016 we began installing rooftop solar panels at eight hypermarkets and five distribution centres. With the added capacity this year, Tesco Lotus will generate over 36.5 GWh of clean electricity every year.”
Cleantech Solar owns and operates more than 160 solar plants across southeast Asia and India, representing over 300 MW.


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Elon Musk’s twitter one of the most supported cryptocurrencies dogecoin It is now starting to be accepted as a payment method. The popular cryptocurrency can be accepted as a payment method by millions of websites via a plugin.
Elon Musk Twitter It has a serious impact on the crypto money community. Thanks to Musk’s tweets dogecoin received serious attention.
Dogecoin is accepted as a payment method! Here are the details
The relatively new cryptocurrency has been on the rise recently. Especially with Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter dogecoin further appreciated. The cryptocurrency, which has gained 30 percent, will now be accepted as a payment method.
Important news has come for Dogecoin. The cryptocurrency, which is called the payment method of the future, is currently on this path. DogeDesigner, a UX/UI specialist and graphic designer at Foundation, is an expert on WordPress-based websites; Using the “Easy Dogecoin Gateway” Dogecoin” acceptance that you can explained.
With the plugin prepared by a Dogecoin developer, users will be able to make Dogecoin payments on websites. Using the CoinGecko API, the plugin will allow WordPress sites to accept payments using only Dogecoin addresses, without the need for any third-party payment clients, banks or additional fees. It may be possible that cryptocurrencies will be more integrated into our lives in the future.


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Contract manufacturer Probiotec Limited (ASX:PBP) could add $10 million of revenue on an annualised basis from agreements struck with new and existing contract manufacturing customers for additional products.
This new business continues the upward trend and is expected to come on line progressively over the 2017 financial year, toward the second half.
Profit margins are said to be consistent with the company’s existing contract manufacturing business.
Probiotec is a brand owner, manufacturer from four facilities in Australia and also a distributor of a range of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals, complementary medicines and specialty ingredients.
It recently completed for the sale of the ADP Protein Plant in South Australia with Beston Pure Dairies Pty Ltd for $7.0 million, which will be used to reduce debt levels.
The group’s net profit after tax for the half year ended 31 December 2015, from continuing activities attributable to members for the half year was $0.3 million compared to a loss of $1.0 million.
Total interest bearing liabilities, net of cash, as at 31 December 2015 was $9.8 million, a decrease of $5.2 million from $15.0 million as at 30 June 2015.
Proactive Investors is a global leader reporting financial news, media, research and hosts events for listed emerging growth companies and investors across four continents.


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The next iteration of the top-rated NBA video game simulation series of the past 18 years returns with NBA 2K20. NBA 2K has evolved into much more than a basketball simulation, redefining what’s possible in sports gaming with best in class graphics and gameplay, groundbreaking game modes, and unparalleled player control and customization. Plus, with its immersive open-world Neighborhood, NBA 2K20 is a platform for gamers and ballers to come together and create what’s next in basketball culture.
Six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA First Team, three-time NBA All-Defensive Team and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Anthony Davis returns as cover star for the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions. Three-time NBA Champion, 13-time NBA All-Star, 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2006 NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade will grace the cover of the Legend Edition.
NBA 2K20 is Davis’ first solo cover appearance for the franchise after being featured as part of NBA 2K16’s star-studded cover lineup. In another historic first, Dwayne Wade’s appearance on the NBA 2K20 Legend Edition marks the first time “Flash” has been featured on the cover of NBA 2K.
NBA 2K20 will be available worldwide on Xbox One on September 6, 2019. Click here for pre-order details. Welcome to the Next.


text: Founded by Kenji, the organizer of KABLOGS, a blogger and an OFW based in Saudi Arabia; PEBA was launched on July 1, 2008 to recognize the growing popularity of blogging among Filipino expatriates and Overseas Filipino Workers(OFWs). Being an OFW blogger himself, Mr. Thoughtskoto (as known in the blogging world) witnessed how expatriates and OFW’s artistically narrate their sob stories, trials, opinions about their host countries, work experiences, families, thoughts and musings, Philippine politics, etc., in their blogs. Thus, recognizing their efforts was a fitting a tribute. He later tapped the support of some bloggers to be his partner in the project. Pete Rahon, an OFW based in South Korea; Ion Gonzaga, an OFW in Dubai; and NJ Abad, an OFW based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; became the founding members of PEBA, Inc. Owing to the success of the 2008 Top10, PEBA 2009 was launched more visibly this time. Almost simultaneously, around 50 blogs posted the announcements of PEBA 2009’s launch. Support from as far as Canada, USA, Australia, Middle East, Europe, South East Asia,and even the Philippines. Hundreds of “SUPPORT PEBA” banners were likewise displayed online by several prominent bloggers. Some of the biggest brand names (i.e., Nokia, Smart Telecommunications and Western Union) sponsored to stage the event. While other policy institution, social media giants and hotels(i.e., The Ople Policy Center, Friendster Philippines, and Traders Hotel by Shangri-la) and various Internet marketing entities pushed PEBA to success.PEBA was instantly featured in ABS-CBN News and Manila Bulletin, as well as countless other online news and blog sites; news print and radio stations. PEBA became a legal entity in the Philippines through the effort of Lepiten & Bojos Law Office and became the official legal partner from then on.


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PARIS/SINGAPORE — Chicago soybean futures
ticked higher on Friday, staying on course for a third
tap here to see other videos from our team.
consecutive week of gains as demand prospects created by a
U.S.-Chinese trade deal continued to underpin prices of the
Corn and wheat edged higher, heading for a second straight
weekly gain as the cereal markets also found support in overseas
Gains remained moderate as traders remained cautious about
to what extent China would increase imports of U.S. crops under
its first-stage trade agreement with Washington, while
beneficial weather for South American corn and soy crops were
also capping U.S. prices.
The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board
of Trade (CBOT) was up half at cent at $9.25 a bushel by 1247
It was holding near Tuesday’s five-week high of $9.31 and
set for a third straight weekly rise.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday the
United States and China would sign at the beginning of January
their “Phase 1” trade deal, which includes a commitment by
Beijing to increase imports of U.S. agricultural products.
Soybeans are the most valuable U.S. crop export to China and
shipments have been disrupted by the countries’ trade row.
Chinese importers bought at least two cargoes of U.S.
soybeans after receiving another round of tariff-free quota for
U.S. shipments on Tuesday, traders in both countries said.
“The trade war had certainly depressed soybean prices,” said
Phin Ziebell, agribusiness economist at National Australia Bank.
“But we are unlikely to see strong gains as there are
expectations of abundant supplies early next year. Brazilian
crop is looking absolutely monster, Argentina has had favorable
weather and African Swine Fever is curbing Chinese demand.”
Washington has projected that Chinese purchases of U.S. farm
goods under the trade deal would climb to $40 billion to $50
billion annually over the next two years, compared with $24
billion before the countries’ trade dispute.
Some traders doubt that forecast but Chinese agriculture
consultancy JCI said on Friday it expects China to reach imports
of than $40 billion per year of U.S. agricultural products.
However, the arrival of newly harvested South American
soybeans on the market in early 2020 could limit short-term
Chinese demand for U.S. supplies, traders say.
Argentine soy planting advanced 8.9 percentage points over
the last week, reaching 70.2% of the expected sowing area thanks
to rains that relieved dry conditions, the Buenos Aires Grains
Exchange said on Thursday.
Brazil’s 2019/2020 soybean crop could reach a record 122.7
million tonnes, according to the average forecast in a Reuters
survey of 16 market analysts carried out earlier this month.
Prices at 1247 GMT
Last Change Pct End Ytd Pct
Move 2018 Move
CBOT wheat 547.75 2.50 0.46 503.25 8.84
CBOT corn 387.25 0.75 0.19 375.00 3.27
CBOT soy 925.00 0.50 0.05 895.00 3.35
Paris wheat Mar 186.25 0.25 0.13 194.50 -4.24
Paris maize Jan 163.75 -0.50 -0.30 175.00 -6.43
Paris rape Feb 409.75 0.00 0.00 366.00 11.95
WTI crude oil 60.94 -0.24 -0.39 45.41 34.20
Euro/dlr 1.11 0.00 -0.17 1.1469 -3.21
Most active contracts – Wheat, corn and soy US cents/bushel,
Paris futures in euros per tonne
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Naveen Thukral in
Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)


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Xiaomi will unveil its flagship Mi 10 series smartphone on the 13th of February, at an online-only event. Most insiders believe the event will see the Chinese OEM launching Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. The phones will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC and will boast of 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It is not clear at the moment if the RAM will come from the warehouses of Samsung or Micron. Mi 10 Pro may also feature 66-watt fast wired charging.
Lei Jun leaked teaser poster revealing details on Weibo
In support of the rumors and expectations, Xiaomi has launched a teaser poster on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s co-founder, shared the teaser posters on his Weibo page. So, while it is confirmed that the release is imminent, it also throws light on certain features of the smartphones.
From the teaser poster, one can infer a number of things about the Mi 10 series smartphones:
- Mi 10 will sport a 108MP primary sensor, in addition to 3 cameras modules on the back of the smartphone. This means photography enthusiasts can feed their hobby and/or profession.
- The smartphones will come with a curved display, which seems to be a trend in recent months. Samsung’s S20 series comes with a curved display too.
- The phones are compatible with UFS 3.0 storage, allowing the smartphones to process images very quickly
The Mi 10 series phones come with unique heat-dissipating technology
Mi 10 boasts of the largest VC heat-dissipating board among smartphones currently available. As a result, the phone remains cool for a longer time and performs superbly. The software detects when the smartphone is heating up and helps the device to cool down by dynamically adjusting power consumption and performance. By far, this remains the defining feature of the Mi 10 duo.
There may be difficulties in being able to purchase these phones in the short term
When the phone is finally unveiled in the next few days, smartphone lovers can heave a sigh of relief that these are no regular phones. They come with some unique features and innovative designs, making them very different from other available smartphones. However, it remains to be seen when the poets will be available in the US, or elsewhere in the world. Chinese products are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and with the new coronavirus situation, there is an unofficial embargo on tech products emerging from China.
The post Mi 10 Series Teaser Poster Confirms Extravagant Features appeared first on Walyou.
Enigmatic phone leaker Evan
Blass, also known by his Twitter handle @evleaks, just shared a rendition of
Huawei P40 Pro. He shared the images on his Twitter account, and the first look
guarantees a very stylish and sturdy design.
More about the Huawei P40 Pro
The phone leaker suggests that
the P40 Pro may come in a ceramic build, with front glass and back panel
sporting curves. The most striking aspect of this design rendition are the five
camera lenses that dominate the back panel of the phone. The Leica-branded
camera may support 18-240mm coverage and 13x zoom. On top of this, the phone is
likely to sport software enhancements compared to its predecessors. The
cellphone also comes with two front cameras for crystal clear selfies.
Connectivity may come via USB-C
port, while the speaker is located at the bottom of the phone. The P40 Pro will
not have a headphone jack, much like many of the newer smartphones these days.
Huawei launched its P-series phones in Paris, last March. Thus, the actual
model will probably be announced very soon. Rumors also indicate that the phone
may not support Google services.
Here are the features of the Huawei P40 Pro in brief:
- P40 Pro is expected to sport 7 cameras in total
- 5 cameras will be placed on the back panel,
while 2 will be on the front of the phone, for taking selfies
- There won't be a headphone jack, and the speaker
will be located at the bottom of the phone
- A USB-C port will help people to connect the
phone to other devices and plugs
- A sleek and curvy design will appeal to those
who are aesthetically inclined
Are Evan Blass’ leaks reliable?
@evleaks is a major source of leaks and information related to smartphones. For a long time, Evan Blass tweeted anonymously, until he decided not to. He has shared important leaks in spurts, and has often been the target of both criticism and praise. Today, he is a well-respected observer and journalist whose information leaks are often true to the mark. Thus, it should not come as a surprise if the P40 Pro looks exactly how it does in the rendered images.
The post Huawei P40 Pro May Sport 7 Cameras and a Ceramic Body appeared first on Walyou.


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Ghiath Smart Patrol will not be a “primary sighting” police car, but will be a vehicle to participate in criminal pursuits in the desert when needed.
If you’re stupid enough to commit a crime in Dubai, you should know that the city’s police force has one of the finest fleets of patrol cars in the world. In a city awash with Ferraris and Lamborghinis, it’s natural for the police to drive equally fast cars. Recently, Dubai police have added another vehicle to their fleet, a vehicle perfect for chasing robbers in the desert. Called Ghiath Smart Patrol, this epic off-road vehicle is a collaboration between W Motors (famous for producing Lykan Hypersport supercars) and Dubai police.
But unlike the fleet of expensive supercars – which are used mainly for advertising purposes – the Ghiath Smart Patrol will be put into operation as a genuine police car. 400 are expected to be delivered over the next few years, and they will join the 10 custom-built Ghiaths that have patrolled the lavish city since 2020.
Seemingly based on the Nissan Patrol (aka Armada), the new Ghiath SUV has a different design at the front, giving it a fierce and authoritative look. The grille comes with a large bumper bar, equipped with an LED emergency light strip. In case drivers are distracted by the large LED strip, the car also has additional lighting installed on the roof, side mirrors, side mirrors and even a roof rack.
Described as one of the “most advanced security vehicles in the world”, Ghiath has several built-in crime countermeasures. In addition to the roof-mounted surveillance camera, the large SUV also has a drone that is sure to be deployed in rare situations when Ghiath can’t reach a place.
While this is a true police car, law enforcement officers are not forgotten either. The cabin has a digital instrument cluster, soft leather seats, and a large central touchscreen that makes life a little easier for the occupants. Other clues to its Nissan Patrol origins come from the steering wheel design and dashboard architecture.
Interior of Ghiath Smart Patrol
As expected, the rear passengers of this police car will not have the same amenities as the front. The molded, plastic seat may seem uncomfortable but is perfectly suited for the job of transporting criminals from prison to court and back. W Motors does not mention specific power output, but if the Ghiath Smart Patrol is based on the real Nissan Patrol, then it could be equipped with a powerful V8 engine. For example, a variant tuned by Nismo has a capacity of up to 428 horsepower and 560 Nm of maximum torque.


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High street stores bore the brunt of the economic downturn.
Walk around Leicester and you can't help but notice the change.
Where there were once Woolworths stores and branches of Littlewoods, Habitat and Borders, now stand pound shops, charity stores and discount clothes stores.
Even Highcross hasn't been immune from shoppers adapting from the culture of splashing the cash to watching the pennies.
Jobs have gone, money has been lost and the social make-up of our towns and cities has changed.
While the downturn was a nasty shock after the boom years, now that things are picking up it's easier to accept it as part of the cycle of capitalism and free market economics.
Slowly, things will change.
Rents are equalising, independents are springing up and, as shoppers become more relaxed with their spending, new shops will fill the gaps.
As if to prove the point, retail sales edged up fractionally in March compared with the previous month, according to the latest Office of National Statistics figures. Long may that continue.
Even online retailers – which have played such a part in battering the high street – are opening their own stores.
One example (highlighted in today's supplement) is online school uniform supplier Uniform Direct, which now has a store in Humberstone Gate.
It is taking advantage of the best of both worlds. Other chains benefiting in both the real and virtual world include John Lewis, Next, Argos, Sainsbury's and Dunelm.
A handful of jobs have been created by Uniform Direct and new life brought back to an empty unit. Others will follow suit.
Uniform Direct's store is just a few doors down from John Cheatle's city outlet – a direct competitor – which has had problems in recent weeks.
The Leicester-based chain went into administration this month, blaming its bank for pulling the plug on its lending.
Management said the bank lost faith despite business being buoyant.
But all is not lost. A new company has been created in a management buy-out, taking on 12 John Cheatle branches, including Leicester and Oadby.
The remaining 15-or-so shops continue to trade and hopefully a buyer will be found for them, too.
Another popular Leicester shop stays, where so many others have disappeared.


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- SAP said it plans to announce a new business-analysis product soon, the Wall Street Journal reports.
- Known internally as Project Orca, SAP says the new product can provide for the technology business's need to harness data for decisions about their operations.
- Analysts say SAP currently has the largest share of the $143 billion market for business data analysis.
Amazon’s Web Services unit is also preparing to enter the data analytics market. Together the two companies are ramping up competition in the area.
Steve Lucas, SAP’s president of platform solutions, said SAP’s new product can spot trends gleaned from every digital nook. “That to me is more than visualization of data," said Lucas.
Analysts say there may be plenty of room for both products. Boris Evelson, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. said the data analytics market is still very immature, and only 40% of the available data is typically tapped for decision making. And despite tough competition in the market, many enterprises are disappointed by the current offerings, Evelson said.


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SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iHeartCommunications, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has elected not to make a cash interest payment of $106 million, due February 1, 2018, to holders of its 14% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the “Notes”) as active discussions continue among its lenders, noteholders, and financial sponsors regarding a comprehensive debt restructuring. The Company’s Board elected not to make the payment in connection with ongoing efforts to proactively and comprehensively address the Company’s capital structure.
The decision will not trigger an event of default under the indenture as the Company will utilize a 30-day grace period under the indenture during which it retains the right to make the interest payment to the holders of the Notes and remain in compliance with the indenture governing the Notes.
The Board is considering options as part of its strategy to achieve a comprehensive restructuring of the Company’s debt.
About iHeartMedia, Inc. / iHeartCommunications, Inc.
iHeartMedia, Inc. (PINK: IHRT), the parent company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., is one of the leading global media, entertainment and data companies. The company specializes in radio, digital, outdoor, mobile, social, live events, on-demand entertainment and information services for local communities, and uses its unparalleled national reach to target both nationally and locally on behalf of its advertising partners. The company is dedicated to using the latest technology solutions to transform the company’s products and services for the benefit of its consumers, communities, partners and advertisers, and its outdoor business reaches over 31 countries across five continents, connecting people to brands using innovative new technology.


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A true fashion girl favors a luxury splurge from time to time, and according to a new report, there might be an abundance of these two items in their closets. Bain & Company's Luxury Study, commissioned by Italian luxury goods manufacturer Altagamma, found that while luxury spending is on the decline (analysts found lower consumer confidence came as a result of events like Brexit and the U.S. presidential election), shoppers are still shelling out big bucks on handbags and shoes.
According to the data, the accessories market as a whole saw a spike in sales between 2010 and 2015. However, that number declined between 2015 and 2016—but the two largest segments "grew moderately" in 2016, accounting for a whopping $60 billion in global sales. Not too shabby, if you ask us. The data also shows that digital sales are growing at lightning speed, making it the third-largest global market for personal luxury goods, following the U.S. and Japan.
For the full rundown on the state of the luxury market, check out the full stats, and if you're feeling spendy, keep scrolling to shop our current bag picks.
40 Bags for Work and Beyond
Which fashion item did you spend the most money on in 2016? Tell us in the comments.


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(Fox News) Costco shoppers in Washington state are ready to start a border war with Canadians, who they say swarm the big-box store like locusts, leaving empty shelves, long lines and no place to park.
A Facebook page called "Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans" was created last month for shoppers of the big-box store in the Washington city just 17 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border. Canadian consumers have apparently flocked south to stock up on cheaper staples like milk, gas and other items at American prices.
"The lines are crazy," the Facebook group's description reads. "The overcrowding is causing some to be rude. We just want to go shopping like everyone else, not go on an adventure."
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The latest research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that cannabis products containing high levels of the nonintoxicating compound CBD may be more effective in reducing anxiety compared to THC-dominant products, and without the associated side effects. The study, which involved 300 participants and was published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, is the first randomized trial to investigate the impact of legally available cannabis on anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety disorders affect one in five U.S. adults, making it the most common mental health condition in the country. With the increasing number of prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications, there is a growing need for alternative treatments.
The senior author of the study, Cinnamon Bidwell, emphasized that while more data is required to confirm the long-term benefits, the short-term effects observed in the study were significant. CBD was found to alleviate tension and anxiety with minimal adverse effects.
The research revealed that adults often turn to cannabis for anxiety relief, alongside issues such as sleep and pain. However, previous studies on the efficacy of cannabis for anxiety have produced mixed results. Some studies have indicated that frequent use of cannabis or products with high levels of THC could exacerbate anxiety over time. Conversely, adding CBD to THC-heavy products may counteract some of the negative effects, such as impairment and paranoia.
To assess the short-term and long-term effects of both CBD and THC, the study recruited 300 individuals with anxiety, with some being non-cannabis users and others having prior experience with cannabis. Participants were divided into three groups, each using a different cannabis flower product: THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and a balanced CBD/THC product.
Due to federal regulations prohibiting the use of cannabis on college campuses, participants were required to purchase their assigned product from a designated dispensary and consume it off-campus. Over a four-week period, participants were allowed to use the products as desired. On average, participants used the assigned products three times per week.
The study found that all groups experienced a reduction in anxiety levels by the end of the study. However, the groups using cannabis reported greater anxiety relief compared to non-users, with the CBD-dominant group showing the most improvement.
Participants in the CBD-dominant group reported feeling less tense and paranoid immediately after use, without experiencing impairment. The research team suggested that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties may play a role in reducing anxiety by alleviating inflammation in the brain and nerves. Even a small amount of THC (1%) was noted to have a rapid impact on mood.
While traditional pharmaceuticals for anxiety often come with side effects and dependency risks, CBD products offer a promising alternative for acute and potentially long-term anxiety relief. The study highlights the potential of CBD in managing anxiety without the same risks associated with THC or prescription medications. Bidwell emphasized the need for further research to solidify these findings but expressed optimism about the potential of CBD products in anxiety treatment.
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it


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Saturday morning at the Big Island's Waimea farmers marketsby: John Wright
posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 at 09:54 AM
The grounds of Parker School, a few miles west of the Waimea Homestead Farmers Market but also just off Māmalahoa Highway, is home to the Waimea Town Market. A circle of vendor tents surrounds the movement of people congregating here, much like electrons circumnavigating a nucleus. It’s difficult to keep one’s hunger in check while passing picnic tables full of patrons munching on fresh-baked bread, croissants, fragrant pumpkin curries, coconut popsicles, soufflés, tamales and homemade macadamia-nut pies. On my visit, even tail-wagging, bandana-clad pooches were sated by dog treats from Kalakoa Kookies, crafted with locally grown produce such as pineapple and lilikoi.
The Waimea Town Market launched in 2008 with seven vendors as a fundraiser for Parker School. Like the older Waimea Homestead Farmers Market, it has grown to host up to 30 vendor booths each week.
“The Waimea Town Market was started with the hopes of Waimea becoming the market capital of Hawai‘i, and to make a market habit of Saturdays,” says Paul Johnston, owner of Kekela Farms. Johnston’s family-run Waimea farm annually sells more than 120 different varieties of its fruits and vegetables at its Town Market stand.
Johnston’s words remind me that at least one of the Town Market’s founding goals definitely rings true for me.
As Melia and I continue to source the majority of our weekly provisions from Big Island farmers and producers, visiting the Waimea Saturday farmers markets is now our Saturday habit.
Waimea Homestead Farmers Market & Waimea Town Market
Open every Saturday. Homestead Market: 7 a.m.-noon, lawn of the Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands West Hawai‘I District Office, off Māmalahoa Highway (near mile marker 55), www.waimeafarmersmarket.com. Town Market: 8 a.m.-noon, on the grounds of Parker School 65-1224 Lindsey Road (off Māmalahoa Highway), www.waimeatownmarket.com.
Photos by Josh Fletcher
(This feature was originally published in the May/June 2013 issue of HAWAII Magazine.)
Check out these related HawaiiMagazine.com posts:
Fresh! Tasty! Local! Recipes from the new "Hawaii Farmers Market Cookbook"
New farmers' market in Haleiwa aims to be Oahu's first to go "all-green"
Big Island’s 20th annual Waimea cherry blossom fest celebrates Hawaii-Japan ties


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Ford Racing to debut EcoBoost Mustang concept at SEMA?
Ford Racing is giving us a small taste of what’s in store for us next week at the SEMA show in Las Vegas in the form of this photo they sent to us earlier today. Although the teaser image of the hood doesn’t show much, it does reveal a black and blue stripe in the very corner. What does that mean, exactly? Well, it’s likely that Ford Racing will be debuting some sort of EcoBoost Mustang. The black and blue graphics are the signature look of Ford’s EcoBoost line.
Of course, what kind of EcoBoost engine is the real question to be answered. Will it be a four-cylinder version as a preview of the one in the upcoming 2015 Mustang? Will it be an EcoBoost V6 that is already in several Ford production vehicles? Or will it be an EcoBoost V8? Regardless what engine is under the hood, we can’t wait to see it.
Ford Racing says the car will be officially unveiled on Tuesday, October 30, although it’s likely we’ll have more photos and details before then. Stay tuned!
- SEMA 2011: 1971 Ford Mustang "Pegasus"
- CR Supercars debuts 1968 Mustang 'Villain' at SEMA
- SEMA Preview: Creations n' Chrome Boy Racer Mustang
- SEMA 2013: Larry Gareffa's home-built electric 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
- SEMA 2013: Vortech Superchargers Yellow Jacket Mustang
- SEMA 2013: Bojix Design 2014 Ford Mustang
- SEMA 2012: Classic Recreations builds right-hand-drive 1967 Shelby GT500CR Convertible
- SEMA 2012: 3dCarbon Boy Racer Mustang
- SEMA 2012: Roush, Ford Racing and Sherwin-Williams team up for custom 700 horsepower Stage 3 Mustang
- SEMA 2013: Edelbrock announces winner of 75th Anniversary 2013 Ford Mustang GT


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There’s a brand new sports bar in Dubai – and Time Out Dubai’s had an exclusive first look behind the scenes.
Trophy Room opens at Fairmont Dubai today (Monday June 11) and looks like a top new spot for sports fans.
It’s also opened just in time for the 2018 World Cup, which kicks off this Thursday.
Trophy Room has TVs lining the main bar area, large screens dotted around the venue and a master screen made up of nine individual screens at one end.
With a trophy cabinet, low-slung seating and an exposed ceiling that gives the place a classy-yet-industrial edge, Trophy Room looks set to be a top place to catch the game.
And the menu looks exciting, too, starring, among other interesting dishes, gold-dusted chicken nuggets.
Coming in at Dhs180, they’re not the average bar snack, but are sure to be hit. You get four of the shimmering delights on your plate, plus a choice of three dipping sauces – Danish blue cheese, black pepper ranch and ranch.
There’s a whole host of interesting items on the menu, including black truffle poutine (Dhs39) with cheddar, veal bacon and blue cheese, and cornflake chicken strips (Dhs46).
There’s also a “build-your-own” with loaded nachos, chicken wings and cheesy fries as well as a “Burger Nation” list with black bean, Portabello, salmon and classic beef patty options starting at Dhs60.
The swanky new bar is promising some top promotions too – including the self-proclaimed “longest happy hour on Sheikh Zayed Road” as well as ladies’ nights.
When the Premier League starts again in August, a new offer will run for selected games, which will see the price of drinks reduced by five percent every time a goal is scored.
Trophy Room is set to be joined by a second new opening this year, The House Party Bar (think red cups, arcade games, pizza et al), meaning this Sheikh Zayed Road hotel looks set to be an even more happening nightspot.
The House Party Bar – a concept originally from London – is arriving in the place of Cirque Le Soir, which we're told will still exist, but will be relocated to a new space, separated by an entrance accessible from the new arrival. We've been told Cirque Le Soir will be kept the same in terms of its concept, but will become more of a "VIP club". Rest assured, the performances will continue.
Meanwhile Catch Dubai has closed its doors permanently, which is a blow for fish fans.
Our Best Seafood Restaurant 2017, the trendy restaurant, which arrived in the city in 2015 by way of New York, had a cool, urban vibe, with exposed brickwork and deep leather seats.
We’re promised a “funky” new concept to fill the spot – which lies next to Bistrot Bagatelle – but no more information has been revealed yet.
We'll see you at Fairmont Dubai this summer.
Trophy Room: Open daily noon-2am. The House Party Bar: Coming June 2018. Open Mon,Thu-Fri 6pm-3am; Sun, Tue-Wed, Sat 6pm-2am. Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 3118316).


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Intel will be focusing on smart devices this year which are increasingly playing a bigger role in keeping the world connected, as is evident from this year’s announcements at Intel Developer forum.
“With our diverse product portfolio and developer tools that span key growth segments, operating systems and form factors, Intel offers hardware and software developers new ways to grow as well as design flexibility,” said Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO. “If it’s smart and connected, it is best with Intel.”
After Qualcomm Reference design and Google Android One, now Intel will pursue a similar Intel Reference Design Program, where it will help manufacturers speed up manufacturing of Intel tablets by providing the software engineering work, streamlined access to Google Mobile Services, as well as support for direct future Android updates.
Intel also announced Analytics for wearable (A-Wear) developer program which will help developers in development of new Wearable applications for Intel based Wearable devices. Developers for Intel Wearable devices will enjoy free access to this program.
Intel also announced that its XMM 7260 Modem is now shipping in Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone in Europe and other regional markets. Intel’s postage stamp-size computer with built-in wireless – Intel Edison has also started shipping in commercial products.
Intel’s RealSense Snapdshot, which is a photography technology that creates a high-definition depth map to enable measurement, refocus and selective filters with a touch of a finger, will be available in Dell Venue 8 7000 Series.
Besides these, Intel also showcased its next gen 14nm Intel core processor, Intel Wireless Gigabit Docking and its unique Connected Wheelchair Project, a proof of concept designed by Intel interns as part of the Intel Collaborators program.
Other than these announcements and technical sessions, Intel also talked about re-architecture of data centers, tools to help software developers, Intel Edison-powered prototype devices, several upcoming joint product with partners including IBM, AT&T,etc.


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Copper prices fell on Wednesday as investors fear higher prices may weaken global demand and the dollar was gained, lowering the demand for commodities.
Today's losses were also affected by production data in China which increased worries that demand may curb. Output of refined copper rose 22.7 percent in April to 329,400 metric tons, the Chinese Bureau of Statistics said.
China copper imports declined to 246,119 metric tons in April compared to 304,672 metric tons a year ago, the China Customs office said on Monday.
Copper futures for July delivery fell 5.05 cents or 1.35 percent to $3.6810 a pound on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier today, prices touched $3.6525, its lowest since March 25.
The red metal has jumped 21 percent in 2008, reaching a record $4.2605 a pound on April 17.
The dollar was stronger today after U.S. consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent in April. The dollar index gained as much as 0.5 percent against six major currencies including the euro.
A stronger U.S. currency make commodities denominated in dollars more expensive for foreign buyers.
Losses were limited on an earthquake in China that has devastated Sichuan province and left around 14,866 death people and thousands lost. Speculators believe supplies may be disrupted.
London Metal Exchange copper inventories declined by 350 metric tons on Wednesday at 121,425 metric tons.
Copper futures for delivery in three months dropped $37.5 or 0.45 percent to $8,324 a metric ton in the London Metal Exchange.


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Consumer exploitation in India is not something that is new, but has been happening for ages. Consumers get exploited in many ways through the more dominating and knowledgeable sources. To bring this down, consumers must be aware of certain facts and figures and the current day to day happenings. Consumer exploitation takes place for various(…)
15th March is being observed as the National Consumers’ Day in India. Since 1989, when the government of India declared the day as the National Consumers’ Day, India has been eloquent ever to be uncompromising about consumers’ right. There had been some blemish services being provided to the Indian consumers but soon the government of(…)
In any economy across the globe, protection and promotion of Consumer rights is an important function of the Government. For the better progression of the country, Consumer rights awareness is very much a necessity.


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TTEC accelerates growth strategy with addition of industry veteran Alistair NiedererCCA PARTNERS
TTEC welcomes Alistair Niederer as senior vice president, head of Europe, Middle East & African (EMEA) region.
With significant projected growth, TTEC is investing heavily in EMEA to capitalise on the momentum it has demonstrated in 2020 with record sales and growth.
“TTEC is fortunate to have an established global leader like Alistair to grow our brand in this critical market,” said Ken Tuchman, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of TTEC. “We believe that Alistair’s depth of expertise will help accelerate TTEC’s leadership position in EMEA, and enable more European brands to leverage the exceptional CXaaS solutions that have differentiated TTEC and its clients during this difficult year.”
Niederer is an international business executive with a demonstrated track record of winning and growing client relationships within the customer experience (CX) sector. Before joining TTEC, he served as chief revenue officer at Ember Services North America where he returned business to profitability while delivering organic growth and international expansion. Niederer also held leadership roles in Europe, South Africa, and Asia Pacific for Teleperformance and Sutherland.
Alistair Niederer commented; “With the recent traction we have gained with the new customers TTEC has announced along with the opening of a new CX Centre in Leeds, I am excited to be joining TTEC to drive further growth in EMEA with its digital-first CXaaS platform.”
To learn more about how TTEC is bringing humanity to the customer experience, visit https://www.ttec.com/


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The Birds Eye Green Cuisine range is being expanded by the Nomad Foods Europe-owned brand to provide consumers with a number of new meat-free options to pick up. The brand is introducing three new Chicken-Free products including Southern Fried Grills, Crispy Grills and Burgers, which are each intended to emulate some of the brand's most popular offerings. The products are being rolled out now to Tesco with a wider launch taking place later this month.
Marketing Manager at Birds Eye Jess Ali spoke on the new Birds Eye Green Cuisine range saying, "Our Green Cuisine Chicken-Free products have gone from strength to strength since our first launches in 2020. This extension of the Green Cuisine chicken-free range will continue to play off recognisable formats that shoppers already enjoy, but that are powered by plant protein. By recreating mealtime classics using plant power, these new additions to our Green Cuisine range will continue to help shoppers to add meat substitutes to their plates, showing them that plant-based meals can be just as tasty and convenient.”


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Netmarble Opens Pre-Registration For the King Of Fighters Allstar Street Fighter V Collaboration
A collaboration over a decade in the making is coming very soon, and registrations have begun.
Two iconic fighting franchises are about to join again, this time on the mobile stage, as Netmarble has announced pre-registration for the King Of Fighters Allstar's Street Fighter V collaboration, which begins March 24.
The collaboration event will include multiple unique missions, dungeons, and rewards, as well as a special story arc exploring the in-game reasons for the two worlds colliding. Along with the previously announced Ryu and Chun-Li, Street Fighter series villains M. Bison and Akuma will be added as playable characters, as well as the newest member of the SFV roster, Luke.
Fans who pre-register will receive a coupon for 500 Rubies--KOF Allstar's in-game currency--as well as a Collab Fighters Summon Ticket that can be redeemed for one new fighter. The event is scheduled to run from March 24 to April 19, so the summon ticket must be redeemed by that date.
Street Fighter is the latest big name to invade The King of Fighters Allstar, joining fellow fighting games Guilty Gear, Tekken, and Dead or Alive, as well as World Wrestling Entertainment and anime franchises like Seven Knights and The Seven Deadly Sins. The partnership comes one month after both the launch of the latest entry in the core KoF franchise, The King of Fighters XV, and the reveal of Street Fighter 6.
This is not the first time Street Fighter and The King Of Fighters have joined together, with the most recent example being 2007's SNK Card Fighters DS. Other notable examples are Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001 and SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.


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A sign that U.S.-China trade talks are moving in a positive direction? Time will tell. But for now, China is extending a small part of the trade “truce” presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump reached in December — saying it will continue to refrain from applying higher tariffs on cars and auto parts from the U.S.
China will not subject American autos and car parts to additional tariffs after a previous suspension expired on Monday, according to a statement on the Ministry of Finance’s website.
On Jan. 1, China dropped additional tariffs of 25% on American autos and components for three months after Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump agreed in December on a 90-day truce to the months-long trade war, to allow the two countries to negotiate a deal. That lowered duties on American cars to 15%, the same as on vehicles imported from other countries.
The truce was extended beyond the original deadline of March 1, with Washington delaying an increase in punitive tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports, as the trade talks made progress.
The decision to continue to halt the punitive tariffs on U.S. cars and auto parts was “China’s positive response” to the delay by the U.S. in raising its own additional tariffs, according to the statement on Sunday by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, which is housed in the Ministry of Finance.
“It is a concrete action to facilitate the bilateral trade negotiations,” the statement said. “We hope the U.S. side will work along with the Chinese side to accelerate the talks and make concrete efforts towards the goal of ending trade frictions.”
Chinese and U.S. trade officials made new progress on the text of an agreement to end the trade disputes after a full-day meeting in Beijing Friday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Vice Premier Liu He is scheduled to lead a delegation to travel to Washington this week for another round of talks.