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The UK government will require IT suppliers to comply with the five security controls laid out in its Cyber Essentials Scheme (CES) from 1 October 2014, but what benefits will this bring and is there a downside?
The most obvious benefit is it will raise the overall level of protection by putting security in the procurement process, thereby creating a commercial reason for improving security.
Adrian Davis, managing director for Europe at (ISC)² believes this is a more positive approach than mandating security standards through legislation and regulation.
“It levels the playing field. If accreditation is carried out rigorously, all suppliers can be compared in terms of their cyber security efforts and it provides a baseline from which organisations can build,” he said.
Davis also believes this approach will make it easier and relatively low cost for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their security posture.
“This is important because about 90% of our economy is based on SMEs which typically do not have the resources, the time or the skills to perform information security,” he said.
The Cyber Essentials Scheme provides guidance on:
- Secure configuration
- Access control
- Malware protection
- Patch management
- Firewalls and internet gateways
Compliance with CES
Compliance with CES will be mandatory for all services handling personal information of citizens, government employees and government agents.
This is only a reinforcement of the Data Protection Act, and therefore should come as no surprise, said independent advisor on payments, risk, cyber crime and digital innovation Neira Jones.
“This actually gives a tangible set of controls – albeit basic – to start addressing the issue of information risk due diligence in the supply chain.
“Basic hygiene, especially in view of all the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) penalties of late, can only be welcomed,” she said.
By pitching the Cyber Essentials certification costs for smaller companies between £200 and £400 at basic level, and between £1,000 and £3,000 at the CES Plus level, Jones said government is clearly trying to encourage SMEs to have a basic level of cyber protection
Compliance with CES will also be required for all products and services handling information classified as official – which is any information relating to routine government business operations and services.
“This is interesting for two reasons," said Jones. "First, it points to contracts that are handling information at the lowest level of the threat profile, not secret or top secret.
“Second, the guidelines also state that Cyber Essentials is not intended for use with bespoke IT systems such as those found in manufacturing, industrial control systems, online retail and other environments.
“This gives a good sanity check and puts it in its right place – a basic, minimum and limited set of controls for those who don’t know where to start," she said.
“Quite rightly, it is not aimed at retail, banking or critical infrastructure,” she added, but in the light of that fact, she questioned why Barclays was so quick to “jump on the CES bandwagon”.
Barclays digital banking was one of the first organisations to achieve certification under CES in July 2014, shortly after the scheme was introduced.
“I found it at once perplexing and worrying that Barclays and other big businesses are bothering to get certified for something they have been doing for some time,” said Jones.
She thinks while the move is fairly meaningless for information security professionals, it is most probably aimed at those increasingly conscious of cyber security, who are more likely to be assured by a government-backed certification.
“That’s good for big business, but it doesn’t solve any problems. Why did the government allow large organisations to use the scheme in a way that clearly contradicts the guidelines above? Your guess is as good as mine,” said Jones.
CES for SMEs
She believes the scheme should really be confined to SMEs for it to have any kind of credibility, but said it is not immediately clear whether it will really help SMEs either.
While the cost is relatively low at basic level, Jones pointed out there does not appear to be any financial help available for SMEs to close any security gaps identified in the self-assessment phase.
Jones said once CES certification is obtained, it is also unclear if SMEs will be given a fair chance at government contracts and if any incentives will be provided.
There are other questions to be answered, she said. For example, the guidelines state government authorities should be aware that a supplier may share a client's information with a third party, such as a cloud service provider.
“However, Cyber Essentials does not ensure the security of the third party is in scope of certification. So the onus is on government authorities to check the supply chain of their supply chain and indeed see if any part of it requires certification. But how will this be managed? With more and more cloud services, this could prove difficult,” said Jones.
I see this as a real opportunity for suppliers to build security into their products in a measured and consistent manner
Adrian Davis, (ISC)²
The requirement applies to new contracts advertised after 1 October 2014, but it remains unclear what happens to incumbents and whether they will be given unfair advantage over those trying to enter the supply chain, she observes.
Another problem is the scheme addresses only a very basic set of technical controls, and does not address best practice in the areas of governance or user awareness.
“One of the stated aims of the scheme is to mitigate against the risk of phishing, but it is the user that will click on that link in that email, so why are there are no requirements to educate staff?,” said Jones.
“Even the stated aim of mitigating against malware omits basic technical requirements, such as code vulnerabilities like structured query language (SQL) injection, for example,” she said.
Jones admitted this would incur more cost for SMEs to cope with, but such basic flaws plague the SME space, she said.
Jones also questioned whether government departments have the required maturity and ability to assess what level of CES certification potential suppliers require.
“All in all, the Cyber Essentials Scheme is a laudable initiative, but it should have been confined to small businesses, with the appropriate grant and incentives frameworks in place.
“We risk that these businesses will either not be able or willing to invest in even the basics if they cannot see a clear return on investment, and large corporations will easily and cheaply capitalise on the marketing spin for something they are already doing,” said Jones.
Over-reliance on CES
Adrian Davis of (ISC)² also has some reservations. He is cautious against over-reliance on CES. “It is a starting point, not the be all and end all. Just because an organisation has CES accreditation, it does not mean it is secure,” he said.
Davis noted CES is a set of controls, and does not in itself enable a proper risk-based approach to security. He is concerned organisations may follow CES and think they have covered their risks, when in reality they have not.
“Accreditation, like an audit, refers to a point in time, so acquiring organisations will still need to perform their own investigations and/or due diligence of the supplier, depending on the information to be shared and the risks associated with that information,” he said.
Davis also pointed out there is no update cycle for CES, no indication of who is responsible for it, and little awareness of the scheme among SMEs. Like Jones, he highlighted the lack of government support to help SME implement CES.
“I see this as a real opportunity for suppliers to build security into their products in a measured and consistent manner, and in the IT service provision market, this may mean all users of a service will benefit from greater security, which can only benefit the provider, the users and the wider market.
“And while CES is not perfect, driving its use through commercial imperatives is a lot better than the situation we have now. Indeed, we at (ISC)² have argued that if cloud suppliers raise their security game it will benefit SMEs and the providers themselves,” said Davis.
Jay Abbott, founder and managing director of security consultancy JustASC, also supports CES for highlighting the five things that cause the most common issues.
Potential issues with CES
But, he said there are some “interesting gotchas” in CES that could create some issues for organisations, especially the larger ones.
“Take self-assessment question 108, for example, which asks if all operating systems on devices are supported by a supplier which sends regular fixes for any problems.
“This seems innocuous at first glance, but if you have Windows XP in use, the answer is no, and that is a fail. Larger organisations may struggle with this one,” said Abbott.
As far as the SME sector is concerned, he said while there is nothing in the CES that is too difficult to achieve and it will undoubtedly improve the inherent security posture of businesses, there is limited appetite to do so.
“Most SMEs are focussed entirely on the delivery of their core business in an aggressive market, often with significant competition and many financial pitfalls to sidestep daily. As a small business owner myself, I can 100% vouch for this.
“Achieving this certification requires they stop thinking about their day job for a moment and seriously consider their entire use of IT. This in itself is a time-consuming thing if you know what you’re looking for, but for the average UK SME, they probably do not even have someone in the business with the right skills to do it,” he said.
More on cyber essentials
- Government mandates Cyber Essentials for public sector supply chain
- Crest welcomes Barclays CES certification
- Cyber Essentials ensures SMEs protected, says Databarracks
- Cyber risk and the UK’s Cyber Essentials Scheme
- UK government launches cyber security support scheme
- Government to help UK business get cyber security basics right
Like Jones, Abbott is concerned about the cost burden this creates if they are forced to seek outside support from consultants, who may then tell them they need to buy new licenses for software, spend money on new equipment, and spend time on integration of technology.
“From the security industry’s perspective, CES is great, a real step forward in securing the UK, but from the average SME’s perspective it is a little bit of a different feeling,” he said.
Even if CES certification enables an SME to win a government contract, Abbott points out that all it will have achieved is “good security housekeeping”, rather than something that makes it more profitable in the long run.
“If everyone is required to achieve certification, there will no longer be lingering competitive advantage, just the ongoing cost and time commitments to maintain the basics will remain,” he said.
“So Cyber Essentials is a problem as much as it is a solution. It will improve the UK SME security stance, it will ultimately benefit the SME in ways they cannot quantify or measure, but it will cost the SME money and time in an aggressive free market, and that in itself will make it a difficult sell,” said Abbott.
Improving cyber security with CES
That said, he believes CES is a good thing that will improve the SME’s ability to defend against and withstand simple, common security attacks they may already be victim to.
It will prevent simple attacks succeeding that could easily leave them with an empty bank account due to a direct fraud, or have them facing material fines from the ICO.
“Let us not forget that these SMEs are the supply chain to our country’s central government agencies, so their insecurity is ultimately a problem we all share, so yes, it is very much a good idea that I personally support,” he said.
Abbott believes CES should be treated as an opportunity by getting the right advice. “An SME probably did not plan the IT strategy for its business and just acquired machines and software ad hoc as it grew.
“CES is a great opportunity to take stock of everything and speak to an expert, not only in security, but in IT as a whole. Someone who can advise them on whether what they are doing as a business needs with the way the way they are using IT.
“This is where the opportunity for improvement comes and where the standard can be used to drive improvements in productivity. After all, security is just a concept in IT that should be designed in the systems from the start,” he said.
Abbott noted CES does not allow the company that helps an organisation to achieve compliance through advice and support to award certification.
“That has to be done by a different company, therefore providing a solid segregation of duties and mitigating against fly-by-night organisations looking to make a quick buck off the ignorance of the market through one-stop package solutions that really do not meet the goals of the standard,” he said.
While there is support for CES because of the benefits it will bring, that support is qualified. It appears government has a lot more work to do in creating awareness of CES and in clarifying some key issues.
Mandating CES certification for IT suppliers to the public sector is a good start, but government will have to go a lot further to provide incentives and support to the SME sector to ensure it does not become an overwhelming burden.
The government will also have to be more transparent about how departments will decide which suppliers need CES basic or CES plus certification to ensure the process does not become arbitrary and subjective.


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With the reopening of Vietnam’s borders, Marriott International has announced plans to expand its portfolio in Vietnam, expecting to add nearly 9,000 rooms within the company’s portfolio, as well as debuting brands Ritz-Carlton Residences, Marriott Hotels, Westin, and Courtyard by Marriott.
Designed by British architects Dexter Moren Associates, the riverside property combines meaningful wellness with contemporary fluid and sculptural design.
Marriott International has signed a franchise agreement with Hotéis Deville to introduce the first Westin Hotels & Resorts in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Westin London City has appointed Alex Dallocchio as general manager as the brand prepares for its debut in the UK. The property is set to open in September.
As the second largest city in Indonesia and the capital of the East Java province, Surabaya is home to colonial architecture and historical monuments.
Acquired by Fibra Inn and operated by Grupo Hotelero Prisma, the new property is located in the heart of the city’s famous San Pedro Garza Garcia neighbourhood - one of the most prestigious areas in Monterrey.
Marriott International has selected Brendan Corcoran as general manager of The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, representing the debut of Westin Hotels & Resorts in the destination.
Marriott International has announced the forthcoming debut of Westin Hotels & Resorts in the Maldives with the opening of the Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort in October.
Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, in partnership with Mauna Kea Resorts, today announced the debut of The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort following an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation.
Marriott International has announced plans to debut the Westin brand in the United Kingdom. Owned by 4C Hotel Group and managed by RBH, The Westin London City is set to open in 2020 and will boast a prime riverfront location in the heart of the City of London.

domain: news


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HARRISONBURG -- Gold prices hit a six month low on Feb. 22, plunging through the average of $1600 per ounce mark, but since Tuesday, the value rebounded.
The price of gold saw it's largest increase in three months early Wednesday morning. It's now back above $1600 per ounce.
Tim Messerley is a local buyer and seller of gold at his store, The Coin and Gift Shop. He has been assessing the value of gold and silver coins or jewelry for the past 20 years. He said the price of gold is manipulated by the large gold and silver buyers.
"To the small guy like us, we just have to ride the market and do whatever comes, deal with it up or down, but, people do watch and buy as prices drop we have a lot more buyers, and as prices go up we have people that sell," said Messerley.
Messerley said his store was busy with people buying on Friday and it had steady business all day Wednesday with people selling.
Follow Amelia Nahmias on Facebook.
© Copyright 2014 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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How to start using Artificial Intelligence in seven days
The evolution of Artificial Intelligence - from buzzword to reality - is gaining momentum. More and more software vendors are developing new solutions based on machine learning and algorithms, and plenty of companies has started the implementation already. However, there are still significant bottlenecks which decision makers are afraid of. Long go-to-market time and expensive maintenance costs are only two of them. Synerise’s Remi Wojtczak has an answer for these fears which will be presented on AI Everything event at Dubai on April 30th.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can boost crucial KPIs in every industry, from e-commerce and retail, through financial and telecoms, as well as automotive. Key stakeholders of various companies around the world will seek new opportunities of growth through AI during AI Everything fairs and conference, organized by Dubai World Trade Center.
Dozens of exhibitors will showcase solutions created to optimize processes on many fields of the modern business landscape. Synerise will present its solutions as well. Attendees can find company representatives in booth AIE-097 and listen to keynote during free-to-attend session on April 30th at 1PM as part of AI Labs path. Remi Wojtczak, company’s Business Development Director for Middle East will focus on resolving key challenges the market must face when it comes to AI-based solutions deployment.
The market of AI-driven solutions is growing rapidly and the demand for quality tools is huge, but many businesses are still afraid of long implementation and high integration costs. As customer-oriented vendor we've build our AI Growth Cloud to be as quickly and smoothly deployed like no other solution and during AI Everything I will show attendees how to quickly gain competitive advantages thanks to the algorithms.
The event is also a great chance for us to meet people that really have a challenging puzzle to solve. It's a perfect scenario for Synerise team, we'd love to work together on client success.
Remi Wojtczak, Middle East Business Development Director, Synerise
Synerise provides an "AI Growth Cloud", a platform based on AI that automates business processes, increases customer loyalty and boosts revenues. First outcomes can be achieved in less than 7 days thanks to easy-to-implement development strategy and a team of dedicated customer success experts.
The Synerise AI Growth Cloud is based on a proprietary AI engine. It processes more than 120 million interactions between brands and their customers every day and the platform can support 500,000 queries per minute. This kind of volume presents challenges that test the performance of databases and their availability. No commercial solutions with the capability of meeting such high standards were available on the market, which is why the Synerise team decided to create a database that turned out to be 10x faster than other similar solutions and several times less expensive.
Read our previous news: Synerise strengthens its operations in the Gulf region, Mohamed Abdelsalam joins as Country Leader >>>


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Eager brides have been held without dresses with only months to have until their times which are big
More than 130 brides which can be irish bridesmaids are owed thousands after a wedding shop closed down without any caution due to their customers.
Wedding World in Fairview, Dublin shut its doorways on Friday, March 16 with many eager brides left without dresses in only months to have until their times which are big.
The UK that is sole based provider to your store, Dessy received a call last Thursday through the store co-owner Celina Howard that is also the authorized owner of Galway based company, Mastglen. She presumably told the dress provider that Wedding World was indeed beginning liquidation.
Prior to this, Dessy state no indicator had been had by them that the store have been about to shut.
It’s understood Wedding World owe thousands to Dessy too simply because they have really actually would not make complete re re re re payments towards the company in the 12 months this is certainly final according to Director of European Operations for the company, Michele O’Neill. (more…)


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Since the South Korean prosecution started investigating Upbit, the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, more events have unfolded. While local media still discuss allegations and raise questions about Upbit’s business practice, some people believe that Upbit is already in the clear. The investigation continues.
Local media reported on Friday that South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, is under investigation for alleged fraud. More information has surfaced since, casting doubt on whether the allegations can be considered fraud. No charges have been filed against Upbit at the time of this writing. However, the prosecutors have confiscated the exchange’s computers and records as part of the investigation.
On Monday, News1 Korea described:
Prosecutors searched Upbit for fraud charges triggered by coinless transactions, suspicion of insider trading during the listing process, and allegations of money laundering and leakage of money through US trading sites.
The first allegation, the most heavily scrutinized, concerns the liquidity of some of the coins listed on Upbit.
The exchange currently lists 137 cryptocurrencies but not all of them have wallets. South Korean prosecutors are accusing the exchange of “book-trading” where Upbit facilitates the trading of cryptocurrencies without actually having the coins in its possession. Joongang Ilbo elaborated:
Of the more than 130 cryptocurrencies currently traded on Upbit, about 40 do not support e-wallets.
News1 also pointed out that there is a viewpoint among investigators that if users request a transfer or withdrawal of their coins all at once, then Upbit will not be able to return their money immediately, which would render the original transactions fraudulent.
However, some argue that “most domestic trading sites are adopting this method” except those that handle a small number of cryptocurrencies such as Bithumb, the news outlet conveyed, adding that if this method is found to be an “apparent fraud…[then] the industry will not be much affected.”
Upbit Calls It a Misunderstanding
Upbit says that this investigation is “something that comes from misunderstanding,” Joongang Ilbo reported.
The exchange has repeatedly dismissed the above accusation, emphasizing that it will secure the needed cryptocurrencies as soon as it has brokered a transaction for the coins without a wallet, the news outlet detailed. In addition, Upbit insists that it has “never bought or sold cryptocurrencies that it did not own since it opened last October.”
Furthermore, given Upbit’s exclusive partnership with the US exchange Bitrex, crypto experts believe that “the lack of understanding of the Upbit trading system that links the system with the overseas exchange has led to the suspicion of book trading,” the publication emphasized, adding:
Cryptocurrency traded in KRW is directly managed by Upbit, and when customers buy other virtual currencies…transactions are made through Bittrex under the responsibility of Upbit.
A representative of another crypto exchange explained that except for the won market, Upbit transactions are made through Bittrex. “It is a legitimate book deal, and the prosecutors seem to have misunderstood why they are selling cryptocurrencies that they do not have.”
Previous Internal Audit
Another factor at play is an article published by Money Today on Tuesday, referencing an internal audit which reportedly happened earlier this year. The news outlet quoted Lee Seok-woo, president of Dunamu Inc. which operates Upbit, saying that “In early March, when Upbit was suspected of only [conducting] book transactions without [holding the] coins…I have been notified that the amount of coins [in the books] is 100% identical to the number of coins” in the wallets.
Referencing the above article, Twitter user Crypto of Korea wrote, “Upbit claimed that they had the


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This fascinating article, comparing the effects of globalization in the US and in China, which have close parallels and wide differences, appeared in last Saturday/Sunday’s Wall Street Journal. This blog has been keeping close tabs on globalization in America but it has not occurred to us to look at its effects abroad until we came across this piece. We can reach a better understanding of our own situation by observing what occurs in other countries.
Because of the length of this article we are subdividing it into three parts, the first part of which we present here:
Textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts in the 19th century
By ANDREW BROWN, October 22, 2016
Just about a century ago, the Boston merchants who had helped to build the textile town of Lowell, Mass., into the cradle of the American industrial revolution started pulling out. First, the spindles and looms shifted to the low-wage South. A half-century later, they migrated to the “miracle” economies of East Asia.
In the 1990s, much of the global textile industry relocated yet again, to cities like Dongguan in southern China, the world’s factory floor. Now, as Chinese wages soar, textiles and apparel along with other labor-intensive export industries are on the move once more, this time to inland China and, increasingly, to fast-growing regional rivals such as Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Globalization is shortening these cycles. Technology accelerates the churn. Like Lowell and a more recent procession of U.S. manufacturing cities, Dongguan is emptying out, and the economic and social shocks are triggering a political earthquake in China just as they are in the U.S.
The political dynamics in the two countries are very different, of course, but there are striking parallels. The most obvious are the wrenching dislocations created by a world of impatient capital, footloose labor and intricate cross-border supply chains. Vulnerable workers in both countries are feeling the pinch. . .
Dongguan’s rise and fall would be familiar to any student of New England economic history. Lowell’s heyday as an industrial center lasted from the 1820s to the 1920s. Situated at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord Rivers, the city was the manufacturing wonder of its day. The poet John Greenleaf Whittier called it “a city, springing up, like the enchanted palaces of the Arabian Tales.” It was organized around boardinghouse mills, which provided decent-paying jobs initially for New England farm girls, along with a place to stay. They operated spinning machines based on a design stolen from Britain.
Dongguan has followed a similar trajectory, only on an unimaginably vaster scale. Once a rural backwater in the Pearl River delta, it grew into an industrial colossus by drawing on a national army of 130 million or so migrant rural workers, who bunked together in cramped factory dormitories. Industries that once flourished in New England eventually ended up here, along with their tools and technology. Dongguan was Lowell (“Spindle City”), Waterbury (“Brass City”), Leominster (“Plastics City”), Gardner (“Chair City”) and Holyoke (“Paper City”) all rolled into one.
Few in America foresaw this wholesale devouring of the country’s manufacturing heartland. The threat arose from empty rice paddies. Dongguan, writes the journalist (and former Wall Street Journal reporter) Leslie T. Chang in her book “Factory Girls,” was “a place without memory.” Today, it is mimicking Lowell in another way, as its prosperity fast fades away.
At its peak in 2007, says Lin Jiang, an economics professor at Sun Yat-sen University’s Lingnan College, Dongguan’s population reached 12 million. (The official census data is unreliable.) Then the global financial crisis struck, and China’s exports dried up. Dongguan has never recovered. Its population has shrunk to just seven million, Mr. Lin estimates, a loss equal to the combined populations of Chicago and Houston.
The greatest manufacturing boom in history is fizzling, dragging down national economic growth. Henry Cui, the vice president of operations at People Group, a Taiwanese-owned shoe maker in Dongguan, says that his industry is fragmenting: Sneaker production is shifting to Vietnam and Indonesia, high heels to Brazil, ankle booties to Spain and Portugal. Margins are already wafer thin, and his workers are demanding up to 15% annual pay increases. Meanwhile, Mr. Cui’s customers on High Streets across the U.K. have been clamoring for discounts since the Brexit vote bashed down sterling. “If you go cheaper and cheaper, eventually you die,” he says.
To be continued


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* 3rd-qtr profit 43 cents/share vs 30 cents a year earlier
* Sees 4th-quarter profit $1.95-$2.10/share
* Shares down 1.3 pct in premarket trade
Nov 20 (Reuters) - Signet Jewelers Ltd reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, lifted by gains at its mid-priced Kay Jewelers chain and improved sales of higher-margin jewelry, but said Superstorm Sandy was weighing on business.
Signet shares were down 71 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $52.28 in premarket trading in New York. They were up 0.8 percent in London but had surrendered some earlier gains.
The company, which also operates the higher-end Jared chain in the United States and the Ernest Jones stores in Britain, said it expects sales at stores open at least a year to be up by a low-single-digit percentage rate in the current holiday quarter.
Chief Executive Mike Barnes said November has been “challenging” because of the disruption caused by Sandy, which hit the East Coast on Oct. 29, killing dozens and knocking out power to millions of homes and businesses.
Same-store sales at Kay, Signet’s biggest chain, rose 5.5 percent during the third quarter, ended Oct. 27. In Britain, where the company gets about 18 percent of its sales, same-store sales rose 2.3 percent, a marked improvement after several quarters of sluggish consumer spending in that market.
Companywide, same-store sales were up 1.4 percent. Overall revenue rose 0.1 percent to $716.2 million, coming in below analysts’ average forecast of $730.6 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Same-store sales at Jared, where items are about twice as expensive as at Kay, fell 4.1 percent because a Rolex watch line was discontinued. Otherwise, same-store sales would have been up 5.5 percent.
Net income for the third quarter rose to $34.9 million, or 43 cents per share, from $26.1 million, or 30 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts’ average forecast was 37 cents a share.
The company forecast earnings of $1.95 to $2.10 per share for the holiday quarter, when Signet typically generates nearly half of its annual profit.


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After 80 years, VW calls it quits for the Beetle
Volkswagen announced the end of the (production) line for one of the most recognizable cars of all time. Although there have been over 23 million of the little ‘squashed’ sedans sold, only 15,000 were sold in 2017.
Jack Ma ‘steps down’ from Alibaba
Five years after transitioning from CEO to executive chairman, Alibaba’s founder announced his intention to transition out of the company within the next year.
Tired of high prescription drug prices? Make your own
Or at least that is the idea behind Civica Rx, a not-for-profit drug maker formed by over 500 American hospitals to reduce their dependence on inconsistent drug prices.
JUUL may not be quite a jewel
The FDA made a potentially damning mandate for JUUL Labs and other ‘vape’ manufacturers, indicating if the companies cannot prove they can keep their products out of the hands of minors the FDA will take the products off the market.
A major shakeup for the boards of CA-based companies may be coming
California’s state congress passed a bill, which is now awaiting Governor Jerry Brown’s signature, which would require companies based in California to have a minimum number of women on the board of directors relative to the number of total members of the board.


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Startup Grind, a networking and discussion forum that is open to the public, has hosted many entrepreneurs from the technology sector in past events who have shared their stories of business success.
But this month’s grind, held Oct. 25 at the incubator in the Innovation Center of the University at Buffalo’s medical campus, was proud to invite a key player in Buffalo’s flourishing food and beverage industry, Pete Cimino, co-founder of lloyd Taco Factory, for an engaging fireside chat and night of networking.
Sean Heidinger, head of the Buffalo chapter of Startup Grind, was pleased with the turnout of this month’s event, which usually draws in a crowd of 100 or more.
“It was really nice to finally feature an entrepreneur from the food and beverage industry,” Heidinger said. “It was really cool to see and learn how food and beverage industry entrepreneurs also deal with the same issues that a tech entrepreneur deals with.”
Cimino talked about his food truck and restaurateur journey before answering questions from audience members, many of whom were interested in Cimino’s experience with the city related to food truck legislation.
Kelsey Hanks, Startup Grind partner and co-committee chair, was particularly interested in this aspect of Cimino’s presentation, because she was working for the mayor’s office in 2011, shortly after lloyd’s was established.
“I was really thrilled for (Cimino and his partner) when they saw success and were able to start operating,” she said.
Cimino also discussed the future of lloyd Taco Factory, including additional brick and mortar locations and the establishment of several lloyd’s kiosks inside New Era Field, as the brand is now welcomed as the exclusive burrito of the Buffalo Bills this season. When asked when he realized his business was a success, Cimino shared an anecdote about one of his employees, who was a refugee and was finally able to purchase a car to travel to work.
Audience members, many with startup ideas and businesses of their own, learned more about the process Cimino used to launch his business, which they could apply in their own endeavors.
“We often try to drive the conversation with questions that might cross their mind if they’re thinking about starting their own business, so Pete was able to provide that perspective,” Hanks said.
Sponsors for this event were: Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc., DIG at the Innovation Center, Big Ditch Brewing Company, HELM Experience and Design, Martin Davison Public Relations, and Nickel City Graphics.
About Startup Grind
Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs, powered by Google for Entrepreneurs. Events are hosted monthly in more than 125 cities and 55 countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators, and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. The monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers, and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections, and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead.


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The sight of the Schwan's ice cream truck evokes childhood memories for many a Minnesotan, but its latest sweet innovation has a fixed address.
The Marshall-based foodmaker has revealed more details about its "unapologetically decadent dessert destination" it's bringing to the Minneapolis North Loop this summer.
Called Edwards Dessert Kitchen, it's scheduled to open this summer in the Lowry building at 200 Washington Ave. N.
It'll be led by general manager and executive pastry chef Christina Kaelberer, who in a press release on Monday has revealed some of the mouthwatering desserts.
Miso caramel pudding, vegan chocolate mousse, coconut crème pie puffs and passion fruit soufflé are some of the menu items you can expect, that will also feature made-to-order options and a "seasonal tasting menu."
Ice cream and pies, Schwan's raison d'etre, will also be on the menu.
It's not just dessert you'll find at the eatery though, with Edwards Dessert Kitchen also serving booze.
It's teaming up with Tattersall Distillery in Minneapolis to offer a "carefully crafted cocktail menu," as well as offering locally-sourced coffee from St. Paul's True Stone Coffee Roasters.
Today's Top Stories
An opening date hasn't been formally confirmed at this stage, but Schwan's has said it'll be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Kaelberer says the eatery will "challenge people's perceptions of desserts," offering a mix of styles and even relatively healthy options.
"When it comes to our desserts, it’s never a question of should, but why not?” she said.


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DETROIT (AP) - In another sign of the pressures facing the Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler AG, the company said Friday it would idle seven factories in the United States and Canada for one week starting Monday to cut vehicle inventories.
The move comes as sales of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles have been erratic in recent months, with several models posting large declines. About 20,000 workers will be idled, but will receive 95 percent of their regular pay under union contracts.
The plants include a truck factory in Warren, Mich.; St. Louis Assembly North in Fenton, Mo.; and the Jeep Wrangler plant in Toledo, Ohio. Plants also will close in Newark, N.J., and Belvidere, Ill., along with operations in Bramalea and Windsor, Ontario.
DaimlerChrysler DCX spokesman Trevor Hale said the announcement was not related to the poor third-quarter financial results DaimlerChrysler reported Thursday, but rather was a move to cut the number of unsold vehicles.
"We worked a lot of overtime in the past year, and production now is catching up with demand," he said.
Hale said he did not have an estimate for how much production would be cut or by how much inventories would decline. The move will affect production of Dodge Ram and Dakota pickups, Dodge Ram vans, the Dodge Durango and Jeep Wrangler sport utility vehicles, the Neon subcompact and the company's large LH sedans - the Dodge Intrepid and the Chrysler Concorde, LHS and 300M.
While U.S. auto sales for the year through September were up 5 percent, DaimlerChrysler's car sales excluding Mercedes-Benz were down 11 percent, while its truck sales are flat.
At the beginning of October, it had a 71 day supply of cars, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. The industry standard is 60 days.
Ward's said the company had a 63-day supply of trucks, but that figure includes the popular Chrysler PT Cruiser, which is in short supply; Chrysler had a 97 day supply of Dakota pickups and an 82 day supply of Ram trucks.
DaimlerChrysler is not the only automaker that has had to take steps to keep its inventories in check. General Motors Corp. is offering zero-interest, five-year loans to reduce its stock of 2000 model year vehicles, while Ford Motor Co. is offering cash rebates and cheap loans on 2001 model year vehicles.


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If you missed the news, the search engine wars are beginning to heat up again with the recent announcement by Mozilla Firefox. Yahoo is now their preferred search engine. The question on many analysts’ minds is whether or not this partnership will make a dent in Google’s 72.5% search market share (December 2014)?
So will Firefox and Yahoo Effect Google’s Dominance?
On the day Firefox moved from Google to Yahoo as their preferred search engine, Yahoo accounted for 29.4% (compared with 9.64% of searches on Firefox 33) of searches using the new Firefox 34. It’s also vital to note before the switch, Google was the default search tool in previous versions.
It could be that the Firefox/Yahoo partnership is about an attempt at getting more of the paid and organic search engine market share. Need proof? Yahoo has retained at the most, 10% of searches in the U.S. Therefore, the merger seems more like a play for advertising revenue in the short-term.
Follow The Money
So why would Firefox and Yahoo partner together? Follow the money. As in paid search. For instance, the recent merger did spike Yahoo’s paid search numbers in December. However, it was a modest 2% increase of all paid search traffic (Google, Yahoo & Bing). Granted, it’s a tiny slice of the pie. However, it’s logical that Yahoo will try to recapture more revenue through paid advertising.
Will It Work?
Many search pundits fear it’s too soon to tell. If you do the math, one plus one almost always equals two, except in the case of this new partnership. Granted, Firefox’s market share is on the rise and peaked at 23.6% in December 2014. So when you combine that with Yahoo’s search share of 9.31% you get what? No, not 32.91%. Instead, it’s a merger of two #2s in both search and browser preference.
Some analysts suggest this isn’t even a fragment of a fair fight because the Firefox/Yahoo partnership is watered down compared to the big G dominance in both search and browser usage.
Will The Firefox/Yahoo Duo Do Better?
In 1962, Avis, the forever #2 rental car company, developed a new marketing strategy confessing their lack of market dominance behind the granddaddy of all time, Hertz.
Their advertising agency (Doyle Dane Bernbach) designed a campaign which toted, “When you’re only #2, you try harder. Or else.” Some theorize that Yahoo will invest heavily in discounting and better managing their paid search partners. No doubt, it’s likely they’ll chisel away ad revenue from Google’s text and display networks.
Betting dollars to donuts, the Firefox/Yahoo play is likely to add more pressure on Google to retain their ad revenues. According to Internetretailer.com’s November 2014 report, paid search spending increased by more than 18% in 2014 ($158.4 million, up from $134.5 million for 2013). Therefore, this merger makes perfect sense for the online dynamic duo.
Is the merger a chink in the Google armor we’re not seeing? Perhaps. Yet, one thing is certain. The Firefox/Yahoo’s merger will bring more competition to paid search.


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Brookfield tree lighting takes a German twist
Holiday Market inspired by trip to sister city
The city of Brookfield will host its first German Holiday Market in the Civic Plaza on Saturday.
The event was planned by former Brookfield mayor Kate Bloomberg and the Brookfield Sister Cities Committee.
The idea evolved after the committee members visited Brookfield's sister city, Seligenstadt, Germany, this year.
"The ladies had taken this trip, and they were entranced and enjoyed visiting the German markets," Bloomberg said. "So we decided to introduce a German Holiday Market in Brookfield."
Bloomberg sat down with Parks and Recreation Director Bill Kolstad, who suggested combining the tree-lighting with the holiday market.
The Sister Cities Committee then reached out to United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee, the largest German ethnic group in the state, to make the event as close to German tradition as possible. They, in turn, reached out to Brookfield Farmers Market vendors to set up booths at the event.
"At the German Holiday Markets, there are individual kiosks for each merchant. So there will be holiday cookies, German sausage, mulled cider and crafts for sale in a heated tent," Bloomberg said.
In addition to the annual tree lighting at 4:45 p.m., there will be free hay rides for kids, a raffle, a jazz performance by students from Brookfield East and Brookfield Central high schools and a puppet show hosted by the library.
"It is just filled with all kinds of fun events," Bloomberg said. "The tent for the vendors will be in the center of the plaza and guests can walk around and enjoy both the vendors and entertainment."
The market also will feature a non-alcoholic version of the traditional German Christmas wine.
Children will have the chance to write letters to Santa before his arrival at City Hall at 4:30 p.m.
Thorsten Bonifer, chairman of the Seligenstadt Sister Cities Committee, is expected to fly in from Germany for the event.
Authentic memorabilia from Germany will be sold at the market.
"Seligenstadt sent us a cart full of stuff that's currently being held by customs; we hope they release it in time," Bloomberg said.
A local artist designed a cup and ornament with a Germany and Brookfield-themed logo.
"The mug and Christmas ornament have Brookfield and Seligenstadt on them, and people can purchase them in celebration of the event," Bloomberg said.
"I think we've managed to combine two delightful events for people to enjoy," Bloomberg said. "We're hoping to make this a new annual tradition in the city."
If You Go
WHAT:German Holiday Market
WHERE: Brookfield Civic Plaza, 2000 N. Calhoun Road
WHEN:3 to 7 p.m. Saturday
COST:Admission is free.
- The Corridor development in Brookfield announces three new tenants
- Brookfield/Elm Grove Ask Now: Why did a tornado siren go off last week?
- Brookfield council to vote on adopting park-naming process
- Brookfield/Elm Grove News and Notes: July 28
- Brookfield and Elm Grove Police Report: July 28
- Brookfield and Elm Grove Meetings: July 28
- Mystery Photo Contest: July 28
- 'Missing' swimmer in Brookfield park was likely not missing
- Brookfield's Linx Club project gets OK despite concerns
- Supporters line up to push Brookfield beekeeping


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ALMOST 400,000 rapid self-testing COVID-19 kits were bought across Spain during the first week that they were made available to the public.
A total of 386,155 COVID antigen tests were sold during the week of July 19 to 25, the first in which they were available without a prescription.
According to data from the consulting firm IQVIA, Catalunya sold the highest number of self testing kits, over 162,000, making up around 42% of the sales in Spain.
Meanwhile 58,892 kits were sold in Madrid, 43,627 in Galicia, 34,430 in Andalusia and 32,017 in Valencia.
In the region of Murcia, just 2,169 tests were sold over the counter, fewer than any other community in the country.
Nevertheless, sales of the pharmacy testing kits rose by 319.6% compared with the previous week, when a prescription was still needed to purchase them.
COVID-19 home test kits have been available for pick up without an appointment from pharmacies across Spain since June 29 for people to test themselves.
Minister Carolina Darias announced that the plans to allow pharmacies to sell home testing had been given green light in a bid to help curb the fifth wave of the virus.
The expansion is aimed at finding cases that would otherwise go undetected, so anyone testing positive can self-isolate and avoid transmitting the virus to those around them.
It means anyone without symptoms who do not already have access to asymptomatic testing in their workplace or community can test themselves.
Packs of rapid antigen tests will be sold over the counter and will be able to provide results in around 15 minutes. A positive result means people should self-isolate with their household and order a PCR test to confirm the positive result. Antigen tests, while fast and cheap, are less reliable than PCR tests.
Anyone who receives a negative result should continue to follow the restrictions and guidance currently in place, as a negative result is not a guarantee that someone does not have COVID-19.


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The initial public offering of General Motors (GM) last week netted $11.7 billion for the U.S. Treasury, which invested taxpayer money into keeping the then-struggling automaker solvent during the financial crisis as part of its Troubled Asset Relief Program.
The Treasury said in a statement Tuesday that it sold 358.4 million shares as part of GM's IPO on Nov. 17. GM proceeds accounted for almost 5% of the $252 billion companies have repaid to TARP, which is likely to cost U.S. taxpayers only about $50 billion, according to a report released last month.
GM, which emerged from bankruptcy last year, went public last week, selling 478 million common shares at $33 each, or about $15.8 billion in common stock. The automaker had increased the size of the IPO from the previously planned 365 million shares while boosting the price range from as little as $26 a share to as much as $33.
Earlier this month, GM reported that its third-quarter net income was $2.2 billion, compared to a $571 million loss a year earlier. Revenue jumped 27% to $34.1 billion. Additionally, year-to-date sales for GM's four remaining brands through October increased by 22% from a year earlier to 1.81 million units.


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DoubleClick Ad Exchange team just announced that over the next several weeks, a small handful of Google certified ad networks will now be able to compete for publishers’ unfilled AdMob in-app inventory through the DoubleClick Ad Exchange.
In a blog post Google Mobile Ads exec notes, “Beginning in a few weeks, ad networks will compete in an auction along with AdWords advertisers, and the highest paying ad will show on a publisher’s in-app inventory. More buyers like demand-side platforms and agency trading desks will help increase demand for ad inventory and help developers and publishers make more money.”
“Initially, a small number of pre-qualified buyers will be able to compete for this inventory. Over time, we’ll be rolling it out more broadly. Ultimately, this will give app developers and publishers access to a wider pool of buyers like demand-side platforms and agency trading desks, improving their potential returns, and helping grow the overall mobile web economy,” said the Google Mobile Ads exec.
Adding, the exec said, “Marketers on our Exchange will be able to buy, in real time, ads that run inside people’s favorite mobile games, news apps and more. With this important addition, the DoubleClick Ad Exchange will be truly cross-format…and will become the first exchange to support this full range of ad formats.”
The exec notes, “Publishers currently using AdSense to improve fill rate, the Google certified ad networks will begin competing along with AdWords advertisers in the coming weeks. Publishers must take action by selecting “Do not use Google AdSense” in their account settings if they want to disable ads from AdWords and Google certified ad networks. “
For more information, visit the Help center.


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Five axes TC 200h Lexus has announced a preview of the 2011 Chicago Auto Show is a new measure introduced by the Lexus specialized secondary market. Aside from the new Five Axis Lexus announced CT 200h, the tuner has been amended several other models for the constructor, which were represented at various shows in North [...]
The highly anticipated Lexus LFA supercar that just made its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, will be presented for the first time in North America in two places first back-to-back – the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association trade (SEMA) in Las Vegas in November, and in 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December. [...]
2013 Lexus ES 300h Release Date For the first time, the Lexus ES will be available with Lexus Hybrid Drive. Featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine, the 2013 Lexus ES 300h hybrid is expected to earn an EPA fuel economy rating of approximately 40 mpg combined city/highway.
CT 200h Lexus has introduced a new model until last year, so that the 2012 updates to a minimum. However, we are pleased to announce that the Sport range F CT 200h hybrid sedan accessories we’ve seen in concept form last October, is finally ready for sale.
Japanese tuner Wald International has unveiled the Lexus LX570 Sports Line Black Bison Edition, a version of refined luxury SUV for the Japanese market. Where the Lexus series car is not sold in the Japanese market. The car has changed so, as well as a hard name to write, to pronounce and remember, even a [...]


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FORT LAUDERDALE – The Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) has secured free exhibitor display booths for small and medium sized enterprises at the Florida International Trade & Cultural Expo and Conference (FITCE) which will be held this year from October 18-20 in Ft. Lauderdale.
FITCE brings together over 100 businesses from some 60 countries each year to display products and discuss a range of business issues including access to the United States market as well as linking with potential importers and exporters. In 2019 Guyana had the single largest delegation of any participating country and several of these enterprises benefitted from advice on exporting to the US from agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Several also established links with buyers in the US.
“Once again the GACC has secured free registrations and booths for 20 exhibitors from Guyana and encourages small and medium sized enterprises in Guyana to register early. The Chamber will also seek to have discussions with the Government of Guyana to determine what assistance could be given to assist deserving small businesses to participate in this event,” says Wesley Kirton, GACC President.
Guyanese businesses have been participating in FITCE since 2017. Among the outcomes of this participation has been the acquisition of a license by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to establish a World Trade Center in Guyana.
The GACC is encouraging early registration by companies in Guyana. Especially to be able to match these with companies with an interest in importing their products and produce. As well as identifying potential distributors for US products in Guyana.
International Trade Opportunities
“FITCE will welcome local and international companies to the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a unique opportunity to engage high-level government leaders, international trade experts, and delegations from around the world. This is a great opportunity to participate in dialogue relating to international trade, foreign direct investment, and culture,” says Paola Issac Baraya, Specialist Economist, International Trade, chair of the organizing team for the event.
Interest In Guyana
“There is a lot of interest in Guyana especially since its oil and gas discoveries and this interest was heightened last October when Florida was host to a high level delegation from Guyana headed by the Prime Minister which participated in a ‘Doing Business with Guyana’ forum put on by the Guyanese Chamber,” Ms. Baraya pointed out. She said her office is committed to working with the GACC to help match businesses from Guyana with those in the US to expand trade and investment and to help develop emerging industries such as the creative industries which include arts and culture.


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Tredence announces the launch of Tredence Studio, a proprietary enterprise innovation platform
A co-creation platform for enterprises to move the innovation needle from “Experimentation” to “Value-realization.”
BENGALURU, Karnataka, June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Tredence, a leading data science and AI engineering company, today announced the launch of their proprietary enterprise innovation platform, Tredence Studio, aimed at ‘value identification and value realization’ for enterprises.
Tredence Studio provides a marketplace for enterprises to foster co-innovation with:
- Prebuilt AI and advanced analytics accelerators
- Rapid AI design and development ecosystem
- Reimagination of analytics interventions across organizational metrics
“For the last eight years, we’ve been solving sophisticated business problems for our customers through our data science expertise. Tredence Studio is a culmination of our efforts in building advanced AI/ML models to solve complex economic and business challenges across various industries. With Tredence Studio, enterprises can operationalize AI at scale, taking innovation from vision to value effortlessly,” said Shub Bhowmick, Co-Founder and CEO at Tredence.
Tredence Studio helps enterprises build a unique competitive advantage by empowering every employee to innovate, test, and execute solutions for a wide range of business problems. “Last-mile adoption of AI has always been our strength. Now, we’re extending that to innovation as well,” said Soumendra Mohanty, COO and Chief Innovation Officer at Tredence. “With Tredence Studio, enterprises will have the ability to re-imagine analytics interventions across customer touchpoints and business processes to drive sustainable business outcomes” he added.
Tredence Studio endeavors to help customers adopt a test-and-learn culture to counter pervasive uncertainties. With pre-built AI accelerators and toolkits, the Studio can manage the overall innovation funnel and move ideas into impactful solutions.
Tredence is a data science and AI engineering company focused on solving the last mile problem in analytics. The ‘last mile’ is defined as the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence is 800+ employees strong with offices in Palo Alto, Chicago, Toronto, and Bangalore, with the largest companies in retail, CPG, Hi-Tech, telecom, travel, and industrials as clients.
The content is by PR Newswire. Headlines of Today Media is not responsible for the content provided or any links related to this content. Headlines of Today Media is not responsible for the correctness, topicality or the quality of the content.


text: GODFREY \u2014 State Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton, the Riverbend Growth Association and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will be hosting a Small Business Seminar open to local small business owners and managers, as well as people interested in starting their own small business. \u201cOur local communities only thrive when our small businesses thrive,\u201d Beiser said. \u201cThrough the Small Business Seminar we are hoping to help folks interested in small business growth in our area get started by hearing different tips, opinions and ideas from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The meeting will also be beneficial to existing employers looking to improve their businesses.\u201d The free Small Business Seminar beginning at 10 a.m., with lunch to follow, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 20, in the community room at Liberty Bank, 3112 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. A RSVP is required to attend the event. For more information or to RSVP, contact Beiser\u2019s constituent services office at 618-465-5900 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Unfortunately, as we well know, the MWC 2020 event in Barcelona was canceled due to the Coronovirus epidemic that put the whole world on alert and which in these hours makes our beautiful country remain in suspense. The presentation events that should have been held during the technological event have been postponed, many with dates to be set while others have begun to peep out, like the one held yesterday by Realme that presented its X50 Pro flagship.
We talked about him in this article, but during the occasion, Realme's management has not lost any way of telling us about its plans for the future. In fact, the Chinese company has announced that it will concentrate its efforts on 5G, a technology that in 2020 will be the guiding thread for many smartphones that will be presented during the year.
Realme announces 5 new 5G smartphones also for Italy
Realme country manager, Emilio Alvarez, from the stage where the new Realme X50 Pro is presented has announced that at least 5 smartphone models will take shape in 2020 and will boast the new 5G connectivity technology, thus making the spread of the brand in the rest of the globe. In fact, the company's intention is to export these new models to other countries beyond China and among these we find, Greece, India, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Spain, the Germany and especially Italy. The countries mentioned are actually many more, but what interests us brand enthusiasts is that Realme has very specific aims towards the market of our country.
It is inevitable that with the emergence of the new 5G technology, the production of 4G smartphones will cease gradually. Currently the devices of the Asian brand equipped with the new connectivity are only two, namely the Realme X50 and X50 Pro, both with Snapdragon 865 hardware base. What is frightening is perhaps the prices at which the new smartphones will be proposed, even if the solutions offered by MediaTek , with the Dimensity 1000 and 800 SoCs, will help the spread of 5G also in the entry level segments of the market.
If on the one hand the technological innovation that Realme will adopt can only please us, however, we cannot fail to take into consideration that 5G in Italy compared to the rest of the world is proceeding slowly. In fact, analyzing the sector reports, Italy's delay compared to other European markets, such as the English or German ones, is rather evident. It is estimated that by 2023 52,5 million users will be connected to the Internet via mobile technology, of which less than half will have access to 5G while the value of 4G connections should almost double, which will go from 29% (data for 2018) to 48,9%.


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Sudoku & Permudoku hitting the European Wii U eShop on July 7
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U eShop | 0 comments
In Europe, Sudoku & Permudoku will be available on July 7. That’s based on a listing from the eShop, which also has a €0.99 price point. Sudoku & Permudoku is already out in North America having arrived last month.


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Instagram’s filters have never been subtle. They’re loud, obvious, obtrusive, and despite their momentary charm, you quickly realize that other services, like VSCO and Afterlight, are much better served for editing purposes. Look at any Instagram profile with a lot of followers, and chances are they use VSCO as their preferred editing software; it’s no surprise that the company’s iPad app was highlighted as one of this year’s best. It’s also no surprise folks advertise photos with the #nofilter hasthtag.
Starting today, however, Instagram has introduced a handful of new filters that are much more muted, delicate, and clearly designed to prove a point: Instagram offers some great filters, too. It’s been two years since Instagram last introduced new filters, instead focusing on editing tools and video features. But today, the company has revealed five hot off the presses that it calls its “best yet.”
Inspired by the photography , art, fashion and design of the global Instagram community, we’re releasing five new filters that we believe are our best yet, Instagram said. You’ll see the filters at the front of your filter tray: Slumber, Crema, Ludwig, Aden and Perpetua. They soften and subtly shift colors to achieve the look and feel you want for each photo.
In addition to the new filters, Instagram is also making it easier for users to apply these photo tweaks. Going forward, when you go to apply a filter, you’ll see a preview of how your photo will look with that particular one applied at the bottom; this makes it easier to see at a glance how your photo will look. There’s also a new option to arrange them based on your preference, giving you the ability to keep Kelvin hidden away and unused.
Instagram has never really put much emphasis on filters despite gaining an early following for that very thing. However, as the photo-sharing service has evolved over the past few years—reaching 300 million users in the process—it openly admits that it’s obligated to offer better tools.
“We’ve seen tremendous creativity within the community, not only in the moments they share, but in the time spent carefully composing and editing photos and videos to bring out emotions and make them beautiful,” Instagram said.
With these five new filters, which are much more even and muted, Instagram looks to be actively going after services like VSCO. The update for Android and iOS is rolling out today. You can check out what the filters look like in the photos above.


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Search Result For
Result(s) found: 81
Spinners upbeat on Shanghai Yarn Expo in October
Yarn Expo Autumn 2014 will be held in Hall N4 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from October 20 to 22, 2014. With an exhibition area standing at 5,000 sqm, nearly 150 overseas and domestic yarn suppliers will participate in this edition, while many of them say they will showcase their latest eco products.
The Green Agenda
One of the eye-catching brochures seen at the recently-concluded ITMA Asia+CITME 2014 in Shanghai was from VDMA, containing an in-depth analysis of technology titled "German Technology: Higher Energy Efficiency - Higher Profits".
ITMA Asia+CITME 2014 affirms No. 1 position in....
More than 1550 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors, ITMA Asia+CITME 2014 laid its claim successfully that it is the No. 1 textile machinery exhibition in Asia. The fourth combined ITMA ASIA + CITME 2014 exhibition downed the curtains on June
LMW to showcase latest Card, Comber & 2 ring frames
Lakshmi Machine Works Limited (LMW), founded in 1962, is one among the three manufacturers of entire range of textile spinning machinery from blow room to ring spinning. M Sankar, VP, Marketing, shared his opinion and issues regarding LMWs participation at ITMA.
Bayer redefines development of coated textiles
Bayer MaterialScience—with its recently inaugurated state-of-the-art textile coating pilot line in Shanghai, China—will help strengthen its capabilities in the coated textile sector.
High priority push for processing vital
Processing is considered a weak link within the Indian textile industry. But for K·sters, it is its forte. K·sters Calico Machinery Private Limited, one of the leaders in textile processing machines, has been [successfully] serving the textile industry globally for over 17 years.


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SEOUL — Korea Development Bank, the South Korean state-owned policy bank, reportedly is reviving talks with Chinese tire maker Qingdao Doublestar Tire Co. Ltd. over a possible sale of its stake in Kumho Tire Co. Ltd.
KDB, which is part of a consortium that owns a 42-percent stake in Kumho Tire, is proposing issuing new shares in Kumho that Doublestar would acquire, making it the largest shareholder at approximately 45 percent, according to multiple reports March 2 in Korean media.
Doublestar had agreed in late 2016 to buy KDB's stake in Kumho for a reported $850 million before disagreements over trademark rights and Kumho's profitability prompted the Chinese company to revise its offer downward.
The parties eventually agreed to cancel the deal.
Under the announced proposal, Kumho would issue new shares worth roughly $600 million in a private placement, at 5,000 Korean won ($4.45) per share.
Buying the shares would give Doublestar 45 percent of the firm's revamped share structure, according the KDB proposal.
The KDB creditors group's holding would fall to 23 percent from 42 percent, the news reports said.
Word of KDB's renewed offer to Doublestar came after Kumho's management failed to reach an agreement with labor union representatives on a rescue plan, the reports said.
Kumho reported an operating loss of $39.6 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2017, on sales of $1.66 billion. Full-year financials have not been released.
Doublestar was the No. 23 ranked company on Tire Business' 2017 Top 75 tire makers' ranking, with 2016 sales of $1.06 billion.


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Well finally. Nintendo revealed at its E3 keynote that Golden Sun DS is now Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. A new trailer was shown for the game, displaying some very impressive graphics on the DS, including huge summoning spells that span both screens. The trailer also showed some touch mechanics, including moving objects with the stylus to open paths and solve puzzles.
More important than all that, the game will be released this holiday. If it's on the show floor, rest assured that we will be playing it.


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According to the British Veterinary Association, 81 per cent of vets across the UK saw at least one case of toxic ingestion in pets during the 2016 festive period.
This has promoted the BVA to urge pet owners to watch out for potential hazards to their pets this Christmas.
Chocolate poisoning remains the most common cause of toxic ingestion at Christmas for dogs, with 74 per cent of vets seeing at least one case, according to BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey. There has also been a spike in raisin or sultana poisoning over the past two years, with 54 per cent of vets reporting treating a case during last year’s festive season.
Many cats also suffered toxic ingestion last Christmas, with a quarter of vets treating cats for antifreeze poisoning. Festive decorations, gift wrapping and seasonal plants like lilies and poinsettias are other common reasons for pets landing up at the vets.
BVA president John Fishwick said: “Christmas is typically a fun and chaotic time for families, but the presents, treats and decorations can often prove dangerous for our pets if we are not careful. Many pet owners are aware of the risks of chocolate or other festive foods being toxic for their pets but, as our survey shows, it’s easy to be caught out by a kind gift left under the tree or a treat left out on the table, which curious animals can find hard to resist.
“Our advice is for givers to tell, and owners to ask, if there is anything edible in gifts and to keep such presents safely out of reach of your pet. If you suspect your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t, then don’t delay in contacting your local vet.”


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Sony Interactive Entertainment officially announces today as being the last day for fans to take advantage of its Holiday Sale on the PlayStation Network.
Sony Interactive Entertainment releases a rather bizarre advertisement as a means to promote some of its Black Friday deals for the PlayStation Store.
DICE’s new first-person shooter Battlefield 1 is the best-selling game on the latest PSN sales chart, while label-mate Titanfall 2 finds itself in ninth place.
Sony’s PlayStation Network Customer Service team bans a gamer for having a user name that contains ‘Jihad,’ but it turns out that is the gamer’s actual name.
Sony Interactive Entertainment officially reminds PS4 players that the console’s PlayStation Network servers are to be down for two hours next week for maintenance.
During the financial year that ended March 31, 2016, Sony’s PlayStation Network generated more revenue than the whole of Nintendo during the same period.
Sony is planning to update the PlayStation online services to include 2-step authentication, providing a long-requested and needed additional layer of security.
A reminder poster by Sony on the PSN website indicates that routine maintenance will affect PlayStation Network services early next week for a period of two hours.
According to numerous reports from gamers, Sony’s PlayStation Network is encountering issues, with fans around the world unable to access its numerous services.
Having pledged to prolong subscriptions for users affected by recent PlayStation Network outages, Sony announces that it will start distributing extensions this week.
Sony confirms PlayStation Network is currently down, with the outage affecting all of the services for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, as well as PS Vita.
A new hacker group threatens to take down both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network for up to a week starting on Christmas Day after temporarily taking down service on Xbox Live.
Sony head Shuhei Yoshida expresses his wishes for PlayStation gamers to be able to change their PSN usernames, but he has doubts that they can make it a reality.
Sony reveals the upcoming PlayStation Plus games for August 2015, which includes Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Limbo, and God of War: Ascension.
With EVO 2015 this weekend, Sony offers deep discounts on fighting game titles such as BlazBlue, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat, along with a slew of kung-fu movies.
After fans’ calls for a better PlayStation Network with their #BetterPSN movement, Sony finally addresses the campaign with an official press release.
PlayStation gamers are promoting a website and campaign called #BetterPSN, where they are requesting numerous changes for Sony’s premium subscription service.


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CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people awaits a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The event is underway and has unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it is known. Due to the ongoing pandemic and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications, including us, are not physically attending the CES 2022, making the show kind of Hybrid. However, after spending many months in lockdown, we’re now getting used to the new normal.
BMW iX – The Color Changing Car
Invention arises directly from idleness, sometimes out of laziness to save oneself from troubles, and that’s human nature, which BMW grasped and created a colour-changing car, which will keep you sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays, similar to the ones we find on the screen of a Kindle e-reader. The demo version only allows two colour-changing patterns, Black and White, but more colours will be added to excite the customers in the future.
Freestyle TV Projector by Samsung
Drive-in theatres were one of the fascinating approaches towards entertainment as they allowed people to enjoy the cinema from the comfort of their car. Unfortunately, it lapsed out from our lives, but if you’re one of those people who likes to stay on the road and enjoy movies on the go, particularly on big screens, then Samsung has launched something for you, the all-new Freestyle TV projector, which weighs less than a kilogram and comes with a 180-degree cradle stand. Get an additional USB-C battery, a waterproof case, lens caps, and the projector allows you to project anything onto walls, screens or anywhere else from 30 to 100 inches.
LG Omnipod – World on Wheels
LG has always been a company that introduced humanity to many unbelievable products and ensured we would stay on the line of innovation. Micro apartments are already creating hype worldwide due to the shortage of space and ever-rising prices. And now, to make things easier for us, LG has introduced an Omnipod – a connected car concept that blurs the distinction between home and car. Fundamentally, it is an entire world on wheels with lights, windows and even seems to have a driver’s seat. The Omnipod has a refrigerator, drink dispensers, TV panels, a virtual assistant “Reah” to help you and access Metaverse via the giant floor-to-ceiling screen.
Noveto N1 – Invisible headphones
We often find people exaggerating the size of the headphones or even earbuds, and to cure that problem, Noveto has launched N1, an audio device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The premium soundbar works on ultrasonic waves and offers a headphone-like experience with spatial 3D audio, and the speciality of N1 is only the listener can hear the music. The company has recorded up to 90% (20dB) audio drop when it is 1 meter away from the listener means only 10 per cent of the N1’s audio can be heard beyond 1 metre, more like a whisper.
Sony Vision-S-02 EV
The one conference that surprised everyone was Sony, as they bring a reasonable interest in their electric vehicle, the Vision-S, and its further development and production. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The newly introduced all-electric SUV model, Sony Vision-S-02, is definitely for a future commercial release. Along with advanced sensors and safety systems, it allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more you could ask for in a car?


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just the Round-Up - The week in drinks
The week in drinks
The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:
Beam Inc has agreed to sell a group of its “economy” spirit brands to Luxco for around US$65m.
The world's largest spirits groups are continuing to increase their share of the global spirits market, a new report from Euromonitor International has found.
Barossa Valley Estate (BVE) has appointed receivers to take control of its assets, with the winery set to go up for sale.
SABMiller has posted a jump in third-quarter sales despite bad weather in China that saw its volumes in the country dip.
The founder of Goose Island has voiced his surprise at the lack of M&A activity in the US craft beer sector and admitted he had “mixed emotions” about quitting the company he set up.
Diageo will bring “much-needed” financial prudence to United Spirits Ltd (USL) by ending a “vicious” cycle of volume focus, high working capital and low profitability, an analyst has predicted.
A New York state legislator overseeing a proposed energy drinks crackdown says he wants to work with the industry and not fight “tooth and nail” with companies.
The head of the Coca-Cola Co wants to use his company's marketing might to drive home anti-obesity education.
Crown Imports can become a “master” distributor under Constellation Brands, offering access to the US market for international brands not wanting to use Anheuser-Busch InBev, an analyst has said.
A wholesaler in China has been given a four-year prison sentence for selling “fake” Scotch whisky in the country's first case centered on the term 'Scotch'.
This month, Ian Buxton looks at attempts to increase environmental sustainability by Scotland's distillers, through the waste that they generate....
The world’s second largest brewer, SABMiller’s geographic profile provides a strong platform from which to exploit forecast volume growth in emerging markets. This profile analyses the company’s emplo...
The most unexpected new product in the white spirits world so far this year has to be Burrough's Reserve, a sipping gin from Pernod Ricard's team at Beefeater. Chris Mercer looks at the launch of the ...
- Is Diageo on the Brink of a Brain Drain?
- SABMiller edges Diageo as beer trumps spirits
- Comment - Heineken's move for Pivovarna Lasko
- Will Keurig Kold come to Coca-Cola Co's Rescue?
- Focus - SABMiller's FY Sales Performance by Region
- Rémy Cointreau eyes recovery after Q4 bounceback
- Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne's So Sauternes
- Bacardi cuts jobs at Global Brands unit
- Carlsberg exec joins Diageo as Africa chief steps
- Diageo targets Millennials with DeLeon ads


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- The centre will focus on increasing innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT)
- Mastercard is investing $510 million in the centre
Mastercard has launched a new centre called the Intelligence and Cyber Centre in Vancouver, Canada. The centre will focus on increasing innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT). The centre is being opened with the Canadian government and its Strategic Innovation Fund. Mastercard is investing $510 million in it.
Ajay Banga, president and chief executive officer of Mastercard said, “Ensuring payments are both convenient and secure has always been a top priority for Mastercard. The Vancouver centre will help us meet the growing demand for technology solutions to reduce the cost of cyber-attacks, enable today’s connected devices to become tomorrow’s secure payment devices, and address the growing vulnerabilities associated with the Internet of Things.”
Create 380 jobs
The centre will create 380 jobs as per the company. It will also be one of the six planned spaces for the company to work on cyber solutions globally.
Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and industry, said, “Our government is investing in a new cybersecurity centre in Canada to develop the technology solutions Canadians and people all over the world need to protect their personal and financial information when they use their devices. This will make Canada a world leader in cybersecurity and help us tackle the cost of cybercrime in Canada — an estimated $3 billion a year.”
In 2017, Mastercard acquired NuData. More recently, in 2019, it acquired Ethoca from Toronto which deals in biometrics and fraud resolution solutions.


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606 Day in October! Last week Roland unveiled their new TR-06 and TR-6S. So if you’re in the market for a little drum machine, how do they stack up?Read more
The move back to hardware jams is in full force. And what better sign than Roland re-introducing the MC groovebox line – with the full-sized MC-707 and pint-sized MC-101. The reason you know it’s not the 1990s? They advertise them as replacing your laptop.
brings together the latest breaking news on music, technology, gear, and live visuals. Got a project, found a news tip, or want to share your product? Submit to us directly.


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Travel Agency Flight Centre say they have a number of customers who will be affected by the new flight regulations set down by the United States.
The new rules affect any flights passing through or originating in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tunisia, Lebanon and Turkey.
Sue Matson, Flight Centre NZ general manager retail said they are currently working with customers affected to ensure they are aware of the new rules and how to comply.
She said anyone with bookings made with Flight Centre can call their 24/7 helpline to discuss whether the changes will affect them.
Matson said the new regulations will pose some challenges and inconveniences for travelers.
Families traveling long haul often use electronic gaming devices and tablets as a distraction, particularly when waiting in airports before boarding planes. Likewise for passengers with special needs.
Matson also has some old school advice for travelers.
“Travelers should take other items along such as colouring in books, pens, pencils and books.
Matson said it’s also worth being prepared for delays at affected airports.
“Travelers should expect that they may experience delays in the interim while the new regulations are enforced. When flying internationally travelers should allow at least 3 hours.”
Dan Lake with Flight Centre


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When the Walden Family Theater series debuts Friday night on Hallmark Channel, it’s rather fitting that the first programming will be a movie with the word “return” prominently included in its title.
Because with the premier of the made-for-TV “Return to Nim’s Island,” Walden Media and Hallmark Channel won’t just be bringing young Nim back to her old stomping grounds she first traversed in the 2008 theatrical release “Nim’s Island,” which grossed $100 million in worldwide box office sales. In a broader sense, Walden and Hallmark will also be launching Walden Family Theater, the initiative they believe can return prime-time television to a bygone era of family friendliness — a time when the entire family could watch high-quality TV together without having to worry about encountering embarrassing or inappropriate content.
“Growing up I always loved ‘The Wonderful World of Disney,’” said Walden Media president Micheal Flaherty, who is a member of the Deseret News Editorial Advisory Board. “So I wanted to see if there was a way for us to do something where families knew if they got together every Friday night, they could see a great film. That was the impetus, and then we met the awesome people at Hallmark who wanted to do the same thing.”
In a separate conversation, Hallmark Channel CEO and president Bill Abbott conveyed similar sentiments.
“Dating back to the days of TGIF, which was on ABC many years ago, Friday night is really a key viewing night for families,” Abbott told the Deseret News. “Partnering with Walden Media presents a great opportunity for us to really work to recreate that (and) have high-quality content that all members of the family can watch together.”
Family value fare
Throughout the rest of the year, Walden Family Theater will air approximately 30 times on Friday nights. Following “Return to Nim’s Island,” Walden Media will contribute five additional new, feature-length films during 2013. The next original production will be “Space Warriors,” starring Dermot Mulroney and Danny Glover.
During the episodes of Walden Family Theater when an original Walden Media movie isn’t airing, Hallmark Channel will show a family-friendly film for which it owns licensing rights.
But the Walden Family Theater partnership isn’t limited to just Hallmark and Walden. Indeed, its full name is “Wal-Mart and P&G Present Walden Family Theater.”
“I think that one of the under-the-radar elements of this deal,” Abbott said, “is how unique it is because it is not only involving four very, very strong partners that bring different assets to the table in their own way — but also in a space that doesn’t have a lot of competition and is something that’s very unique.”
In concert with Walden Media, Wal-Mart created a unique TV-to-DVD distribution model for Walden Family Theater: After an original movie like “Return to Nim’s Island” premieres on a Friday night, the film’s DVDs will go on sale in Wal-Mart stores the following Tuesday.
“Wal-Mart is just so innovative,” Flaherty said. “We really like the idea of building this new business model with them, so while the film is still fresh in the audience’s mind and while we’re advertising it, it (becomes) available for people to get right away.”
Procter & Gamble finds Walden Family Theater to be an attractive partnership option because the programming not only targets families but also offers unique product-placement opportunities.
“In addition to our co-presenting role for Walden Family Theater, we are excited to have our brands strategically integrated into six new, original films produced by leaders in family entertainment,” Procter & Gamble Entertainment spokeswoman Lindsey Erdahl told the Deseret News. “P&G’s products all lend themselves in one way or another to helping care for families. The consumers we hope to reach with Walden Family Theater are the same families whose everyday lives our products can help improve.”
Building brand promises
Walden Media has been in the movie business for the past decade. During that time, five Walden Media films topped $100 million at the domestic box office: each of the three “Chronicles of Narnia” films as well as “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and its 2012 sequel, “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.”
Flaherty said Walden Media averages between one and four major theatrical releases per year. Although Walden will continue its current trajectory in terms of producing those bigger-budget films, the company aims to disseminate its brand promise — something Flaherty succinctly defined as, “We make things that entertain and educate” — via Walden Family Theater.
“One of the things we’ve always wanted to do here is build a brand, and it’s really hard to build a brand without a reliable and predictable stream of content,” Flaherty said. “For probably the last five years we’ve been trying to figure out a way to get on television so we can have a more reliable stream of content that families would love.
“It’s all in the cumulative. We would like to look back at the end of the year and know that we’ve reached between 15 and 20 million people over the course of all those different Fridays.”
Last year Hallmark Channel and its sister station, Hallmark Movie Channel, combined to produce 36 made-for-TV movies. In that sense, Walden Family Theater fits nicely with Hallmark’s programming strategy and the new tagline it adopted six months ago, “The Heart of TV.”
“Certainly we’ll do an analysis with how we’re doing with (Walden Family Theater) and those titles, versus what typically we would do with other titles that are family-friendly but maybe not as young-skewing as the movies that we’re producing with Walden,” Abbott said. “At the end of the day, it is a ratings-driven business and having high-quality content is important. For us, measuring success is really a combination of those two things.”
Jamshid Ghazi Askar is a graduate of BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School and member of the Utah State Bar. Contact him at email@example.com or 801-236-6051.


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A new harrowing report from Apple's supply chain claims that workers at the world's largest iPhone factory have been told to remain on assembly lines despite being infected and ill with COVID-19.
Rest of World reports Tuesday that the plant "is grappling with a fresh Covid-19 outbreak after the Chinese government abruptly lifted its zero-Covid restrictions" and says that the company, under pressure to catch up on iPhone 14 Pro production, has told some employees to remain on production lines despite becoming ill.
Workers were reportedly given N95 masks to stop the spread of the virus, but workers say this does nothing to reduce the risk of spread in dormitories, where up to eight workers sleep in close proximity.
A harrowing scene
Seven workers reportedly told Rest of World that "they, along with many of their roommates, contracted the virus after joining the factory this month," three of whom were asked to stay on the job "despite showing symptoms."
One employee said "several colleagues had been working despite having a fever," and that he spent 11 hours inserting screws into iPhones on Saturday, despite difficulty breathing.
That same employee claimed workers were told not to get tested for COVID so they could stay on production lines.
Apple's best iPhone, the iPhone 14 Pro, is only made in Zhengzhou and Apple has battled severe supply disruption as a result of stringent zero-COVID measures in China. These measures lead to scenes of workers fleeing factories and fighting with law enforcement.
Just a few weeks later, workers now say that symptoms like coughing and fever, which would previously have triggered panic, are now "common occurrences" on production lines. One new recruit told the outlet he worked with a fever for two days while waiting for test results, and slow workers were reportedly scolded by sick managers with raspy voices who "couldn't even walk steadily."
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.
Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9


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Bonnie Wright, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton to be Featured in Drama Magazine (Updated)Grint
Three actors from the Harry Potter films are due to be featured in a new magazine called "Drama" which will be released next week. Drama Magazine is unique fashion and performance magazine available to download as an application through the iPhone and iPod Touch. Thanks to our Order partner Rupert Grint.net who let us know that new images and interviews with Rupert Grint (Ron), Tom Felton (Draco), and Bonnie Wright (Ginny) will be available online Wednesday, October 14th. They also have a preview photo of Rupert from the magazine which you can see right here. UPDATE: Thanks much to Jackie from Order partner BonnieWrightOnline we can see a new preview photo of Bonnie right here. Finally, Feltbeats also has a new photo of Tom that you can see via this link. We will update once these new interviews are released.
Thanks to RG.net and Feltbeats for emailing!


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Comments Off on Tesla to join Nasdaq 100 as Oracle defects to NYSE
Tesla Motors wholesale nfl jerseys Inc., the world’s best-performing automotive stock this year, will join the Nasdaq-100 Index next week, filling the spot vacated by Oracle Corp., which is moving to the New York Stock Exchange.
The electric-car maker will be added to the gauge, which tracks the biggest companies on the Nasdaq, before the start of trading on July 15, Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. said in a statement option Monday. Oracle, which last month said rise, it will join cheap mlb jerseys the NYSE, wholesale nba jerseys is the biggest company to jump between the Streit competing exchanges.
Shares of Tesla, the carmaker headed by billionaire Elon Musk, have cheap jerseys more than tripled this year as the popularity of its new Model S sedan You helped the company turn its first [...]
Comments Off on Toyota Camry, Honda Civic inventories rise, report says
The Toyota Camry and the Honda Civic, the top-selling mid-size and compact cars in the U.S., face risks of reduced production as inventories of the models shares rise, an RBC Capital Markets report said.
Toyota’s Camry exceeded its seasonal historical average inventory by more than 15 days supply in June and Honda carried about 25 days more The Civics than usual, 2015 Joseph Spak, a New York-based analyst for RBC, said in today’s report. Camry and Civic were the only models identified as at risk for reduced Miami Dolphins Jerseys output among 16 of the 3 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. market. General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC all added U.S. market share in the first six months of 2013, the first time that all three gained first-half share [...]
Comments Off on Fiat exercises option to buy additional 3.3% of Chrysler shares
Fiat today cheap jerseys exercised an option to raise its stake in Chrysler by 3.3 percent.
The move is part of CEO Sergio Marchionne’s cheap jerseys step-by-step purchases intended to lead to full control of Chrysler and the creation of a merged company that would be able to compete better with industry leaders Things Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen.
Fiat wholesale jerseys has been exercising options since By mid-2012 to buy holdings of about 3.3 percent from the VEBA, a medical-benefits trust for the U.S. carmaker’s retirees.
Including today’s purchase, Fiat has exercised three of its six-monthly options, increasing its stake to 68.49 percent.
Fiat has said it wants full control of Chrysler, which would give it access to some of Chrysler’s cash flow for investments in new models.


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Another day, another transpotation-related company is going public via a special purpose acquisition company deal. Luminar, a fast-growing maker of laser lidar sensors that help self-driving cars see the world, intends to list shares on Nasdaq NDAQ by merging with a SPAC that raises cash and boosts the startup’s market cap to an estimated $3.4 billion.
Luminar is merging with Gores Metropoulos, an affiliate of The Gores Group investment firm and Metropoulos & Co., and will trade under the ticker “LAZR” upon completion of the deal later this year. The transaction includes $400 million of cash from Gores Metropoulos and $170 million of additional funds from investors including Peter Thiel, Volvo Cars Tech Fund and Alec Gores, among others.
Founded by optics prodigy Austin Russell in 2012, who dropped out of Stanford University after receiving a $100,000 fellowship in 2013 from PayPal PYPL founder Thiel to build up the company, Luminar had raised about $250 million prior to today’s news. The Palo Alto, California-based company in May won a multiyear agreement to supply its high-tech sensors to Volvo Cars, which will use them as part of an autonomous system for consumer vehicles hitting the market in 2022, one of the earliest commercial production deals for the exotic sensor technology.
“This milestone is pivotal not just for us, but also for the larger automotive industry,” Luminar CEO Russell said. “We are making our next industry leap through our new long-term partnership with Gores Metropoulos, a team that has deep experience in technology and automotive and shares our vision of a safe autonomous future powered by Luminar.”
Luminar’s move comes amid a wave of SPAC-based listings in recent months, including Nikola Motor, a maker of hydrogen- and battery-powered trucks, rival lidar sensor maker Velodyne, Los Angeles-based EV startups Fisker Inc. and Canoo and electric truck startup Lordstown Motors. The advantage is a faster, cheaper route to going public and raising funds than a conventional IPO, and one that looks particularly appealing given the runup in major U.S. stock indices this year despite the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lidar’s ability to instantly create detailed 3D, point-cloud maps of a vehicle’s surroundings in daylight or darkness has made it essential technology for virtually every company working to perfect safe autonomous driving, with the notable exception of Tesla. (CEO Elon Musk has described it as a “fool’s errand.”)
Luminar and Gores Metropoulos said the combined company will have an implied pro forma enterprise value of approximately $2.9 billion and an equity value of approximately $3.4 billion at closing. Current Luminar investors will receive about 272 million shares of Gores Metropoulos common stock at closing. The merger is expected to close in 2020’s fourth quarter. Founder Russell, a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, will continue as CEO, Tom Fennimore will remain as CFO and Alec Gores will join the Luminar board.
Additionally, Luminar said it hired 16 members of Samsung’s Munich-based DRVLINE software team to help strengthen its development team.