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Tiktok bought Mobile Legends for USD 4 billion or the equivalent of IDR 57.6 trillion
Shocking news came from Mobile Legends. Reportedly, Mobile Legends was purchased by Tiktok through MLBB developer Moonton, which was acquired by the company that owns Tiktok, ByteDance.
ByteDance acquired Moonton through its business unit engaged in the video game sector, namely Nurverse.
Based on information reported by CNN, Tencent had made an offer to acquire Moonton. However, the offer was rejected by Moonton.
Yuanton, CEO of Moonton said the company will operate independently after the acquisition of ByteDance.
Moonton, which was founded by Tencent employees, became popular after releasing a multiplayer online battle arena or MOBA genre game, namely Mobile Legends.
With this, Bytance already has a MOBA game that will compete with two games made by Tencent, namely Honor King and League of Legends.
Since 2022, Tencent and Riot Games have filed a number of lawsuits against Moonton for copyright infringement.
This lawsuit targets one of Moonton’s founders, Watson Xu Shenhua. He was previously a senior employee at Tencent.
Until finally the lawsuit was won by Tencent in July 2022 and compensated for the settlement of USD 2.9 million.
What happened after TikTok bought Mobile Legends?
Many predict that Mobile Legends will be more popular after being acquired by Tiktok. ByteDance itself has committed to expanding its wings in the gaming field.
Moonton itself continues to grow thanks to its phenomenal game, Mobile legends. He transformed into a large game studio with an increase in revenue every quarter.
Unlike other game developers who release several games, Moonton only focuses on developing one game, namely Mobile Legends. This is a testament to Moonton’s seriousness in advancing this phenomenal MOBA game.
TikTok buys US$4 Billion Mobile Legends
Tiktok itself is now also a much-loved and popular social media all over the world. however, ByteDance is not complacent.
They want to continue to expand their business to the realm of gaming. One of his efforts was to acquire Moonton for around US$ 4 billion or equivalent to Rp. 57.6 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,405).
Bytedance has long expressed interest in video games. They also started to build a development team for this.
Furthermore, they immediately acquired Moonton, surprising news that not many predicted this.
They have already announced the acquisition process. This shows Bytedance’s seriousness to enter the gaming market.
However Moonton under the auspices of Bytedance will remain independent. This was conveyed directly by CEO Moonton through his statement:
“Today, we are announcing the good news to everyone that Mutong has reached a strategic acquisition agreement with Bytedance, and Mutong will be joining the Bytedance family.
Following the acquisition, Mutong will maintain independent operations and strengthen its deep integration with ByteDance in the gaming and e-sports areas.
After this merger, Mutong will continue to operate independently, and I will remain as CEO, and Mutong’s reporting line will not change.
During the transition period, the company will also issue additional transition bonuses and initiate employee incentive programs.”
Thus, this popular game will officially become the property of Bytedance, the developer of Tiktok. Currently, Mobile Legends itself is recorded to have up to 90 million active players.
ASEAN is the main market for this game with the largest revenue contribution of almost 1 billion USD.
Join our FREE MLBB tournaments. Visit https://champions.my.id/tournament and select the available season.


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Chevrolet recently wowed us after announcing the track-focused 1LE package will be offered on the supercharged Camaro ZL1 – but there’s more on the horizon.
According to an interview with Car and Driver , GM has plans for another high-performance Camaro and this one is aimed squarely at the Mustang GT350. Official details are thin, but GM is apparently working on a normally aspirated, 5.5-litre V8 with 700 horsepower on tap. Stunned? We are.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The mystery engine, dubbed the LT6 will have DOHC heads, four valves per cylinder and full aluminum construction. In addition, the high-tech mill will feature titanium connecting rods, direct injection and a flat-plane crankshaft like the shrieking GT350. Sounds like it will have Challenger Hellcat power and sky-high GT350 revs – and it looks like GM is already testing it out .
Car and Driver ‘s source also says GM will also make a twin-turbocharged version of this engine, suggested to propel the next super-Corvette.

domain: news


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Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is expected to hold a press conference on May 26, to discuss the next phase in the state's reopening plan, with a date to reopen Nevada's gaming industry.
His office said Saturday marks two weeks since Phase 1 began, and officials have been monitoring the first phase of reopening - analyzing data trends and evaluating potential plans for Phase 2.
If Nevada's COVID-19 data continues to reflect positive or consistent trends through the Memorial Day Weekend, the governor will announce a Phase 2 reopening date at the Tuesday press conference, along with business reopening statewide while continuing operation guidelines.
Also, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will be holding an information workshop where state and local health and safety officers will provide an update regarding COVID-19 response measures at resort-hotels.
Pending the evaluation of trends in Nevada's COVID-19 data, along with the results of the Gaming Control Board meeting, the governor's office says a June 4 target date has been set to reopen Nevada's gaming industry.
Gov. Sisolak also said for Nevadans to stay safe to stay open over the long holiday weekend - encouraging everyone to wear face coverings when in public, avoid large gatherings, and to practice proper social distancing.
Boyd Gaming released at statement saying in part:
"This is an exciting announcement for our company, and the entire state. We are ready to get back to business. The health and safety of our guests and team members is extremely important to us, and we will do this right."
Caesars Entertinament also released a statement saying in part:
"...we are excited to welcome our guests and our employees back to our properties. The company intends to comply with all re-opening directives from the Governor and from the Nevada Gaming Control Board."
The Culinary Union released their statement raising concerns over casino safety writing in part:
"As casinos move to reopen, the Culinary Union will not allow workers to be experimented with. The idea that each gaming company can come up with their own plans, keep those plans secret, and hope that one bad employer doesn’t harm workers and the entire industry is a potential disaster."
MGM Resorts and Station Casinos said they had no comment right now.
The Governor's full reopening plan outlining different phases can be found here .


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The market is evaluating stocks on whether they can benefit from the Trump administration, says Jim Cramer.
Jim Cramer explains how bullish comments from one semiconductor equipment maker lifts shares throughout the sector.
This year's Consumer Electronics Show will be all about smart appliances.
Amazon.com is ahead of competition when it comes to intelligent person assistants, RBC Capital analyst Mark Mahaney said.


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BMW Group Middle East said it expected the car to be in the region in the third quarter of 2013.
The mid-range executive coupe was shown off at the 83nd Geneva International Motor Show earlier this week and BMW promises that it will stand out from the popular 3 Series.
It said the wheelbase is 50mm longer than the 3 Series, the roofline has been lowered by 16mm and the overall length is 26mm more.
Those figures may not seem much, however BMW reckons they give the 4 Series a more dynamic look.
Other features include the kidney grille and twin circular headlights.
No prices have been announced yet.
Full News here – Dubai Latest Trusted Stories Feed
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Crash diet often come with large assurances of weight loss and optimum wellness, yet at what threats? College of Chicago Medication Ingalls Memorial dietitians claim the ketogenic or keto diet regimen, which has acquired popularity in the last several years, is exceptionally stringent and difficult to maintain.
Rachel Kleinman, RDN, LDN, clinical dietitian at Ingalls, claimed the keto diet plan is primarily made use of to take care of seizures in children with epilepsy. Research study on the diet regimen’s performance in treating excessive weight or diabetes mellitus is restricted.
Ketosis is a metabolic adjustment to enable the body to make it through within of starvation. Your body will certainly break down ketone bodies, a kind of fuel the liver generates from fat, rather than sugar or sugar from carbs.
To accomplish ketosis, the diet plan requires you eat 75 percent of your calories from fat, compared to 20-35 percent typically. “It’s really an all or nothing diet,” Kleinman said.
Individuals adhering to the keto diet must be eating foods like fatty fish, eggs, dairy, meat, butter, oils, nuts, seeds and also low-carb veggies. “Fat bombs” like unsweetened delicious chocolate or coconut oil can help individuals reach their everyday goals for fat intake. Keto-compliant foods like red meats as well as nuts can be expensive, Kleinman stated. Keto-branded products like keto coffee as well as other extra products are additionally both pricey and unnecessary.
Health Dietitian Mary Condon, RN, LDN, stated the keto diet plan may result in fat burning and also reduced blood sugars, yet it’s a quick fix. “Generally, it’s not lasting. Frequently weight gain might return, and also you’ll obtain more than what you shed,” Condon claimed.
Condon stated you ought to always consult your medical care physician prior to starting any new diet plan.
” If you get on diabetic person medication that triggers reduced blood glucose, those meds might need to be adjusted within a few days,” Condon stated. “There are heart-healthy resources of fat, nonetheless if that individual is not informed on heart-healthy resources of fat, they may consume excessive amounts of saturated fats that can enhance your threat of heart disease,” Condon said.
The keto diet plan might cause low high blood pressure, kidney stones, bowel irregularity, nutrient deficiencies and a raised threat of cardiovascular disease. Stringent diet regimens like keto could likewise trigger social isolation or disordered consuming. Keto is not safe for those with any kind of conditions including their pancreatic, liver, thyroid or gallbladder.
Kleinman stated someone new to the keto diet can additionally experience what’s called the “keto influenza” with symptoms like upset stomach, lightheadedness, lowered energy, and also mood swings triggered by your body adjusting to ketosis.
Both Condon and Kleinman stated they would not suggest the keto diet regimen to their clients due to the fact that it is ultimately not practical or lasting. The diet plan restricts fresh vegetables and fruits, entire grains as well as low fat dairy products that can help with long-term weight loss and also total health and wellness.
” There’s not one diet regimen that’s good for everyone,” Kleinman said. “Do your study, seek advice from a dietitian, go over with your physician, and ensure you’re being secure.”


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Texas Zoo hosts wine, artisan festival Uncorked
By by jessica firstname.lastname@example.org
March 20, 2013 at 1:04 p.m.
Updated March 19, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.
Typically, the Texas Zoo is a fun place for all ages, but this weekend, the zoo is all grown up.
An event not quite suitable for those younger than 21, the zoo will celebrate its sixth annual Wild About Wine Evening event. But this year is different.
Instead of a one-night affair of drinks and animal encounters, the zoo's executive director, Amanda Rocha, said they've added a few new attractions to the event to make it a festival.
"Since we really don't have a wine festival in town, we wanted to branch off from what we're already doing," she said.
This year, the Texas Zoo will host Uncorked: Wine, Gourmet Food and Artisan Festival, a three-day event of wining, nibbling and art gawking.
Friday night's Wild About Wine event includes wine pairings, live entertainment from Jerry James and a silent auction.
Last year, Johnny Vera ventured out to the Wild About Wine event for the first time and plans to make it out for a second time.
"I heard about it from friends and thought it would be something different to go to," he said.
And it was. Not a self-proclaimed sommelier, Vera said he had a good time sampling the wine pairings and was equally as impressed with the spread of food. He said there were shrimp cocktails, pork and cheeses paired with wines by area chefs. Once the savory foods were done, the dessert wines were brought out, he said.
"It's not a T-shirt and jeans kind of event, but it's not a black-tie event either," he said. "I'm just looking to forward to having a good time."
Once fully-recovered from a night of primal pampering at the Texas Zoo, enjoy Saturday and Sunday's outdoor festival of more wine tastings, gourmet food and artisan market.
"I think there is going to be something for everybody. If you like wine, check it out - there's also going to be beer," she said. "Whether you like to eat or you like to look at art - or even if you're not planning on buying anything - just admire the artisans. It's all stunning."
The artisan festival, which will be set up just outside the zoo, will include booths from area vendors, including area wineries, wood crafters, metal workers and potters. The admission tickets will also get guest wine tastings from Darcy's Vineyard and Winery, Texas Southwind Vineyard and Winery and CapRock Winery out of Lubbock, just to whet the palate.
"We want to introduce people to new wines - especially wines from our area, which I think is quite fantastic that we have that. We're very lucky that the wine business is moving down toward us," she said.
Rocha has big plans for Texas Zoo in the future. She said the community should keep an eye out for other events like Uncorked.
"Everything we do, we are going to do better," she said.


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Retail sales of U.S. and Canadian Class 8 Natural Gas trucks have increased in 2019, reversing the declining trend from the year before, according to ACT Research’s Alternative Fuels Quarterly.
As of May, year-to-date sales were up 43% and were also up 10% from April’s numbers.
“Bucking the early decline pattern of the past few years, cumulative sales for the first five months of 2019 appear to be gaining ground,” said Ken Vieth, senior partner and general manager at ACT Research. “Despite soft reports in three of the first five months this year, sales of natural gas-powered vehicles are on an overall upward trajectory, gaining 10% month-over-month, 60% compared to May of 2018, and showing 43% improvement against the first five months of last year.”
Refuse fleets were the biggest purchaser of new Class 8 natural gas trucks. Other big adopters were transit and school bus fleets.
Verizon Connect has begun offering a navigation mobile app that works with its Verizon Connect Reveal telematics platform and helps give drivers directions based on their vehicle and load types, the company announced.
The app is designed to reduce miles driven and improve driver safety as part delivering a more efficient route.
The mobile app helps keep drivers safe by ensuring they travel on permitted roads and avoid low bridges or tunnels. It also helps save time and money by providing efficient directions to reduce the number of out-of-route miles, according to the company.
The app also provides updated routes so drivers can avoid major accidents, construction, and road closures.
Agility Fuel Solutions, a provider of clean fuel solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has received 2020 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its 488LPI propane autogas engine for sale in truck and bus applications.
The 488LPI is built using Agility’s patented liquid propane injection technology to ensure consistent injection of propane in the liquid state across all cylinders under all operating conditions, improving engine performance.
Agility says it designed the engine for reliability, with improvements such as a valvetrain with roller rockers and newly designed dress parts specifically engineered to ensure reliability, durability and fuel efficiency.
A custom configuration of the 488LPI engine is supplied to Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) as a part of the DriveForce brand of engines. The DriveForce 8.0L is available in the Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner C2 Propane school bus and in the FCCC S2G medium-duty truck.
Electrify America has submitted a formal proposal to the Unicode Consortium, the governing body for emoji creation, to introduce the first-ever “Electric Vehicle With Charger” emoji for smartphone keyboards.
The submission announcement, and a corresponding petition on Change.org, comes two days ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17.
“As EVs become more popular and charging station networks continue to expand, we felt it was time for an emoji that reflects the changing industry and future of transportation,” says Rich Steinberg, director marketing, communications and Green City initiatives at Electrify America. “We hope an emoji, a symbol used in everyday digital communication, will help more people get used to the idea of driving an EV and become excited about the possibility of owning one someday.”
Eco-Energy, a biofuel supply chain company, launched its Ethanol Logistics Service on July 11 to reach a broader mix of ethanol buyers and shippers, and create the largest asset-backed logistics management service exclusively focused on ethanol.
The service, which initially is focused on truck transport, will begin operations with $25 million of annual freight under management, according to the Franklin, Tenn.-based company. Eco has partnered with Rocky Mount, N.C.-based Eagle Transport Corp. as the preferred truck carrier for the business, and Eagle will assume certain truck operations currently within Eco-Energy Transportation.
“We recognize a real need to resolve current gaps in ethanol logistics management, as well as proactively address the future constraints we anticipate in this space,” said David Maggied, Eco-Energy’s vice president of transportation.
As of May 2019, there were more than 68,800 Level 2 and DC fast-charging units throughout the U.S., according to the “fact of the week” from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office.
Of that total, 16% – or approximately 10,860 units – were DC fast-chargers, making long-distance travel more practical for electric vehicles (EVs), says the DOE. A DC fast-charger can add 60 to 80 miles of range per 20 minutes of charging, while a Level 2 charger can add 10 to 20 miles of range per one hour of charging.
At 22,620, California has the most EV charging units of any state, representing about a third of the nationwide total.
Alliy Sahagan coasted in a 2017 Nissan Leaf into the Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) warehouse in Gunnison, Colo. on the electric vehicle equivalent of running on fumes. Just minutes earlier, the Leaf’s dashboard told her the car had zero miles left and a 9% battery charge.
Sahagan was returning from what was supposed to be a 25-mile test drive on a minus 5-degrees Fahrenheit January morning. When she left the electric utility company’s warehouse, she didn’t notice the battery level was at 63%.
Sahagan knew GCEA operating guidelines warn battery electric vehicle (BEV) operators to expect up to a 40% reduction in vehicle range in Gunnison’s subzero winter weather.
“In my haste, I neglected to follow some of my own EV prep preaching,” says Sahagan, who oversees the association’s BEV loan program, which includes the Leaf, a Chevy Spark model and two other hybrid-electric vehicles.
She has since used this story as a cautionary tale to help people remember the dos and don’ts of operating electric vehicles during the winter.
For 22 years, Toyota Motor Corp. has made hybrid cars that don’t require drivers to choose between running on gas or electricity. In October it will add a third option: ethanol.
The Japanese manufacturer will package its ultrapragmatic drivetrain in an all-new Corolla sedan that will be bolted together at its plant in Sao Paulo. Toyota is billing the vehicle as the cleanest hybrid ever made.
Ethanol has long been a popular fuel in Brazil, where it’s brewed fairly efficiently from fast-growing sugar cane. Because the plants process CO₂ as they grow, ethanol is considered a renewable fuel; burning a gallon of it releases only 10% to 20% as much carbon as burning a gallon of traditional gas, according to Unica, a sugar association.
“The goal is to make a car with zero carbon emission; that’s the industry’s race,” said Ricardo Bastos, Toyota’s head of government relations in Brazil. “With ethanol, we’re closer if you consider the whole cycle, well to wheel.”
Ford Motor Co. is preparing to make a bigger push in electric vehicles, according to Morgan Stanley.
The company doesn’t currently offer any electric cars, although it has been heavily investing in such technology. The carmaker’s ongoing discussions with Volkswagen AG promise to take its electric-car ambitions “to the next level,” analysts led by Adam Jonas wrote in a note on July 3, adding that such a deal mitigates financial risks from electric car investment.
“While Ford and VW have yet to announce any definitive agreement around joint-BEV development,” Morgan Stanley wrote, referring to battery electric vehicles, “we believe investors should prepare for significant levels of potential collaboration to share development and manufacturing costs.”
A logo is displayed on the steering wheel of a VW I.D. Buggy electric concept automobile. Volkswagen AG is nearing a deal to cooperate with Ford Motor Co. on electric-car technology and self-driving vehicles. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)
Ford shares rose as much as 1.7% to $10.29 on July 3, the highest level since May 17.
An announcement could be imminent. Bloomberg has reported that Volkswagen’s supervisory board plans to discuss, and possibly approve, the next steps toward expanding its alliance with Ford when it meets next week, according to people familiar with the matter. The two companies announced a collaboration on vans and pickup trucks back in January.


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AXA Singapore: bringing business services closer to the customer
“Our mission is to help customers protect their world and build their dreams,” says DJ De Villiers, CIO of AXA Singapore.
“You might be trying to protect your health and wealth but also live a certain lifestyle, save for education or retirement or buy a house, dreams you have for your future. That’s what we help people do, our core business is risk, helping people understand and navigate risk.”
A current trend across the financial services industry is simplification and data transformation and this is something that De Villiers recognises - customers across all industries are much more in control.
De Villiers points to Uber as the perfect example, where the power has shifted completely from the taxi drivers and into the hands of the passengers.
“In order to stay relevant and competitive it is essential, as a matter of survival, for large established financial services firms like AXA to get out of our comfort zone and go out there and meet our customers and give them what they want at their fingertips, which is what customers expect today,” says De Villiers.
“Customers are much more knowledgeable of the products available and everything is more accessible. They want more relevant services and products and they are not willing to wait for them anymore.”
New challengers in the market
Bringing AXA’s services and products closer to the customer is the driving force behind the company wide transformation, but there are both internal and external factors that brought upon change – namely, new entrants.
“The rise of new entrants in insurance space has applied pressure where we’ve recognised that there are more and more smaller companies now starting to come into the space. I think in the past there were very big barriers for entrants,” says De Villiers.
“What’s been happening is with the rise of technology companies on the internet, specifically about Fintech those barriers are much lower. They may not require as much capital; they can more rapidly get a very big distribution footprint. So the only thing they really need is an understanding of insurance products and risk. Those companies come with a better understanding of what customers want and how to have a good customer experience.”
The rest of this company profile can be found in the August issue of Business Review Australia & Asia.
Follow @BizRevAsia and @MrNLon on Twitter.


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Cryptocurrency broker Krabi Airport Taxi appears to be engaged in fraud against California consumers
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has received a complaint from at least one California resident regarding a crypto investment.
At least two victims have complained that they were not able to withdraw money from the cryptocurrency website, krabiairporttaxi.com, and that the site even asked one of the victims to deposit more money to “help speed the process.” The company operated the websites at https://krabiairporttaxi.com and https://Scbiot.com.
This appears to be what is commonly called an “Advance Fee scheme,” which can take many forms, as discussed here: https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/advance-fee-schemes.
The DFPI urges consumers to exercise extreme caution before responding to any solicitation offering investment or financial services. To check whether an investment or financial service provider is licensed in California, consumers may contact the Department for questions or inquiries at email@example.com or call toll-free at (866) 275-2677. If a consumer believes a person or company has violated state law or acted improperly regarding a consumer financial product or service, they may file a formal complaint with the DFPI at https://dfpi.ca.gov/file-a-complaint/.
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London, June 8 (ANI): Football fans will be able to support the World Cup with their lunch, thanks to the launch of a new singing sandwich.
According to Sky News, Tesco is selling the limited edition fiery Jalapeno Chicken sandwich, inspired by the England team's spicy diet of tabasco sauce, wasabi paste and sharp English mustard.
Tesco food developer Laura Fagan said: "We think the sandwiches will be popular snacks for anyone wanting to see the lunchtime or afternoon games and for that reason we wanted to offer fans something substantial."
Professor Joshua Bamfield from the Centre for Retail Research said he thinks the product will be successful, as people are embracing the World Cup more than ever this year. (ANI)


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Laverne Cox Hosting Kim Kardashian’s Series “Glam Masters”
Laverne Cox will host and judge an upcoming competition series called Glam Masters. The Lifetime series is executive produced by Kim Kardashian.
Glam Masters is described as an eight-episode series that puts beauty influencers through themed challenges. Each episode will see four beauty bloggers go head-to-head to prove they have the talent, charisma and vision it takes to be the next big name in the beauty world, all while facing the judges. The winner each week will qualify to advance to the semifinals, where the best will battle it out for one of three spots in the tournament of masters finale. In the end, only one of these beauty-obsessed bloggers will get to claim the title of Glam Masters. Kim says,
I’m such a beauty junkie and am fascinated by how artists are able to transform someone’s look with makeup and couldn’t be more ecstatic for them to show what they can really do.
The Orange Is the New Black actress will be joined by Kardashian’s longtime makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, YouTube makeup expert Kandee Johnson, and co-founder of Milk Makeup and Marie Claire senior fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi as judges. Glam Masters premieres Feb. 28 at 10 p.m. PT/ET.
See the teaser below.


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Acer will launch its first phone running on Google's Android platform in September, according to the Philippine BusinessMirror.
The computer maker plans on launching the touchscreen A1 smartphone, along with three other handsets that month, according to the report, which cited an unnamed company official.
The company has previously confirmed that it would be launching smartphones not based on Windows Mobile by year-end, but has not given specific timelines for when those phones would launch. When Acer launched their lineup of smartphones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, company officials hinted that Acer was thinking of launching phones using Google's Android platform.
The launch would put Acer firmly into the Android handset market alongside more established players such as HTC and Samsung.
- see this article
Acer will launch non-Windows Mobile smartphones
Acer unveils smartphone lineup
Acer to launch smartphone at Mobile World Congress
Acer in talks with Europe's operators for 3G mini laptop
Acer mulling WinMo app store


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SEGA’s today confirmed that it’ll be releasing Jet Set Radio for Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network, and Windows PC Digital Download this summer.
Jet Set Radio lets players join the GGs, an up-and-coming street gang in the futuristic city of Tokyo-to, fighting for the right to self-expression against an overbearing, corporate-controlled police force. Rolling and leaping through crowded urban environments on magnetically driven inline skates, players take control of gang leader Beat and his growing posse of deviant artists as they steal turf from the local gangs by covering the city with colorful graffiti.
This announcement follows the release of a teaser video last week, which most of us guessed was leading to this announcement.
“Every time we look at our favourite SEGA classics, the fans never fail to ask about Jet Set Radio,” said Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA of America. “The game was unlike anything else when it first came out, and was one of the first games in history to use cel-shading. More importantly, Jet Set Radio is a game that celebrates self-expression, and we’re looking forward to seeing how gamers and artists come together to leave their mark on Tokyo-to.”


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The saturated market of Ukraine and its geographical location make our country an attractive market for foreign goods. However, importing goods to Ukraine is a complex process that requires knowledge of legislation, international relations, and customs clearance procedures. These and other issues were discussed by the founder of the Club of Experts Maxim Urakin and the President of the Ukrainian Exporters Club Yevheniia Lytvynova in a new video on the YouTube channel “Club of Experts”.
According to Maksym Urakin, before starting to import goods, it is necessary to conduct a detailed analysis of the market and legislation of Ukraine and the exporting country, as well as calculate all costs associated with delivery, customs clearance and taxes.
“This will help you draw up a clear action plan and avoid unpleasant situations during the import process,” the expert emphasized.
Yevheniia Lytvynova, President of the Ukrainian Exporters Club, also emphasizes the need to research the market and check the reputation of potential suppliers.
“Market research and checking the reputation of potential partners can help you find a reliable supplier,” she said.
According to Yevheniia Lytvynova, successful import of goods requires a thorough analysis of all aspects of the importer’s future business strategy.
“Before you start importing goods, you need to conduct a detailed analysis of the market, legal requirements and your capabilities, as well as calculate all the costs associated with delivery, customs clearance and taxes. This will help you draw up a clear plan of action and avoid unpleasant situations during the import process,” emphasized Lytvynova.
Regarding the documents to be prepared for importing goods, Lytvynova noted that the contract between the importer and exporter, invoice, transportation document (e.g., waybill or bill of lading), quality certificate and certificate of origin should be put in the forefront.
“In addition to these basic documents, additional documents may be required depending on the characteristics of the goods and the requirements of Ukrainian legislation. In particular, licenses, certificates of conformity, permits and other documents confirming compliance with safety, hygiene, environmental requirements, etc. may be required,” she explained.
Maksym Urakin also emphasized that studying local legislation and choosing a reliable supplier are also very important steps in the import process. According to the experts, in order to successfully sell goods in Ukraine, it is also necessary to take into account the difficulties that may arise after their delivery.
“Even if the goods are of high quality and interesting, they still need to be sold. But here in Ukraine, even after obtaining certificates and relevant permits, sales can be restricted due to various customs barriers, which leads to breach of contract. Therefore, we advise our companies to conduct a detailed analysis of the market and legal requirements. This will allow them to prepare the right documentation and comply with all requirements,” said Yevgeniya Lytvynova.
To increase export sales, experts recommend improving product quality and providing buyers with more information about their goods.
“Nowadays, many buyers check the quality of goods and their compliance with standards. If your products don’t meet the requirements, they simply won’t buy them,” emphasized Maksym Urakin.
In this regard, experts advise to focus on developing the quality of goods and their competitiveness. In addition, according to Maxim Urakin, it is important to participate in international exhibitions and forums where you can find new partners and establish contacts with potential suppliers.
Thus, according to the experts, it is very important to comply with all the requirements and norms set by law when importing goods, conduct a detailed market analysis and check the reputation of suppliers. It is also important to ensure the quality of goods and timely delivery, while considering all possible risks and costs. Importing goods can be a very profitable business if you organize it properly. Experienced experts advise to study the market and determine your capabilities to avoid unpleasant situations and ensure successful business development.
Watch the full video here:
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Port of Reni for the first time since the independence of Ukraine has attracted a new cargo flow – citrus fruits from Egypt, which in peacetime went through the larger ports of “Big Odessa”, the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine (AMPU) reported on Facebook.
“Last week a refrigerated vessel “ZEINAB”, equipped with enhanced ventilation and refrigeration units for the transportation of perishable goods, arrived at the port of Reni,” AMPU said in a statement.
In particular, 519.9 tons of fruit were delivered from Egypt: 150.3 tons of oranges, 169.4 tons of pomegranates, 31.05 tons of lemons and 169 tons of tangerines.
AMPU specified that citrus fruits were traditionally transshipped by Chornomorsk and Odessa ports.
The leader among them was the port “Chernomorsk”, which transshipped 253 thousand tons of citrus in the last five years: in 2018 – 83.6 thousand tons, in 2019 – 74.1 thousand tons, in 2020 – 43 thousand tons, in 2021 – 35.5 thousand tons and in 2022 – 16.8 thousand tons.
Port “Odessa” during the same period transshipped 134.2 thousand tons of citrus: in 2018 – 45.4 thousand tons, in 2019 – 40.4 thousand tons, in 2020 – 26.5 thousand tons, in 2021 – 14.3 thousand tons and in 2022 – 7.6 thousand tons.
AMPU reminded that now the ports of Greater Odessa work only within the framework of the “grain initiative”, so the cargo owners are forced to seek other ways to deliver citrus to consumers.
Earlier analytical project “Club of Experts” analyzed in detail the trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Egypt, see in detail in the video:
In the next video YouTube-channel of the analytical center “Club of experts” the prospects of trade and economic relations between Ukraine and Egypt were considered.
As the founder of the Club of Experts Maxim Urakin emphasized, before the war Egypt was the most favorable trade partner for Ukraine, the trade surplus with which amounted to almost 2 billion U.S. dollars. Grain and metallurgical products were the main Ukrainian goods at the Egyptian market.
At the same time, in the first months of the war, the Russian blockade of maritime communications in the Black Sea limited Ukrainian exports to Africa and, above all, to Egypt. The grain agreement improved the situation, but only with regard to agricultural exports. In order not to lose the Egyptian market, the Ukrainian companies have to adapt to the current situation now in order not to make additional efforts after the war.
According to the President of the Ukrainian Exporters Club Eugenia Litvinova, the Ukrainian producers should pay attention to the Egyptian market of dairy products in the first place. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the separation of Egyptian groups of goods for wholesale and retail trade while creating favorable conditions for imports. Also, according to her, the demand in Egypt is for canned and dried fruits, confectionery, chocolate, oils, fats, mineral water, as well as crockery, various cutlery, baths, showers, sinks, building materials and other goods for the retail trade.
“I want to draw attention to the fact that all Ukrainian exporters who want to trade with Egypt, must be registered in the general administration to control exports and imports. After that it is possible to establish logistics through rail and road ways, taking into account the temporary inaccessibility of the port of Odessa”, – she explained.
Besides, Yevgeniya Litvinova noticed that since March of the last year, Egypt obliged Ukraine to use the letter of credit for many groups of goods that leads to rise in price of transactions from 0,2 to 0,5%. This factor, according to the expert, will also directly affect trade and its final results.
“If we talk about advice to our small and medium-sized businesses when entering the Egyptian market, first you need to understand what exports are, if you have not previously been involved in this process. Then you should analyze in which cases it is profitable to open a Ukrainian enterprise in Egypt to work, and in which cases you do not always need to do it and not always profitable. Finally, the third tip – go through the registration. At least look at how to pass authorization, registration through a single window in Egypt. I draw your attention to the fact that your brand should be registered at least in Ukraine before you start to pass this registration in Egypt, “- summed up Eugenia.
In turn, the head of the Egyptian diaspora in Ukraine, Dr. Atia Walid noticed that in recent years Egyptian-Ukrainian trade relations have been intensively developed and our country has been invited to participate in major infrastructure projects, which are now being implemented by the Egyptian authorities.
“Back in 2021 Egypt discussed with the Ukrainian government investment in the special economic zone of the Suez Canal. That is, the Egyptian economic policy is primarily aimed at encouraging investment in the country’s economy. Egypt, of course, is interested in cooperation with Ukrainian companies from the point of view of opening joint ventures on its territory, which can well be realized today, despite the war. I think it is quite realistic for Ukrainian companies to open branches there, if they are interested in the sales market. Egypt is ready to facilitate this,” stressed the representative of Egypt.
In his opinion, our suppliers should work more actively both with the Egyptian embassy in Kiev and the Ukrainian embassy in Cairo. This will facilitate the passage of bureaucratic procedures and reduce the likelihood of becoming victims of fraud.
“Ukrainian businessmen should check with the Egyptian embassy or the Chamber of Commerce the authenticity of the documents of those organizations with which they cooperate. And only after that, conclude a contract according to all international rules. You should not believe the promises and pretty eyes, and do not forget the basics of doing business in the field of export-import. I wish all businessmen in Egypt and in Ukraine only success,” said Dr. Atia Walid.
See more details in the video:
You can subscribe to the Club of Experts channel by following the link:
The Club of Experts YouTube channel has released a new video dedicated to the prospects for the development of the volunteer movement in Ukraine after the start of the war and solving the main problems that our citizens may face when bringing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
According to Maxim Urakin, the founder of the Club of Experts, the humanitarian situation that arose in Ukraine after the outbreak of hostilities forced tens of thousands of people to volunteer.
“At the same time, many people faced with the incomprehensibility of the processes of crossing the border and importing certain goods into the country,” the expert emphasized.
In his commentary, the head of the International Technology Transfer Association (ITTA), Artem Goncharenko, noted that when organizing volunteer assistance, one should understand what needs the recipients of volunteer assistance have. At the same time, in his opinion, individual and general requests of both military and ordinary citizens should be distributed.
“It is important to understand that we cannot offer a single universal solution. Need a personal approach (…). At the same time, different volunteer organizations should unite to improve the coordination of work,” he said.
In turn, Evgenia Litvinova, Chair of the Ukrainian Exporters’ Club, analyzed the latest legislative changes that have greatly simplified the delivery of international humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
In their presentation, the experts provided a detailed explanation on the following problematic issues:
– Who has the right to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine?
– On the basis of what documents can humanitarian aid be imported?
– What changes have been introduced when filling out customs declarations?
– What shipping documents do you need to have when crossing the border?
For more details, see the video on the YouTube channel “Expert Club” at the link:
Ukraine’s accession to the European Convention on a Common Transit Procedure is expected at the end of the second quarter of 2022, already in the third quarter Ukrainian enterprises will be able to go in transit through 35 countries on the principle of one vehicle – one transit declaration – one guarantor’s undertaking, Director of the Department for the Implementation of the International Transit System of the State Customs Service Serhiy Demchenko has said.
During a roundtable entitled “Implementation of customs procedures in accordance with EU practice: what changes may Ukrainian business expect? Practical aspects” held at Interfax-Ukraine, he said that these are all EU countries, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia and the U.K.
The expert recalled that joining the Convention is stipulated by the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement and shall intensify international trade due to the establishment of joint transit procedures by Ukraine with the countries-members of the Convention and their use of a single technology – the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) system. This system allows the member countries to exchange customs data in real time and monitor goods at every stage of transportation.
“The common transit system provides for four main special transit simplifications for enterprises: the authorized consignor, the authorized consignee, special sealing and a guarantee,” Demchenko said. He added that new approaches are being applied to the standard guarantee amount, which will reduce the amount when it is used by 50%, 70% or 100%.
To obtain simplifications in NCTS, the legislation provides for a special procedure. The guarantee can be provided by companies that have received the financial guarantor status. To submit a transit declaration to NCTS, a company needs to register on the Trader’s Portal in the “personal account” on the “Single Window for International Trade” portal.
“Ukrainian legislation on common transit has already been generally shaped and is in line with the best European practices,” International Key Expert on Customs reform of the EU4PFM Programme to improve Public Financial Management (PFM) in Ukraine, former Deputy Chairman of the Lithuanian Customs Service Vytenis Ališauskas said during the roundtable.
To date, more than 3,000 customs officials are registered in the system, more than 180 companies have access to the Trader’s Portal, about 300 T1UA declarations have been submitted, three companies have received the financial guarantor status, and the Helpdesk operates.
As reported, NCTS is still used in Ukraine on a national scale. However, as a representative of the State Customs Service said, “enterprises that use NCTS (have submitted 50 or more declarations) can submit documents to the State Customs Service for simplifications, which will be valid even after Ukraine joins the Convention, that is, with the international application of the system.”
Ukraine is carrying out customs reform, one of the directions of which is the introduction of principles and instruments used in the EU countries. The EU, in turn, assists Ukraine in the development and implementation of such customs instruments. This was emphasized by the participants in the round table “Implementation of customs procedures in accordance with European practice: what changes should Ukrainian business expect? Practical aspects,” which took place at the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on September 21, 2021.
The event was attended by President of the Exporters’ Club of Ukraine Yevhenia Litvinova, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hennadiy Chizhikov, representatives of business associations, Director of the Customs Policy Department of the Finance Ministry of Ukraine Oleksandr Moskalenko, Director of the International Transit System Implementation Department of the State Customs Service of Ukraine Serhiy Demchenko, Director of the Department for Customs Audit and Registration of Persons of the State Customs Service Svitlana Anischenko, Head of the AEO Support Department of the Customs Control and Customs Clearance Organization Department of the State Customs Service Andriy Teply, the EU4PFM international expert on customs issues, ex-deputy head of customs of the Republic of Lithuania Vytenis Alisauskas.
Organizer and moderator of the round table Maksim Urakin noted that now the State Customs Service provides 35-40% of revenues to the state budget, and these figures have remained stable over the past years.
“In general, in January-August 2021, the State Customs Service fulfilled the revenue plan by 107% and transferred UAH 291 billion to the state budget (against the planned figure of UAH 272 billion). At the same time, in the eight months of this year, compared to the same period last year, receipts from customs payments increased by UAH 76 billion, or 36%,” Urakin emphasized.
In addition, the organizer noted that, based on the monitoring of data of Ukraine’s foreign economic activity in 2021, conducted by the Experts Club analytical center, the state budget revenues will continue to grow, as the country continues to increase the volume of international trade.
“Thus, exports to the EU countries in the first half of 2021 grew by 43.9% compared to the same period last year, imports – by 26.3%. The total volume of trade with the EU countries for the six months amounted to almost $ 25 billion, with China – about $ 9 billion. These data indicate that the stimulation of foreign trade through the harmonization of customs legislation is a key factor in the financial stability of the state, ensures budget replenishment and economic growth,” the speaker said.
The speakers provided an overview of the principles laid down in the EU Customs Code and the instruments used by EU countries to implement these principles; what of them should be expected in Ukraine (including thanks to the support of European partners), and which of these customs instruments are already being introduced or are close to being introduced in Ukraine – in particular, the common transit regime (NCTS), the Authorized Economic Operator Program (AEO) and customs audit.
Of particular interest to business representatives was the system of customs simplifications, which is used in the EU countries and is now being implemented in Ukraine – in particular, as part of implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
Yevhenia Litvinova, the President of the Exporters Club of Ukraine, in turn, emphasized that it is important for business to know what changes await us.
“Do opportunities or additional costs await us? The round table will give an impetus to better understand the expected changes, to prepare for them, so that our exports after 2022 are painless, efficient and active,” she stressed.
“We want everything to be good at once, but the customs reform is not an easy process. But what we see now gives a large share of positive. And above all, we are moving towards the EU, including mentally,” Hennadiy Chizhikov, the President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.
According to Vytenis Alisauskas, the EU4PFM international expert on customs issues, the ex-deputy head of the customs of the Republic of Lithuania, the changes to the EU Customs Code fixed the new mission of the European customs. If earlier the customs had to protect the local market and collect customs duties, now it is becoming part of the international trade chain. And the competitiveness of local exporters depends on how it works.
The international expert focused on the tasks that must be solved with the help of the EU Customs Code – so that it would be profitable for an entrepreneur to be honest, so that a conscientious business could save his time and money, so that some of the processes that are (as a rule) performed at customs could be carried out by such a business on its own.
“An authorized economic operator (AEO) is a symbol of a conscientious entrepreneur who is trusted by customs and who has significant advantages in customs clearance,” he said.
Alisauskas highlighted the key tools used by European customs to save time for fair business – in addition to the simplification system (the AEO program and simplification in the general transit regime), this is a customs audit system (post-audit) and a customs risk management system.
International partners help create and implement these principles and tools in Ukraine.
Oleksandr Moskalenko, the Director of the Customs Policy Department of the Finance Ministry of Ukraine, stressed that the country is now working in the vector defined by the Constitution – European integration. Europe is our largest trading partner, and therefore, it is important to approximate, introduce the best European practices – so that European and Ukrainian customs work according to the same rules.
“We have completed a large layer of legislative changes. Now both the customs and the business must deploy all this. We need training, enlightenment, promotion. Therefore, I would like international partners to help us also conduct business training. So that all participants in the process not only have the rights, but also know how to use them,” he said.
In his opinion, the acceleration of customs clearance should be achieved not at the expense of a command to customs officers to “work quickly,” but at the expense of an efficiently built system.
“We are moving towards building partnerships between business and customs. It will take some time,” he concluded.
Serhiy Demchenko, the Director of the Department for the Implementation of the International Transit System of the State Customs Service, said that in the second quarter of 2022 Ukraine is expected to join the Convention on the Common Transit Procedure, and already in the third quarter of 2022 – the stage of Ukraine’s international application of the NCTS system.
“In a year, Ukrainian enterprises will be able to transit with 35 countries (including all EU countries, EFTA, Turkey, Great Britain) on the principle of “one vehicle – one transit declaration, one financial guarantee”,” Demchenko said.
He also informed about the main four special transit simplifications that the general transit system provides: an authorized consignor, an authorized consignee, self-sealing of a special type, a common financial guarantee. Regarding the guarantee, the Customs Service representative emphasized that new approaches are being applied that make it possible to reduce the amount of security for the base amount of the guarantee when it is used – by 50%, 70%, or 100%.
“As you know, now NCTS is used on a national scale, however, enterprises using this system (having issued 50 declarations or more) can apply for simplifications, which will also be valid for the international application of the system. Currently, the system has registered more than 3,000 officials of customs authorities, more than 180 companies gained access to the Trader Portal, about 300 T1UA declarations were submitted, three companies received the status of a financial guarantor, Helpdesk works, seven seminars were held with subjects of foreign economic activity,” the expert summed up.
According to Andriy Teply, the head of the AEO support department of Customs Control and Customs Clearance Organization at the State Customs Service, the full implementation of the functioning of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program is a priority of the State Customs Service for the next 2-3 years. Among the main challenges, he named the transformation of customs-business relations: such relations today are built on the distrust of business in customs, but should be open and partnership.
As you know, the Authorized Economic Operator Program has been operating in Ukraine since August 2020. Its implementation is stipulated by the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. It provides a number of simplifications and advantages in customs clearance. To obtain the status, it is necessary to go through a rather difficult and lengthy authorization procedure.
“As of September 2021, the State Customs Service received five applications for authorization of the AEO. Of these, one enterprise was granted authorization as the AEO, two were denied an assessment, while two applications are under preliminary consideration,” the expert said.
Svitlana Anischenko, the Director of the Department for Customs Audit and Personnel Registration of the State Customs Service, stressed that customs audit in Europe is more focused on foreign economic activity and acts as a system that allows speeding up the process of customs clearance.
“We feel the need to create a high-quality IT tool – with the support of European partners, the first version of the Customs Audit information system was created, in August-September it is tested by customs. A month ago, an agreement was reached with European partners to support the creation of the second version. Also, the development of a risk management system for the selection of enterprises for customs audit has begun,” she said.
The event record can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VBpReShdr8.
The organizers of the event are the European Union Project EU4PFM “Public Finance Management Support Program in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Exporters’ Club of Ukraine, and the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.


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February 13, 2016 by Jeff Lowen
Did you know that Federal, State, and Local Housing Finance Agencies, Non Profits, Lenders, Community Action Programs, and various other institutions have literally hundreds of programs to help people buy homes?
There are hundreds of millions of dollars available to cover your down payment and closing costs to help you buy a home. The amount of money you can get depends on the program that’s available to you, but there are many to choose from!
National studies have shown time and time again that most people don’t even know these opportunities exist. What’s even more troubling, is that many don’t realize how easy the process is or the amount of money needed to put down on a home. In many areas, buying a home is even less expensive than moving into a new rental!
The benefits are many. Your costs are predictable and more stable than renting because they’re ideally based on a fixed-rate mortgage. The interest and property tax portion of your mortgage payment is a tax deduction. That’s huge! There’s also pride in homeownership, which also closely ties you to your community.
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An investigation reveals that millions of bank customers are vulnerable to having their bank card data stolen with alarming ease, using some simple custom software and an NFC-enabled smartphone.
...of Twittergeddon, Android flagships, and Microsoft's new ring
LG V10: A solid contender distracted with gimmicks
Coin 2.0: More of a conversation piece than your credit card replacement
Is Steve Ballmer the unsung hero of Microsoft's resurgence?
Microsoft launches 'Release Preview' ring for Insiders
Windows 10 build 10586.104 and changelog history site rolls out
windows 10 update
Do you use many Windows Store apps on your laptop or desktop?
Near field communication
On top of all the announcements about Windows 8 this morning, it's now been announced that NFC capability is built in to Windows 8 right now, and that developers can use it on their tablet devices.


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CES keynote speakers, partnerships and programs announced
Rilispedia.com – The Consumer Technology Association® (CTA) officially kicked off the CES® season with CES Unveiled New York, an invitation-only cocktail celebration. The event brought together top-tier media, industry leaders, VIPS and curated CES exhibitors for an experiential technology event. Attendees heard exclusive CES announcements and experienced emerging tech trends that will dominate the CES 2020 show floor Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Announcements made at CES Unveiled New York include:
- CES and the World Bank Group to Launch Global Tech Challenge at CES 2020
- CTA Announces CES 2020 Innovation Awards Honorees
- NBCUniversal Joins CES 2020 Keynote Lineup
- Samsung’s Hyun-Suk Kim to Deliver Keynote at CES 2020
Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2020, the global stage for innovation, will run Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada and provide access to the most transformative tech across various marketplaces, such as 5G, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, smart home, smart cities, vehicles, digital health and more. Industry leaders and rising stars will come together to pioneer future innovation driving the ever-evolving tech industry. Visit CES.tech for all CES updates and register for CES 2020.


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To reach journalists, increase online visibility, and attract new customers,
submit via our global online news and press release distribution service to
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Doggies in Town aims to win over the hearts of the investors at the World Business Angel Investment Forum in Istanbul and as Jessie states, “Our vision is to become the only app a dog owner will ever need, the umbrella for all dog apps.” - February 17, 2020 - Doggies in Town


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Square Enix CEO Mike Fischer has confirmed Luminous Engine will be in-house only, ruling out licensing the next-gen engine to third-parties.
Speaking with Shack News, Fischer confirmed the engine's exclusivity, though external studios with publishing deals with Square Enix will have access to the technology.
"This is an in-house tool. We're not building this around a licensing model," he said, explaining that he hopes the promise of the new engine will encourage talent to pursue work with the company.
Fischer also confirmed there are no plans to use Luminous for other, non-game projects, though he hasn't ruled it out.


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Eligible creators will be given a share of 45pc of the ad revenue generated on YouTube Shorts.
In a bid to compete with TikTok, YouTube is planning new ways for short-video creators to make money off its platform.
The video giant announced a series of changes this week to its Partner Programme, which include sharing ad revenue with creators on YouTube Shorts, the TikTok competitor launched in 2020.
The existing YouTube Partner Programme requires creators to have more than 1,000 subscribers and at least 4,000 public watch hours within the past 12 months.
The changes planned for early 2023 will allow Shorts creators to join this programme if they have 1,000 subscribers and 10m views on the platform over a 90-day period.
“These new partners will enjoy all the benefits our programme offers, including the various ways to make money like ads on long-form and Fan Funding,” YouTube said.
From early next year, revenue from the ads that run between videos in the YouTube Shorts feed will be added together and used to both reward Shorts creators and cover the costs of music licensing.
Creators in the programme will receive 45pc of the ad revenue, distributed based on their share of total Shorts views.
“These changes reflect the diversity of our growing creator community,” YouTube said. “Creators can choose the one option that best fits their channel while we maintain the same level of brand safety for advertisers.”
YouTube and TikTok have been creating new ways for creators to make money off their platforms as competition continues in the social video space.
In May, TikTok announced a new advertising programme called TikTok Pulse to allow creators who have at least 100,000 followers to get ad revenue, similar to YouTube’s Partner Programme.
YouTube suffered a hit to its revenue last quarter as many tech companies flagged issues in the global ad market. In Google’s second-quarter earnings, YouTube ad revenue rose by only 4.8pc compared to an 84pc jump in the same period last year. This marked its slowest ad growth in more than two years.
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TEQUILA has been the drink of choice for connoisseurs on the other side of the Atlantic for generations, but the national spirit of Mexico could be set for an uptick in popularity here in Scotland in the approach to International Tequila Day.
The event, on July 24, is designed to celebrate all things tequila, from sippers to slammers, Margaritas to Palomas.
And Mexican producer Patrón reckons the spirit has been gaining ground in Scotland’s bars.
Quoting figures from CGA, the company’s senior director of international marketing, Matthew Sykes, said sales through independent Scottish venues rose by around 40% in value terms last year driven – as in other spirits categories – by the premium end of the market.
And the ways consumers are drinking tequila are also expanding, said Sykes.
He claimed the “evolution” of the premium tequila category in recent years “has seen a shift in perception from the stereotypical shot with lime and salt to a more premium serve that can be sipped, in cocktails or as a long drink”.
“This shift is testament to the growth of the category internationally and the willingness of consumers and trade to be more adventurous once they are armed with the right information and inspiration,” said Sykes.
And when it comes to promoting tequila serves, sometimes simple is best.
Sykes advised licensees to try classic long serves such as the Paloma – tequila with grapefruit soda over ice – to entice customers into the category.


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Although the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception, the Chinese smartphone market is beginning to show signs of recovery. In April, the number of equipment shipments sent internationally reached 40.8 million.
According to the latest data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), the figure represents an increase of 17.2% compared to the same period last year, when 34.8 million smartphones were shipped .
Over the last four months, 88.5 million smartphones were placed on the market internationally, representing a decrease of 17.9% compared to the same period in the previous year.
With regard to the domestic market, CAICT reveals that in April there was an increase of 14.2% in relation to 2019. In all, 41.7 million smartphones were placed in Chinese stores, including 48 new models. In the last four months, the number stood at 90.7 million, meaning a 20.1% decrease.
In early May, an IDC report revealed that, in total, 275.8 million smartphones were distributed in the first three months of the year. It was in China, where countless factories were closed during the first quarter of 2020, that the decline was most pronounced: 20.3% compared to last year. "Since China constitutes almost a quarter of the world's shipments, it has had a huge impact on the market in general," explains the consultant.
At a time when China is now in a more favorable position in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, IDC indicated that demand in the country exceeded expectations at the end of March, during which time new finger infections with the new coronavirus began to decline . Despite the good news, the consultant forecasts only growth over the same period in the fourth quarter of 2020.


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Twitter has been releasing new features this past month to entice users as it figures a way to increase its revenues and profits. Ads have been its major source of revenue and Twitter is bringing them to fleets.
It looks like this feature has been getting a lot of engagement and now Twitter wants to bring full screen ads.
The giant social network will be partnering with select advertisers. The ads will be visible to a handful of US users on Android and iOS.
Just like Instagram Story ads, Fleet ads will support images and video in 9:16 format. It’s also worth noting that the videos will be up to 30 seconds long.
Twitter’s ad revenue grew 32%year over year to $899 million, and total ad engagement rose 11 %.
Companies that’ll use the Fleet ads will be able to include a “swipe up” call-to-action plus access to standard Twitter ad metrics, including impressions, profile visits, clicks, website visits, and other information.
Twitter is still figuring out how its audiences are using Fleets. The company says that they learn how vertical full-screen ads perform not only for Fleets but also future iterations of other full-screen formats.
“As we continue to bring forward more ways for people to talk and connect on Twitter, we’re constantly thinking about how we can extend these new formats into new offerings for our advertisers and partners,” reads the announcement on Twitter’s blog.
Twitter is planning to add more features to Fleets.
This announcement has riled up critics.
“Other platforms that added stories spent a *lot* more time polishing the product experience before choking it with ads. This feels way premature,” said Casey Newton.


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Minding the Media: Ralph Lauren Sinks Lower and Lower
Model Filippa Hamilton — 5’10” and 120 pounds — recently was fired from Ralph Lauren for being fat.
According to Hamilton, who had worked for the designer since 2002, “they fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn’t fit in their clothes anymore.”
After initially picking my jaw up off the floor, I wondered, “Should we really be flabbergasted?” Unfortunately, most of us are well aware of the fashion industry’s skewed standards. Just recently fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld had this to say after finding out that the German magazine, Brigitte was going to use “real women” instead of models:
No one wants to see curvy women. You’ve got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying thin models are ugly. Fashion is about dreams and illusions.
Perhaps it was the idea of dreams and illusions that pushed Ralph Lauren to Photoshop Filippa Hamilton into an alien, stirring up a flurry of controversy. Here is the photo in question (originally posted on photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com). The severely altered ad prompted BoingBoing to comment: “Dude, her head’s bigger than her pelvis.”
In response to BoingBoing’s comment, Lauren threatened legal action against the website for copyright infringement (clearly, completely off base). Since then, Lauren has issued an apology for the ad, which, according to the brand, only appeared in one store in Japan:
For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman’s body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately.
Conveniently, Lauren didn’t take the same precautions with the company’s ad in another country. Here is a window display from Sydney, Australia.
In her blog post on the controversy, Leslie Goldman of Never Say Diet asserts that ads that are subtly Photoshopped are more dangerous than the ones which shout from the rooftops of their alteration. She writes:
So much attention is being paid to this uber-obvious example, when there are a gazillion other equally egregious (but simply not as apparent) airbrushed women floating through our daily media. It’s pictures like this and this, where the “after” picture has been radically altered but in very subtle ways. These are the images that catch people’s eyes without them knowing it. These are the pictures that worm their way into our subconscious and make us feel like something is missing – bigger boobs, fuller hair, fewer wrinkles. That Ralph Lauren pic was so out-of-whack, it was laughable. The other images that make us all feel like garbage are just sad.
I agree that understated images are the ones we should worry about, the ones that push perfection, but in a sneaky, almost natural-looking way. However, these seemingly absurd images can still be used happily by pro-anorexia sites for “thinspiration” (they don’t even have to whittle down the image). And girls and young teens may not be as aware of the extent of the ridiculous revisions and believe they’re seeing a “real” person. Interestingly, the alienesque images also don’t do brands any favors: They’re hideous, do little to lure buyers into getting their clothes, and may even dissuade them. And at least with Lauren’s statement, the company seems to concur.
On Hamilton’s dismissal? It’s natural to be cynical and view this incident as an anomaly attributed to the outrageous world of fashion. Or that being too thin is in a model’s job description and not fulfilling that requirement is grounds for firing. On Shine.com, one reader equated Hamilton’s firing to a pro athlete getting benched for not staying conditioned.
However, skewed standards or not, it seems like the fashion business is living in an alternate reality (perhaps that explains the alien-looking image). Sure, models are held to thinner standards — often so brutally thin that it’s jaw-droppingly shocking — but when a model who’s already underweight gets let go for being “overweight,” we have a serious problem.
Part of that problem is that, as Joanna Douglas writes on Shine, the industry does this all the time. As she notes, models are “fired or overlooked”; “we just rarely see or hear about it.” And in an industry based on looks, can we really get outraged if a company makes the decision to fire a model based on just that?
Ralph Lauren is part of Americana and as such, you’d think the brand would want its models to reflect that image. I can’t imagine how much thinner we have to go for Lauren, and many other designers, to be satisfied. We, the ones these brands are presumably targeting (unless they’d rather ignore the majority of their customer base), aren’t impressed, and oftentimes we’re actually horrified. Why advertisers don’t get this point is beyond me.
So do you think Hamilton’s firing was justified or are you worried that this is just another ominous sign that things have gone too far?
You can view more on the controversy on The Today Show segment here.
Tartakovsky, M. (2019). Minding the Media: Ralph Lauren Sinks Lower and Lower. Psych Central. Retrieved on December 5, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/minding-the-media-ralph-lauren-sinks-lower-and-lower/


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Prices for soybeans again under the pressure of news from China
the July soybean futures tumbled yesterday by 2.9% to 367,4$/t and pulled over prices for soybean meal and soybean oil. The decline in prices is due to resumption of tensions in trade relations between the US and China, and thanks to the good pace of planting and good rainfall in growing zones of soybean and maize.
China reported the possible cancellation of prior trade agreements with the United States in the event of the imposition of duties on Chinese goods in accordance with the decision of the White house administration to publish a list of goods for which it is planned to introduce import duties. The tension of trade relations between the US and China, the EU, Canada and Mexico is now the main factor, for which see traders.
the Uncertainty of future supplies of soy from the United States led to a sharp increase in imports of soybeans to China. In may, it imported 9.6 million tons of soybeans compared to 6.8 million tons in April and 5.5 million tons in March.
This has led to higher soybean stocks in China to 7.9 million tonnes, 2 million tonnes more than a year ago.
the Export of soybeans from the U.S. last week amounted to 557,7 thousand tons, which is 94% higher than the corresponding period last year.
According to NASS, soybeans in the United States planted 87% of the planned areas, which significantly exceeds the average 5-year rate 75% of shoots were obtained on 68% of the areas against 52% in average of 5 years.
Warm weather and good rainfall has contributed to the development of soybean crops. According to the report of NASS as 75% of soybean crops is estimated as good or very good, which is the best figure since 2010.


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Dairy industry moves on from Grasslands announcement
PLAINVIEW, Minn. -- When Maurie Young found out Grasslands Dairy Products no longer would be taking his milk, he was caught off guard. "We were just in disbelief, kind of in shock," he says. Young, owner of Emerald Spring Dairy in Plainview, Minn...
PLAINVIEW, Minn. - When Maurie Young found out Grasslands Dairy Products no longer would be taking his milk, he was caught off guard.
"We were just in disbelief, kind of in shock," he says.
Young, owner of Emerald Spring Dairy in Plainview, Minn., was among approximately 75 producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin told by Grasslands Dairy Products that the company no longer would be buying their milk as of May 1. Changes in Canadian pricing for ultrafiltered milk meant Grasslands lost business in Canada and no longer had need for all that milk.
The Minnesota dairy producers affected found new processors by April 26. Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel in a statement on May 1 announced that cooperatives and processors had picked up 99 percent of the Wisconsin milk affected.
Laura Daniels, president and founder of the Dairy Girl Network, a community of women in the dairy industry, says the feeling of shock and disbelief Young felt was not uncommon for producers.
However, Daniels, a Cobb, Wis., dairy producer who was not directly affected by the Grasslands changes, says such a scenario was not unforeseen given realities about milk supply.
"I just worried about what if they had too much milk, who are they going to cut? Is it going to be me?" she says. "Once it happened, it just kind of put this whole new sense of urgency to concerns that I think were already there, lying beneath the surface."
As soon as he learned Grasslands wouldn't be buying his milk, Young started making calls, including to some places provided as leads from Grasslands. He says he "kind of knew" milk processors were near capacity, but he quickly learned just how "maxed out" of space they were.
It wasn't long ago, Young says, when companies were competing for milk. That's no longer the case, and Young strongly urges farmers considering expanding their dairies to make sure their processors are part of the conversation as the capacity might not be available.
"We used to take it for granted that was always there," he says. "Those days are over."
Part of the issue, Daniels says, is that there is more milk from outside the region coming to area processors than before, though she says it's hard to know how many tanker loads are arriving. Beyond that, the dairy industry hasn't figured out whether there is too much milk or not enough processing capacity, Daniels says.
Dairy Girl Network worked with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation to hold informational meetings after the Grasslands announcement, and about 90 percent of the affected Wisconsin producers showed up. Farmers who had not lost contracts helped connect affected producers to places that might have space.
Many processors, in the midst of getting loads of milk from the "spring flush" when cows are producing at their highest level, did not have room for more milk, Young says.
"The timing couldn't have been worse," he says.
It was hard for Young not to think about the possibility that his dairy wouldn't find a new market by May 1.
"We were very on edge about it," he says.
However, a few indicated they'd see what they could do, and by April 24 - a week before Grasslands would stop taking milk - Young had lined up a new home for his milk.
While the Minnesota producers seem to have found ways to keep operating, Daniels says several affected Wisconsin dairy farms decided to sell out.
She says there will be continuing ramifications for the dairy industry. Several creameries began announcing they would be cutting premiums in the wake of Grasslands letting farmers go, she says.
She also believes the situation will lead to more discussion about the importance of the terms in long-term contracts, both for farmers and processors. While many feel the Grasslands situation was unfair to farmers, Daniels points out that farmers have left processors with 30 days notice in the past.
Finally, Daniels says some cooperatives have begun sending out warnings to members when they are close to capacity so members can take steps to decrease their milk supply as needed, whether by milking fewer cows, allowing cows to dry up faster or changing feed inputs. Such warnings need to become more widespread so processors and farmers can deal with the supply situation together, she says.
"I'm very hopeful that dairy farmers across the midwest and really across the nation stay engaged on this conversation, because there is so much we have to figure out right now," Daniels says.


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EATON — An Eaton tradition comes to life this week, as the lights go on for the 29th year of the annual drive-through lighting display known as Whispering Christmas.
What started with what organizers call “a few Christmas-loving people” and 800 lights in 1987 has turned into almost two million lights in a historic park that draws thousands of visitors from around the state each December.
Open nightly 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 31, Whispering Christmas is located at Fort St. Clair in Eaton and has something for everyone who loves the Christmas holiday — and it’s free.
On Friday-Thursday, Dec. 25-31 from 6-10 p.m. the display will be open, but the cabins will not be open for visitors.
The cabins will be open Dec. 1-24, 6-10 p.m, with refreshments served in Santa’s Cabin for a donation. Hot cocoa and orange drink and cookies are provided and served by local groups, churches and businesses. Commemorative coffee mugs are available for purchase for $5 each. Heated restrooms are behind Santa’s Cabin.
Santa Claus will pay a visit to the cabin every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-23, plus the entire week leading up to Christmas Eve, from 6-10 p.m.
According to Whispering Christmas Committee Co-Chair Connie Sturgill, on some nights without Santa, there is entertainment in the cabin. “Always the first Monday of the month, a barbershop quartet entertains us with marvelous Christmas music,” Sturgill said in a press release.
This year, the local Robotics Team has also set up some of the displays/lights to be animated to music, Sturgill added.
There is no admission fee to Fort St. Clair for the drive-through display, but donations are accepted to “help keep the lights on, purchase new displays and lighting supplies, and help to maintain the park grounds for future generations,” Sturgill said. “The entire set up and take down labor is provided by100 percent volunteers. This amazing, annual holiday tradition is brought to you strictly through donations. Please donate so that we can keep the lights on!”
There are three parking areas near both cabins so spectators may walk around to see some of the displays up close, visit the two cabins and the Little Christmas Village.
“Each year something new is added to this fabulous event,” Sturgill noted. “This year, we are proud to say that almost all of our displays have been switched to LED bulbs — to save energy and provide a brighter presentation.”
Want to volunteer? Contact the Whispering Christmas Committee at firstname.lastname@example.org or leave a message at the Eaton City Building, at 937-456-4125.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4056 or on Twitter @emowen_RH.


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BOSTON, Nov. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecommerce email automation provider Klaviyo today announced that Steve Wietrecki joins the company as Chief Revenue Officer. With an impressive track record for managing businesses at all stages — from high growth start-ups to multinational public companies — Steve recently served as Chief Operating Officer with ClassPass and Rocana. Wietrecki has also worked with major retail brands such as Victoria's Secret and Under Armor on their ecommerce strategies. Klaviyo, which tripled on all fronts in 2016, is closing out another strong year of record growth. Wietrecki's focus will be on accelerating the company's high growth trajectory in 2018 and beyond.
"Klaviyo is different from your typical SaaS company. We've fueled our own growth by solving tough technical challenges and building a product that demonstrably helps thousands of ecommerce brands sell more," says Andrew Bialecki, CEO and co-founder of Klaviyo. "Steve brings a rare combination of skills to the table that line up perfectly with the type of company we're building. He's served as both an operational strategist to startups and a growth-minded executive at public companies. That background will be incredibly helpful as we enter the next stage at Klaviyo."
With more than 20 years of experience, Steve has helped various public and private companies develop and execute growth strategies. Before joining Klaviyo, he held executive leadership positions with several high-tech companies, including ClassPass, Rocana, Backupify, and more. He has primarily focused on ensuring operational excellence and deploying strategic initiatives designed to fuel long term high growth. In his role as Chief Revenue Officer at Klaviyo, Wietrecki will oversee business operations, finance, sales, and marketing.
"I'm incredibly excited to join Klaviyo," says Wietrecki. "Between the momentum we've generated to date and the opportunities for technical and business innovation that lie ahead, Klaviyo is poised to fundamentally change how marketing is done for every company that sells online."
Board member Jon Karlen of Astral Capital adds, "Steve's ability to steer companies through every phase of growth coupled with his passion, focus, and innovative approach made him instantly appealing for this role. We couldn't be happier to welcome him to the Klaviyo team."
Klaviyo helps ecommerce businesses make more money through super-targeted and highly relevant email, Facebook and Instagram campaigns. No other marketing automation platform makes it so easy to pull in comprehensive data from your ecommerce platform and website — then put that data to work to personalize content, segment & target campaigns, review results and optimize performance. Thousands of the most innovative ecommerce brands grow their businesses with Klaviyo, including Bonobos, Kohler, Chubbies, Nomad, Huckberry and more. Visit Klaviyo.com to learn more.