text:
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers approved the agreement, which includes $26 million in legal fees and $3.5 million in court costs for the attorneys who led the case. Although the pact includes some nonmonetary terms, it doesn’t call for costly structural changes to the way the App Store is run.
The judge, writing June 10 for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, called the settlement “fair and reasonable.” She noted that the two sides reached a deal after a trial of parallel claims brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc., but before a ruling in that case was handed down.
Rogers, who presided over the Epic-Apple trial, rejected the developer’s core antitrust claims but ruled for Epic on its unfair competition claim, ordering an expensive overhaul to the App Store’s payment policies. Both sides have appealed, with the iPhone maker calling the ruling “unlawful.”
The lawsuits on behalf of Epic and the developers—like a parallel consumer case—accused Apple of maintaining the dominance of its distribution platform partly by preventing developers from “steering” their customers toward payment methods that circumvent the App Store.
The allegations echo some of the broader antitrust challenges confronting Apple and other Silicon Valley giants that run dominant app platforms, including
Although the legal theories vary, the court cases generally involve allegations that Apple and the others deployed an array of illegal tactics to corner the app distribution market and the related market for in-app purchases.
Google is also facing a virtually identical suit by Epic, parallel proposed class actions, and similar claims by dating app developer
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is lead counsel for the developers. Apple is represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
The case is Cameron v. Apple Inc., N.D. Cal., No. 19-cv-3074, 6/10/22.


text:
After a single image teaser the other day LEGO has officially revealed a new set based on arguably the famous white trashcan droid R2-D2.
The set isn’t just another toy as it’s being made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm. Several other companies are also making products to mark the occasion including LEGO’s competitor Hasbro.
Set number 75308, simply called “R2-D2” contains 2 314 pieces and when assembled builds a droid that is 31 X 19 X 15 centimetres (height X width X depth).
You can get a better sense of the set’s scale thanks to the header image above of a person holding the finished piece.
This rather large set sells for $199.99 / €199.99 / £179.99 depending on where you live and will be available from 1st May.
No release date or pricing has been announced for South Africa, but the RRP is usually based on the UK one. Right now £179.99 converts to around R3 576. If we had to wager we’d expect to see a local price in the R3 500 to R4 000 range, and a release around 4th May (Star Wars Day).
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) April 21, 2021
In the reveal video above you can see some of the features of the set which makes it more than a static model. A retractable middle leg, rotating head, opening hatches and a hidden lightsaber are some of the features here meant to replicate what we’ve seen R2-D2 do in several movies.
To accompany the large model there’s also a small plaque featuring details about the fictional robot as well as a minifig scale R2-D2 and a Lucasfilm “50” brick. The smaller droid and commemorative brick are what LEGO first showed us before this bigger reveal.
We really like what we’re seeing here especially as it’s a clear improvement over a similar set LEGO made back in 2012.

domain: news


text:
By Lisa Sanders,
Last Update: 11:43 AM ET Jun 23, 2000
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Amazon
slumped more than 21 percent Friday after Lehman
Brothers characterized the e-tailer’s credit quality as
deteriorating and advised investors to avoid the
company’s convertible securities.
Shares of Amazon lost 8 15/16 to
33 1/16 in recent trading, on the
heels of a drop of nearly 9 percent
“Amazon has one of the
best-established brands in the B2C space,” Lehman
noted in a morning note.
“However, from a bond perspective, we find the
credit weak and deteriorating. Our negative thesis
stems from Amazon’s massive negative operating
cash flow, poor working capital management and
Amazon (AMZN: news, msgs) has a 4.75 percent
convertible maturing in 2009 and a euro-dominated
convertible at 6.75 percent maturing in 2010.
Given the Seattle-based company’s financial
situation, Lehman said that an investment in the
Amazon debt is more risky than potentially rewarding
and recommended avoiding the securities.
Amazon could not immediately be reached for
comment. Calls to rating agencies Fitch IBCA,
Moody’s Investors Service, and Standard & Poor’s
were not immediately returned.


text:
The new iPhones include the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini, as well as the faster iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. Among the key features Apple has been keen to show off are improved filming technology, longer lasting batteries and redesigned cameras.
There have also been some big changes in Apple’s pricing in the UK. Here we break down everything you need to know about the new iPhone.
iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini
First up we have the latest version of Apple’s “standard” iPhone range. These include the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. The iPhone 13 comes with a 6.1-inch screen, while the iPhone 13 Mini once again repeats its smaller 5.4-inch design.
The pair come with Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, which Apple says is 50pc faster than the competition, and improved graphics that it claims will be 30pc faster. The screen is brighter, 28pc brighter to be exact and it also comes in five new colours: pink, blue, midnight, starlight and red.
It has to be said, these are fairly iterative upgrades after last year’s big 5G reboot. Apple has redesigned its camera housing so that the new lenses are diagonal, rather than vertical, and improved the systems behind its snappers so they can gather nearly 50pc more light, which should make for improved night mode shots. At the top of the phone there is a slight redesign, with a notch that is 20pc slimmer and a smaller top selfie camera.
Battery life could be the one big area of improvement. Apple says you ought to be able to get up to 2.5 hours more juice out of its regular iPhone 13 and 1.5 hours out of the iPhone 13 Mini, a welcome improvement.
There has also been a tweak to prices for UK consumers, although this is largely driven by changes in the pound. These models are around £20 cheaper for their initial asking price than last year’s models. The iPhone13 can be purchased directly from Apple here.
- iPhone 13 Mini: Starts at £679 with 128GB of storage, £779 for 256GB of storage and £979 for 512GB of storage
- iPhone 13: Starts at £779 with 128GB of storage, £879 for 256GB of storage and £1,079 for 512GB of storage
iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max
Apple’s beefed up Pro iPhones are back, with two new models once again. The iPhone 13 Pro is the 6.1-inch model and the iPhone 13 Pro Max for those with big hands and deep pockets (in both senses) with a 6.7-inch screen. New colours include a fetching gold and something called “sierra blue”.
The iPhone maker was most keen to impress the powerful graphics in these new models, which combine its A15 chip with a five core graphics processing unit. It claims this is 50pc faster than models from rivals. Its screen technology has improved again, now refreshing at 120Hz, meaning videos and games should look smoother.
Apple claims its triple lens cameras have had their biggest upgrade ever with redesigned ultra wide, wide and telephoto lenses. The cameras include enhanced zoom capabilities and up to 2.2x improved low-light performance.
They also come with a host of new software features. These include Photographic Styles, a new mode for its camera app that lets you edit and tweak images in real time as you take a shot.
It says its video technology has taken a leap forward with a new function called Cinematic Mode. This allows users recording films to tweak their videos in real time, adjusting focus or tweaking the lenses to zoom in on different figures.
Inside, you can choose to bulk up your iPhone 13 Pro with some of its biggest storage chips ever. You can now add up to 1TB of internal storage to capture all those photos and videos.
This comes at a price, however. While Apple has brought down the entry level price of the iPhone 13 Pro to £949, a cut of £50 compared to the release price of its iPhone 12 Pro, it has also released its most expensive model ever. The iPhone 13 Pro Max with 1TB of storage comes in at £1,549.
You can order the iPhone 13 Pro via Apple here.
- iPhone 13 Pro: Starts at £949 with 128GB of storage, £1,049 for 256GB of storage, £1,249 for 512GB of storage, and £1,449 for 1TB of storage.
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: Starts at £1,049 with 128GB of storage, £1,149 for 256GB of storage, £1,349 for 512GB of storage, and £1,549 for 1TB of storage.
Apple Watch Series 7
Apple has upgraded its Apple Watch Series 7 with a bigger bolder screen and a few improvements under the hood.
It has increased the size of the watch screen by 20pc, while making its borders 40pc smaller for an all round slimmer look to the watch. It comes in case sizes of 41mm and 45mm with more rounded edges.
Inside you still get 18 hours of battery life, but it is further boosted by fast charging that should reduce its charge time by 33pc.
Apple has also added new software features, such as a qwerty keyboard for sending text messages or quickly replying to other users. The tech company says that its watch face is now 50pc more durable than previous models. It comes in the colours midnight, starlight, green, and a new blue and red, while is also available with new watch strap looks, colours and designs.
The Apple Watch Series 7 will be available later this year.
iPad and iPad Mini
In a surprise to most Apple fans, the tech giant delivered an upgrade to its iPad and iPad Mini lines. Most had not expected this update until later in the year.
Its cheapest iPad model now comes with a faster A13 Bionic chip and double the storage capacity. It has a 10.2-inch display and starts at £319. It has a 12MP front camera, which comes with Centre Stage, a mode we first saw on its latest iPad Pro models. This means the iPad can effectively track you around the room when you making video calls from FaceTime or Zoom.
Apple has also improved the environmental credentials of its gadgets, such as with 100pc recycled aluminium on its iPad, available here.
There was a further overhaul for the iPad Mini. Starting at £479, and coming in grey, pink, purple and “starlight” colours, the iPad Mini includes support for the Apple Pencil, adds USB-C connectivity and 5G wireless. While keeping its small profile, it has a larger 8.3-inch screen with improved brightness.
Touch ID moves to the power button, taking it off the front of the screen to squeeze in that display. The chipset is an A15 bionic for added power. Available to buy from Apple now.


text:
BUSINESSDESK: Shipping Australia is accusing the New Zealand Productivity Commission of poor number crunching when it concluded something needs to be done to stop shipping companies fixing prices.
The attack by the lobby group representing 35 shipping companies came in a submission to a draft report on strengthening trans-Tasman economic relations.
The NZ commission was involved in the trans-Tasman study and in April published a separate report advocating regulatory clearance of price fixing and other anti-competitive arrangements in shipping.
Shipping companies are exempt from competition law.
Shipping Australia found the commission's freight report to be "extremely disappointing".
"There was no economic analysis of the global state of international freight liner shipping or, in particular, the trans-Tasman trade between Australia and New Zealand," the council says.
It would have been helpful if there had been rigorous economic analysis of the New Zealand situation. There was nothing to suggest that the removal of the exemption from competition law would be in the public interest or in the interests of exporter and importers.
The council also argued that exemptions to international shipping companies were common and they had recently been extended by Japan and Singapore.
The council wants the productivity commission to recommend only that more studies be undertaken on the issue.
This article is tagged with the following keywords. Find out more about MyNBR Tags
- Rich Lister John Spencer of Caxton paper fame dies
- Wynyard heads for clash with Shareholders Association
- Auckland Council, James Hardie appeal ruling on leaky building claim made beyond 10-year limit
- Squirrel Group goes after one of the biggest crowdfund raises
- PayPal ‘on shaky ground’ as it pulls service from second Netflix unblocker popular with Kiwis
Most listened to
- Tech commentator Paul Brislen breaks down the latest telco sector report
- NBR reporter Tim Hunter discusses Intueri's problems
- NZ ambassador to Turkey Jonathan Curr talks about improving Turkish - NZ relations
- Hamish McNicol discusses Masala Restaurants and Kim Dotcom in this week's Court Report
- Conflict controversies, increased sports rights competition and MIA IPOs: Chelsea Armitage and Nick Grant on NZ media


text:
Now China motorists can snap up a Tesla Model Y for less
The standard-range version is selling for about 20% less than the original longer-range model
Shanghai — Tesla has debuted a significantly cheaper version of its locally built Model Y sports utility vehicle (SUV) in China as deliveries for June slipped amid concern that a string of negative publicity may have soured consumer sentiment towards the pioneering electric carmaker.
Wholesale shipments of China-made Teslas decreased 0.9% in June to 33,155 from 33,463 in May, data from China’s Passenger Car Association (PCA) showed on Thursday. May’s figure was a surge of almost 30% from April. The wholesale figures may not necessarily reflect the level of retail demand Tesla fields directly versus via traditional dealerships.
The so-called standard-range version of the Model Y crossover starts from 276,000 yuan after government subsidies and Tesla began taking orders on Thursday, according to its website. That’s about 20% less than the original longer-range Model Y, which can run for 594km on a single charge.
This latest version, which is available in Hong Kong but hasn’t been sold in China before, can run for 525km, and because it is priced under 300,000 yuan is eligible for a particular state new-energy vehicle subsidy. Its price is only 10% higher than Tesla’s most basic China-made Model 3 sedan and deliveries will start as soon as August.
“China has the world’s leading new-energy market and is the first market outside the US that Tesla owns a locally produced product,” Tesla said in a statement. The company will “continue its investment in China and carry on its corporate mission of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and helping to boost the realisation of a carbon-neutral target”.
Tesla, which counts China as its second most important market after the US, has a history of repeatedly lowering the price of its cars, particularly around the start of a new quarter, to boost sales. However, Thursday’s launch is especially telling considering it comes after months of bad press in the world’s biggest electric-car market.
In 2021 alone, Tesla has battled everything from an angry driver protest that went viral at the Shanghai Auto Show in April to online criticism about its perceived arrogance and lack of customer service. The California-based company has also weathered upsets that have seen its cars banned from some military complexes over concern that the vehicles’ inbuilt cameras may be collecting sensitive data. Tesla immediately moved to reassure the authorities, saying any data collected in China is stored locally.
The latest setback came in June when the Chinese government ordered that almost all the cars Tesla has sold in the nation — more than 285,000 — be fixed to address a safety issue. The State Administration for Market Regulation said vehicles’ autopilot systems could be activated automatically, potentially leading to crashes from sudden acceleration.
Tesla’s Model Y, a bigger, sportier car, is a make that CEO Elon Musk has said has the potential to outsell all other vehicles the company manufactures. In June, the PCA forecast increased interest in roomier cars, particularly in the seven-seater category, as government rules allow parents to have more children.
“Chinese consumers love SUVs and crossovers,” Tu Le, the MD of Beijing-based consultancy Sino Auto Insights, said after Tesla recorded a brisk jump in Model Y sales in May. “I think the Model Y is going to do really well towards the end of this year.”
Sales of the longer-range Model Y, which starts from about 347,900 yuan, rose to 12,785 in May from 5,520 in April.
By way of comparison, Nio’s ES6 SUV, which competes head-to-head with the Model Y, starts from 358,000 yuan. Tesla’s lower price for the standard range will put pressure not only on local competitors but also foreign manufacturers including Volkswagen, which has launched similar models in the same price range.
Of Tesla’s 33,155 deliveries in June, 5,017 of the cars were exported while 28,138 went into local sales channels. That export figure is down sharply from May when 11,527 vehicles were exported from Tesla’s Shanghai factory, mainly to markets in Europe.
Retail passenger vehicle deliveries overall in China declined 5.3% year-on-year in June. For the month, they were down 3.5%. New-energy vehicle retail sales, which includes plug-in hybrids, increased 170% year-on-year to 223,000 units in June, the PCA data show.
For the first half, new-energy vehicle (NEV) wholesale deliveries totalled 1.09-million vehicles while retail sales were around one million.
“It was beyond our imagination that half-year NEV sales would top 1-million units,” PCA secretary-general Cui Dongshu said during a briefing on Thursday. “The 2.4-million-unit forecast for 2021 NEV sales that we made in May seems conservative now.”
Cui added that Tesla’s launch of an SUV for less than 300,000 yuan was “of great significance to the development of new-energy vehicles” considering a core part of the cars’ acceptance is lower prices.
Would you like to comment on this article or view other readers' comments?
Register (it’s quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.


text:
Average prices for prime central London property rose by 0.7% in February and are now up 11.6% over the past 12 months, according to the latest index from Knight Frank.
Prices have risen 43% from their post Lehman collapse low point in March 2009, and are 8.9% higher than their previous peak in March 2008. Volume of sales has risen 85% in the year to February.
The index also reveals that Italians have accounted for 8% of purchases since January, beating Russians to the top spot.
The sustainability of central London's property market has been questioned continually since the current revival began in 2009. But rising sales volumes should provide some comfort according to Liam Bailey, Knight Frank's head of residential research.


text:
Just short of one month ago, COVERGIRL announced to the world its first-ever CoverBoy, James Charles. Now, COVERGIRL is enthusiastically introducing us to their latest CoverGirl, Nura Afia. Much like James Charles, Nura is a beauty blogger and an online personality with 216,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel but, unlike James Charles, she is Muslim and wears a hajib.
As the Washington Post highlights: Afia will appear in a commercial for CoverGirl, marking the first time a Muslim woman wearing a hijab has been featured in an ad for the brand.
“I’m so excited to be a part of CoverGirl’s new campaign,” Afia said in a statement. “It feels so surreal. Honestly, growing up and being insecure about wearing the hijab I never thought I would see Muslim women represented on such a large scale. It means the world to me and I’m so honored to be a part of this campaign with CoverGirl.”
From a CoverBoy, to a young woman who defines her beauty by pride in herself and her heritage, it is clear COVERGIRL is continuing to lead a conversation of inclusivity. Given the results of last night’s presidential election, we can all hope that others follow COVERGIRL’s lead. #inclusivity #unity @nuralailalov


text:
() View gallery
THE Royal Pavilion has held a place in British culture for many a year with its architectural beauty.
But Brighton’s most iconic structure may now also have a spot in the fashion industry – after it inspired a range of lingerie.
Kitty Daler-Finch, a contour fashion student at De Montfort University in Leicester, drew imagination for her bras from the Grade I listed Pavilion’s architecture.
The 21-year-old’s design was so good it won her a month-long paid placement at Asos, one of the biggest online clothing retailers in the world.
She said: “I studied the Pavilion’s architectural forms which is how I got my asymmetrical design – the bra is not symmetrical and is quite artistic.”
Kitty’s placement will be at the Asos headquarters in Camden, London, where she will work in the lingerie and nightwear department.
The students were asked to muster up two outfits in ten weeks that would be suitable for Asos – and Kitty’s was.
Judges praised the designs and said they had “commercial appeal, were linked to trends, brave in their choice of colour and creatively pushed design to another level”.
The outfits, modelled by two of Kitty’s fellow university students, are designed with red lace.
Kitty said: “Asos is a company that I buy garments from so to actually go there and be a part of the team, to see what happens there, will be really exciting.
“While working on the project I didn’t really have a chance to think about winning, it was a lot of hard work.”
The Royal Pavilion has stood grandly in Brighton’s Old Steine since the 19th century.
It was a former royal residence and is built in an Indo-Saracenic style.
The building, now owned by Brighton and Hove City Council, was developed in three stages, with construction beginning in 1787 and ending in 1823.
About 400,000 people visit the Royal Pavilion yearly, and it is now classed as a public attraction rather than private property.
The Pavilion made history again in 2014 when it hosted some of the first same-sex marriages in the UK after it became legal the year before.
l What is your opinion on the lingerie – does it resemble the grand architecture of the Pavilion? Go to theargus.co.uk and have your say.
Source: The Argus


text:
East London businesses and householders are now able to donate surplus food to the capital's latest community fridge
Leytonstone's first community fridge has been launched in East London enabling businesses and local residents to donate surplus fruit, vegetables, and packaged goods in a bid to drive down food waste....
Supermarket to offer range of mince pies and desserts that avoid palm oil, as it closes in on goal of eliminating the controversial ingredient from its own-brand ranges by April next year
In the second extract from our Secrets of the Disruptors report, Iceland's managing director reveals his top 10 rules for success
Assessment of world's 100 largest pension funds finds only 13 per cent have been assessed for their exposure to climate-related risks
New survey finds nearly nine out of 10 big companies in Scotland accept climate change is a risk to their business


text:
An ex-APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary named Timi Frank has spoken out against President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.
Investors are fleeing the country, he claimed, because the last six months under Tinubu’s rule have seen the worst economic suffering and starvation the country has ever seen.
According to him:
For Nigerians, this Christmas would be the worst ever since they won’t be able to purchase the food and drink needed to celebrate the holiday, even if it will be the first Christmas under Tinubu’s administration.
“The naira shortage is becoming more severe. These days, Nigerians have to buy Naira before they can spend it. A bag of rice will cost more than the N30,000 minimum wage under his administration, making it unaffordable for them.
“Payroll is being underpaid. This is the updated minimum wage. Compensation not disbursed. No aid money would be sent to Nigerians in need following the use of a World Bank facility for that purpose.
The high cost of petroleum goods due to Tinubu’s abrupt termination of fuel subsidies in May and inflationary pressures, which have destroyed whatever savings they may have had, are now over 28 percent. Additionally, the World Bank has verified that nearly all Nigerians in Vilnetabke have not yet received the FG cash transfer.


text:
NEWINGTON - Summer can be a slow season for food banks, with staff members and volunteers anticipating shortages as the months slope down from the yearly winter and holiday peak, but on May 29, the Berlin Turnpike Raymour and Flanigan in Newington had two tables stacked with items, according to Manager Chris Roy.
This was the result of the store’s food drive, an effort to help restock the shelves of the Newington Food Bank, and Roy considered it a success.
“A lot of people brought in a lot of stuff,” Roy said after the event. “That was a nice showing considering we were really only promoting it for four days.”
How much stuff is a lot of stuff? Well Roy said that the store had 100 New Britain Rock Cats baseball tickets for the June 5 game to give away. Customers who brought in at least nine non-perishable food items were eligible to get a pair. At the end of the business day, the store only had 40 tickets left.
The minimum of nine items might sound random, but it was anything but, Roy said.
“Nine items, nine innings, and nine players,” he said. “Coincidentally, [June 5 is] the Newington Night Out, so it all ties in.”
Raymour and Flanigan co-sponsors the Night Out event.
This is not the first community service event the store has held, and it won’t be the last. Roy and his staff are already gearing up for a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research scheduled for June 21. They have not set a specific bench mark, but Roy said that they would like to beat the $1,000 they raised for sickle cell research.
Like those events, the latest one was made possible through collaboration, Roy said. The multiple sclerosis research fundraising effort will involve the sale of raffle tickets, with prizes to be provided by the Berlin Home Depot store.
“We call on our business partners and the New Britain Rock Cats is one of them,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate to have good partners, and that’s what makes an event a success.”
Newington’s Department of Social Services went through some rough months this winter, and it went beyond just the food bank.
“The [economic] recovery takes longer to get to folks that are struggling the most,” said Carol LaBrecque from Newington Social Services. “More than half the people we work with are people who are on a fixed income. They’re elderly or disabled, so they’re not going to get a better job or better pay.”
In February, 52 of the department’s 103 social work cases were involving individuals over the age of 55, according to its own statistics.
“And their costs do go up, but their income won’t go up,” said Director of Social Services Karen Futoma.
LaBrecque estimated that the food bank serves around 150 households per month. During the holidays, that number can shoot up to as high as 430, she said.
“We thought it was a worthwhile cause to do--almost as a token of appreciation for their generosity,” Roy said.


text:
The world’s dominant social media service known as Facebook sought to become the world’s largest, the advancing feature is that it struck agreements allowing phone and other device makers access to vast amounts of its users’ personal information. With at least 60 device makers Facebook had reached data-sharing partnerships which includes Apple, Amazon, BlackBerry, Microsoft and Samsung, and from the last decades the starting before Facebook apps were widely available on smartphones as said by the company officially. This type of deals allowed Facebook to expand its reach and let device makers offer customers favorite features of the social network precisely such as messaging “like” buttons and address books.
Whereas the partnership whose scope has not previously been reported has a high raise concerns about the company’s privacy protections and compliance with a 2011 consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission. The device companies were allowed by the Facebook access to the data of users’ friends without their explicit consent and therefore even after declaring that it would no longer share such information with outsiders. That is true that some device maker could retrieve personal information even from users’ friends who believed they had barred any sharing found by The New York Times.
When it comes to the partnership most of it remains in effect and through Facebook began winding them down in April. Cambridge Analytica in this the company came under intensifying scrutiny by lawmakers and regulators after news reports in March that a political consulting firm, and misused as the private information of tens of millions of Facebook users. When a furor is followed the Facebook’s leaders said that the kind of access exploited by Cambridge in 2014 was cut off by the next year and yes when Facebook Facebook prohibited developers from collecting information from users’ friends. But when we talk about the officials, the company did not disclose that Facebook had exempted the makers of cellphones, tablets and other hardware from such restrictions.
Yes, we think that “You might think that Facebook or the device manufacturer is trustworthy,” as said by the privacy researcher at the University of California, Berkeley known as Serge Egelman who mainly studies the security of mobile apps. But if we talk about the significant problem, as more and more data is collected on the device — and if apps can access it on the device — it creates severe privacy and security risks. Let’s talk about the interviews here Facebook officials defended the data sharing as consistent with its privacy policies, the F.T.C. agreement, and pledges to users. They were also informed that their partnerships were governed by contracts that strictly limited use of the data which will include any stored on partner’s server. They knew that no cases where the information had been misused. The officials added this.
As an extension of Facebook, the company views its device partners who serve its more than two billion users which they officially said. In which app developers use our platform others partnerships work very differently from them as told by Ime Archibong professional as Facebook vice president. Those were unlike developers that provide games and services to Facebook users, the device partners can use Facebook data only to produce versions of “the Facebook experience,” they officially said that. As relationship status, religion, political leaning, and upcoming events, among other data similarly some device partners can retrieve Facebook users. Like the third party received information, it was out when tests by the Times were conducted, and the tests showed that the partners requested and collected data.
Here several former Facebook software engineers and security experts said they were surprised at the ability to override sharing restrictions as noted in the interview. Like that way it’s like having doors locks installed that was only to find out that the locksmith also gave keys to all of his friends so they can come in and rifle through your stuff without having to ask you for permission,” said Ashkan Soltani, a research and privacy consultant who formerly served as the F.T.C.’s chief technologist.


text:
Russian Railways says loses cargo loading on logistic failures
MOSCOW, Mar 22 (PRIME) -- Russian Railways is experiencing problems with wagon unloading in the ports, unplanned redistribution of coal from exports to local consumption and is concerned with the lengthy repair of locomotives, which jointly lead to a loading decline, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We are urging our clients to be more responsible while organizing cargo transportation routes with (capacity) restrictions,Ф Russian Railways said.
УFulfillment of obligations to transport coal is under special control of the company executives Е Unfortunately, we see cases of irrational logistics and disruptions in operations of other participants of the process."
The ports of Posyet and Vanino in the Far East, as well as several southern ports, have difficulties with unloading.
"With the current hot demand for transportation and capacity deficit, it will be impossible to catch up with everything that is not loaded now," the company said.


text:
Ceramitec 2015 Review
Posted by Alex Painter on November 8, 2015
IPS CERAMICS RETURNS FROM A SUCCESSFUL SHOW AT CERAMITEC 2015
The IPS team has just returned from Munich after a successful week participating in Ceramitec 2015, one of the leading events for the international ceramic industry. Our new stand design was well received and we were joined by all key personnel from our partners Trend Industrial Ceramics, including managing director Guo Haizhu and sales director Yong Zhang.
We welcomed many existing and potential kiln furniture customers from all around the world and it was a great opportunity to discuss the additional capacity installed this year at the factory and the flexibility we can offer in new product design, trialling, test firing and then scale-up.
After dealing with all the enquiries generated in Munich we’ll be getting down to serious planning for our next shows – the TMS Exhibition in Nashville (14-18 Feb 2016) and Ceramics Expo in Cleveland (26-28 April 2016).


text:
The public sector cashew production will get a boost as an order of over 1,000 tonnes is expected per year.
KOLLAM: The laddus of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati will have an ingredient from God’s Own Country now.
The Tirumala temple authorities have placed a huge order 30 tonnes of processed cashew kernels with Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Co-operative Society (Capex) and Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation for Rs 70 crore. The public sector cashew production will get a boost as an order of over 1,000 tonnes is expected per year.
The first truck carrying five tonnes of cashew was flagged off from the Capex factory at Perumpuzha by cashew minister J. Mercykkutty Amma. The minister urged the workers not to interrupt the supply of cashew to the temple.
The KSCDC earned a revenue of Rs 5.5 crore during the Onam season apart from getting Rs 45 lakh from the online trade of cashew.
“The corporation is holding talks to open outlets in temples run by the devaswom board. New outlets will also be opened during the Sabarimala season,” said KSCDC chairman S. Jayamohan.


text:
Samsung, the South Korean phone maker, has launched the Galaxy S3 Neo in India. The Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo (modeled as GT-I9300I) is a dual-SIM variant of the company’s 2012 flagship, the Samsung Galaxy SIII.
Other than the dual-SIM support, you get everything you see on the S3 Neo on the SIII — an that includes a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, 8MP rear and 2MP front-facing cameras, 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and then an upped 1.5GB of RAM.
The phone is already being sold in India for $414 and it’s available in black, white, blue, brown, pink, gray, and red. There’s no info about the Galaxy S3 Neo making it outside the borders of India anytime soon.


text:
“It seems to me that the folks who want to buy vegan burgers...they would appreciate it not being labeled as meat or a meat food product,” said Andy Gibson, Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.
Americans eat nearly 50 billion burgers a year—about 3 burgers a week for each person in the U.S. While May 28th is National Burger Day, we can’t help but add a slice of cheese to celebrate all over again!
Foodborne illnesses is a big problem, but a Purdue University study shows few people use thermometers in cooking meat. Celebrity chefs have a role in educating consumers to use proper cooking temperatures.
New Zealand, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, will spend more than NZ$880 million ($610 million) in a bid to eradicate the mycoplasma bovis cattle disease, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
Grass tetany might be easily defined as a deficiency of magnesium, but for Dick Kurtz of Oregon, Mo., it just means trouble. He lost three cows in March to the disorder and is carefully watching a few more.


text:
The eighth generation of Pokemon games have officially been announced as Pokemon Sword and Shield, and are set to release on Nintendo Switch in 2019.
It doesn’t look like we’ll be getting the open world games we crave just yet, and the brief trailer suggests the traditional battling/capture mechanics that have been a staple of the series since the beginning will remain largely unchanged.
Check out the trailer below:
Pokemon Sword and Shield will be set in a brand new (and it has to be said, terribly pretty) region called Galar. It looks to be the biggest region we’ve seen in a Pokemon game, with vast countryside, industrial cities, lakes, and mountain regions.
The new region does seem to have a bit of a UK vibe, which makes sense. Previous Pokemon regions have taken inspiration from Europe, the US, and Japan, so it’s time to give Blighty a go in the spotlight.
A new Pokemon game brings with it a new batch of Pokemon of course, and while it was confirmed that the Galar region will be packed with new critters, today we only got a quick look at the three new starters.
Grookey is a grass type, and a cheeky little monkey by the looks of it. Scorbunny is our fire type and is (obviously) a bunny, while the water type is a funny lil’ critter called Sobble.
Going from the trailer it also looks like character customisation is making a return, but beyond that it’s not clear what other new features will make their way to the game.
GameFreak did say during the announcement that the team is looking to push themselves and try new things with this new generation of Pokemon, while staying true to what people love about the franchise.
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.


text:
Azamara announced its return South Africa and South America this fall for the first time since early 2020, according to a company statement.
Azamara will return to these regions with Country Intensive and Specialty Voyages with most voyages close to sold out due to high demand.
The Azamara Journey will set sail on six back-to-back South Africa voyages while the Azamara Pursuit will cruise the along South America’s coast, including a stop in Rio de Janeiro in time to take part in the famed Carnival festivities.
“With the travel and cruising industries continuing to take significant steps forward, we are thrilled to bring our guests deeper to explore even more hidden gems of the world on our four ships,” said Michael Pawlus, Azamara’s director of strategic itinerary & destination planning.
“Both South Africa and many South American countries are bucket-list travel destinations for travelers, and we look forward to our guests discovering the rich culture and local life of these unique destinations with Azamara.”
The Azamara Journey will embark on its 21-night Western Africa voyage on November 29, departing from Lisbon, Portugal. The ship will make stops in Funchal, Madeira, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Takoradi, Ghana, Luanda, Angola, and Walvis bay, Namibia before reaching Cape Town, South Africa.
The Azamara Pursuit is scheduled to set sail on a 16-night Portuguese Pursuit Voyage on November 30, departing from Lisbon, Portugal. After visiting St Cruz De La Palma, Canary Islands, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Mindelo, Cape Verde, and Salvador De Bahia, Brazil, the ship will reach Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.


text:
The European Commission has called for a fresh approach to the digitisation of Europe’s books following a meeting today to discuss Google’s book deal
Europe looks closer to resolving copyright issues first raised across the Atlantic by Google’s book digitisation deal, following a meeting between the European Commission (EC) and key industry stakeholders today.
The statement from the meeting in Brussels came out in broad support of digitisation, after having been convened following the agreement reached with Google in the US in October last year, settling a class-action lawsuit brought by US authors and publishers against the search giant for violating their copyright with its Google Book Search offering.
In a joint statement issued late this afternoon, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, and Charlie McCreevy, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services said: “It is time for Europe to turn over a new e-leaf on digital books and copyright.”
Although the US deal still has to be approved by a US court and has been opposed by Amazon, Reding and McCreevy seem keen to follow the example it set, where Google agreed to compensate rights holders whose works were scanned and pay them 63 per cent of revenues earned from the commercial uses Google makes of the books, and pay for the creation of a Book Rights Registry.
The Commissioners stated: “This week, we and our services will discuss the challenge of digitising books in Europe with right holders, libraries, IT companies, consumer organisations and with every other party that takes an interest in finding the best solution.”
They said Europe was facing a very important cultural and economic challenge, where only some 1 per cent of the books in Europe’s national libraries have been digitised so far, “leaving an enormous task ahead of us, but also opening up new cultural and market opportunities”.
The negotiations initiated today by the EC has will aim to gain a better understanding of the interests involved and help the Commission “define a truly European solution in the interest of European consumers,” having complained in the past that it had little input into the US deal.
They also said that, given the size of the task ahead the private-sector efforts of the likes of Google and its Book Search were to be welcomed, but that the public sector needs to act as a guide.
“It is therefore time to recognise that partnerships between public and private bodies can combine the potential of new technologies and private investments with the rich collections of public institutions built up over the centuries. If we are too slow to go digital, Europe’s culture could suffer in the future.”
They also called for “fair rewards for authors,” but cautioned: “We also need to take a hard look at the copyright system we have today in Europe.”
Fair access across the region, remuneration and the potential contribution of Europeana, Europe’s digital library were all touted.
The EC now plans to hold further meetings with stakeholders, the European Parliament and the Council to discuss these areas in greater detail and tackle the fragmented European copyright system once and for all.
Until then, Google’s automatic book scanning initiative is limited to books whose authors have been dead for more than 70 years and are therefore not covered by copyright,


text:
* Kollectif is a proud media partner for the 2021 AZ Awards
Excerpt of the announcement :
« July 2, 2021
The 22 inspiring winners represent the best in global architecture and design.
On Friday, June 25, AZURE unveiled the winners of the 11th annual AZ Awards with the launch of an immersive online experience. Now live on the reimagined awards.azuremagazine.com, the AZ Awards website offers an in-depth look at this year’s 22 standout winners and 50 finalists.
Chosen by our expert jury, the winners represent the best of an impressive selection field of over 1,200 submissions — representing a record-breaking 57 countries. »
Winners from Québec :
Unbuilt Projects Category :
- Étienne Bernier Architecture, APPAREIL Architecture and BGLA: Marguerite-d’Youville Elementary School, Chicoutimi, Canada
Residential Interiors Category :
- Future Simple Studio: Rue de la Gauchetière Loft, Montreal, Canada


text:
888, one of the world’s most popular online gaming companies and solutions providers, is pleased to announce that it launched 888poker, the world’s second largest poker site, in Italy on 3 January 2018. This builds on 888’s successful casino and sports betting offerings already available in the Italian market and fits with the Group’s strategy to expand its presence in regulated markets.
888 now offers all three of its core gaming verticals, casino, sports betting and poker, in Italy which is an increasingly important growth market for the Group.
888poker.it offers 888’s unique poker assets and features and the full range of its poker variants including two highly popular formats for the brand’s primarily recreational player base: SNAP Poker, a high speed, fast-fold poker game; and Poker BLAST, an eight minute, four player poker game with a prize-pool of up to €300,000.
Itai Pazner, COO of 888 Holdings, commented:
We’re delighted to bring our poker site to the Italian market, which fits with our strategy to expand 888’s presence in regulated markets and strengthens our position for the forthcoming pooling of players across selected European markets. Following the success of our sports betting and casino products in the market, it was a natural step to offer our poker brand to our Italian customers so they can enjoy all three products, seamlessly and in one place.”
888poker.it launched on 3 January 2018 with a new advertising campaign. Featuring the tag line "Il Gioco inizia adesso! (Let the games begin!)", the campaign will appear on Italy’s leading television channels and across a range of print publications.


text:
The UK economy is missing out on £10 billion each year because home owners are so fearful of hiring a cowboy builder, they simply don’t commission building work, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
The research also showed that one third of home owners are put off doing major home improvement works requiring a builder because they fear hiring a dodgy builder.If all home owners had full confidence in the building industry, they would typically spend an average of £40,000 on major home improvement projects over the next five years.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “A third of home owners are so anxious about the possibility of choosing a bad builder, they don’t commission any building work whatsoever. This means that the UK economy could be missing out on £10 billion of activity every year. Indeed, the FMB’s latest research shows that on average, your typical home owner would spend £40,000 on major home improvement projects over the next five years if they could be guaranteed a positive experience. If we were able to unlock this pent-up demand from fearful consumers, the benefit to jobs and growth would be enormous. Last year the UK experienced its slowest growth since 2012 with a rise in GDP of just 1.8 per cent. With Brexit just around the corner, it’s therefore vital that the Government pulls as many leavers as possible to turbo-charge the economy and protect it from any potential economic wobbles.”


text:
Flights are the next big thing for all of Booking Holdings’ accommodation platforms, not just Booking.com but Agoda and Priceline in Asia. In the region, where super-apps have taught consumers they can book everything on one app, and where even airlines want to be online travel agencies, it isn’t surprising Agoda is offering flights.
Booking.com’s Asian sister Agoda is also moving beyond selling just accommodations to selling flights. But unlike Booking.com, which has just introduced air in Europe through a partnership with eTraveli, Agoda has built its own flights product where travelers can book airfares on its site without having to leave the platform.
The move pits Agoda against the likes of Expedia and Asia’s well-rounded online travel agencies such as Traveloka, a Southeast Asian online travel unicorn that touts itself as “the number one solution for all your travel needs” by offering flights, accommodation, and even lifestyle products.
Agoda CEO John Wroughton Brown casually mentioned the introduction of a new flights product during a session at the Web In Travel conference in Singapore this week, saying the accommodation platform previously offered flights through Kayak, another brand of Booking Holdings, but it was an “experiment” that proved to him that customers “really want flights.”
Brown said Kayak was great, but it’s a click-through model. “If a customer can book on Agoda, with our UX [user experience], price capability, and payment methods, we believe we can give customers a superior product, not to mention package [air] with other things,” he said.
Agoda and Priceline, another Booking Holdings’ brand, said they both have collaborated on a flights product that offers “the best prices and widest choice of flights, from low-cost and full-service airlines,” in a project that went from concept to real bookings in five months.
Agoda started testing the flights product around August in limited markets and on limited platforms. It is now live in Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, India, and Singapore, and is available on desktop, mobile and app booking platforms.
Priceline will go live with its own Asia-Pacific flights product in November. Asked if Booking.com will be offering flights in Asia using the new flights product, a spokesperson speaking on behalf of Agoda and Priceline said, “I can’t really speak for Booking, they have their own strategy, but each brand is working to improve the connected traveler experience. Kayak will take Agoda and Priceline’s inventory.”
Agoda declined to disclose bookings data since the product went live two months ago. “It’s still very early days, and we are learning, experimenting, and testing all the time, but we are already seeing bookings coming through,” said the spokesperson.
“But suffice to say in Asia-Pacific alone the air industry represents $27.4 billion, and the online travel agency share of this has immense growth opportunities for the right company. We have ambitions to lead many Asian markets by 2021 and capture a significant share of the 800 million arrivals to the region.”
Asked how extensive its air content is, the spokesperson said, “We are fast on-boarding new suppliers to constantly improve the breadth of airline partners and routes available, as well as rolling the product out to more markets across the globe.”
A check on Agoda shows a fairly good inventory thus far, competitive pricing, neat listing of fares going by cheapest first, and effortless booking.
A short-haul flight search from Singapore to Bangkok departing October 22 and returning October 31 features Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, and Thai AirAsia. The cheapest, on Scoot, is S$181, round trip (Suvarnabhumi), including taxes and fees.
A long-haul flight from Singapore to New York for the same period features Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, China Southern, Etihad, Philippine Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and United. The cheapest, on Philippine Airlines, is priced at S$875 (JFK), including taxes and fees.
Agoda also offers airport transfers in partnership with Mozio.
“Customers still want the best price. And the secret sauce is we have spent the last decade and more optimizing accommodation on Agoda to get the best prices for our customers. We will use that tech expertise to do the same with flights too and also have the additional opportunity to offer package trips to add even greater value for our customers,” said the spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Agoda’s Brown said its partnership with Grab is seeing “great uptake” and he foresees Agoda providing Grab with flights “eventually,” from just accommodation currently.
Skift Daily Newsletter
Get the travel industry’s daily must-read email 6 days a week
Tags: agoda, booking.com, priceline
Photo credit: Agoda's office entrance. Agoda


text:
For the first time in three yearsThe Tokyo Game Show will be open to the public as a live event at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.
In the fall of 2019, things were going as normal for the Tokyo Game Show. Once the pandemic broke out, the event turned to a digital-only event in 2020. Last year, it went online and, for industry members, in person with much reduced likelihood. This year will be the first time since the pandemic began that the event will be held in a more normal manner.
Tokyo Game Show will be held from September 15 to September 18.
“The theme for TGS2022 is ‘Nothing Stops Gaming,’ the organizers wrote in an official release. “Over the past two years, various hilarious events have disappeared from our daily lives, but games still brighten up our days. Games will continue to brighten people’s days now and forever ― this year’s theme implies such strong determination. “
However, unlike the previous year, children will not be allowed to attend. “Due to uncertainty about the vaccination situation among young people, primary school students or younger children are not allowed to attend school to ensure their safety.
TGS organizing committee explained. Furthermore, there will only be a limited number of tickets available, consistent with the policies of the Japanese government to prevent the spread of the virus.
There will still be online elements to the show, including streamed press conferences and simultaneous English translations. “Other popular shows from last year are also planned for a global audience, such as free demo versions of the latest games to enjoy at home, virtual tour experiences and TGS Virtual Reality (VR) area.” The combination of live and online will serve the show well.
Information regarding ticket sales will be announced this summer in mid-July.
https://kotaku.com/tokyo-game-show-2022-tgs2022-chiba-japan-covid-19-coron-1848600928 In 2022, Tokyo Game Show will once again be held live


text:
Medjool dates are usually harvested around the beginning of September but, like most California desert crops, the harvest started a bit late this year, falling around September 15th. DJ Ryan of Sundate, located in Coachella Valley, says: “Even though we started a bit late, it doesn’t affect us much because the dates are harvested is such large volumes that it really isn’t an issue. The crop this year was pretty typical volume with good quality. Weather conditions have been ideal, with dry weather at harvest, which is good because heavy rainfall can cause some post-harvest issues with the crop.”
Medjool and Deglet Noor varieties
The Medjool date harvest has been wrapped up and Sundate are wrapping up with their Deglet Noor harvest, which should finish up at the end of December. “The Medjools will be destined for the fresh produce aisles. These dates are picked, sorted, and lightly brushed but outside of that we don’t do much to them post-harvest. The Deglet Noors, on the other hand, are processed more. They are a semi-dry variety and they are picked on the dry side, graded, and then put into steam rooms to add moisture to them to soften them back up. They are then machine-pitted and processed – either chopped to go into cereals, or turned into date paste to be incorporated into fruit bars. They are the kinds of dates you’ll typically find in the baking aisle,” Ryan says.
Year-round demand and distribution
The dates are stored post-harvest in frozen storage to maintain their freshness. Ryan explains: “The dates used to be stored in refrigeration and due to their high sugar content the outsides would crystallize after a while – this doesn’t affect the flavor, but it is a bit of a cosmetic defect. So we would want to be sold out of product by Easter at the latest. The frozen storage allows us to supply year-round because the dates don’t freeze – their cell walls don’t break down – and when they are taken out of the frozen storage they are as fresh as when they were picked.”
The demand for dates has increased throughout the years, as they began to be available for longer. “In the past 15-20 years we began to recognize the importance of, for example, Ramadan, as a really busy consumption time for dates, which allowed us to pull the demand away from centering around western holidays. We now start gearing up for Ramadan in January and February already, because we need at least a 30-day lead time for the transportation,” Ryan says.
Currently, the company exports around 40% of its product to markets around the world, such as Australia, Europe, South America, and even Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Ryan explains: “These Middle Eastern countries could be importing from markets much closer to home, but they seek out the California date specifically, which says a lot about our quality.”
He adds: “The American, as well as global, consumers are starting to discover more and more the health benefits of dates and realize its potential as a natural sweetener. The date takes on the flavor profile of whatever it is added to, so it has major potential for different pairings as a sweetener. As a response to the increasing demand, we are growing our acreage every year. While our per-tree volume is steady, our total volumes are up and we have a lot of young date gardens that will become really productive over the next few years.”
Increasing production of organic dates
The company has been focusing on converting much of their production from conventional to organic. “Right now, 60-65% of our product is organic and this number will continue to rise by 5-10% every year. We expect to settle in around 85% organic. Not all of our produce is packaged as organic, however, because that would flood the market. Some of our overseas markets haven’t embraced the idea of organic at all yet, so we are putting focus on transitioning these markets. So while the majority of our product is already produced organically, we have to focus on slowly transitioning these markets so we can ensure that we capture the added value,” Ryan concludes.


text:
2019 Ford Ranger Specs
Prices 2019 - 2019 Ford Ranger Specs, 2019 ford ranger specs, release date, price - new ford, At the 2017 north american international auto show, ford announced it would be returning to the north-american mid-size pickup segment with a ranger.a year on, the 2019 ford ranger is stepping .. New 2019 ford ranger to take on toyota tacoma, chevy, The ranger's interior receives a new steering wheel, shifter and waterproof storage compartments under the rear seats. being a ford, sync 3 handles infotainment duties with either a 3.8-, 4- or 8 .. 2019 ford ranger pickup truck - review, specs, release, Ford ranger exterior. there is very little to go on when it comes to the exterior of the 2019 ford ranger pickup truck, but we can safely assume that a number of design elements will carry over from current and upcoming models..
2019 Ford Ranger Specs - https://www.youtube.com/results
2019 ford ranger first look: welcome home - motor trend, Finally. it has been seven years since the last ford ranger rolled off the line at the twin cities plant in st. paul, minnesota. seven years of ford insisting there was no market for a compact .. Ford ranger raptor (2019) - pictures, information & specs, The first-ever ford ranger raptor, ford's latest off-road, performance pick-up truck, blasted out from behind its camouflage during a reveal event in thailand. the ultimate ranger is purposefully designed, built and tested to set a benchmark as the only factory-built performance truck across asia .. 2019 ford ranger expert reviews, specs and photos | cars.com, Research the 2019 ford ranger online at cars. you'll find local deals, specs, images, videos, consumer and expert reviews, features, trims, and articles for every turn in your ranger.. 2018 ford ranger to be released in late 2018/early 2019, 02/16/2017 update: the stories about upcoming ford bronco and ranger just won’t stop. and they shouldn’t! we want to know more and more. if we could get everything about upcoming 2019 ford ranger or new bronco it would be an amazing thing..


text:
Dongfeng Auto to invest $443 mln in green vehicles
August 13, 2010 - Dongfeng Automobile Co Ltd plans to invest 3 billion yuan ($442.9 million) to develop and build up capacity for green vehicles over the next five years, the China Business News said on Friday.
Dongfeng will be capable of making 50,000 electric vehicles by 2015, with cumulative output of green vehicles reaching 800,000 units by 2020, the newspaper quoted Deputy General Manager Zhou Wenjie as saying.
Beijing launched a pilot programme in five cities to provide subsidies to green car buyers as it steps up efforts to cut emissions in the world's biggest auto market.
Other Chinese automakers, including SAIC Motor Corp Ltd, are also investing aggressively in fuel-efficient cars.
Dongfeng is a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Group Co Ltd, which operate vehicle manufacturing ventures with Honda Motor Co Ltd, Nissan Motor Co Ltd and PSA Peugeot-Citroen.


text:
Battery packs are almost definitely less dangerous that a tank full of gasoline. Too bad.
Stories Tagged "battery"
A Pittsburgh company says its battery has the long life and cheap cost needed to be practical for energy storage.
A startup says its compressed-air technology could do a better job of storing the power generated by wind turbines.
The key is a modular design, which could make the technology practical as a way to keep the grid stable and reduce electricity costs.
A startup hopes to commercialize a novel design that features fluid electrodes.
Battery draws power from salinity difference between freshwater and saltwater.
Startup creates an automated process that could speed the development of cheaper batteries for electric cars.
Customers are starting to receive the long-promised electric vehicles.
An alternative to batteries gets an advance from tiny, crumpled sheets of graphene, whose electrodes can store more charge because they have larger surface areas.
Apps that track how people use their phones could help make the devices more efficient.


text:
The supermarket sector is ripe for change. Tim Gore, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Research for Food Justice at Oxfam International, describes key findings from Oxfam’s research into the human suffering in supermarket supply chains.
Imagine a workplace where 90% of your colleagues can’t afford enough food for their families each month. Where you work so hard you can’t take a toilet break, and are insulted by your supervisor if you do. Or where you risk being fired or demoted for becoming pregnant.
These are all issues reported by women working at some of the biggest seafood processing plants in Indonesia and Thailand, which between them supply major supermarkets in Europe and the US. If you shop at Albert Heijn, Aldi, Lidl or Whole Foods, for example, you may well have bought their products.
Some women described the debt burden incurred to secure their job. Others the exhausting nature of their work – peeling up to 19kg of shrimp per hour throughout the working day, just to make the minimum wage. Many said they didn’t have a permanent contract. All worked regular overtime. None had access to an effective trade union to stand up for their rights.
Despite areas of tangible progress in protecting workers’ rights in the seafood sector in Southeast Asia in recent years, Oxfam’s new research with the Sustainable Seafood Alliance Indonesia confirms that many challenges remain. The reason? Most reform initiatives to date have not adequately addressed the root causes of the problem – which go far beyond the seafood sector.
On farms and factories around the world that supply the food retail industry – a sector worth trillions of dollars a year – women and men are working long hard hours, in often appalling conditions for little reward. The launch report for Oxfam’s new campaign to tackle human suffering in food supply chains draws on similar case studies of products like Filipino bananas, Italian tomatoes and Costa Rican pineapples, providing a range of evidence hinting at the scale of the challenge. For example:
- Across a sample basket of 12 everyday products sold in supermarkets – like orange juice, coffee, bananas and rice – sourced from countries around the world, in none were average earnings found to be sufficient to support a decent standard of living for small-scale farmers or workers. The gap between current earnings and the amount needed is greatest for those products in which women are most prevalent in the labour force.
- Low incomes mean access to adequate food is put at risk. New food security surveys of hundreds of farmers and workers in global supply chains in five countries – including women processing shrimp in Thailand – found a clear majority categorised as severely food insecure. In South Africa, for example, over 90% of surveyed women workers on grape farms reported not having enough to eat in the previous month. Nearly a third said they or a family member had gone to bed hungry at least once in that time.
- Long-run declines in export prices for products like Brazilian orange juice and Kenyan green beans are pushing prices paid to small-scale farmers to little more than their cost of production, threatening their livelihoods.
It’s hard to conclude that these are all just isolated examples of a few problematic products or particularly unscrupulous suppliers. At their root, we argue, is the worsening inequality of power in food supply chains – the result of twin trends over the past 20 years.
On the one hand, the bargaining power of supermarkets over their suppliers is increasing. As their control over mass food retail markets grows around the world, supermarkets can demand ever-lower prices from their suppliers and pass onto them more of the risks of agricultural production – creating demand for labour exploitation in their supply chains.
Meanwhile, as agricultural and labour markets have been liberalised, the bargaining power of both small-scale farmers and workers has been steadily eroded or suppressed in many of the countries from which supermarkets source their products – creating a supply of labour that is vulnerable to exploitation. Entrenched gender norms mean that women are hardest hit: it’s no surprise they are concentrated in the lowest paid and least secure positions in food supply chains.
The result can be seen in the unequal distribution of the price consumers pay at the check-out. Two new studies in our global launch report suggest that supermarkets capture the biggest share of the end consumer price of any actor in food supply chains – up to 50% in some cases – and that their share has grown the most since the mid-1990s. The small share left for small-scale farmers and workers – less than 5% in some cases – has declined.
When we looked at the changing distribution in shrimp supply chains from Indonesia and Thailand, two things stood out. First, supermarkets seem to have increased their share of the consumer price over the past 10-15 years. Second, the share reaching processing factories in both countries had dramatically shrunk, in the context of long-run declines in export prices. This is the context in which women can be paid just 2 Euro cents for peeling shrimps in a packet sold at Albert Heijn for 5 Euros.
At best this rising inequality delays the struggle of small-scale farmers and workers to make a decent living. At worst, it traps them in poverty. Meanwhile, at the other end of the chain, the 8 largest publicly listed supermarkets in the world in 2016 generated over $1 trillion in revenues, $22bn in profits and returned $15bn in cash to shareholders. Just 10% of the returns to shareholders of the biggest 3 supermarkets in the US that year would have been enough to lift 600,000 Thai seafood processing workers to a living wage.
We know it doesn’t have to be this way. None of this is the result of immutable market forces, but of political choices. The supermarket sector is undergoing huge disruption around the world – it’s ripe for change. The next blog in this series will look at what the research in our launch reports shows can be achieved if we challenge the power imbalance driving human suffering behind our food.Find out more about the global campaign


text:
About a year after the release of its first foldable smartphone, the Mate X, Huawei has announced its follow-up: the Huawei Mate Xs. The launch was made during a virtual press conference the company in lieu of the cancellation of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year.
The new and improved Huawei Mate Xs may look similar but there’s definitely more than meets the eye with this foldable phone. Its form factor is reminiscent of its predecessor with a Falcon Wing design that offers a more secure grip over the phone. It similarly sports a 6-inch outwards-folding display that spreads out to a full 8-inch screen when unfolded. The hinge is usually the biggest weakness of folding phones but Huawei says that the Mate Xs and its hinge have been redesigned to be more stable and durable. And since the Mate Xs supports a full 180-degree fold, the upgraded hinge is a welcome change.
Huawei equipped the Mate Xs with a flexible display that utilizes a two-layer polymer structure. It’s crafted using two layers of aerospace-grade polyamide that are glued together with a clear adhesive. Beneath this structure lies the actual OLED display which is then supported by a softer polymer layer underneath it. Through this construction, the display is able to produce a rich image while adding a significant amount of durability. It also makes it similar to the Galaxy Z Flip’s screen which also sports an all-plastic display.
It’s no surprise a premium phone such as this is also designed to support the latest in cellular technology, integrated into the Mate Xs’s design is a 5G antenna system that allows for faster and more stable speeds. Additional hardware upgrades also include the Flying Fish Cooling System which utilizes flexible graphene to adhere to the folding form factor of the Mate Xs.
Internally, the Mate Xs also sports nothing less than flagship specs. It’s powered by a Kirin 990 5G chipset which includes an octa-core CPU. It carries a 16-core Mali-G76 GPU that handles the phone’s graphics needs and an NPU built on Huawei’s Da Vinci architecture takes care of the AI processes. Other features have been inherited from the Mate X such as having a 4,500 mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, and physical clasp.
Something Huawei has become known for are its impressive camera systems on its phones. Unfortunately, the Mate Xs doesn’t offer anything new from its predecessor. On the bright side though, the 4-camera system both the Mate X and Mate Xs have is still pretty impressive. It’s compromised of a 40MP main camera, 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 8MP telephoto, and a 3D Depth Sensing camera. It also offers optical image stabilization and AI image stabilization, a 30x hybrid zoom, and an ISO of up to 204800 for low light shots.
When it comes to multitasking, the Huawei Mate Xs natively allows up to two apps to be displayed on either side of the screen with the ability to interact with each other. It runs on Huawei’s own EMUI 10 which is an Android Open Source Project. Huawei is still on the US’s entity list therefore it will not be shipping with Google-supported apps like the Google Play Store, Google Fit, or even Gmail. Fortunately, Huawei is replacing the Google Play store with its own app store, Huawei AppGallery. This has been revamped and now serves as the official app distribution platform for the company.
Previously, the Huawei Mate X was sold exclusively in China but Huawei says that they will be offering the Huawei Mate Xs in global markets soon with a retail price of €2,499 or $2,702.88.


text:
[OFF THE POST] Commentators on Ireland's national TV broadcaster RTE wore sombreros while covering the France-Mexico game. Electronics chain Currys will offer
a discount on TVs when France is knocked out of the World Cup. Pizza Hut in Ireland offering free pizzas every time a French opponent scores. And the Irish, still smarting from being eliminated from
World Cup qualifying on a French goal set up by a handball, are celebrating France's World Cup struggles, which included a 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday.
"We had our sombreros out last night," out-of-work Dublin construction worker Paddy McCafferty told Reuters. "On Tuesday we'll be blowing our vuvuzelas in support of the South Africans."
Currys catch phrase is: "When the French lose, the Irish win." Pizza Hut's slogan is, "Pizzas 1, France 0," as unsportsmanlike.


text:
Update: April 3, 2020, 5:00pm
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, LSU Houston's Annual Crawfish Boil at Little Woodrow's Shepherd has been postponed indefinitely.
LSU Houston wants to say Thank You to our amazing sponsors!
Crawfish boil tickets are non-refundable and all previously purchased tickets will be valid for our new date. Ticket proceeds go directly back to LSU in the form of scholarships, professorships, and building improvement projects on LSU's campus!
We will keep you informed regarding the new date.
Stay healthy, Tiger Nation!


text:
Thieves steal 3 vehicles from Century Automotive | Crime
Burglars broke into a Huntsville business overnight Friday and stole three vehicles.
Huntsville Police reported that an employee arrived to work at Century Automotive and found that someone had broken in overnight.
He reported property missing as well as three vehicles which were at the shop for repair.
No arrests have been made.


text:
Shares of CarMax tumbled, even though the company posted earnings that topped estimates. The used car superstore said its profit rose ten percent in the second quarter, driven by an increase in used car sales. But its profit margins fell from a year ago and sales rose less than expected. Shares plunged 9.5 percent to $47.80.
Carnival hiked its outlook for the year as it reported that its third-quarter profits jumped more than 30 percent. The cruise operator’s good results were driven by higher on-board spending and a stronger performance in the Asia division. Shares rose a fraction to $40.51.
CF Industries was the best performing stock in the S&P 500 today. That’s because the fertilizer company is in preliminary merger talks with Norway’s Yara, which is also a fertilizer producer. Yara says there’s no guarantee that any deal would come out of the discussions. Still, shares popped five percent to $269.37.
Deere says it’s mulling strategic options for its low-margin crop insurance business and it’s hired Citigroup as an adviser. Revenues at the farming equipment maker have been falling as farmers hold off from buying new products because of lower expectations for commodity prices and harvests. The stock lost a fraction to $83.32.
Sysco & US Foods
The FTC may be looking to block the planned merger of Sysco and US Foods according to reports. Regulators are considering an anti-trust lawsuit because they are concerned that combining the nation’s two biggest food suppliers could threaten competition. Shares of Sysco fell two percent to $36.75.
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is shedding the rest of its pet care business, selling its Iams and Eukanuba brands in Europe to Spectrum Brands. The maker of household products like Tide Detergent says exiting the business will help it focus on its core units. The financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Shares fell slightly to $84.44
Facebook is unveiling a new ad platform, according to the Wall Street Journal, to improve the effectiveness of online advertisements. The new tool will reportedly help marketers understand which Facebook users have seen or interacted with ads that appear on social media. The move is Facebook’s effort to challenge Google’s dominance in the online ad space. Shares were up almost two percent to $78.29.
Bed Bath & Beyond
After the bell, shares of Bed Bath & Beyond initially popped on its strong earnings report. The retailer beat on both the top and bottom lines and it gave an upbeat full-year outlook. During the regular trading day the stock was down 1.5 percent to $62.69.


text:
Itanagar: Lucknow-based Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR-CISH) director Dr Shailendra Rajan has assured to provide genuine planting material and technical know-how to progressive farmers for hi-tech agriculture and horticulture cultivation.
His assurance came when he called on Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar here and discussed various issue related with development of sub-tropical fruits and horticulture products.
Mein sought help for growing guava while Kumar lauded quality of Lalit guava, produced at Yachuli by progressive farmer Likha Maj.
The Chief Secretary suggested area expansion for cultivation of Lalit variety to which Dr Rajan assured to provide best quality planting material from ICAR and training of farmers and other officials in high tech guava cultivation for increasing production to facilitate fresh consumption by the masses, a press release informed.
Dr Ranjan had visited Yachuli garden earlier and appreciated Maj for his initiative. He said that red-colour Lalit guava, one of the best quality in India developed by ICAR-CISH, is very suitable for Arunachal and can help set up fruit industries.
Working for last 33 years on guava breeding, he admitted about its taste and attractiveness for which it is grown in thousands of hectare across the country.
Few Arunachal farmers were given week-long training at Lucknow CISH in the past followed by constant guidance for which a team of young farmers succeeded in its production in the state, Dr Ranjan disclosed.
Suitable climatic condition of Yachuli helped in growth of Lalit with excellent sugar acid blend, Dr Ranjan said adding, his advice to plant five times more saplings than other varieties in Yachuli also yielded very encouraging results.
“The proposed Mega Food Park at Banderdewa will require several MT fruits every month for which area expansion for Lalit and other fruits, like pineapple, kiwi is essential for horticulture development,” Dr Ranjan suggested.
“ICAR-CISH will continue to offer technical support and genuine planting material to progressive farmers and 20,000 Lalit saplings to the state government soon to begin with,” he added.


text:
The copyright scheme of YouTube can be a double-edged sword at times. For some creators of YouTube, the use in their videos of short music clips has seen copyright owners and music companies become the cause of lost income. Now, to avoid that, YouTube is making modifications.
YouTube describes in a blog post how to update the Manual Claiming tool to make things fairer for designers on the platform. YouTube specifically prohibits copyright owners from taking the monetization from videos that use very brief clips from a song or involuntary inclusion, such as background music and from the control of the creator.
Notably, this will not change the way a video is automatically flagged by the content ID system. The copyright holder may also still deprive the video of monetization or block the infringing material. YouTube hopes that by removing the capacity of copyright owners to take the monetization from the video of a creator, they will simply leave the material alone.
This follows on from a promise made last April when YouTube said it wished to tackle this issue of violence for the sake of its creators. YouTube, of course, still proposes that creators use unlicensed content as much as they can in the first location to prevent this issue.
These new strategies will take impact for all manual claims in mid-September.


text:
The European Resource Efficiency Knowledge Centre (EREK), in cooperation with Ihobe and supported by Club de Excelencia en Sostenibilidad and Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition, organises a workshop on circular economy and eco-design in Madrid on 14 February 2019.
The workshop, titled 'Compete in a more resource efficient and circular economy by product policy and eco-design', is focused on discussing the the current market and policy trends on circular economy, resource efficiency and product policy, as well as their implications to businesses.
More specifically, the event aims to:
- Share the instruments of the European Commission and the driving forces behind the Circular Economy of the European Union
- Detect opportunities based on results, barriers and the recommendations of ground-breaking companies
- Discover the challenges that will affect companies in the circular economy and resource efficiency
New programme for design support was implemented in Galicia thanks to interregional learning!
On 14 and 15 May, 2019 - in Katowice, Poland - the huge event for startuppers will take place. I write here about European Startup Days, that we have alre...
The Action Plan of the Autonomous Province of Trento comes alive!
The 5th BIOREGIO interregional event focusing on „Biofuels and agricultural innovations" will be held in Nitra, Slovakia, on 14 and 15 May 2019 “.
The sixth combined steering committee meeting, knowledge exchange workshop and study visit hosted by the lead partner in Cardiff.
CircPro presented at Re-PLa-Ce, a conference where experts, companies and public institutions will discuss on economics, finance and sustainability


text:
Linux fans should be pleased with the announcement that Dell has added the Inspiron 1525 to their Ubuntu 7.10 lineup. It also features built-in DVD playback to save users some valuable downloading time. The laptop will not arrive in the US until later this month, but customers in the UK, France, Spain and Germany can get theirs today. [Direct2Dell]
Kinja is in read-only mode. We are working to restore service.


text:
The laws surrounding the use of data between the UK and the EU changed after the end of the Brexit transition period, which means UK businesses now have to comply with the rules in both areas.
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force in 2018, requires organizations to take data protection measures when they either offer goods and services or monitor the behavior of people within the EU.
However, following the trade agreement that went into effect January 1st, the UK GDPR rules are now separate from the EU GDPR rules, meaning there are now two data protection laws instead of just one; UK GDPR for people in the UK and EU GDPR for people in the EU. Companies that have both types of data must now comply with each of the two separate pieces of legislation.
The UK is now officially a “third country” under the EU GDPR, which means UK companies serving EU consumers must comply with both UK and EU GDPR measures.
Michael Begley, managing director of venuedirectory.com, who has been following the updated legislation, said many people in the events industry were unaware of the changes. “I am in regular contact with venues, agencies and planners across the UK and many are currently unaware of the impact Brexit is having on the UK GDPR and the EU GDPR and what actions they need to take now to ensure their business continues to work legally, “he said.
“There are some simple and immediate steps organizations should take to comply with data protection regulations and ensure events can continue once the world opens again. To help our industry do better business, I have myself partnered with privacy expert Arvi Virdee at Smartec to launch a series of short and focused webinars to guide them through this challenge. ”
There are two things meeting and event organizations need to take right now, Begley said. “Firstly, British companies that hold data for the EU now have to review and update their existing data sets. It must be determined which part belongs to the EU data (and is therefore subject to EU GDPR provisions), which part belongs to the UK Data (subject to UK GDPR regulations) and what data does not fall into these two categories, for example records for companies based in America or Asia.
“Second, British companies must appoint a representative in the EU to deal with any queries. This could be a data breach or a request for data access. This representative should be based in one of the 27 EU countries and be on site to process inquiries from individuals, companies or authorities. ”
British companies only need to appoint an EU representative if they do not already have a branch or office in the EU. In this case, this branch or office would act as a representative, although the data protection notice would have to be updated accordingly.
UK law now also requires EU companies that have UK data to have a representative in the UK, and EU based companies must review and segregate their records to determine which is now subject to UK GDPR rules.
Begley added, “Events professionals should act now and take advantage of this current time where meetings and events are currently on hold to ensure they are fully prepared and have the right items in place to get business back to business.” .


text:
Tata Motors recently unveiled the new Harrier and Safari XTA+ models, both of which have a panoramic sunroof and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Tata Harrier XTA+ is priced at Rs 19.34 lakh, while the Tata Safari XTA+ is priced at Rs 20.08. The new Tata Tiago NRG was also unveiled, with a starting price of Rs 6.57 lakh. Martin Uhlarik, Tata Motors’ new Head of Global Design, told AutoCar that the company’s design team is working on a number of special editions that would come “much sooner than we would think.”
While the specifications of the new Tata special editions are still being kept under wraps, the manufacturer is expected to extend its Dark Edition lineup. The Tata Tiago NRG Dark Edition might be considered by the business. Tata Tiago and Tigor Dark Edition names have previously been trademarked in the nation. Aside from that, the automaker will continue to develop its Impact design language, as well as new platforms and electric cars. CNG versions of the Tata Tiago and Tigor are also in the works.
The Tata HBX compact SUV, which is already in production, will be the company’s next big launch. The first batch will be sent to retailers soon. The mini SUV will be based on the brand’s Impact 2.0 design language and will have a similar upright, boxy appearance to the prototype. It will be the country’s smallest and most inexpensive Tata SUV. The base model of the HBX may cost as little as Rs 4.50 lakh, while the top-end variant could cost as much as Rs 7.50 lakh.
While no official information has been released, the forthcoming small SUV is expected to be powered by 1.2L 3-cylinder normally aspirated and 1.2L turbocharged petrol engines. There might be three different transmissions available: a 5-speed manual, a 5-speed automatic, and a dual-clutch automatic.


text:
France is the latest country seeking to combat reports of money laundering and tax evasion in the cryptocurrency industry. The country’s finance minister Bruno Le Maire has expressed his desire for new guidelines and a regulatory framework surrounding the digital currency ecosystem.
Cryptocurrency Gains Momentum
According to Le Maire, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have resulted in an alarming amount use among terrorists and tax evaders alike.
Le Maire has also publicly criticized the notion of virtual currencies and tokens several times in the past, including statements to the effect: “I don’t like it. It can hide activities such as drug trafficking and terrorism.”
Consistent with remarks he has made in the past, Le Maire has ordered the head of the country’s central bank to come up with a new regulatory framework surrounding cryptocurrencies. The finance minister also stressed that there might have been possible financial manipulation and price speculation in the market.
It is common knowledge that the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, holds similar views regarding the current state of the cryptocurrency ecosystem and likely supports the minister’s action.
Even though there is a great deal of potential tax and legal implications involving bitcoin for the French economy, it is unlikely to be banned entirely by the government. In December of 2017, the finance ministerthat unlisted securities would be able to trade via blockchains.
France has also been aggressively showcasing financial innovations through its research of blockchain implementations and benefits for public sector amenities.
France isn’t the only country in the European Union targeting cryptocurrency regulation. Joachim Wuermeling, a member on the board of the German bank Bundesbank, hasthat “Effective regulation of virtual currencies would therefore only be achievable through the greatest possible international cooperation because the regulatory power of nation-states is obviously limited.”
Given that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have come under fire for their use in peddling drugs on the dark web and funding terrorism, some countries throughout the world seeking to impose burdensome regulation on the market.
La Maire is therefore openly advocating for cryptocurrency regulations at the international level. In the past, he has indicated interest in holding a debate at the G20 summit over the future of regulatory frameworks among its members. In December, Le Maire stated that he would propose a discussion on bitcoin to the next president of the G20 summit that is scheduled to be held in late 2018.
While governments in Europe and abroad seem to be coming down slowly on cryptocurrencies, it is also worth noting that a few countries have legalized their use as legal tender. Japan and Germany, for instance, both recognize the use of bitcoin in payment mechanisms.
Most countries remain concerned about cryptocurrencies and their use for tax evasion and terrorism funding. So until these problems are eradicated, the market may continue to be turbulent from news of such government crackdowns.


text:
Deliverect, a Belgian startup that integrates Uber Eats, Deliveroo, DoorDash, Just Eat Takeaway.com and other providers into restaurant point-of-sale systems, announced it has raised $65 million in a Series C funding round from DST Global Partners and Redpoint Ventures, as well as existing investors OMERS Ventures, Newion and Smartfin. The company’s founders also invested in the round.
That significant cash haul comes shortly after the company surpassed another milestone, exceeding 30 million delivery orders processed by its systems. That latest investment brings its total fundraising to more than $90 million in three years.
Deliverect is now averaging more than one million orders processed per week, which is an increase of nearly 750 percent from April 2020. This is estimated to equate to more than $1B in order value and provides customers, on average, an increase of 25 percent in revenue, as well as an 80 percent decrease in order failures, according to the company.
Deliverect co-founder and CEO Zhong Xu said, “The hospitality world is in a historical moment of change and digitalization, and the delivery sector has become crucial for the survival of this industry. The impact of this funding round goes beyond just Deliverect and our team. It’s about the restaurants who are surviving and thriving despite the challenges of COVID-19. These funds will fuel our commitment to providing them with personalized technology to help them grow through their online sales and delivery channels.
“I have been embedded in the restaurant industry from a young age, so I am acutely aware of the often-slim margins and the fundamental need to maintain a superior customer service experience in order to stay afloat. There is a significant need for a solutions-based company that can help restaurants overcome these challenges. Deliverect aims to become the global gateway for online food ordering and delivery, helping restaurants around the world to thrive online. This is a new category and we are proud to say we are the leading solution in the market.”
Since Deliverect’s Series B in April 2020, the company’s team of 50 people, spread across Ghent, London, Madrid, Toronto and New York, has more than quadrupled to 200 and expanded into Dubai, Paris, Edinburgh, Mexico City and Amersfoort (Netherlands).
This latest round of funding will be used to support further research and product development, solidify its position in the U.S. and continue their international expansion.


text:
Recently, the legendary Hôtel de Paris was transformed into a forest, right out of a fairy tale. Exquisite Christmas trees from the Principality’s best boutiques and brands graced the hotel lobby, instantly attracting dozens of guests. The event was organized by the Action Innocence Monaco charity, successfully raising 140,000 euros.
29 signature trees
The gala evening was opened by a mini-concert. Guests and auction participants were welcomed at the Hotel de Paris by a performance from Velitchka Yotcheva on her cello. The beautiful fir trees, lined up, made for a splendid centerpiece, filling the entire lobby with a festive scent of the upcoming holidays. Their exquisite decorations made by the most famous brands were truly inviting to touch. These kinds of Christmas trees are more than just a festive tradition, but real works of art. Under the hammer of the auctioneer Frederic Lefebvre, 29 spruce beauties went to decorate homes in Monaco and France. The event was attended by the Prince of Monaco Albert II and President of the Action Innocence Monaco Association, Louisette Levi Soussan. The auction raised 140,000 euros, all donated to charity.
Online security For Children
By auctioning these 29 designer Christmas trees, Action Innocence Monaco shared a special Christmas mood with all its guests, whilst collecting funds for a good cause. Its main mission is ensuring online security, especially for children from the Principality and neighboring France. Nowadays, the Internet is not just an indispensable means of communication and source of information, but a real threat to children and adolescents. Inappropriate content may affect their fragile psychological health. Action Innocence Monaco is therefore aiming at raising awareness among both children and their parents. This annual auction ensures fundraising for their important projects and activities.
It’s never too late
If you did not get to take part in the charity auction, it is never too late to do a good deed in the Principality!
“Les Amis du Liban Association” is now launching its Christmas fundraising campaign to help Lebanese children. Lebanon is still struggling to recover after the explosion on August 4th, 2020. In anticipation of Christmas, Les Amis du Liban Association is busy online.
Over the past few days, the charity has already raised more than 1,000 euros. During this festive period, we can all help someone in need. On Sunday, December 12th, from 3pm to 6pm, a toy collection will be held by “Soleil Royal 06” at the Place d’Armes; they will be later handed over to the families from the disaster-struck villages in the Roya region. Food stalls will be on hand and master classes organized for the younger children.


text:
Last August, Apple released an iPad Pro ad that positioned the tablet as an amazing computer. Now it has a new commercial that declares that the iPad Pro isn’t a computer, but rather something better—faster than most laptops, with optional built-in LTE and the Pencil stylus. The semantic shift illustrates the challenge of explaining a device that has a distinctly different set of pros and cons than a garden-variety PC. And that issue is one of the factors that has made the iPad a tougher long-term sell for Apple than many of us would have predicted a few years ago.
collectionsInnovation FestivalCurrent Issue
World Changing Ideas
New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system.
The major tech ecosystems that battle for our attention and dollars.
What’s next for hardware, software, and services.
The brave new world of automation, from AI to drones.
How our urban centers are building toward the future.
Most Creative People
See members of our Most Creative People in Business community: leaders who are shaping the future of business in creative ways.
An award-winning team of journalists, designers, and videographers who tell brand stories through Fast Company's distinctive lens.


text:
Monday, February 18, 2008
Animal Cruelty charges filed in meat recall case
By now most people will have seen this story regarding the record recall of 143.4 million pounds of meat from the same California plant that caused Florida schools to stop serving cow meat ealier this month. The USDA indicated that much of the meat covered by the recall has already been eaten. In another strand of the same story, on Friday, the LA Times reported that 5 counts of animal cruelty were filed against one of the slaughterhouse workers at the plant. According to the story, he was one of the workers that was seen using forklifts, electric prods and high-pressure water hoses to force "downer" cows to their feet in the video shot by the Humane Society of the United States.