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tech2 News StaffApr 18, 2019 14:41:01 IST
For users who preferred the latest performance upgrades but the smaller form factor, Apple released the iPhone SE about three years back. The device is long due for an upgrade and there were rumours flying around last year that an iPhone SE 2 was in the offing. Now it appears that Apple is indeed going to make a small-screen iPhone but it will not have the iPhone SE design language.
The device is set to hit markets in 2020 and will most likely be powered by the Apple A13 chipset made by TSMC. In terms of storage, the phone will likely be available in a single variant of 128 GB.
If the report is anything to go by and considering previous reports on the next-gen iPhones, 2020 will see at least four iPhone models wherein three will have OLED displays. However, this smaller iPhone is not going to be announced in with these three OLED iPhones. Instead, the report says it will be announced in March 2020 and Apple has given Taiwanese contract manufacturer Pegatron the order to make 20 million of these devices.
In terms of pricing, the report puts the 4.7-inch iPhone at NTD 20,000 which is approximately Rs 45,000. It appears that Apple's main aim right now is to capture the dwindling mid-range smartphone segment. Falling sales in countries such as China and India due to its premium price tag has forced Apple to rethink its pricing strategies. Recently, Apple announced a permanent price drop for the iPhone XR which is not common for Apple.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.


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The Somerset festival will take place between 29th and 30th July.
It's post punk Friday at SXSW - plus a few other gems.
Nottingham upstarts Do Nothing are back with a new EP that’s honestly a touch too relatable for our liking.
With their brand new ‘Glueland’ EP out now, we chat to one of our favourite new bands Do Nothing in a show packed with fresher-than-fresh music.
With their brand new 'Glueland' EP out now, we'll be chatting to one of our favourite new bands in a show packed with fresher-than-fresh music.
Far from your dime-a-dozen post-punk EP.
AND a September/October tour.
It's inspired by Citizen Kane, dontcha know?

domain: news


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News Hackers can exploit a virtual credit card within phones to make rogue transactions without authorisation
News The two payments specialists are joined by eBay and other financial firms in leaving the Libra Association
News Businesses wishing to adopt contactless payments can use the PayPal Here card reader and Bouncepad enclosure
News The digital money transfer startup will help PayPal expand its business into global money transfers
News The company gave green light to transactions made linked to Cuba, Iran and Sudan, despite sanctions
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Receive our latest news, industry updates, featured resources and more. Sign up today to receive our FREE report on AI cyber crime & security - newly updated for 2024.


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Enjoy access to a free NMLS renewal class when you attend an in-person event.
- Supply of homes fell to its lowest level since May 2021
- 'The lack of existing homes for sale nationwide to meet this demand is supportive of new construction. Indeed, you can’t buy what’s not being built.'
Sales of new single‐family houses jumped to its highest level in nine months in December 2021, rising nearly 12% according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
December sales totaled a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 811,000, 11.9% above the revised November rate of 725,000 and the highest rate since March 2021, which posted an annual rate of 873,000.
While December’s sales totals showed strong improvement from a month earlier, the year-over-year comparison showed sales fell from year earlier. Overall, the report estimated that 762,000 new homes were sold in 2021, 7.3% below the 822,000 sold in all of 2020.
Month-over-month sales in December rose in three of the four U.S. regions. Sales rose 0.4% in the West, 14.9% in the South, and a dramatic 56.4% in the Midwest. Sales fell 15.6% in the Northeast.
The reverse was true for year-over-year sales. Sales fell in three of the four regions, with only the West seeing an increase. Sales there rose 2.1% to an annual rate of 242,000, up from 237,000 a year earlier. Year-over-year sales fell 34.1% in the Northeast, 23.2% in the Midwest, and 17.5% in the South.
First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi said new home sales ended the year on a strong note “as buyers rushed to lock-in low rates before they rise.” She also noted that the supply of homes declined to its lowest level since May 2021.
The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of December was 403,000, representing a 6-month supply at the current sales rate, down from a revised 6.6-month supply a month earlier, the report said.
“The outlook for new-home sales is largely dependent on the amount of new homes being built and the demand for new homes,” Kushi said. “Demand for new homes will remain strong due to the millennial demographic tailwind. The lack of existing homes for sale nationwide to meet this demand is supportive of new construction. Indeed, you can’t buy what’s not being built.”
The report on sales of new homes comes a week after a report showing that overall housing starts increased 1.4% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.70 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total housing starts for 2021 were 1.6 million, a 15.6% gain over 1.38 million from 2020. Single-family starts in 2021 totaled 1.12 million, up 13.4% from the previous year. Multifamily starts (5+) in 2021 were up 22.1% compared to the previous year.
Kushi added that affordability also remains an issue, as builders pass on higher construction costs to home buyers and mortgage rates continue to rise. “Rising new-home prices may be pricing out some buyers,” she said. “In December 2021, only 22% of new-home sales were priced below $300,000, which is down 7 percentage points from December 2020.”
The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2021 was $377,700, down from $416,100 in November. The median means half of the houses were sold for more than $377,700, and half sold for less. The average sales price was $457,300, down from $479,300 a month earlier.


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Steam continues to be the dominant force in the PC gaming market as the digital storefront reached a new milestone of 14 million concurrent users. This occurred a few days ago on January 7 with 14,207,039 concurrent Steam users. Since then, that number has increased as Steam reached a new peak on late January 8 with 14,370,167 users.
It should be noted that concurrent users is different from the number of people actively using Steam. Concurrent users are those that have Steam simply running on their computers and not necessarily playing a game at the moment. This is an important difference to note because, by default, Steam automatically launches at a computer’s startup.
Regardless of that, this is still a sign of growth for both Steam and the PC market. January of 2016 saw Steam break their 12 million concurrent users milestone and now, just a mere year later, they’ve gained an additional 2 million users.
It’s no real surprise that the number of Steam users seem to spike at the start of a new year. January is the month that immediately follows Steam’s famous Winter sale as well as the holiday season. Not only are people purchasing games for themselves because of the sales, they’re also buying gifts for their friends and family which just continues to grow the platform.
So what exactly were these Steam users doing at this time? Well according to Steam, some of the top games being played were Valve’s own DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at 951,942 and 675,195 users respectively. Following those two was Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V at 116,230 users.
It looks like Steam is starting 2017 with a bang, but will they be able to keep up the momentum? If history is any indication then they probably will, but perhaps 2017 will also be the year for Steam’s competitors to step up to the plate and challenge it for the throne. It’ll be interesting to see how the likes of Origin or Uplay adjust to try and compete with Steam’s large numbers.
- This article was updated on:March 8th, 2018


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“Vera Wang, suddenly a sex symbol at 70, spills her secrets”
May 12, 2020 | 9:47am | Updated May 12, 2020 | 11:07am
In a question posed by a fan on Instagram, the 70-year-old designer replied that “work, sleep, a vodka cocktail, not much sun” are the ingredients to her youthful physique.
Wang went viral on social media last week when a fan asked, “THIS B - - CH VERA WANG IS 70?!?!,” in a tweet on May 6 that has since garnered over 250,000 likes, along with a confirmation from the legendary dress artist herself.
“Fact Check: Truth,” Vera Wang’s official Twitter said in response.
The wedding dress expert has enjoyed added attention lately, stunning her fans on social media with her body-baring, high-fashion looks while spending her pandemic lockdown at her Miami home. Wang’s Instagram posts lately show her strutting her stuff in a leggy gown; voguing by the pool in a sports bra; and getting some sun in a sleek, black maillot.
Naturally, gawkers descended on her Instagram to ask how the seemingly immortal Wang does it.
“I need my stomach to be like yours. What’s your routine?” asked a woman named Rosalee.
Mercifully, Wang replied, “Work, sleep, a vodka cocktail, not much sun.”
That’s certainly doable.
And despite the fact that the athlete-cum-artist actually competed at the 1968 US Figure Skating Championships, she’s been open about her distaste for exercise.
Sharing a photo of herself posing next to a treadmill in stylish Adidas leggings, a thick gold chain and white heels on Instagram, Wang said of the image, “This photo depicts my personal conflict between loving athleisure clothing but dreading the treadmill!”
But wait — there’s more good news for all the pandemic stress eaters out there. If her Instagram is any indication, it’s safe to assume that doughnuts, pizza and cheesy snacks may also play a part in her beauty routine.
If you want to read more Fashion News articles, you can visit our General category.


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Hearing Recap:Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Examined the Public Health Risks of Carcinogens in Consumer Products
Washington, D.C. (Mar. 12, 2019)—Today, the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, chaired by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, held a hearing on the Public Health Risks of Carcinogens in Consumer Products.
- There was bipartisan concern about asbestos contamination of personal care products containing talc. There are more than 2,000 talc-containing products on the market. Americans on average use nine personal care products daily.
- An epidemiologist from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center testified that talcum powder does significantly increase the risk of cancer. That testimony was based on a meta-analysis of 38 scientific studies.
- The Food and Drug Administration has the authority to require warning labels for potentially hazardous products, but the agency has not used that authority to warn consumers of the potential dangers of asbestos-contaminated talc.
- The Subcommittee questioned marketing practices that target women of color, including an internal company memorandum entitled “Major Opportunities” in which Johnson & Johnson sought to “investigate ethnic opportunities to grow the franchise” citing “Johnson’s Baby Powder has a high usage rate among African Americans and Hispanics.”
- The Subcommittee intends to inquire further about the safety of talc and evaluate steps other countries have taken to prevent cancer caused by personal care products. Canada recently issued a warning that the use of talc for genital hygiene leads to a greater risk of ovarian cancer.
- The purpose of the hearing was to examine (1) the scientific evidence of health risks from long-term use of consumer products containing talc; and (2) federal regulatory framework over consumer products.
- Talc is used in many consumer products and is often contaminated with asbestos.
- Since the 1960s, scientists have identified a possible link between ovarian cancer and the use of powders containing talc.
- On February 21, 2019, the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission issued subpoenas in an investigation of asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder.
- On March 5, 2019, the FDA confirmed that it detected asbestos in product samples collected from Claire’s and Justice retailers marketed to children.
- In the wake of these findings, the FDA issued a statement urging cosmetic firms to “take responsible steps to voluntarily register their products and list ingredients, including talc, used in their products via the FDA’s Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program.”
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Vice President of Government Affairs
Environmental Working Group
Son of Deceased Ovarian Cancer Patient
Watch Chairman Krishnamoorthi’s opening statement.
Watch Rep. Pressley‘s question line.
Watch Rep. Tlaib ‘s question line.


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Good news for Android enthusiasts all around the world- the next major Android update is going to hit the market sometimes during the months of October or November.
The announcement was made by the acting executive chairman Eric Schmidt himself, so it’s pretty much confirmed that it will be hardly a month or two more till the “Ice Cream Sandwich” finally arrives.
The Android Ice Cream Sandwich will feature in it the flavours of both the current Gingerbread Smartphone OS platform as well as that of the Honeycomb tablet OS software. The primary reason behind the company combining elements from both the software is to come up with a united operating system for the entire Android platform.
Words were already on the streets that the new Android would hit the market towards the end of the year.
"We have a new operating system, internally known as Ice Cream Sandwich for some reason, which is being released in October/November, which everyone's really excited about," Salesforce CEO Mike Benioff, expressed his mind on the development, TechRadar reports.
Meanwhile, rumours are that the Samsung Nexus Prime is going to be the first ever phone to be running on the Ice Cream Sandwich.


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Paintings by famous pre-war Czech artists, such as Josef Čapek, Jan Zrzavý and František Kupka, will be auctioned at the Mánes Exhibition Hall in Prague on October 28.
The auction will include three oil-paintings by Toyen, Jindřich Štyrský and Antonín Procháuka, which come from a collection by Austrian collector Ivo Rotter, and have been exhibited at the National Gallery Belvedere in Vienna on long-term loan.
Among other items on sale will be paintings by Antonín Chitussi and Kamil Lhoták, and a photo by František Drtikol, one of the most important Czech photographers of the 20th century.
Karel Gott to get funeral with state honours as singer’s death is mourned at home and abroad
Beijing ends agreement with Prague – but can spat harm Czech capital?
Czech pop music legend Karel Gott dies at the age of 80
Karel Gott’s Mona Lisa to be put up for auction
Czechs observe day of mourning for pop idol Karel Gott


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In recent years, vegetarianism has become more and more popular in society, especially amongst youth. Even in the early 2000s, you would hear the word “vegetarian” and cringe, and going into a restaurant and finding an enjoyable vegetarian meal was nearly impossible. Nowadays, it seems like every other person you meet is a vegetarian, and vegetarian options in schools and restaurants are endless. This recent rave in vegetarianism has got a lot of people wondering: what is the deal with being a vegetarian and is it really a healthier diet?
One of the biggest worries of skeptics is the lack of nutrients and vitamins one experiences if meat is cut from his/her diet. Meat contains key nutrients, such as protein, iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B. The lack of these nutrients would potentially cause a huge health deficiency for one who chooses not to eat meat. However, there are also a lot of people who are vegetarians because meat causes them to get very ill. Their stomachs cannot break down tough meats, so they opt out of eating them as a whole.
Undeclared freshman Hillary Lorsch dealt with this issue by no longer eating meat and she said she “started feeling a lot better and lost weight easier.”
Many vegetarians have found alternative sources for nutrients found in meat. Some of these sources include vitamins, beans, nuts and tofu. Undeclared freshman Courtney Higgins, a vegetarian of three years, said she eats “a lot of black beans and other types of beans and nuts,” and every now and then, she also eats eggs, which are a high source of protein.
But what many people do not realize is that nutrition is not the only reason why people practice vegetarianism. Many vegetarians are protesting for their political beliefs. There are many controversies surrounding meat producing and packing industries and the way animals of those facilities are treated. Higgins, being a vegetarian that falls under this category, said, “I can’t eat an animal that spends its life being tortured and killed…just knowing they are suffering is enough for me.”
So, although being a vegetarian can come along with some health risks, it is easy to find alternatives to meat with just as much nutritional value. Some people are also forced to be vegetarians because of illness, not because of choice. Being a vegetarian can also be a way to make a political statement, and show that you are truly dedicated to a cause (such as fighting against animal cruelty). Vegetarianism is not just a trendy new thing that all the young folks are doing. It is a lifestyle.
This story was created for the 2014 Best of CSU issue produced by the College Avenue Magazine staff.


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Like Jay Z, 50 Cent doesn’t want a jury influenced by his big money moves, which in the Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ rapper’s case is vital, seeing that he’s currently facing the judgement of the bankruptcy court.
According to documents obtained by The Jasmine Brand, the 40-year-old rap star born Curtis Jackson doesn’t want the courts to reveal how much he actually got paid from his legendary 2007 Vitamin Water deal, which has long rumored to be in the upwards of $100 million.
“I take quarter water sold it in bottles for 2 bucks/Coca-Cola came and bought it/for billions, what the f**k? — “I Get Money”
50 says that Coca-Cola included specific provisions in their contract that prohibit the Vitamin Water’s deal from being disclosed to the public since it could give other companies leverage when it comes to him negotiating their products.
Of course, this information is vital for all parties to see if 50 is really bankrupt, a claim he has repeatedly denied–and shown–isn’t a farce.
Photo: Chris Connor/WENN


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As autumn prepares to roll out a carpet of colours from russet to scarlet, watchmakers too are introducing a new hue to one of their favourite metals: gold.
Gone are the days when brands presented women with scaled-down versions of men’s watches. If there’s anything we have learnt from both SIHH and Baselworld this year, it’s that women’s watches are a serious business.
TRENDING RIGHT NOW
This year's SIHH is over and the dust has settled. However in the social sphere, SIHH 2017 doesn’t seem to be dying - still being the most spoken about topic in our last trend report. Social media was more present during this year’s event than it ever has been. The most influential online brands have already been spoken about so it’s time to discuss influencers, who now control so much of the present social media landscape.
A new trend is sending out shoots: what if green were the new blue? Take a peek at these 10 watches that get the green light for style!
Aventurine on a dial does a wonderful imitation of a starry sky, but what is it exactly? Gemstone or glass? Rare or in abundance? Read on for some scintillating facts.
Officine Panerai and Oracle Team USA are all at sea… The team is hoisting the sails on the new America’s Cup Class boat while the Italian brand is unveiling the official watches of this 35th America’s Cup.
An X or Y chromosome is no longer a reliable marker. Watches are adopting an intermediate size – 40 mm in diameter – and mixing masculine and feminine. "John darling, just borrowing your Luger"…


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Sales may surge to $4 billion in 2015 from $2.27 billion last year, President Thiraphong Chansiri said in an interview at Thai Union’s headquarters in Bangkok today. MW Brands, the Paris-based canner of John West and Petit Navire tuna, plans to expand to more European countries besides its major markets of the U.K., Italy and France, he said.
Thai Union, which produces Chicken of the Sea brand seafood in the U.S., is betting on MW Brands to spearhead its expansion in Europe, where import tariffs are high. The company also aims to increase tuna demand among Asian consumers whose consumption of the fish is still low compared with the U.S. and Europe, Thiraphong said.
“MW Brands provides the great springboard to boost sales in Europe where our penetration has been hampered by high taxes,” he said. “Much harder work must be made in the Asian markets for our tuna product, which is perceived as Western food.”
Thai Union expects to earn about 70 percent of its sales from the U.S. and Europe after the integration of MW Brands, which it bought last year for 680 million euros ($944 million), Thiraphong said.
Profit may increase by at least 30 percent this year, boosted by MW Brands and higher seafood prices, Thiraphong said. Net income dropped 14 percent in 2010, the first decrease in three years, to 2.87 billion baht ($94.7 million) as a surge in shrimp prices boosted raw-material costs.
“The company’s shrimp business has returned to normal situation after its worst year ever in 2010,” Thiraphong said. “We have raised the selling prices of shrimp products to pass on the cost after all of the buying contracts with customers expired.”
Thai Union plans to limit its dividend payment and capital expenditure over the next five years to reduce its debt-to- equity ratio to 1 from the current level of 1.6, he said. Dividend payment will be capped at a maximum of 1.2 billion baht a year and annual capital spending limited to 3 billion baht.
Long-term debt jumped more than fivefold to 30.6 billion baht in 2010 from 5.4 billion baht in 2009, as the company borrowed to fund the purchase of MW Brands, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
-- Editors: Chua Kong Ho, Vipin V. Nair
To contact the reporter on this story: Anuchit Nguyen in Bangkok at firstname.lastname@example.org.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Darren Boey at email@example.com


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PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) -- The city has fined Uber nearly $3.5 million and renewed its permit to operate in Portland for just six months instead of a year - essentially putting it on...
Yesterday Intac Insurance said what they said 5 months ago.
Uber Insurance will only cover you with a paying UBER passenger is in Ontario, Quebec or Alberta.
Cross into the USA and your Commercial UBER Insurance does not exist
Your own Personal Insurance is totally void in the USA if you have...
Crackdown on Uber drivers sees hundreds of bans and infringement notices issued
Christchurch Uber driver Jo Manson says many of her fellow Uber drivers don't have the correct...
Facing hefty fines and deemed illegal, Uber has suspended its services.
Uber has suspended its ride-sharing services in Taiwan after a lengthy battle with the government.
Since launching four years ago, more than 15 million journeys have been booked...
Uber debuted in the Twin Cities more than four years ago. Today, the San Francisco operates in nearly 550 worldwide cities and is valued at almost $70 billion.
So I never go to the newark airport for pickups because I was afraid I might get a ticket. But that all changes few weeks ago when I started getting email from Uber about a deal struck with the city of newark. Anyways I got a ticket for (operating limo without proper registration) yesterday at...
If you've been fined for driving uber, please share your experience so we can all learn from it or learn how to avoid it.
So where did it happen,
how, how much, what did they look like? Were they nasty? How can we dodge them?


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Six out of 10 apartments or 57% cost over 900 million won ($759,045.29), a threshold for taxing for rich property ownership surcharge, as of June versus 15.7% in June 2017, a month after President Moon Jae-in took office, showed Real Estate Board data obtained by Rep. Kim Sang-hoon. The share of apartment units costing over 1.5 billion won shot up to 22.4% from 3.9% under the incumbent government.
[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]
ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지
이 기사에 대해 어떻게 생각하시나요?
매일경제 주요 뉴스
해당 언론사로 연결됩니다.
- Gamevil to change name to Com2uS Holdings next month - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea
- Rapidly depleting EV state subsidy funds likely to slow EV sales in Korea - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea
- Green car sales in Korea top 200,000 from Jan-Sep, one out of six cars on the road - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea
- Naver, SoftBank review expanding internet alliance to AI front - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea
- Korea’s Sept. auto exports tumble 20%, snapping 8-month growth streak - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea
- `회장님 전문` 배우 김성원, 암 투병 끝 별세
- "3억 싼 역세권 아파트 안살래"…50명이나 포기 왜?
- 中, 김연아 올림픽 2위 재조명…"우승 당연했는데"
- 한무, 대장암 투병 "대소변 받아낸 아내…고맙소"
- 김준호 부친상, 오늘 발인 김지민, 빈소 지켰다


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Yet Boostcycle — a 1-year-old indoor cycling studio on South Main Street in Newtown — gives a full upper body workout as well as a lower one.
“We're not like a traditional spin class," said Tatiana Mehmeti of Danbury, who owns the studio with her husband, Valdrin Mehmeti. The couple has a 2-year-old son, London.
“In each 50-minute class, you do a lot of climbing and sprinting, as well as pushups, dips and crunches — all while on the bike, continuing to work your lower body. In this way, you're building upper body strength as well," she said.
Part of the upper body workout involves using a 4-pound weight bar while on the bike.
"Everything is very rhythm-based, we move to the beat of the music. It’s very high energy," Mehmeti said.
Beginning in April, the studio — which has about 500 clients — will be offering virtual classes with an instructor during times when no live classes are scheduled.
The 1,980-square-foot studio recently underwent a major renovation.
“We gave it a whole new look, changing our logo, expanding our lobby area and adding LED lights to the studio for a light show during classes," Mehmeti said.
The couple also own Boostjuice, a 1-year-old Bethel business that sells fresh juices, smoothies, protein shakes, and fruit bowls in the shop at 16 PT Barnum Square.
One specialty is the acai bowl, a dish popularly eaten on the beaches of Mehmeti's native Brazil. The bowls contain acai berries, fruits, granola, coconut and other "superfoods" she said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Newtown and receive free news updates.


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A popular East Riding restaurant is making a comeback after owners realised they "made a mistake" by relaunching under a new name and menu.
But now it is changing again to Rub Burger and Shakes - with the spirit of Rebels' - after customers rallied for it's return.
On its Facebook page, Rebels' Snap Steak, now named Rub Burgers and Shakes, grovelled and said: "We are SORRY we killed Rebels' what would you say if we brought the food back? With 50 per cent on opening day?"
Back are the Chicken Nugget Birthday Cake, Texas Toast, Filthy Fries and Bigfoot Burritos and gone are the premium steaks.
Not only that, the restaurant is offering 50 per cent of the menu on its opening day on Thursday and 25 per cent off from Good Friday until Thursday, April 5.
A spokesman for Rub said: "We started to think we had made a mistake when we initially announced that we were closing Rebels', but we were so far in we had to go with the launch of Snap.
"Rebels' was dear to a lot of people, and we can include customers in York, Scarborough, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, as well as locally.
"Many people were really disappointed with the closure of Rebels'.
"The new offering obviously did not fill the gap with a steak offering, we also noticed that type of food that would cause a stir with Snap's customers was really burgers and fries.
"One of the biggest sellers in Rebels' was also the shakes which Snap did not offer.
"The owners of Rebels' would just like to apologise for taking it away."
The Hull Daily Mail has recently launched a free app which features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it foriPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.


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The European Commission wants to force banks to lower fees for cross-border transfers that are denominated in currencies other than the euro, according to an action plan obtained by Handelsblatt.
The E.U. executive body argues that high minimum fees make transactions in other currencies – such as the Swedish and Danish krone and the Polish szloty – “very expensive.”
Cross-border transfers denominated in euros, by contrast, cannot cost more than domestic transfers. The commission wants to extend this rule to the currencies of E.U. member states that don’t use the euro.
The action plan calls for Brussels to present draft legislation in the fourth quarter of the year. The commission has proposed a raft of other measures to make cross-border bank transactions in the European Union easier and more transparent.
Banks, for example, would be required to publish their exchange rate for credit card payments and ATM withdrawals in other E.U. currencies. The commission also wants to implement E.U.-wide standards for consumer credit ratings used to review loan applications.


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This year’s CPhi China has proved a major success for Presspart Manufacturing, who were exhibiting their range of metered-dose inhaler (MDI) canisters and plastic actuators and dispensers at this year’s show.
Presspart Manufacturing is a global market leader in the supplier of metered-dose inhaler (MDI) canisters and plastic actuators to the pharmaceutical indsutry. With the growth in the Asian pharmaceutical market, CPhi China gives Presspart the perfect opportunity to promote its range of products to the market place.
The three day event which ran from pharmaceutical industry, 25-27 June is one of the biggest pharmaceutical industry trade shows in Asia. Over 29,000 visitors from over 100 countries descended on Shanghai to see the latest in pharmaceutical packaging solutions, equipment and machines from over 2200 exhibitors.
Leo Shi, Presspart’s Sales Manager for Asia-Pacific, commented “CPhi has been a very successful show for Presspart. It has allowed us the opportunity to promote our products and services to a very large audience, all under one roof. The number of sales leads we have generated this year has been amazing, and we are already looking at what kind of presence we should bring back for the next show”
Next year’s CPhi show will once again be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, in Shanghai, China from 24- 26 June 2014. For more information on the event please visit the CPhi website.


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World Bulletin/News Desk
China will release corn and rice from state reserves to help tame inflation and reduce imports as the worst U.S. drought in half a century pushes corn prices to global records, creating fears of a world food crisis.
Friday's announcement was the first release since September last year, when China said it would sell 3.7 million tonnes of state corn to keep inflation under control.
The release may prompt Chinese importers to cancel shipments in the near term and take some pressure off international corn prices, which set a new all-time high on Friday as the U.S. government slashed its estimate of the size of the crop in the world's top grain exporter.
"Bottom line - rationing is in full force, and given the continually declining state of the U.S. corn crop, more will be needed," said Christopher Narayanan, head of agricultural commodities research at Societe Generale.
China's State Administration of Grain did not specify the volume of corn or rice to be released from reserves. The Grain Reserves Corp will be responsible for selling the crops, but no details were given on the timing.
Some traders estimated the government might sell around 2 million tonnes to help stabilize prices ahead of the harvest, when supply is usually tight.
Beijing will probably need to replenish reserves towards the end of the year, and therefore the release will have only a limited impact on prices.
"It can help stabilize the market somewhat, but the volume is too small compared with the 10 million to 15 million tonnes of monthly consumption nationwide," said Xu Wenjie, an analyst with Zheshang Futures Co.
Domestic corn futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange have risen 12 percent this year to around 2,400 yuan ($380) on Friday, just off the year-high of 2,429 yuan touched on July 16.
China, once self-sufficient in corn, has become a major importer in recent years as incomes rise for the growing population and people eat more meat.
Increasing livestock herds have made China the world's second-largest consumer of corn and it has been buying aggressively during price declines.
A report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday raised its forecast for China's corn crop this year by 2.5 percent to 200 million tonnes.
"With USDA raising its Chinese corn production estimate ... it certainly makes sense to release some corn from reserves," Narayanan said, noting that the USDA also cut its estimate of Chinese corn imports by 3 million tonnes to 2 million.
Listed shares in BIST 100 rise 0.01 percent; US dollar/Turkish lira rate climbs over 3.90; EUR/TRY stands at 4.80
Turkey bridges Muslim world and West, according to General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions
Britain intends to seek free trade deals with its major trading partners once it leaves the EU, as planned, in March 2019.
Net profits at the group rose 33.1 percent to hit 2.36 billion euros ($2.92 billion), higher than the 2.28 billion predicted by analysts.
About 45 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 24,867.00, up 0.4 percent.
Low-cost carrier to offer direct flights to Dalaman from Dublin and Bratislava starting June
"Preliminary national accounts results for 2017 show an increase of 7.8 percent in GDP... compared with 2016," Jennifer Banim, an assistant director general at the Central Statistics Office (CSO), said in a statement.
Unemployment rate falls 2.3 percentage points year-on-year in December to 10.4 pct
"It is time to forget about ideological trench warfare," Francois Villeroy de Galhau told a Frankfurt conference.
In January, euro area and EU28's industrial production drops in January compared to previous month, Eurostat says
In a statement, Siemens said it had signed an accord with APEX, Brazil's Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, committing to a string of projects to "unleash a new cycle of sustainable growth" in the country of 207 million people.
The US supply increase is expected to come as the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, dominated by oil giant Saudi Arabia, works with Russia to slash output after prices for crude plummeted to around $30 per barrel in 2016 from over $100 two years earlier.
Emerging trends, challenges and business opportunities in Islamic finance industry will be discussed during 2-day event
BIST 100 rises 0.05 percent, US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate stays put, euro/lira exchange rate goes up
Turkey and Sudan can build joint industrial zones, says Turkish technology minister


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The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report offers an in-depth analysis of how to prevent data exposure in the cloud. Plus: why PCI's new contactless payment standard lacks PINs, and how to go beyond the hype to accurately define "zero trust."
Data breaches, incident response and complying with the burgeoning number of regulations that have an information security impact were among the top themes at this year's Infosecurity Europe conference in London. Here are 10 of the top takeaways from the conference's keynote sessions.
An essential component of protecting payment information is devaluing the data that is transmitted so it's of no use to hackers, says Lance Johnson, executive director of the PCI Standards Security Council.
A closely held type of point-of-sale malware, DMSniff, is spreading further while another, GlitchPOS, has also emerged. Despite a surfeit of stolen payment card details on the black market, efforts to steal more continue, highlighting the continuing challenges around card security.
As more hospitals seek new methods for collecting payments from patients, they face the challenge of securing those transactions, says Dan Berger of AxiaMed, who describes HIPAA and PCI compliance issues in an interview at the HIMSS19 conference.
As part of its ongoing push toward cashless payments, India is taking steps to ramp up the use of contactless payments, which are already becoming more common in Japan, South Korea, Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. What can be done to balance security vs. convenience?
Forty-three states have reached a settlement with Neiman Marcus over its 2013 data breach, one of several breaches from that period blamed on in-memory malware. The retailer will pay $1.5 million and must use encryption and tokenization to protect card data.
Although the Reserve Bank of India mandated that banks complete the shift from magnetic stripe debit and credit cards to EMV chip-and-PIN cards by Jan. 1 to help reduce fraud, there's still plenty of work to be done.
As new payment options continue to emerge via mobile phones and internet of things devices, the PCI Security Standards Council is broadening its security efforts, starting with a new standard for contactless payments coming early next year, says Troy Leach, PCI SSC's chief technology officer.
As the HIPAA security rule turns 20, it's time for regulators to make updates reflecting the changing cyberthreat landscape and technological evolution that's happened over the past two decades, says security expert Tom Walsh.
New PCI requirements that go into effect June 30 are pushing payment card acquirers, processors, gateways and service providers worldwide to implement more secure encryption protocols for transactions. But are they ready?
Security experts analyze the potential impact of recently announced changes to the PCI Security Standards Council's Qualified Integrators and Resellers Program that are designed to help smaller merchants prevent breaches.
A new standard from the PCI Data Security Standards Council could help ease the way for smaller merchants worldwide, especially in developing nations, to move to cashless payments using a variety of devices, says Troy Leach, CTO for the council, who spoke last week at a conference in South Africa.


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News By Tag
News By Place
Encartele Launches New Website
Encartele.net will make it simpler for members of the corrections industry to better understand what technology solutions are available and how their additions can benefit the everyday operations of their facilities. The site features product videos, easy to understand feature infographics, and testimonials from current clients. Should a party be interested in learning more, a quick and simple "Facility Contact Form" has been added.
Encartele takes pride in our ability to connect with our customers and potential new clients by utilizing the latest technology available, which is why we feel our new product explainer videos will be a huge benefit and asset. Now, in addition to printed material, a video can be viewed on our website, providing a new innovative way for better understanding of our product's functions and utility.
For more information, please visit the company's website:


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In case you missed it, a court in Italy earlier this year handed down a historical ruling that acknowledged the creative nature and artistic value of the shape of the Vespa scooter and validated Piaggio’s sole ownership of the form.
The ruling came at the end of a case started in 2013, when, upon the opening of the EICMA two-wheeler show in Milan, the Italian Finance Police seized 11 scooters on display belonging to seven different exhibitors because their shape was thought to be an imitation of a Vespa.
The Italian Finance Police seized the vehicles after determining that the products violated the exclusive right of Piaggio’s so-called “three-dimensional brand” registered to protect the distinctive shape of a Vespa – something that manufacturer says constitutes its most comprehensive instrument to protect the iconic shape of its product.
One of the companies involved in the seizure, China-based manufacturer Taizhou Zhongneng, filed a countersuit against Piaggio, asking the court to declare null the owned form of the Vespa and to rule out that its ZNEN brand “Ves” scooter (Model # ZN50QT-27) seized at EICMA was a counterfeit. However, the court rejected petitions and threw out the suit.
Photo by S.I.P. Scooter Shop - Moritz K


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Coca Cola Introduces Vending Machines
Coca Cola vending machine The Coca Cola Bottling Company of Ghana has introduced an exciting novelty in trade marketing and product distribution.
The beverage giant has introduced vending machines onto the Ghanaian market in order to satisfy its customers and consumers.
According to the Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Ike Cudjoe, the vending machines were placed at selected strategic areas in Accra within the last quarter of last year.
The concept of the vending machine is to help expand Coca Cola's distribution network and also serve as an additional avenue for the use of coins by the general public.
Some of the vending machines have already been placed at the boarding gate and arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, Silver Star Towers, near Airport, Ghana Hostel Block C at the University of Ghana and Ridge Towers.
“The current placement is on pilot basis in Accra and would be extended to various parts of Accra,” Mr. Cudjoe stated.
The Coca Cola vending machines have a capacity of 600 cans per loading and dispense all the key brands of the Coca Cola Company that are produced and marketed in Ghana.
Although the current machines admit only coins, the company said it would soon import some vending machines that accept cedi bills.


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Bailed-out Bank of Ireland has stunned its customers with a credit card interest hike just days before Christmas.
THE devastating rise of up to 4pc has been described as an "ambush" and the bank has been accused of squeezing shoppers at a time when they are most vulnerable.
Clear card charges have jumped from 13.8pc to 17.8pc, Platinum card rates have gone up from 16.6pc to 17.3pc and the Classic card has increased by 2pc to 19.9pc.
Bank of Ireland, which has already cost cash-pressed taxpayers €4.7bn, has justified the interest hikes, saying they were "necessary to sustain product investment".
But Consumers Association boss Dermott Jewell has accused the bank of making "a determined calculation to take advantage of people".
"They are going to make a significant amount of money in interest and it comes across as calculated.
"Its a terrible time to introduce increases in credit card interest rates. There is an argument there's never a good time -- but there is and this isn't it".
Fianna Fail social protection spokesman Willie O'Dea described the hike as "an ambush on consumers".
"It's just a device to take more money from consumers during this vulnerable time," he said.
Finance expert Simon Moynihan, of price comparison site bonkers.ie, has also accused the bank of squeezing shoppers at their most vulnerable.
"The bank knows people will blow a chunk of cash at Christmas and hope to be able to pay back in January, but few will be able to clear the debt in January. It seems to be a way for the bank to make an extra few quid".
Trinity College economist Constantin Gurdgiev said it was only a matter of time before other banks follow Bank of Ireland.
"The amount of the increase is very significant and it is certainly going to put a lot of pressure on households who have the most unsecured debt."
A bank spokeswoman said: "It is over 12 months since we last increased credit card interest rates". The latest hike was necessary because of "continued pressure from high funding costs and the continuing high risk and loss profiles".
SINEAD RYAN: PAGE 16


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Changpeng Zhao, CEO of the largest cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance, stated his company expects a net profit ranging from $500 mln to $1 bln by the end of 2018. Currently, the platform which is solely one year old has 10 mln users and a daily turnover of roughly $1.5 bln, Bloomberg reports.
These statements follow almost immediately after Binance published a report explaining that it shut down all the trading on the platform due to suspicious hacker-like activity. It decided to take additional measures and remove “all existing API keys and requested all API users to recreate their API keys.”
Zhao went on to reveal that during the first half revenue his platform made close to $300 mln net profit. Bloomberg has rightly noted that “Zhao’s figures illustrate how some cryptocurrency exchanges are thriving despite a rout in digital assets that’s seen Bitcoin lose 52 percent of its value this year as buyers pull back, venues are repeatedly hacked and regulators increase their scrutiny.”
Indeed, multiple hacking incidents related to Bithumb, Bitgrail, Coincheck as well as radical loss of Bitcoin value has put off many crypto enthusiasts. Yet Binance remains largely unaffected and continues to expand its presence on several markets and will soon enter Uganda, Bermuda and Malta allowing its customers “to convert their virtual tokens to fiat currencies including the euro, as it looks to build on its rapid growth.” Binance has previously added fiat support.
Its success story is undoubtedly striking. To remind: at the beginning of the year it had solely 2 mln users, which means its client base has seen a five-fold increase. Zhao started his business back in July 2017 after raising $15 during ICO. Currently, it is the largest exchange present on the market and is more profitable than the biggest bank of Germany.


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We’ve seen the writing on the wall that using third-party cookies for digital marketing wouldn’t last. For years, the amount of data marketers have been able to gather using cookies has been shrinking, and aside from the technical elements that contribute to the decrease in cookie effectiveness, there are major societal factors at play that have big implications for the cookie world.
Cookie Monster is Angry, and I Don’t Blame Him.
A slew of new legislation such as The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires websites that collect personal data to disclose how and why they are using the data to visitors – giving users unprecedented control over the use of their data and allowing them to opt out of all non-essential cookies (i.e. the ones marketers use). This has resulted in the rise of people opting out of cookie use, which has caused a dramatic decrease in the amount of information available through cookies in general. While there is still no law that applies globally, legislation like GDPR shows a growing trend moving away from a marketer’s ability to track and retarget website visitors using cookies.
Google, Apple, Everyone is Done With Cookies.
Recent announcements by the two biggest web browser providers, Chrome and Safari, favor much stricter limitations and even block cookies altogether.
Since 2017, Apple has released a series of updates to its Safari browser called ITP (Intelligent Tracking Prevention) that have all been aimed at reducing the effectiveness of tracking cookies, especially by third-party resellers. The ITP 2.2 update is the next step in this effort as it will limit the use of cross-site tracking cookies down to one day.
Another bite out of the metaphorical cookie came when Google updated its Chrome browser to not only give users specific information about the data cookies are tracking, but also allow users to block third-party cookies – making it much harder for marketers to gather and utilize cookie-based user data.
Update: For more recent information about the latest third-party cookie data updates, check out our articles: Third-Party Cookies Are Doomed, Here's How To Prepare, and The Cookie Has Crumbled, Now What?
How the Death of Third-Party Cookies will Affect Your Marketing Strategy:
Well, that depends on how you’re gathering information about your target accounts. If you’re currently using IP address intelligence or reverse IP lookup technology for your account-based marketing you are ahead of the game, nothing will change, carry on. However, if you’re currently using cookie-based tracking for content personalization, retargeting, or a myriad of other things we need to make an account-based marketing strategy possible, you might find a bumpy road ahead.
But there’s hope! If you read this article and reacted like the Cookie Monster, don’t panic just yet. Instead of looking at this in a negative light, think of it as an opportunity to improve compliance and data privacy within your organization. This doesn’t mean abandoning all website tracking and going back to the dark ages, it just means making changes in how you’re getting account data. B2B marketers can utilize IP address lookup tools to gather account-level information and even enhance your marketing strategy beyond what you were able to do with those stale cookies.
Want to learn more about how you can stay ahead of the privacy game with third-party cookie alternatives while strengthening your digital marketing strategy? Download our TWIN Caching Guide!


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Pixel Slate tablet owners are reporting suffering from a number of minor problems that worsen over time to include huge memory issues…
When the Pixel Slate tablet first debuted, in early October of 2018, it presented some of the best looking hardware. But, the software package was widely criticized. Less than a year later, in June of 2019, Google announced it would no longer develop the product line. The tech giant also cancelled the two models it was working on at the time. Now, a small group of owners are reporting some disturbing issues.
Google Pixel Slate Tablet Owners Reporting Severe Memory Failures
Pixel Slate tablet owners are taking to Google’s support forum to complain about a number of problems. It appears they’re experiencing some minor errors, such as icons turning grey and apps crashing. However, the issues don’t stop there. Instead, they devolve into more serve issues, like failing to write to disks. Plus, preventing launching apps or even downloading files. Meanwhile, rebooting, resetting, factory resets, and power washing only temporarily fix the problems.
At this time, it’s not clear if Google is working on solutions, but the company is probably aware of the problems. That’s unsettling, given the base model sold for $599, but to get the best specs and the all-important keyboard folio brought the price up to nearly $1000.


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Urgent food recall issued after hepatitis outbreak
The NSW Food Authority is advising consumers who may have purchased salted or pickled clam products from Koryo Food Co. or Byul Mi Kim Chi to destroy any remaining product or return it for a refund.
Consumers should not consume these products.
Koryo Food Co. and Byul Mi Kim Chi have recalled these products due to a potential link with hepatitis A from salted or pickled clams imported from South Korea. Authorities in South Korea recently issued an advisory warning consumers in that country to avoid certain types of salted or pickled clams, due to links with hepatitis A.
NSW Food Authority CEO, Lisa Szabo said testing was underway on a number of products but full results may take a number of weeks.
“Although a contamination has not yet been confirmed, we have advised the companies of a potential link to eight cases of hepatitis A in NSW, and they have both undertaken a recall of the product,” Dr Szabo said.
“We want to ensure all consumers who may have these products are aware of the possible link between the product and hepatitis A.
“While the affected products have been recalled from participating retailers, consumers may still have product they have already purchased in their fridges.”
Australian grown clams are not implicated in this outbreak.
Food products contaminated with hepatitis A virus may cause illness if consumed. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver and is usually spread by consuming contaminated food or water or by direct contact with an infected person.
If you have consumed the affected product and are experiencing any symptoms of hepatitis A: fever, nausea, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, followed by dark urine, pale stools and jaundice (yellowing of the eyeballs and skin), please see your doctor for testing and treatment advice.
Anyone who has been previously vaccinated for hepatitis A is considered not at risk of infection.


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PR No.92 Islamabad: March 10, 2017
President Mamnoon Hussain has said that new avenues of business and employment opportunities will be generated with the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and energy projects. The President stated that the government is utilizing all available resources to provide conducive business environment and promote investment.
The President said this while talking to a delegation of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) who headed by its President Haji Muhammad Afzal Khan called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Friday. The officials of Ministry of Commerce and Federal Board of Revenue were also present in the meeting.
The President stated that the country is moving in the right direction and due to right economic policies the International Financial Institutions have declared that the country’s economy is reviving. The President said that the Government is undertaking various measures to resolve the issues of business community adding that the Ministry of Commerce has announced a three years Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) to encourage trade and investment in the country. He added that STPF provides for 50% support for the purchase of imported new plant and machinery for specified underdeveloped regions especially to KPK, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan. The President noted that Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is organizing trade exhibitions for increasing exports and conducting visits of trade delegations to identify new markets and attract investment.
President Mamnoon Hussain stated that business and trade community of the country should pay their due share of tax to promote tax culture so that with the revenue generated the Government could provide maximum facilities to the general public.
President SCCI apprised President Mamnoon Hussain about their issues. Praising the economic policies of the Government, he said that SCCI is in contact with the Government to further improve the country’s economy. On the occasion, President SCCI also presented a traditional turban to President Mamnoon Hussain.


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Phones, Tabs, OEM Revenues Top $350bn
OEM revenue for phones and tablets will be $354 billion this years, says IHS.
Six years ago, in 2007, it was $41 billion.
This year it will rise by 31% and next year it will rise 18%, says IHS.
“Consumers simply are finding more value in the versatility and usefulness of smartphones and tablets, which now serve as the go-to devices for everything from phone calls, to photography, to navigation, to media playback, to fitness tracking. Because of this, smart mobile platforms are displacing sales of products such as digital still cameras, camcorders, GPS and media players,” says Randy Lawson of IHS.


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|Bid||0.0000 x 3000|
|Ask||0.0000 x 900|
|Day's Range||1.0646 - 1.0800|
|52 Week Range||0.9100 - 1.5100|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||-0.02|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Earnings Date||Aug 12, 2019 - Aug 16, 2019|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||0.00|
Duncan Hon became the CEO of Emerson Radio Corp. (NYSEMKT:MSN) in 2011. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO...
* Deluge of negative political news hits sentiment * Vietnam on track for 7-day losing streak * Philippines top loser in the region By Rashmi Ashok Dec 21 (Reuters) - Shares across Southeast Asia tumbled ...
* Philippines, Singapore top losers * Thailand closed for holiday By Shreya Mariam Job Dec 5 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks fell on Wednesday, in line with global markets, as a flattening U.S. treasury ...
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2018 -- In new independent research reports released early this morning, Fundamental Markets released its latest key findings for all current investors,.
* Thai stocks hit more than three-month closing low * Malaysia, Vietnam post 5th straight session of losses By Rashmi Ashok Oct 24 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets extended their decline ...
* Thai energy stocks hit by oil price fall * Philippines edges lower on profit-taking * Singapore recovers to lead gains in region By Rashmi Ashok Oct 24 (Reuters) - Thai shares fell nearly 1 percent on ...
Zero-debt allows substantial financial flexibility, especially for small-cap companies like Emerson Radio Corp (NYSEMKT:MSN), as the company does not have to adhere to strict debt covenants. However, it also faces Read More...
If you have kids, or you happen to be a student, it’s safe to say that back-to-school shopping has commenced. Saving 99 cents on a package of lined paper is nice, but saving $400 on the purchase of a new laptop is a lot better. One of the easiest ways to save money is to pick a company that offers educational pricing.


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A popular Boylston Street restaurant known for its extensive wine list has relocated to a space roughly three times as large to accommodate more guests, expanded hours, and a bigger menu. Troquet — now dubbed Troquet on South and located at 107 South St. in Boston’s Leather District — officially reopens for business this evening, according to general manager Jake Tringali.
The new Troquet has a bar and lounge area with high-tops and banquettes, along with the dining room and a private 25-seat back room for wine dinners and other events, as Boston Magazine reported.
Troquet offers more than 50 wines by the glass, plus hundreds more full-bottle options. Matt Marini serves as bar manager, overseeing a new list of cocktails that features everything from whiskey and bourbon to cognac. Additionally, there is a new bar menu for the restaurant, which includes seafood and raw bar options, a burger, and even pizzas. Troquet also plans to introduce a champagne cart featuring a few different bubbly options.


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China Stock Market ended weaker on
Thursday, with healthcare and consumer firms leading the losses
amid sell-off pressure after a wave of new listings, while
weakness in hog-farming companies dragged agricultural stocks
** At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was down
0.41% at 3,270.44, while the blue-chip CSI300 index
lost 0.53% to 4,632.71.
** Healthcare and consumer sector Stock Market fell with the consumer
staples sector losing 2.38% and the healthcare
Want to know more on China Stock Market end lower as cost woes hit hog-farming stocks click here go to market news source.
Market news summary from Reuters Market News.


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Earlier this week, Ford and ADT announced a joint venture called Canopy that promises “breakthrough technology” for vehicle security. This may be a breakthrough for cars and trucks but if you have a smart home, you likely already have or know about the technology. That’s because this effort is bringing smart home security to your Ford vehicle. Be that as it may, this is a big deal. Canopy is backed by $100 million between the two companies, which isn’t pocket change.
So what is Canopy and what will it deliver? Essentially, Ford will initially be offering self-installed connected cameras in 2023 to watch over the cargo area of your pickup trucks and vans. Eventually, Canopy cameras will be available as integrated components in Ford vehicles. These will monitor larger areas of the interior as well as the outside of the car or truck. All cameras will have multiple sensors and route their information to both your smartphone, through the Canopy app, and ADT agents.
The idea here is to protect both the valuables in your car or truck, as well as the vehicle itself. If that sounds familiar, it should. It’s the same security model we have today in smart homes with various cameras and systems, both self- and professionally monitored.
You’ll be able to get a live view of both the inside of your car and what’s going on around it. You’ll receive alerts whenever glass is broken or an entry attempt is made. A two-way microphone and speaker allow you to alert people that they should stay away from your car. And if the cameras see something that could lead to a break-in, ADT agents will be alerted so they can take pre-emptive action such as contacting the local authorities. Canopy’s camera’s are advertised as having AI to determine the difference between a benign action and something that looks suspicious.
Like I said: Not exactly “breakthrough technology” given that it’s really an effort to take existing smart home technology and move it inside vehicles. And it’s not the first of its kind by any means either. Tesla owners have long used Sentry Mode, which is basically the same thing. The key difference here is that Tesla already has cameras and sensors in its cars for driver safety purposes and re-uses those for security.
So why doesn’t Ford just do what Tesla does, given that it’s been adding similar cameras and sensors for driver safety over the past few years?
That’s where the smart home model of service comes in, courtesy of the Safe by ADT service. Ford’s core competency is in building vehicles. By partnering with a company such as ADT that has a proven track record of customer engagement, Ford can continue to focus on what it knows best. It’s more efficient to throw $100 million or less at offloading the security aspects into a partner venture so it can invest billions into the overall product.
Fun fact: GM took the same approach, at least from the customer service aspect, with its GM OnStar program that launched in 1996. That’s the service that detects crashes so an OnStar rep knows to call you and offer assistance. Except it wasn’t GM employees that were calling you, even if you thought they were. OnStar agents were actually contracted out to the old Ross Perot company, Electronic Data Services (EDS). I know because I worked for EDS at the time in a call center. I represented the customer service of dozens of banks but nearby were OnStar agents.
Of course, the Canopy venture will be a subscription service and that shouldn’t surprise smart home owners either. The entire IoT industry isn’t just about fancy new hardware, but also services that can bring recurring revenue after the device sale.
Canopy pricing hasn’t been released yet, so I don’t know what it will cost. Tesla charges $10 a month for its premium services, which include Sentry, so perhaps that’s a reasonable starting point for Canopy. I’d also guess this is the first of many such partnerships between automakers and smart home companies as the technology use cases expand beyond our homes. I’m all for it, but you couldn’t pay me enough to put one of those “Protected by [COMPANY]” stickers on my car.


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Mumbai: Vodafone, Idea and Airtel are set to hike rates next month. The hike comes after three years. The move is meant to raise awareness for loss-making companies.
In a press release issued by the company point out that these companies lost many of their customers when they came to Jio for free. Besides, the government has increased the payment of spectrum usage and license fees. This too was a setback for the companies.
Call and data rates are expected to rise. However, it has not been revealed how much the increase will be. Experts estimate it will increase by thirty to forty-five percent. It is expected to triple in the next two years.


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SHIPMENTS OF HEATING & COOLING EQUIPMENT INCREASED IN JUNE
Shipments of heating and cooling equipment increased in June, now up for the second consecutive month and for the fourth time in the last five months. June HVAC equipment shipments totaled 2.003 million units, up 2.5% from May but were still down 9.9% from June 2022.
After climbing recently, zinc pricing dropped for the second consecutive week.
Zinc pricing came in at $1.05/lb this week, down from $1.11/lb last week but has remained in a relatively tight range for the past month.
Spot iron ore pricing has slipped over the last week on the back of declined buying by China.
- Spot iron ore pricing is currently at $107/mt, down $5/mt from last week but now down ~4.0% from the start of the year.
After sliding the previous three months, prime scrap pricing, in the Chicago region, settled flat in August.
- Chicago #1 busheling pricing stayed at $440/gt.
- Despite the recent slide, the current price remains well above the three-year average that preceded COVID ($320/gt).
U.S. raw steel production rebounded last week after sliding the previous week.
- U.S. steelmakers produced 1.737 million tons at a 76.4% utilization rate after dropping below 76% for the first time in two months two weeks ago.
- The current YTD utilization rate is at 75.9%, down 2.1% compared to the same time last year.
It was reported this week that US Steel turned down an offer from Cliffs to sell for roughly a $7.4 billion value.
- US Steel mentioned that they will continue to evaluate all offers before deciding.
- No matter the outcome, this has potential for further domestic sheet production consolidation and further discipline when it comes to pricing.
- Esmark has also emerged as a possible suitor as they have let it be known that they have made an offer similar to Cliffs.
Preliminary total imports for August (14 days) were up slightly compared to the daily pace in July.
- Flat rolled imports are coming in at a slightly faster rate as well compared to the daily pace in July.
Shipments of heating and cooling equipment increased in June, now up for the second consecutive month and for the fourth time in the last five months.
June HVAC equipment shipments totaled 2.003 million units, up 2.5% from May but were still down 9.9% from June 2022.
- This is the fifteenth consecutive month in which shipments declined on a year-over-year basis.
- Looking on a year-over-year basis, to help smooth seasonality, shipments of both furnaces and A/C & heat pumps saw declines, sliding 33.7% and 14.5%, respectively.
- Water heater shipments increased however, climbing 11.7% compared to last June.
- Year-to-date shipments are now down 10.3% compared to the first half of 2022.
Business activity, from the manufacturing sector in the New York region, declined sharply in August after expanding slowly the previous two months.
The August Empire Manufacturing Index came in at -19.0, down sharply from 1.1 in July.
- Any reading below 0.0 indicates a decline in activity, while any reading above 0.0 shows expansion.
- Both the new order and shipment components declined sharply in August, sliding to -19.9 and -12.3, respectively.
- The unfilled orders component declined as well, at a slightly slower rate than in July however.
- The index for future business conditions rose six points to 19.9, its highest level in more than a year, suggesting firms have become more optimistic about future conditions.
Confidence among U.S. homebuilders was neutral in August, after expanding the previous two months.
The August Housing Market Index came in at 50.0, down from 56.0 in July.
- Any reading over 50.0 indicates increased optimism, while any reading below 50.0 denotes pessimism.
- All three components slowed in August but both the present and next six month components remained in optimism territory.
- The present situation and next six month outlook came in at 57 and 55, respectively.
- The traffic component slowed further, slipping to 34 from 40 previously.
The shipment component of the Cass Freight Index declined, sliding 2.2% from June.
The index was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis, which followed a 4.7% decline in June.
- The shipment component has now been down for nineteen months, still below the 24 month average from the previous three down cycles.
- The expenditure component declined as well, sliding 0.9% from June and a sharp 17.0% from July 2022.
- The expenditure component measures the total spend on freight, including fuel.
- The inferred freight rate declined a sharp 17.0% from July last year.
- The inferred freight rate is total spent (expenditure) per truckload (shipment).
- The current freight rate was at its lowest level in two years.
Retail sales continued to climb in July, now up for the fourth consecutive month.
July retail sales came in at a $696.4 billion rate, up 0.7% from June and up 3.2% from July 2022.
- Excluding the volatile gas sector, total sales were up 5.8% from last July, the largest year-over-year increase since January.
- The largest increases in July came from sporting good stores, online retailers, and building material & garden supply stores.
- These increases helped overcome declines from auto dealers, furniture stores, electronic stores.
This material, information and analyses (the “Content”) may include certain statements, estimates and projections prepared with respect to, among other things, historical data and anticipated performance. Content may reflect various assumptions by Majestic Steel USA, Inc. concerning anticipated results that are inherently subject to significant economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies and have been included for illustrative purposes. Content is provided AS-IS.


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NEW RENTAL WAVE
Airbnb says many of its hosts report opening their homes to short-term rental has kept the wolves at bay
Inflation is eroding household incomes and Airbnb says the cost of living crisis has inspired a ‘new wave of people’ to consider hosting for the first time.
They’ve come a long way since their “airbed and breakfast” venture, started during the recession in August 2008, in a parallel time of financial distress.
In little more than 14 years, Airbnb’s four million hosts have welcomed more than a billion guests in almost every country across the world, offering accommodation and experiences to cater to just about every taste – from amazing views and castles to yurts and OMG! stays.
The accommodation marketplace has released its latest data for November, showing typical hosts in South Africa earned over R25,400 a year.
Globally, host earnings increased by 30% in Q3, year on year, and hosts were securing bookings quickly, with half of Airbnb listings activated in Q3 2022 being booked within three days.
Keeping the wolves at bay
More than ever, people are looking to find ways to supplement their income, says Airbnb founder Brian Chesky.
Mirroring the global economic crunch, almost half of Airbnb hosts around the world use the income earned through hosting to help them stay in their home, while 46% said they used the extra money to pay for food and other items.
This is no surprise, given that inflation is eroding household incomes and Airbnb says the cost of living crisis has inspired a “new wave of people” to consider hosting for the first time.
In South Africa, Airbnb accommodation offerings range from about R260 per night for a private room in Robertson, to entire villas in party central, Camps Bay, costing over R75,000 per night.
Allowing strangers into your home can be disconcerting, which is why Airbnb has announced new tools and specialised support to get started.
Chesky says that starting this week, Airbnb will be verifying every guest booking on Airbnb in 35 countries, which covers 90% of reservations. By next autumn, every guest booking on Airbnb around the world will be verified through reservations screening technology.
“This technology looks at hundreds of factors to block bookings likely to lead to unauthorised parties.”
Strangers in our midst
Airbnb’s entire business model rests on the premise that strangers can trust one another, which is why it has spent millions of dollars on improving its technology and staffing its safety teams.
It’s had a string of bad PR in recent years – from party houses, to sexual assaults, gas leaks and hidden cameras.
On 23 May 2019, Bloomberg reported that six Brazilian tourists died in central Santiago, Chile, from a carbon monoxide leak in an apartment they rented through Airbnb.
In August the following year, the company announced a temporary ban on all parties and events in listings globally, after reports of rowdy and destructive parties circulated.
Then there were the shootings: between March and October 2020, about 30 shootings were connected to Airbnb rentals in the US and Canada. In one high-profile case, Airbnb announced it was pursuing legal action against a customer in Sacramento, California, for hosting an unauthorised party in a rental home that ended in three shootings.
In June this year, it shut down parties for good, by codifying the ban as company policy.
Already launched in the US and Canada, “in the rare event that something were to happen”, Airbnb has tripled AirCover damage protection from $1-million to $3-million, which now includes protection for cars and boats and parts of your home, as well as expanded coverage for art and valuables.
The company’s reservation screening technology, aimed at reducing the chance of disruptive parties, will be expanded worldwide early next year.
Airbnb Setup has been redesigned and simplified to help hosts to put their places on Airbnb, which includes one-on-one guidance from one of more than 1,500 Superhosts in 80 countries, an experienced guest, who has a good track record on Airbnb for your first booking, and specialised support from Airbnb, which provides one-tap access to a team of Community Support agents, who assist with account issues, payments and other queries.
In May this year, Airbnb launched “Categories” to help customers discover homes they never knew existed (and probably need to google).
These are the six new Airbnb Categories:
- Top of the world – Homes around 3,000 metres above sea level, often with stunning views.
- Trending – Highly-rated homes that received more listing views compared to the previous week.
- Adapted – Homes adapted for wheelchair access, with verified step-free paths into the home, bedroom and bathroom.
- Play – Homes with basketball courts, game rooms, miniature golf, water slides and more.
- Hanoks – Traditional Korean homes constructed of natural materials.
Chesky said in an explainer video on the Airbnb website that his company was born during a recession, which is why they are simplifying the way people can Airbnb their homes.
Airbnb typically collects a flat service fee of 3% of the reservation subtotal when hosts get paid. It also collects a fee from guests when they book. In many areas, Airbnb collects and pays sales and tourism taxes on hosts’ behalf as well.
The Airbnb founder told Financial Times this week that they were making a renewed push to increase room supply on the travel platform, with the average price per night having soared more than 40% above pre-pandemic levels.
He said he was “not satisfied” with the inflated cost of using the short-term accommodation site, laying out measures to address the problem, including a move to pay existing hosts to help new ones get set up on the platform, as well as longer-term plans to reduce cleaning fees.
In the US, the average daily cost of a stay on Airbnb was $156 over July to September this year, up 5% on 2021 and 40% higher than the same period in 2019.
“If you’re looking for a city on a certain day, kind of last-minute, that’s not nearly what we’d want,” Chesky said. “So I’m not satisfied; I’d like it to become more affordable.”
The top five booked categories this summer for South African guests are Beach, Amazing pools, Iconic city, Beachfront and Surfing. BM/DM


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Products are recalled every day and it’s important to stay up to date on those recalls in order to keep you and your loved ones safe. Below are a few recent recalls that may affect you.
On March 16, 2018, putative class claims were filed against Big Heart Pet Brands Inc., makers of popular canned dog food Kibbles ‘n Bits, alleging that the company purposefully mislead the public by labeling its product as safe for pets although recent samples of the product were found to contain ingredients toxic to pets. Named plaintiff, Rosemarie Schirripa, filed the complaint in federal court in the Southern District of New York after viewing a television segment on February 8, 2018, which reported that two separate laboratories discovered the drug pentobarbital in Kibbles ‘n Bits samples.
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Kidde has issued a recall on its Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms due to a failure to alert consumers of a fire. “A yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the smoke alarm’s ability to detect smoke, posing a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their home,” states the official recall. About 452,000 in the U.S. of the Kidde dual-sensor (photoelectric and ionization) smoke alarms (models PI2010 and PI9010) have been included in the recall. There has been one report of the yellow protective cap being present on a smoke alarm before it was installed in a consumer’s home, but there have been no injuries reported.
A recall has been issued for Carrier WeatherExpert commercial packaged rooftop HVAC units with humidimizer option due to a fire hazard. “The HVAC’s humidimizer fan can fail to shut off when a connected smoke detector is tripped, posing a fire hazard,” says the official recall. The devices are intended for use in commercial and institutional buildings and were sold Carrier distributors nationwide from March 2014 to September 2017. There has been one report of a fan not shutting off, but no injuries have been reported.
Bayer has issued a voluntary recall on its Alka-Seltzer Plus® products due to a labeling error. The products were sold only in the U.S. at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Kroger (including Dillons Food Stores, Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food Stores, Ralphs, King Soopers and Smith’s Food and Drug) after February 9, 2018. “The affected packages are being recalled because the ingredients on the front sticker may not match the actual product in the carton,” says the recall. The recall is being conduction in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
A recall has been issued for AmazonBasics portable power banks due to fire and burn hazards. As stated in the recall, “The power bank’s battery can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards.” About 260,000 of the power banks are included in the recall and were sold at Amazon.com, Amazon Bookstores and Amazon Pop-Up Stores from December 2014 through July 2017. There have been 53 reports of the power banks overheating in the U.S., including one report of chemical burns due to contact with battery acid and four reports of property damage, including fire and smoke damage.
Need A Lawyer That Will Fight For your Rights?
A recall has been issued for the InSinkErator Single Outlet SinkTop Switches due to a fire hazard. “Water can get into the power module, posing a fire hazard,” states the recall. About 1,400,000 of the switches were sold between 2005 and October 2017 at home improvement stores, online websites and through plumbing contractors and outlets. There have been 40 reports of water causing overheating damage to the power module and outlet beneath the sink, but no injuries have been reported.
New recalls are issued constantly so remember to check back with us monthly for updated recall lists!
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Coffee, coffee everywhere, not a drop to drink
Venezuela seizes supplies withheld by producers irate over price controls
Published 6:30 am, Friday, January 6, 2006
CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Coffee is vanishing from Venezuelan stores as producers protest price controls they say are strangling profits — no laughing matter in a country where drinking the brew is not simply a habit but a culture.
Troops and inspectors have begun raiding inventories held by private companies in an effort to ease the scarcity, authorities said this week.
The dispute over the bitter beans can be traced back to early 2003, when coffee fell under price controls for staple foods imposed by President Hugo Chavez's government as a way to counter inflation and protect the poor. But prices set in early December outraged coffee producers, prompting protests in downtown Caracas and paralyzing deliveries.
National Guard troops have so far seized about 330 tons of coffee stored by wholesalers in Yaguara and Guacara, near the capital Caracas, and more raids were planned, said Gen. Marcos Rojas Figueroa of the National Guard.
"That coffee is going to be sold ... at the established price," he said.
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The coffee crunch is serious business in a culture that has developed its own jargon for ordering the drink. Coffee doesn't come just black or milky here. There's the guayoyo, or watery version, a cerrero that's thick and dark like an oil well, marrons which come in various shades of brown, and even a tetero or baby-bottle — very milky.
Public frustration mounted as Christmas and then New Year passed without signs of a resolution to the price dispute.
Starting Thursday, coffee seized by authorities was placed on the market, including at state-subsidized supermarkets, despite objections by producers.
"We don't understand by what whim they expect us to sell coffee below the cost of production," Gaetano Minuta, director of a coffee producers union in western Merida state, said this week.
Minuta said coffee producers were buying unprocessed beans at a regulated price of $1.31 a pound. Roasting and other processes to ready the beans for market raised the cost to $1.58 a pound — above the price of $1.57 per pound that the government has set for consumers.
"The country has to understand that we're at peak harvest ... and we don't have anywhere to sell it," Minuta said.
Bakeries and cafes continue to serve coffee at the regulated prices, while decaffeinated, instant and other types excluded from the price controls remain readily available. But packaged coffee has slowly been disappearing from retail outlets.
Venezuela's consumer protection agency, or Indecu, was preparing to publish a new price for coffee, the government-run Bolivarian News Agency reported.
Producers have said that if a fair price can be set, coffee could be back on store shelves within a week.


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Having secured a funding round worth $950 million earlier this month, daily deals specialist Groupon appears to be sinking at least part of that capital into a sales force expansion across the U.S.
The Chicago-based company is currently advertising over 50 sales and business development roles nationwide as it seeks to expand its presence in local markets, including multiple vacancies for major cities in states including California, Texas, and it’s home state of Illinois. Fittingly, the opportunities are being advertised alongside the daily deals sent to recipients in its 50 million-strong e-mail database.
In addition to sales positions the company is also looking to hire around 20 staff for its product development teams, based both in Chicago and California, and a further 25 to add to its marketing, editorial, and support teams. Among those roles is a vacancy for a sales recruiter, which explains, “We continue to need more people to do more things to make this place more Grouponic. So, we’re adding more on-site recruiters to the mix.”
In November Groupon received a $3.5 million incentive package from the state of Illinois in return for agreeing to hire 250 staff in its Chicago office. The firm had reportedly intended to hire those staff in its out-of-state offices prior to the arrangement. According to Businessweek, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn explained the investment by saying, “This is a competitive environment… We want to encourage companies to create jobs here in Illinois.”
Prior to securing its $950 funding round this month, Groupon turned down a reported $6 billion acquisition offer from Google, according to a Bloomberg target=”_blank”>report. Investors for the new funding round – which reportedly values the company at $4.74 billion – include venture-capital firms Andreessen Horowitz, Battery Ventures, Greylock Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Groupon announced.
We're always talking about the growing convergence of the physical and digital worlds. Here are five brands with great phygital campaigns all over the world.
We talk a lot about content. How to make it, what makes it work, how to measure it’s effects, if there’s too ... read more
Sport England wanted to encourage women to increase their physical activity, so it created the campaign ‘This Girl Can’ and its authenticity ... read more
Should you post stories about people dying, religion or bikinis on LinkedIn? That all depends on the business context.


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Top US trade officials head to China next week for new trade talks
Updated : March 20, 2019 06:33 AM IST
The resumption in face-to-face talks, the first since President Donald Trump delayed a March 1 deadline to raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, marks an acceleration of the negotiations aimed at ending an eight-month trade war between the world's two largest economies.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that following next week's negotiation in Beijing, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He would travel to Washington the week of April 1 as the two sides aim for a deal by the end of the month.
Washington and Beijing have slapped import duties on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of each other's products in their dispute, raising costs, roiling financial markets, shrinking US farm exports and disrupting manufacturing supply chains.


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Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said members of its shopping club Prime could purchase tickets to an early screening of Sony Pictures’ “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” in more than 1,000 U.S. cinemas, in its latest move to court subscribers. This is the first time the world’s largest online retailer has offered to sell tickets to Prime members for an advanced movie showing. The film will screen at 7 p.m. local time on Dec. 8 across the United States, nearly two weeks before its release to the wider public.
This year Hanukkah begins the evening of Saturday, Dec. 24 when the first candle of the menorah is lit at nightfall and will end the evening of Sunday, Jan. 1.”A few years back when Hanukkah […]
Rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday by announcing that his first album of new music in 38 years would be released next year.Called simply “Chuck,” the album will consist […]
“Agriculture Awareness Week here at NC State has been a tradition of Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honors Fraternity for many years. This event is important to all of us because it gives us the opportunity to […]


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Was it a wise decision for Salesforce.com to acquire Heroku?
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May 14, 2014
Some IT industry analysts are wondering if Salesforce.com's decision to acquire Heroku
was a good idea in the first place.
Why would a big SaaS company like SalesForce.com with its own development platform need a
PaaS play like Heroku?
The eternally-enthusiastic company has just spelled out why, and how, it thinks the two will
The business model is straightforward-- developers building apps for employees will do it on
Force.com and developers building apps for consumers will do it on Heroku.
The concept seems to be that Heroku can take care of all the heavy lifting required to deliver
a web app at scale.
Force.com retains its role as the place to do custom app development for your team and the
new connector pipes data between the two with sufficient speed.
However, in the background things aren't that simple. Salesforce.com lives on Oracle software.
Heroku relies on its own version of Postgres. So they offer rather different environments for developers,
and that could pose some issues down the road.
Salesforce.com is also being a bit loosy-goosy on data centre arrangements-- let's hope they've
got Force.com and Heroku as physically close as possible so that latency doesn't cause some delays
during data transfers between the two platforms.
Salesforce is saying that the formal release of the Heroku Connector will enhance its overall
proposition by making it possible to feed customer-generated data into apps that run business processes.
But in the recent past, that hasn't been that easy since you code your entire business by hand,
either as a startup or a business colossus, with probably more developers than you really need.
However, there's a bit of truth in that concept. It's probably also not far from reality to suggest
that what Salesforce has done is build middleware-as-a-service to link the two divergent parts of its
In a strange manner that's a sign of maturity-- most big IT companies have middleware 'bridges' here and
In other IT news
Last week, Hewlett-Packard announced its HP Helion brand and pledged to commit no less than $1 billion
over the next two years on products and services surrounding OpenStack, under the Helion brand name.
In addition to offering its free distribution of OpenStack, HP is putting all its other cloud
offerings, including tools for workload management and software development, under the Helion name as
As IT industry analysts digest last week's news from HP, it is becoming clear that the company is
very serious about committing its company strategy to OpenStack.
Its plans include evolving its own editions of the platform, delivering a Cloud Foundry-based
platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and HP even intends to protect customers from Open-Stack-related
patent infringement claims.
Now that last issue is a big one, and it has more than one observer shaking heads. Many enterprises
are aware of the patent infringement claims that regularly get slapped on open source platforms such
as Android and OpenStack. And HP is no different.
However, it's important to note that the company has some other advantages in the OpenStack
For one thing, it's a proven hardware provider and although Dell also sells hardware, it has backed
out of the public OpenStack cloud race.
That means that HP has an equal opportunity to be a big player in the hardware/software bundles
that will eventually arrive in the OpenStack arena, sooner rather than later.
And, as we've noted numerous times, players in the OpenStack arena are going to be differentiated
by what kind of support they can offer, and HP has a lot of experience supporting enterprise users.
That means it can compete directly with solid support providers like Red Hat. It seems that Dell,
which has been erratic in its commitment to OpenStack, is watching HP's OpenStack moves closely.
"In what amounts to a denominational spat between two adherents of the open-source community, Dell, the privately held
computing giant founded by Michael Dell, issued a statement ahead of HP’s Web conference, chiding HP’s
plan to offer a commercial version of OpenStack in addition to the free Community version."
"Anyone choosing HP’s commercial version runs the risk of having a hard time switching to another
vendor if they later decide to make a change," it said.
As we've reported last week, HP is offering a broad set of services surrounding OpenStack.
It's looking more and more like HP wants to get out of various low margin businesses that it is
in, and tie its future to OpenStack and the cloud.
It will be interesting to watch whether the company preserves open practices and standards as it goes forward
with that strategy.
In other IT news
If you were concerned that Microsoft was moving away from its .Net technology, don't be--
the software behemoth had many .Net-related announcements to make at its annual TechEd North
America conference this week.
To be sure, recent Build Developer conferences have been rather light on .Net content, between
on C++ for the desktop.
However, yesterday's TechEd announcements saw Microsoft sprucing up its .Net technology for a
different role than either of those technologies, one aimed squarely at server-side applications
and the cloud. And that shouldn't come as a surprise to most people.
"On the cloud side of servers, the future of .Net is about the modern web," Microsoft developer and
vice president Soma Somasegar wrote in a blog post.
"Our immediate goal is for the next version of .Net to be the first and only framework
designed for the cloud, helping you to create on-premises applications and move them to the cloud
with no changes and at the same time leveraging all the power of the infrastructure."
Collectively, such efforts are being lumped under the name ".Net vNext", a multi-pronged initiative
that will take the platform in several new directions all at once. At least that's what Microsoft
One of the more significant announcements on Monday was that .Net vNext will include a "cloud
optimized mode," which will be a lightweight version that eliminates libraries that aren't needed
for server-side deployments, such as Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation.
The cloud mode will also allow developers to bundle the .Net Framework libraries they need with
their apps on an app-by-app basis.
And different apps running on the same server will be able to run different versions of the same
libraries without any conflicts.
The libraries themselves will also be streamlined to reduce their footprints. Building on top of
this more agile version of .Net will be ASP.Net vNext, the next version of Microsoft's server-side
web technology and what the .Net team described as "our big announcement at TechEd."
From what we know so far, ASP.Net vNext was clearly designed with the cloud in mind. According to
Microsoft's developers, applications built on it will automatically adjust the behavior of such services
as caching and session state depending on whether they are running in a traditional hosting environment
or in the cloud.
"We use dependency injection behind the scenes to provide your app with the correct implementation
for these services," the .Net team explained. "Using this approach, it is really easy to move your app
from on-premises to the cloud, since our code changes, not yours."
API.Net vNext will also include updated versions of a number of APIs, where MVC, Web API, and Web
Pages have all been merged into a unified programming model.
A single controller can return MVC views and Web API responses, for example. The revamped platform
will also be integrated with Microsoft's new .Net Compiler Platform, aka "Roslyn," allowing near-real-time
recompilation of ASP code.
Overall, code changes made in Visual Studio will be reflected immediately in the browser after a
refresh, without a separate build cycle.
And in a surprising but welcome move, Microsoft says it is taking a few steps to make sure all of
this works on more platforms than just Windows.
Although .Net is a managed-code platform, much like Java, in the past Microsoft has never gone in
for Java's "write once, run anywhere" concept.
But for .Net vNext it has been working with Xamarin to make sure its .Net packages run on OS X
and Unix/Linux, via the open source Mono project.
The company has even gone as far as to develop a tool called ApiPort that can analyze .Net code
for its portability.
The tool not only alerts developers to any potential issues, but it also uploads its analysis to
the company in order that Microsoft can prioritize the "most requested" API/platform combinations.
Finally, Microsoft says that it has committed to releasing all of the .Net vNext technologies as
open source software via its newly inaugurated .Net Foundation – which it says shouldn't come as a
surprise, since all of the ASP.Net Web stack is already open source.
So it looks like Microsoft has ambitious plans for .Net and by targeting cloud deployments it's
addressing a healthy, growing market.
Whether it can win over enough converts to grow .Net's share of that market remains to be seen. "We'll share
much more in the months to come before we release the final versions," the .Net team said in a blog post.
"We're looking forward to shipping pre-release versions in order to get your feedback," the post said.
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