text:
With a new software update, Google Glass users will now be able to see notifications just by moving their eyes.
See also: 5 Free Android Apps for Tethering
Usually, when a Glass user receives an alert, the device will sound a chime, but the screen won't show what the alert is unless the user either nods or taps the touchpad. With the new update, all a Glass wearer has to do is glance at the virtual screen.
In a Google+ post, Google said the feature was experimental. There's no question it makes seeing alerts even more convenient than before, although it may end up making them too convenient — Glass has already been criticized for its potential to distract.
Making alerts "glanceable" adds a layer of social acceptability, however. If the wearer were, say, in a business meeting or in church, tapping his or her headset or nodding might be distracting to the people around them, whereas a quick glance would probably go virtually unnoticed.
Glass owners can enable the feature via a "Notification glance" card in the device's settings. Like other experimental features, such as "Wink for picture," the new glanceable notifications may not make it into the final product for the general public, which will reportedly be available this year. A beta version of Glass is currently available to the public.


text:
Porsche, a brand with a reputation for building luxury sports cars for those who truly love the experience of driving, is turning up the electricity.
The high-end German brand is about to start deliveries of its limited-edition 918 Spyder, a plug-in electric hybrid that allows Porsche fans to drive a sports car in five modes—ranging from all-electric to "hot lap," where a 4.6-liter V8 engine provides 608 of the car's maximum 887 horsepower.
"Hot Lap mode is what is really amazing," said Joe Lawrence, chief operating officer of Porsche North America. "We set the all-time record lap time at Germany's famous Nurburgring race track of 6 minutes and 57 seconds."
Read MoreMcLaren's new $280,000 supercar
Porsche will only sell 918 of the vehicles, and most of those have already been spoken for.
The price: $847,975

domain: news


text:
University of Bristol brings small businesses and finance together
Press release issued: 22 March 2004
On Monday, March 15, the University of Bristol played host to an event to help small businesses to face the challenge to source appropriate finance.
Titled 'Access to Finance', the event was a roaring success with over 60 attendees from business, industry and new enterprises from across the South West. Two industry-leading speakers gave an overview of the market and shared their strategies for success. Jonathan Jenkins, Joint Managing Director of OFEX talked the audience through funding new businesses through the flotation route, while Stuart Ager, Head of Technology Sector Group for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group explained the role of the bank in financing your business.
The event focused on explanations of what finance is available and tips on how to get it, as well as warnings of the common pitfalls and mistakes businesses make. Feedback after the event was extremely positive, with attendees rating it 'a must' for high-tech entrepreneurs. Not surprising since sourcing finance is one of the biggest challenges facing growing businesses.
Peter Maxwell, Business Incubation Manager at the University of Bristol, who provide a range of support to new businesses in the South West, enthused: "This event was invaluable given its emphasis on practical support and advice. It certainly helped a number of entrepreneurs to give their business idea an investment readiness road-check!"
For details of further events visit the Bristol Enterprise Network.


text:
The ubiquitous USB 3.0 connector is advancing to light-speed and longer-distance data transfers thanks to optical cables from Corning that started shipping on Tuesday.
3D printer prices are dropping into a range that could appeal to home users.
Lego-like parts that will form the building blocks for Google's Project Ara will be produced on 3D printers and ship in time for the customizable smartphone's release early next year.
Hewlett-Packard shipped its first inkjet printer in 1984, but waited 30 years to release a multifunction inkjet printer for general office printing in enterprises.
Fitbit, a startup that makes wearable devices for activity tracking, is being sued following reports that users of its Force device developed skin rashes.
Hewlett-Packard claims to have solved the two biggest problems with today's 3D printers and will make its first big technology announcement in that area in June, CEO Meg Whitman said Wednesday.
Using mobile devices for one-off printing tasks on office printers may not be a big deal, but Hewlett-Packard is trying to mitigate any security risk through direct wireless printing features it is bringing to enterprise printers.
The smartphone is the new computer, and wireless peripherals are popping up everywhere
European Union politicians have vowed to end the “nightmare” of non-compatible phone chargers.
Some Bluetooth headsets are designed to get beats into your ear: The C-SP 01 from Cosinuss is there to get them out.
Unifying communications (UC) by replacing separate PCs and telephones with a PC equipped with a headset and some telephony software can sound like a great idea until the first electricity bill for those always-on PCs comes in. Fujitsu hopes to end th...
Wacom has grand designs for a new graphical language that, it says, will allow input and sharing of writing movements across multiple platforms, with or without one of its trademark digital styluses.
French tablet maker Archos is using a tweaked version of Bluetooth Low Energy to monitor and control smart devices around the home.
Fujitsu Laboratories has developed wearable technology in the form of a glove and a head-mounted display that could help speed up maintenance work and other applications where NFC tags are widely used.
Hewlett-Packard wants to make wireless printing of documents from Android mobile devices as easy as tapping one button.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- 2 Portable power: Venom Blackbook 13 Zero review
- 3 Alcatel Idol 4S review: King of the mid-range?
- 4 Witness a 241% Australian price hike: Dell Latitude 7370 review
- 5 Is this the best value phone on the market? Moto G4 Plus review
Join the PC World newsletter!
Latest News Articles
- Medical device security ignites an ethics firestorm
- Got big data? Check out these 100 best practices for keeping it secure
- Mozilla launches free website security scanning service
- Privacy Shield data transfer agreement now shelters 200 companies
- Dropbox prompts certain users to change their passwords
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
- CCEmail Production SpecialistNSW
- CCImplementation ManagerVIC
- CCProgram SchedulerVIC
- CCJava DeveloperACT
- CCAnalyst Programmer/Snr. Analyst Programmer 20160817/vedAsia
- CCICT Security Design & Implementation - NV1ACT
- FTApplication AdministratorACT
- CCSenior Project Manager - Contact CentresNSW
- CCPersonal AssistantVIC
- CCBackfill Support Engineer (Renewable 12-month Contract)Asia
- CCChange LeadsNSW
- FTOperations ManagerNSW
- CCBusiness AnalystNSW
- FTSAP BASIS HANA ConsultantNSW
- CCNetwork Engineer - TelecomVIC
- FTDefence Network EngineerACT
- CCUNIX/ LINUX SERVER ENGINEERVIC
- FTSenior Full Stack .Net Developer - Brand NEW IoT ProjectNSW
- CCChange Manager/ Advisor- operational environmentNSW
- CCNetwork Technology SpecialistVIC
- CCSalesforce CRM ManagerNSW
- FTApplications Support / Systems Administrator | DefenceACT
- FTJava Tech Lead - Full StackNSW
- CCContract Senior Web Developer (PHP/Drupal/JAVA) 160808/SWD/vtdAsia
- FTBid Manager - Intelligent TechnologyVIC


text:
In an Unusual Turn of Events
With the growing popularity of online dating and digital relationships, it appears that a worldwide ghosting phenomenon has took place right before the holidays. Numerous people are now without their A.I. companions due to the sudden shutdown of the Forever Voices platform.
After the arrest of Forever Voices CEO John Meyer, users of the platform have found themselves abruptly disconnected from their virtual partners.
John Heinrich Meyer, 28, was apprehended on charges of arson and terroristic threats, as reported by Austin, Texas-based NBC affiliate KXAN. The arrest was related to a fire he allegedly set in his apartment that resulted in substantial damage to the building.
404 Media was the first to report the shutdown of Meyer’s online service, leaving numerous users puzzled as to why their A.I. partners had suddenly gone silent. CarynAI, one of the most trending chatbots, ceased all conversations, disappointing its enthusiastic online suitors.
What’s Next for Forever Voices?
Regardless of the unexpected breakup, there could be hope on the horizon with the announced Caryn 2.0, an update promised to bring a new level of digital companionship. The A.I. was acquired by tech startup BanterAI in a substantial deal, according to the real-life influencer behind CarynAI.
Marjorie has pledged that the new and improved A.I. companion will elevate the entire experience, especially for those who were left hanging. In the meantime, Reddit has evolved an unexpected support group for the disappointed users of Forever Voices, with the shutdown sparking discussions and recommendations for alternative virtual companions.
Conclusion: A Digital Love Gone Cold
As if experiencing rejection from a real individual wasn’t enough, the sudden shutdown of Forever Voices has likewise left enthusiasts of virtual love feeling abandoned. It’s a peculiar situation, and it seems that the digital world is not immune to the complexities of human emotions related to relationships.
As events continue to unfold, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the users of Forever Voices and their A.I. companions.
Demian Crypter emerges as a true luminary in the cosmos of crypto analysis, research, and editorial prowess. With the precision of a watchmaker, Demian navigates the intricate mechanics of digital currencies, resonating harmoniously with curious minds across the spectrum. His innate ability to decode the most complex enigmas within the crypto tapestry seamlessly intertwines with his editorial artistry, transforming complexity into an eloquent symphony of understanding.


text:
Finally the Korean electronics giant Samsung has revealed on its Facebook page that Samsung Galaxy SII the older flagship galaxy device will soon be upgraded to the latest version of android operating system, the Android Jelly Bean 4.1.
The Jelly bean upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy SII will be rolled out in the next few days, however the final date of the roll out is not yet announced but will be made available in the coming few days.
The update will bring in the much improved user interface all thanks to the Project butter along with Samsung’s Touch Wiz user interface on top of it. Additionally the Jelly Bean upgrade for the Samsung galaxy SII will bring in the video pop out feature to the devices, it will allow users to watch their favorite videos while working on other things in the background.
Along with that the upgrade will bring the smart stay feature that will allow the device to stay on while the user is looking at the device. The device tracks the user’s eye through the front camera and does not let the display go of until user is looking at it.
Also for video recording in the device will get the pause feature like the one featured on the Galaxy Camera allowing users to pause the recording and continuing it form where they left earlier.


text:
In a Google Groups thread, AdWordsPro.Sarah tells us that there will be a new forum opening on November 5th .
The new forums will boast user posting incentives, integration with the help center, enhanced user profiles (personalization with social -- photos too!), rich text posting, and video capability.
Meanwhile, the Google AdSense team reports that they, too, have started a new forum, and it's already available. Here's the link and here's an interactive feedback forum that complements it, where you can report bugs with the specific forums.
Google Chrome is also changing its home, according to another Google Groups post. There's no date on this launch, but with the AdSense forum debut, it looks promising for all Google Help properties.


text:
What you need to know
- Morgan Stanley estimates Amazon Logistics, the retail giant's in-house shipping solution, is now shipping 2.5 billion packages per year.
- That amounts to 50% of all its deliveries in the U.S.
- The investment bank also estimates that the company may overtake UPS to become the largest shipping service in the country by 2022.
Amazon is rapidly expanding its shipping capabilities, with Morgan Stanley estimating that the company has more than doubled shipments in the U.S. in the last year alone (via CNBC). Its in-house shipping wing now accounts for nearly 50% of all Amazon deliveries in the country this year, up from just 20% last year. To truly understand the scope of Amazon's operation, here's another statistic: the investment bank estimates Amazon is currently shipping at a rate of 2.5 billion packages per year, compared to an estimated 4.7 billion and 3 billion packages per year for UPS and FedEx, respectively.
A large part of this growth is focused on more densely populated urban areas, with Morgan Stanley attributing Amazon's burgeoning rise to its efficient use of technology. "To us, Amazon Logistics is already-large scale and with a fleet ~1/5 the size of competitors, it speaks to its ability to use density and technology to drive efficiency," said the bank.
It also expects Amazon Logistics to become the market leader in the U.S. shipping space in just three more years, accounting for 6.5 billion shipments per year, compared to forecasts of 5 billion and 3.7 billion packages for UPS and FedEx by the same time, respectively.
However, the breakneck pace of Amazon's shipping capabilities has come at a high human cost as we reported earlier in the year. The smaller companies — called delivery service providers — that Amazon depends on for most of its last-mile deliveries report horrific working conditions, which have also led to three fatalities. While Amazon cut its ties with the companies involved in those incidents, it had reportedly begun relationships with new companies working out of the same warehouses and hiring the same workers soon after, raising questions about how many more mishaps might await us in the future as the company nearly triples its shipping volumes in the next three years.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Android 11 is on the way — here's everything you need to know
Android 11 is the big Android release for 2020, and it's shaping up to be an exciting update. We're following all of the changes and new features so you know exactly what to expect when the final build is available later this year.
Ninja's comments show how games continue to be inaccesible, and it sucks
Games are inaccessible enough without somebody as visible as Ninja coming along and making it worse.
Google launches first Android 11 Developer Preview for Pixel phones
The first developer preview for Android 11 is here with enhancements for 5G, support for hole-punch and waterfall screens, call-screening APIs, enhanced privacy features, and more.
These are the best Alexa-compatible smart devices
Having Alexa is just the start. Now you need smart things to connect to it.


text:
Banks cap transfers amid fraud crackdown
Customers are facing limits on how much money they can send online as banks come under pressure to stop crime
Caps are being put on the amount that bank customers can transfer online amid a national crackdown on money laundering and fraud.
NatWest was the first big name to tighten the limit on what people can transfer using the faster payments service, which enables immediate transfers. The daily transfer limit has been reduced to £5,000 for customers of NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, down from £20,000 (although customers can choose to raise their limit to the higher figure).
NatWest said that 95 per cent of its customers had never made a payment of more than £5,000. It said the threshold, introduced in May, would limit the amount of money sent to scammers. “Early indications show that it is helping to reduce fraud,”


text:
Household consumption grew at a faster 4.7 percent (+3.6 percent in Q3), government spending grew further by 8.1 percent (+8 percent in Q3) and gross fixed capital formation expanded by 3.5 percent, after showing no growth in the previous quarter.
Exports rose by 2.1 percent (-1.4 percent in Q3), the first increase in four quarters, while imports contracted at a faster 2.6 percent (-1.2 percent in Q3).
On the production side, agriculture activities grew 2.8 percent, industry advanced 7.2 percent and services sector expanded 6.1 percent.
On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the economy expanded 0.7 percent.
Considering full 2015, the economy expanded by 4 percent, accelerating from a 3 percent growth in 2014. Household final consumption increased by 4.5 percent (from +1.4 percent in 2014) and government final expenditure increased by 6.7 percent (from +4.7 percent). Also, gross fixed capital formation increased by 3.6 percent (from -1.3 percent).
Meanwhile, exports of goods and services shrank by 0.8 percent (from +7.4 percent in the previous year), while imports increased slightly by 0.3 percent (from -0.3 percent).


text:
In ancient European lore, vampires cannot enter a home without being invited in. Once invited, they are free to pass at will, feasting on the inhabitants.
Of course, this legend had a practical purpose – to teach the young and naïve not to invite strangers who might do them harm into a house. This lesson is so much easier to understand to protect against real people with insidious motives than it is with insidious technology.
How many of us have invited Amazon into our homes? How deeply are they in yours right now? Do you simply order from your laptop or iPad and bring their packages to your door? Many have an Amazon device prominently placed in the home – or two or three – that listens all the time, and records some of the time, sending those recordings of personal wishes back to the great Amazon-controlled cloud. Others have actual Amazon-managed camera systems, through the Ring network, that could be using facial recognition technology and can allow local police to use the cameras.
So why am I picking on Amazon for this particular trend of invading all aspects of our homes and lives with surveillance equipment that would have been the fever dream of spies and police states not many years ago? Microsoft Xbox has been using facial recognition camera systems in people’s homes for years. Google has similar audio and video listening and capturing technology in residences across the world. Apple’s personal and smart-home devices, from wearables to security cameras to lightbulbs, collect far more data from a home than most people consider. Amazon is not the only big company leading this home privacy invasion.
But in the past week, Amazon made an announcement of a product that illustrates how far the trend has progressed. In 2018, Amazon bought the home security company Ring. The company provides homeowners cameras at the doors and, if desired, throughout the rooms in a house. According to Wired, “Ring gives law enforcement officials access to a portal where they can ask camera owners to provide footage that may be relevant to criminal investigations in their neighborhood. Officials can also interact with residents on Ring’s community app, Neighbors. Police don’t need a warrant to send a request, and Ring users aren’t under any legal obligation to hand over their recordings in the program—though Ring hasn’t always reminded customers of that fact.”
Now, building on this home surveillance network, Amazon has added drones that patrol the rooms of a consumer’s home. At this year’s annual Amazon hardware event, alongside globe-shaped Echoes and a talking microwave, was the Ring Always Home Cam, about which a Ring executive writes, “We wanted to create one camera that could give users the flexibility of every viewpoint they want around the home while delivering on our founding principles of privacy and security. That’s why I’m excited to announce the Ring Always Home Cam, a new way to look after the home and provide multiple viewpoints with one device. This autonomous indoor security camera flies your chosen, personalized paths so that you can easily check in on your home for peace of mind—like whether someone left a window open or forgot to turn the stove off.”
With a camera that is blocked when the drone is docked, the new Amazon drone can fly from room to room, recording burglars, frightening raccoons, entertaining your cat, or simply showing you on your smartphone security app how you left everything that morning. It could be an intrusive nanny-cam or a way to confirm your children are doing their homework and not playing videogames. Imagine the drone in the hands of an emotionally abusive and controlling spouse, following a mate around the house to confirm all reported activities.
Like any tool, the home a-drone can be used for good or evil. As I have previously observed in this space, a hammer may be highly productive or destructive depending on the person who is using it. At the moment, Amazon has made drone video ineligible for the automatic request feature by police, but there is no reason that police couldn’t use the interior drone video with a warrant – or without a warrant if they ask nicely. Most people feel pressure to accommodate police requests and many do not know they have a Constitutional right to protect their own privacy from law enforcement.
Ring is known for its motion-activated camera systems and the drone fits in perfectly. If a disturbance is detected within the home, the drone is programmed to launch itself and fly to the sound of the incident. As stated in the recent Wired article on the topic, “It’s all part of Amazon’s larger strategy to have its singular products plug in and fly and rotate and simply appear where you need them to be, similar to the way the voice assistant Alexa started to show up, well, everywhere. Amazon’s been at this for a while now. The drone may be coming from inside the house, but it should also come as no surprise.” So it flies around your home like a bat, sucking in private information as it goes.
While some may see this security advance as creepy, Amazon claims that it was offered to solve a problem for some of its Ring customers. Many people did not want silent, permanent cameras in every room or angle of the house and some could not afford the most extensive camera systems. The camera drone allows one unit to check all over when needed.
And no one can be angry with Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and others for providing products that are useful enough for people to want to cast privacy aside and allow third parties to record sound and video within their homes. Chipping away at our privacy so we have no “reasonable expectation” at all. Just like no one could blame the vampires for requesting an invitation to come inside a home. They are hungry, after all.


text:
No less than the perfect replica Rolex 6062 examples are coming to auction in November. I’ll take an in-depth look at the reference and each of these examples in a separate article over the next few weeks, because it’s my favorite UK luxury fake Rolex reference of all time.
Christie’s has a 1:1 fake Rolex 6062 “Stelline,” named for the star hour markers, and it’s another watch that’s familiar to the market. It comes from the collection of Gordon Bethune, former CEO of Continental Airlines and a well-known watch collector. It last sold at Phillips for CHF 1.9 million in 2019. Before that, the aaa quality replica Rolex UK sold in 2012 for $590,000. This time around, it has an estimate of CHF 1 to 2 million.


text:
Cellular Sales, the largest independent Verizon Wireless retailer by volume, announced expansion in Illinois with a new Huntley store. Within the next year, the Huntley store is expected to add new jobs in the local community.
The store, at 47 Regency Parkway, opened to customers Sept. 7. This is Cellular Sales’ first store in Huntley, but its 14th store in Illinois.
“As a company, we find it important to serve each of our customers in a hands-on way,” Cellular Sales regional director Derek Born said. “By opening our first store in the Huntley area, we have the opportunity to connect and support even more customers face-to-face.”
The store is hoping to expand by hiring at least a dozen additional team members to its current team of eight employees.
Cellular Sales’ innovative approach to customer service has allowed the company to grow significantly through its 25 years. It has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies nine of the past 10 years, achieving Hall of Fame status.
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Cellular Sales was founded in 1993. The company employs 7,200 people and operates more than 700 stores nationwide across 41 states.
Before selling on their own, Cellular Sales’ recruits are trained for four to six weeks with senior sales representatives, giving them the best possible tools for success.
Team members are encouraged to view themselves as entrepreneurs with the support of an established, successful company backing them up.
Not only does the company want to generate loyal employees, but it seeks to provide valuable training and support for each team members’ personal and professional development.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for retail sales jobs to grow over the next decade, and sales experience will be valuable.
“We’re looking forward to getting the chance to work with more of our Illinois residents,” Cellular Sales regional director Rodney Hoffman said. “The hard work of each team member here is something we are incredibly proud of and something we know we will find in Huntley.”
Cellular Sales seeks to hire individuals with a passion for customer service to work at its Regency Parkway store in Huntley.
Those interested in applying for jobs at the Huntley location may contact Cellular Sales recruiter Kevin Austin at 317-800-5665 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
For information on the company, visit cellularsales.com.


text:
Here are 12 beauty products worth adding to your collection.
Millionaire musicians getting sued by major companies is nothing new, but the latest is pretty head-scratching. R&B star Chris Brown is embroiled in a lawsuit stemming from Popeyes in the amount of $2 million. Now, if you’re wondering if Brown ordered copious amounts of wings –spicy, of course– and ran out on the bill a […]
Paris Fashion Fashion Week has kicked off and all of our favs are there. See our list of top celebs and looks.
The stars seemed to have had an artistic, regal aura around them that could be felt through the pictures.
Houston was dripping with celebrities. Destiny's Child, Lizzo, and more were seen cheering on Bey.
If Aaliyah, Lil Kim, and Destiny's Child had a fashion baby, it would resemble Coco Jones.
Lori Harvey turned heads in this monochrome look from Ferragamo during the brand's fashion show at Milan Fashion Week.
Natalia Bryant has just made her first official runway debut at the Versace Fashion Show during Milan Fashion Week.


text:
Aerospace & Defense Update
Italian aerospace and defense group Finmeccanica has taken DRS Technologies off the market following results that beat expectations for the first half of 2015. Finmeccanica acquired DRS, a U.S. defense electronics business, in 2008 before major cuts in defense spending. Last summer, CEO Mauro Moretti indicated his plans to sell DRS as part of a business review and debt reduction program. DRS reported $1.87 billion in annual sales for 2014, a decline from the $3.2 billion DRS had in 2008, the last full year before the acquisition by Finmeccanica.
Precision Castparts Corp. (“PCC”), a manufacturer of complex metal components and products, plans to acquire Noranco, a supplier of complex machined and fabricated components for aero-engine, landing gear, and airframe applications. The deal is worth an estimated $560 million and is expected to close during 3Q15. Noranco’s offerings are expected to strengthen PCC’s existing market position in airframe products while also expanding PCC’s current product offering. Noranco will take advantage of PCC’s forging and fasteners capabilities, and add its machining and fabrication capabilities to PCC’s airframe products segment. Currently, Noranco serves a variety of Tier 1 manufacturers including Honeywell, Safran, and Bombardier.
Government Technology Solutions Update
The Department of Defense (“DoD”) announced this week that the Defense Healthcare Modernization Management System Modernization (“DHMSM”) contract has been awarded. Originally anticipated to have an $11.0 billion lifetime cost through 2030, the actual award stands at $4.3 billion over ten years, including all option years. Awarded on the basis of best value, the contract will be performed by the Leidos-led team which includes Accenture and Cerner. The DHMSM program seeks to enhance operation coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) and DoD by developing a single, commercial product that includes full interoperability between the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (“VistA”) health records system, private records, and DoD’s healthcare management system. DHMSM is expected to be tested in eight Pacific Northwest sites in 2016, and rollout fully by 2022. The system will run along ~50 legacy systems and gradually facilitate the consolidation of military health services.
The Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) is drafting new cybersecurity guidelines for contractors to bolster protection against cyber breaches via third-party vendors. As agencies provide more services online, store digital data, and rely on contractors for these IT services, cyber threats to the Federal IT system have dramatically increased. Additionally, current regulations involving protocols for reporting possible cybersecurity breeches are often unclear or confusing, resulting in delayed reactions to potential threats. The new OMB effort intends to diminish vulnerabilities in third-party vendor security protocols that hackers may exploit to gain access to sensitive information and are expected to clarify existing regulations. Furthermore, though the framework will require a high degree of judgement from contractors, it will set a clear standard for precautions and defense from cyber threats.
DigitalGlobe (Down 14.1%) – Shares were down this week in response to management keeping FY 2015 outlook the same despite strong 2Q15 results. Analysts are concerned about DigitalGlobe’s performance over the second half of 2015.
Griffon Corp. (Up 9.7%) – Shares were up this week in response to 3Q15 earnings beating analyst estimates.
Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. to acquire Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of sensing, control, and motion products for the aerospace industry. The deal is worth an estimated $1 billion.
Solva S.A. to acquire Cytec Industries, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of added products for the aerospace and industrial materials, mining, and plastics industries. The deal is worth an estimated $6.4 billion.
TransDigm Group, Inc. to acquire PneuDraulics, Inc., a designer, developer, manufacturer, and supplier of precision hydraulic components for the aerospace industry. The deal is worth an estimated $325 million.
GKN plc to acquire Fokker Technologies Group B.V., a designer, developer, and manufacturer of aircraft components and systems. The deal is worth an estimated $1.1 billion.
Accurus Aerospace Corp. to acquire LaCroix Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of sheet metal products for the aerospace industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Vista Outdoor Inc. to acquire CamelBak Products, LLC, a manufacturer of hydration products and solutions for commercial and military sectors. The deal is worth an estimated $413 million.
Precision Castparts Corp. to acquire Noranco Inc., a manufacturer of aero-structures, landing gear systems, and aero engine precision components. The deal is worth an estimated $560 million.


text:
Washington was behind the abrupt removal of a World Health Organisation representative to Thailand after he wrote of possible adverse impacts to Thailand of a free trade agreement with the US, a source said yesterday.
An Asia Times Online investigation reveals that at the time of his death, World Health Organization (WHO) director general Lee Jong-wook, a South Korean national, had closely aligned himself with the US government and by association US corporate interests, often to the detriment of the WHO’s most vital commitments and positions.
US free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia, as well as the possible agreement with Ecuador, were negotiated under the promise of great opportunities in the world’s richest market, but the truth is that these agreements will have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of small farmers, public health, and the regulation of investment to protect the public interest.
As Malaysia and the United States began their first round of talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), they were confronted by a group of Malaysian protesters concerned that the agreement will cause the country more harm than good.
Morocco came under review last month by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. During this process, the UN Committee raised concerns about the effects of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on access to affordable medicines and the enjoyment of the right to health in the country.
South Korean consumers will pay more for pharmaceuticals if US demands on a free trade agreement between the two countries are met, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The Ministers of Health of ten South American countries issued a
joint declaration on intellectual property committing themselves to
avoid "TRIPS plus" provisions in bilateral and regional trade agreements,
to facilitate the use of compulsory licensing and parallel importing and to
avoid broadening the scope of patentability and the extension of
Australia’s monopoly blood processor, CSL, has backed Red Cross calls for a ban on plasma imports and warned against opening up the nation’s supply network to overseas companies.
I read an article by Woo Seok-gyun, an official from the Korea Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights (KFHR), regarding the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation on medical care and education. Mr. Woo described the upcoming negotiation as a ’game of truth’ by the government.
It’s just over a year since the Australia US Free Trade Agreement came into force, opening the door for US drug companies to force a review of decisions about which drugs are subsidised by the Australian Government. Now that power is being used by the US drug company Eli Lilly.
New stringent drug patent and marketing rules being negotiated in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the US and Thailand would limit competition and reduce access to affordable medicines in Thailand.
The Guatemalan pharmaceutical industry is the strongest company in Central America and among the first 10 in Latin America, but it is today threatened by the free trade agreement (FTA) with United States.
The briefing calls for an independent human rights impact assessment of the
effect of intellectual property rules in the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on access to medicines and the enjoyment of human rights in Morocco.
International aid organization Oxfam criticized today’s signing of the
US-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Washington, an agreement it says
would do more harm than good for millions of Peruvians who live in
Under global trading rules, the inventors of medicines ordinarily enjoy the right to a 20-year monopoly on their inventions. But five years ago, the United States joined 141 other countries to sign the Doha Declaration, confirming the right of poor countries to break drug patents and produce cheap generic drugs in the event of contagions like HIV.
At just $4million, it’s hardly the biggest biotech deal ever struck by an Australian company, but it’s an important first.
Report of the US government’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (ITAC-15)
Although Thailand and South Korea are different in terms of development, people in both countries share a common demand for the protection of their right to affordable medicines and treatment.
The Rural Pharmacists Club issued a statement on Sunday calling for caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to resign and said the prime minister should face an investigation by independent committee over his alleged attempts to amend law to allow foreign companies to take over the country’s vital state enterprises.
The South African Customs Union is in talks with the Indian government for signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance the trade and business between both the countries.


text:
Google Gears works on Macs running Safari. Are there enough Web apps to make it worthwhile though?
Google has finally made the Safari-friendly version of Gears available. Savvy Mac users could have downloaded and installed a rougher version of it as early as three weeks ago, however only Monday did the company announce a new version that's been readied for mass consumption.
Like its predecessor, the Mac version of Gears requires version 3.1.1 or higher of Safari, or version 1.5 or higher of Firefox, along with a machine running the most recent build of OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or 10.5.3 (Leopard). It offers the same offline-goodness as its Windows counterpart, which is to say you'll get limited offline file access and optimization on the handful of Web applications that support it.
Interestingly enough, you're still unable to use Gears on the Windows version of Safari. Google must have hedged development on the fact that most Mac users are using Safari by default, whereas it's one of the trailing choices for Windows users; at least those who were smart enough to uncheck that install button in the Apple updater that comes with iTunes.
Back in December 2007 we predicted that "you'll be seeing Gears as a standard part of new Web apps in 2008." To a certain extent we've gotten a little bit closer to that with big-name services like WordPress and MySpace getting on board with limited Gears support. That said, the platform is still young, and the latest version--0.4 is still tacking on new features such as geo-locational awareness that can significantly change how much complexity developers choose to add to their online applications.


text:
After the appearance of the official date for the presentation of the new Mi 11 series of smartphones, Xiaomi has released a bunch of teasers revealing some of the features of the new product. To this information can be added leaks, thanks to which the starting price of the Xiaomi Mi 11 smartphones became known. In fact, this not gives a complete picture of the upcoming novelty.
So, today, the company has released another promotional teaser that talks about Wi-Fi 6E support in Xiaomi Mi 11 smartphones. This technology will achieve 3.5 Gbps data transfer rates thanks to 160 MHz bandwidth. Another advantage of the new item, according to the released teasers, is 4K QAM technology for transmitting 4K video with a minimum error rate, which will improve the quality of viewing.
At the moment it is known that the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 platform will debut in this series. According to the information from the leaks, the new items will receive a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and Quad HD + resolution. The standard version is expected to receive a 108MP main camera, a 4780mAh battery, and 50W fast charging. At the moment, insiders are reporting three memory configurations (RAM + ROM): 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB.
The GSMarena portal reported on the leak of the price of the smartphone of the basic version of the Xiaomi Mi 11 smartphone. According to the report, the price tag starts at $687 for the 8GB + 128GB configuration, $735 for the 8GB + 256GB version, and the top-end configuration with 12GB + 256GB will cost $800.
The prices are nowhere near the Xiaomi Mi 10 cost at its unveiling back in February 2020, with every option being 20% higher now. We are yet to see if the Mi 11 Pro will follow suit. Last year the Mi 10 Pro 5G smartphone was way more expensive than its vanilla sibling in China. The Xiaomi Mi 11 series smartphones will be presented on December 28, stay tuned.
Read Also: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Pre-Orders Has Already Started On JD.Com
Do not forget to follow us on our Facebook group and page to keep you always aware of the latest advances, News, Updates, review, and giveaway on smartphones, tablets, gadgets, and more from the technology world of the future.
The post Xiaomi Mi 11 Will Have an Improved WiFi 6 That Will Reach 3.5Gbps appeared first on IGeeKphone China Phone, Tablet PC, VR, RC Drone News, Reviews.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Place: Hyatt Regency Austin - Zilker Ballroom
Kansas co. to bring high-end Archer hotel to The Domain in Austin
The hospitality company that built the Aloft hotel in The Domain will build another boutique hotel in the same mixed-use development. The master developer and partner in the new hotel project is Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group.
Wichita, Kansas-based LodgeWorks Partners LP has named the proposed 168-room luxury hotel Archer Austin. The new brand is just being launched and includes the Archer Hotel New York, which is under construction in Manhattan, and Archer Napa in California wine country, which is in the planning stages.
LawKingdon Architecture, also in Wichita, is the design firm.
Though the hotel is meant to convey luxury, it will also carry out the Keep Austin Weird theme, according to a news release.
“Archer will be an Austinite, an authentic Texan, through and through,” said Roger Brown, senior vice president and director of design at LawKingdon Architecture, in a news release.
Sources of inspiration include Austin’s music scene, the Lady Bird Wildflower Center and the Hill Country landscape.
“One thing Archer Austin will not be is predictable,” the release states. “Each of the guestrooms is being designed to have a different feel, with as many as eight design palettes currently being considered.”
LodgeWorks last grabbed headlines in 2011 when it sold many of its assets to Hyatt Corp. for $661 million.
At the time the company had 60 employees and expected that number to be halved with the sale. The company largely was silent until the announcement last year that it would roll out the Archer brand starting in New York.
Ben Bufkin is overseeing the hotel development from Endeavor’s end. He was unavailable for comment.
Jan Buchholz covers commercial and residential real estate, construction and architecture and retail and restaurants for the Austin Business Journal.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- Baseball player puts major league Austin house on the market
- Austin Under 40's 2015 finalists announced
- You know that cool vacant building on South Congress? It's been sold
- Toss throws its hat into Austin restaurant ring
- Report: No matter how you slice it, Austin set to grow big
- Demand for prime SXSW spots wanes as city increases festival
- Austin's W Hotel and ACL theater back on the market
- IBM says upcoming job cuts much smaller than reported
- Dell family pledges $25 million to new downtown hospital
- Two Austin companies rank on Forbes' 'Most Promising' list
Stay up-to-date with the latest real estate news from Austin every day.
Director of Underwriting and Risk Management PeopleFund | Austin, TX
Executive Assistant Manchester Texas Financial Group LLC | Austin, TX
Production Support Analyst- Splunk DISYS | Austin, TX
MDS Coordinator – LVN Parkview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | Austin, TX
Interactions - The Non-Call Center Interactions Corporation | Dessau, TX


text:
Amazon.com has discovered that selling toys isn't all fun and games.
The e-tail giant today formed a 10-year partnership with Toysrus.com to develop a new co-branded e-commerce site for toys and video games. Amazon, which sells toys as well as books, CDs and kitchenware on its site, said it also plans to create a co-branded baby-products site with Toysrus.com
As part of the agreement, Toysrus.com, in conjunction with its majority
shareholder, Paramus, N.J.-based Toys "R" Us, will handle the buying and management of inventory. Amazon will handle Web site development, order fulfillment and customer service for the new site.
Both companies said they intend to house each other's inventory in Amazon's
U.S. distribution centers.
Today's agreement represents a fundamental shift in Amazon's strategy, with
the e-tailing giant handing off much of the inventory risk to Toysrus.com
while continuing to focus on its strength in drawing customers.
"It is certainly the case that while we aspire to have the merchandising skills of a Toys 'R' Us, it would be foolish to believe we have them today," Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said at a news conference in New York.
"As we enter new product categories, there's a learning curve--not a bad thing--but it can be very expensive," Bezos added.
He also said his Seattle-based company is open to similar alliances for other product categories. "The great opportunity here for us is that we get to skip the learning curve for the toys business."
Just yesterday, a report by Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Faye Landes noted
that Amazon customers continue to see the company as a retailer of media
products--books, videos and CDs--rather than of a wider array of merchandise. Amazon first began as a Net bookseller, adding music, video and toy sales over time. The company now also sells kitchenware, garden
furniture, hardware tools, and health and beauty products.
"Amazon is basically conceding that they couldn't be the leader in the toy
space," said Ken Cassar, a research analyst at Jupiter Communications. "If
they aren't going to be able to do it in the toy space, there is no way they are going to be able to do it in lawn and garden and any other category outside of the core media."
Meta Group e-commerce analyst Gene Alvarez said today's agreement indicates the online giant may have spread itself across too many product areas too fast.
"This (move) is a signal that Amazon stepped into the toy market a little bit too early," he said. "Though they needed to expand beyond books and CDs and move into areas with greater margins?they kind of oversold themselves."
Amazon stock has been battered in the past several months, as a steady
stream of analysts have downgraded the stock because of growth concerns. Two
weeks ago, Amazon's strongest booster, Merrill Lynch analyst Henry Blodget,
lowered his short-term rating
on the company to "accumulate" from "buy."
The company recently lost president and chief operating officer Joseph
Galli, renowned for his operational acumen. Galli joined VerticalNet
as chief executive.
Today's agreement comes after Toysrus.com's recent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission on complaints about the company's inability to fulfill orders last Christmas.
Last month, seven e-tailers, including Toysrus.com, agreed to pay a total of $1.5 million in fines related to FTC charges over shipping delays last holiday season. The FTC alleges that the online stores did not give shoppers enough notice of impending shipping delays or that they continued to promise deliveries they could not make during the holiday season.
The deal with Amazon could help alleviate some shoppers' concerns, as
Toysrus.com will be handing off those fulfillment responsibilities with the co-branded site.
Shoppers will be able to access the co-branded site via Amazon's home page as well as through Toysrus.com. Orders will be completed and shipped by Amazon's order fulfillment department.
Under the terms of the deal, Amazon will be compensated periodically through a combination of fixed payments and single-digit percentages of revenue. The payments are designed to cover Amazon's order fulfillment expenses. In addition, Amazon said it will receive warrants entitling it to acquire 5 percent of Toysrus.com.
Amazon and Toysrus.com, as well as Toys "R" Us, intend to market the store to their respective customers. The toys and video-game site is slated to launch this fall, and the baby-products store is set to launch in the first half of next year.


text:
Buybacks have gotten a bad rap from both Republicans and Democrats. But stocks would be trading at a massive discount without them.Marketsread more
Fiat Chrysler and France's Renault could soon partner up to take on the sweeping changes to the global auto industry, according to a report in the Financial Times. The...Autosread more
Microsoft shares have gained 133% since November 2015, outperforming a tech "basket of unicorns" over that stretch.Technologyread more
The president's state visit comes amid tensions with carmaker Toyota over potential auto tariffs. Trump has repeatedly threatened Japanese and European carmakers with tariffs.Traderead more
The IRS is about to release a new draft of Form W-4, which will more closely reflect the changes stemming from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For workers, that means they'll need...Personal Financeread more
When commercial real estate investor Manny Khoshbin spent $2.2 million on the fastest production car in the world, he had no idea it would very quickly also become the...Autosread more
The Mega Millions jackpot has spilled over $400 million. It would be the ninth largest winning since the game began in 2002.Personal Financeread more
Trump was speaking at a meeting of Japanese business leaders in Tokyo during his state visit to Japan on Saturday.Marketsread more
The biggest U.S. gasoline price surge in years is running out of steam just in time for the start of the summer driving season.Energyread more
The federal minimum wage has remained $7.25 per hour since 2009. But several states, and even some companies, have since taken matters into their own hands to pay employees a...Workread more
Stocks rose on Friday, but notched weekly losses as investors worried the U.S.-China trade war is hurting economic growth.US Marketsread more
London's Heathrow Airport briefly halted departures Tuesday after a report of a drone sighting, less than a month after a similar event crippled operations at another major U.K. airport.
London's Metropolitan Police said it received reports of a drone sighting "in the vicinity of Heathrow airport" shortly after 5 p.m. local time. The airport said it resumed flights in the early evening after grounding planes following the report.
"We continue to work closely with the Met Police to respond to reports of drones at Heathrow," a spokesperson for the airport said in a statement. "Based on standard operating procedures, working with Air Traffic Control and the Met Police, we have resumed departures out of Heathrow following a short suspension. We continue to monitor this situation and apologise to any passengers that were affected by this disruption."
The incident shows how quickly even a report of a sighted drone can disrupt air travel. Officials are struggling with how to keep drones away from aircraft as the devices become more popular with consumers and businesses.
The suspension of departures at Heathrow came less than a month after reports of drone sightings halted air travel at London Gatwick Airport, stranding thousands of travelers during a peak holiday travel period.
Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and serves an average of more than 213,000 passengers a day.


text:
The news comes from Droid-Life, when their readers told them that they tried to claim their Droid over at mobile insurance company Asurion, but they were told that Motorola has stopped the production of the Motorola Droid and is no longer available in stock, and instead of Motorola Droid, they will replace it with Motorola Devour, Droid Eris, or LG Ally. So people if your Droid is insured, then don’t sit on it because Asurion is not going to replace it with a new Motorola Droid (Droid Eris is not a bad choice).
If Motorola has stopped the production of Droid, then it means that the Droid 2 is in production, which is a successor to the Droid 1. Somehow, the discontinuing of Droid 1 is not bad, because Droid 2 is a new, fast, and a better version, and people like buying new and improve stuff instead of buying something old. But Droid don’t think we’ll forget you, because you are known as the one of the best Android devices ever made.


text:
Exploring New Horizons: Shift Up’s Next Adventure into Sci-Fi Action-RPG Territory
In a bold step toward expanding their video game repertoire, game development studio Shift Up has initiated a campaign to welcome fresh talent for an ambitious project that carves a new path into the realms of science fiction and RPG. With the success and anticipation surrounding their forthcoming title, Stellar Blade, the studio is now venturing into the development of an action-packed, urban sci-fi action-RPG. This new endeavor, intriguingly dubbed as a “Cross Platform Next-Gen New Project,” hints at a game that transcends the traditional boundaries of platform-specific gaming to embrace a broader audience across mobile, console, and PC domains.
While specifics about the game are still shrouded in mystery, the studio’s vision for a AAA quality experience is clear. The integration of action-RPG elements within a futuristic urban sci-fi setting promises a compelling narrative and immersive gameplay that could redefine the genre for the next generation of gaming. The decision to develop the game across multiple platforms further indicates Shift Up’s commitment to making their visionary world accessible to a diverse range of players, offering a seamless experience regardless of their preferred gaming medium.
Setting Sights on Stellar Blade
Amidst the flurry of excitement for Shift Up’s new project, the studio continues to gear up for the release of Stellar Blade, a title that has been gathering momentum within gaming communities. Scheduled to launch exclusively on the PS5 on April 26, 2024, Stellar Blade is poised to captivate players with its engaging storyline, dynamic characters, and visually stunning world. Fans eager to get a taste of what’s in store can dive into the adventure ahead of release, as a playable demo is now accessible through the PlayStation Store.
A Glimpse into the Future
As the gaming landscape continually evolves with technological advancements and creative innovations, Shift Up’s endeavor into a cross-platform, next-generation gaming with their new sci-fi action-RPG project exemplifies the studio’s forward-thinking approach. Coupled with the upcoming Stellar Blade, Shift Up is set to offer gamers a diverse and enriching gaming experience that could set a new standard for what is expected in the action-RPG genre. With anticipation building and the gaming community watching keenly, the future looks bright for this dynamic studio as it embarks on these exciting new ventures.
With both projects signaling a bold leap towards integrating advanced gaming technologies and storytelling prowess, Shift Up can potentially redefine gaming paradigms for the next-gen audience. While details remain sparse, the allure of exploring uncharted territories in a sci-fi setting, coupled with the promise of high-quality action-RPG gameplay, sets the stage for what could be groundbreaking entries in the gaming world. As Shift Up continues to broaden its horizon, the gaming community eagerly awaits the groundbreaking experiences that lie in store.


text:
Chinese travelers abroad will be spending less on shopping: But that does not mean that they won’t be spending less overall. This is the key takeaway that one received after hearing Yiling Pan, senior editor of the authoritative Jing Daily, tell delegates to Connect Travel’s recent RTO Summit East in New York City, identify four trends that “destination marketers and travel groups have to understand” if they want to bring more Chinese travelers to the U.S.
Almost all of what follows in INBOUND’s distillation of Pan’s remarks is in her own words.
The Four Trends
- Customization: There is an increasing need for customized travel tours, especially important to the high-end traveler from Chinas … those people who are rich and wealthy who want to get a luxury experience from their trip abroad. Data from HURUN (a Shanghai-based research and media company) indicate that high net worth respondents from their survey told them that they are truly looking into spending their money on customized and experiential travel abroad. And, according to another recent report published by a Chinese research firm, they said that the customized travel industry in China is still in its early development stages, and the online sales for such tours remain very low. So, it means there is significant room for growth. The market system has been around in China since 2000, but only 7.9 percent of customized tour revenue came from online booking in 2017. It means that there is room for a company to think about growing the business there.
- The Rise of Cultural Tourism: We think this trend starts from China’s millennium and Gen B generation who are young, who want to understand culture and the arts. But this trend has quickly spread over to older people as well. So, we see visiting cultural institutions—no matter if it’s a museum, art gallery or exhibition—is a must for Chinese visitors nowadays when they plan their trip. They especially to visit places that allow them to take great pictures—“Instagramable” pictures—so that they can share them on social media platforms in China.
Another thing related to this is that more and more young Chinse people are becoming micro- influencers on the social media. One of the things that they really like to share with people on their social media channel is their travel, including visiting the trendiest and the chic-est museums and art places abroad. So, we think this micro-influencer thing is actually reinforces people’s interest in cultural tourism here (in the USA).
- A Growing Need for Educational Tours: In Chinese families, the parents believe that to invest in their kid’s education is probably one of the most important things in their lives. When it comes to travel, they hope to take their kids abroad to be on a tour that can benefit them culturally and educationally. So many universities are super popular, hot destinations among Chinese families, Chinese parents, Chinese travelers.
For example, at Columbia University in the United States—I graduated from the school—I have noticed that each summer and winter, during vacation time, a lot of Chinese parents bring their kids there. They go there either individually or in a very small tour, in order to look into the University … so that their kids can see how it looks like to study in a school like this. The hope coming out of this tour is that they hope that their kids can someday study at Columbia—given the experience that they have had at the school. In the UK, a school like Oxford or Cambridge is constantly accepting requests for tours from Chinese families so that the families can check what the university is offering.
- Chinese Travelers are Spending Much Less on Shopping … especially on luxury goods. Normally, the United States is mostly more expensive than the luxury markets in Europe. One reason is that many luxury brands are originally from Europe, so it’s less expensive there. Recent data from the global management consultancy Oliver Wyman shows that shopping accounted for only 32 percent of the travel budget of Chinese travelers in 2018—a significant decrease from 41 percent in 2017. This trend is definitely going as we expected (and will be) more in the future.
People will spend much, much less in the future. However, we don’t think it’s bad news for the travel industry here. While it’s true that shopping is no longer the priority for them to be here (in the U.S.), but it doesn’t mean that they’re not spending on travel or spending anything less while abroad. It means that they’re looking for something new spend their money on.
Like for example, when looking for luxury services, they might want to stay at the top-notch luxury hotels here to get different experiences. They might want to enjoy fine dining at some great restaurant that they can never get in China—things like that. It’s no longer just material goods. They’re more looking into services and experiences.


text:
Former Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons star Dennis Rodman announced his own
brand of booze, Bad Boy Vodka, will go on sale in California in late July.
Rodman released a statement saying Bad Boy Vodka, which bears the image of a bull in an apparent nod to his basketball past, will be available in California July 27 before going on sale nationwide, the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday.
"Bad Boy Vodka characterizes a tough and edgy, yet smooth and classic taste," Rodman said. "A perfect representation of whom and what I am all about."
The Bad Boy line was developed by Premier Brands, which is also the distributor of the beverage.
"The taste is incredible, the bottle is a work of art, and the brand is already recognizable," Premier Brands chief executive officer and president Jorge Olson said.
Most Popular Stories
- Dmytro Firtash, Ukrainian Billionaire, Arrested in Vienna
- Obama, Ukraine Discuss Russian Incursion in Crimea
- Obama's Overtime Initiative Praised, Condemned
- Republicans Warn Obama on Immigration
- Liberty Media Drops Sirius Bid
- Koch Brothers Step up Anti-Obamacare Campaign
- Calumet Photo Files for Bankruptcy
- FDIC Sues Big Banks Over Rate Manipulation
- Uli Hoeness, Bayern Munich President, Gets Prison for Tax Evasion
- West Readies Harsh Sanctions Against Russia


text:
After resigning unexpectedly from Intel, Uri Frank has been named Google’s vice president of engineering for server chip design.
Frank will head a new chip development team based in Israel, and Google is expected to hire hundreds of people for it.
Frank was one of the most senior Israelis employed at Intel until he suddenly left in February, shortly after Pete Gelsinger took over as the company’s CEO. In his last position there, he was general manager of Intel’s Core & Client Development Group.
Frank has 25 years of experience in the semiconductor field. He held senior managerial positions related to flagship Intel products like Sandy Bridge and Ice Lake. He is a graduate of the Technion, where he obtained both his bachelor’s and his master’s degree in engineering.
Google said that Frank will recruit a “world-class” global team that will operate from Israel and set up a global innovation center that will serve as a home for pioneering engineering talents. This means that for the first time, Google’s development center in Israel will include a section that develops hardware and chips rather than focusing exclusively on software.
According to a post that Frank published on his LinkedIn, the Israeli team will focus on introducing innovation into Google Cloud’s cloud computing infrastructure. He added that the company would soon start publishing want ads for SoC engineers (the acronym stands for “systems on chip”).
For several years, Google has been developing customized chips and processors meant for its own data centers and devices. First and foremost is its TPU processor, which is meant to accelerate artificial intelligence tasks.
- Intel launches artificial intelligence chip developed in Israel
- The Israeli start-up at the heart of Intel’s war against Nvidia
- Waze CEO sparks debate over Google’s ‘entitled’ work culture
In 2018, the company launched a video processing unit to enable the dissemination of videos in a variety of formats. In addition, it has developed customized hardware solutions, including solid-state drives, hard disks, network switches and network interface controllers, most of them in cooperation with external partners.
The company is also working to develop chips for its own Pixel smartphones. Frank wrote in a LinkedIn post that “Google has designed and built some of the world’s largest and most efficient computing systems. For a long time, custom chips have been an important part of this strategy.”
Amin Vahdat, Google’s vice president of systems infrastructure, explained the company’s decision to set up the new unit in a blog post.
“Compute at Google is at an important inflection point,” he wrote. “To date, the motherboard has been our integration point, where we compose CPUs, networking, storage devices, custom accelerators, memory, all from different vendors, into an optimized system. But that’s no longer sufficient: to gain higher performance and to use less power, our workloads demand even deeper integration into the underlying hardware.
“Instead of integrating components on a motherboard where they are separated by inches of wires, we are turning to ‘Systems on Chip’ (SoC) designs where multiple functions sit on the same chip, or on multiple chips inside one package. In other words, the SoC is the new motherboard.”
“Just like on a motherboard, individual functional units (such as CPUs, TPUs, video transcoding, encryption, compression, remote communication, secure data summarization, and more) come from different sources,” Vahdat added. “We buy where it makes sense, build it ourselves where we have to, and aim to build ecosystems that benefit the entire industry.”


text:
K-pop group NCT 127 get their own graphic novel with Z2 Comics
Z2 is calling it ‘the first-ever official K-Pop graphic novel’.
Chester Zoo readies Bing experiences
“Bing – with his enthusiastic approach to the natural world – is a great way to highlight some of the incredible species we share our planet with,” said Dominic Strange, Commercial Director at Chester Zoo.
Joe & Seph’s brings Dungeons & Dragons into popcorn
Dungeons & Dragons Chilli Chocolate Caramel is described as ‘an adventurous popcorn worthy of wizards, bards and barbarians alike.’
PUMA launches apparel and footwear celebrating 10 years of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online
‘PUMA continues to support gaming as an important part of the culture around consumers,’ said PUMA.
Raiders of the Lost Ark’s iconic opening scene gets the LEGO treatment
Three new sets recreate iconic scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
The Peninsula partners with Penguin Ventures for Peter Rabbit afternoon teas, stay packages and gifts
“From delicious afternoon teas, hand crafted chocolates and thoughtful in-room amenities, we know that families across the world will be delighted by this beautifully executed collaboration,” said Thomas Merrington, Creative Director at Penguin Ventures.
Miraculous enters pet toys with ZippyPaws
“Our move into pet licensing is a natural extension for the brand,” said Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO at ZAG.
Banijay UK to mark 15 years of Simon’s Cat with anniversary products and special content
“It is wonderful to mark this milestone with special products that the fans will love,” said Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing at Banijay Brands.
KITH debuts The New Yorker apparel collection
The range includes hoodies and tees featuring the magazine’s logo and three different covers.
Fashion designer Christian Cowan debuts Teletubbies collection
“I grew up watching the Teletubbies, so being able to combine that nostalgia with my passion for fashion is a dream come true,” said Christian Cowan.


text:
Investors in African e-commerce have to be prepared for short-term pain in order to make long-term gains. And 2017 was a rough year, with Nigerian online retailer Konga sacking two-thirds of its workforce and its Africa-focused rival Jumia reporting net working capital of negative €10.2m ($11.8m) and a big drop in earnings.
“For sure, the macroeconomic conditions were difficult for us in Nigeria, and the ones who have suffered the most are the sellers,” Franco-Canadian Sacha Poignonnec tells The Africa Report. “We built Jumia with the goal to give a platform for sellers to distribute their physical goods and services as well to the consumers, and we have 40,000 active vendors on the platform across Africa. And all of them are African businesses.”
Poignonnec believes that, for all the volatility, Jumia’s plans remain sound: “It’s a proven business. It’s an irreversible trend that consumers buy online.”
Buoyed by the success of Amazon in the US and Alibaba in China, investors are keen to be a part of a future African e-commerce story. Beyond that, Poignonnec argues that Jumia’s geographical diversification ensures that investors have kept faith and prevented the company story from playing out in the same way as Konga.
“A lot of time you meet investors who want to invest in Africa, but it’s difficult because a lot of companies are mono-country. And they are exposed to only one or two geographies,” he says, pointing to the 23 countries Jumia is now active in. “On Jumia you have a lot of different physical goods which touch a lot of different needs from the consumers, and we have, of course, all those online services around travel, restaurants, car classifieds, real-estate classifieds.”
It’s a proven business. It’s an irreversible trend that consumers buy online
Another differentiating factor is Jumia’s strategic investors: Orange, MTN and Millicom – telecom companies from France, South Africa and Luxembourg, respectively – and Axa, the French insurance giant. This allows for joint commercial operations bringing together different consumer bases. Axa insurance products, for example, are already available on Jumia’s sites.
“It makes us stronger and makes them stronger,” says Poignonnec, who wants to lean on their experience. “The telco industry in Africa did not exist 20 or 25 years ago, just like the e-commerce industry did not exist six years ago,” he adds. “In a way, what is happening today with e-commerce is a repeat of the history – an adoption of a new service.”
All that glitters is not gold, however. The financial technology revolution in Africa is “probably more blog articles” than an actual revolution, says Poignonnec. “It’s one thing to say I’m creating a wallet, but what’s the value for the consumer?” Nonetheless, Jumia has created the Jumia One app to allow customers to recharge airtime, pay utility bills and even make donations
to religious bodies and charities.
Poignonnec is a former employee of disgraced audit company Arthur Andersen – which went out of business after playing a role in the Enron scandal in 2002. So he has some perspective. “It was the most respected audit firm in the world, and in six months it was gone,” he says. “It really is a big lesson for me because I realised that nothing is forever.”
So if Jack Ma or Jeff Bezos knocked on Jumia’s door with an offer they could not refuse? “I’d be very proud that they take the time to travel to us and see it. Certainly we would have to think about it,” says Poignonnec.
This article first appeared in the November 2018 print edition of The Africa Report magazine
Understand Africa's tomorrow... today
We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.


text:
Perrigo Co. said Wednesday that revenue grew more than expected in the June quarter because of its new branded consumer health-care segment and growth in pharmaceuticals.
Shares, up 14% this year, increased less than 1% in premarket trading.
Perrigo is in the midst of a three-way takeover tussle. Mylan NV recently increased its offer to acquire Perrigo Co., now to $35.6 billion. Mylan, for its own part, is a takeover target for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Dublin-based Perrigo earlier agreed to buy the Mexican operations of Patheon for $34 million in cash.
The company has been focusing on acquisitions, especially in Europe, to "build upon our pan-European platform," according to Chief Executive Joseph Papa.
In June, Perrigo said it would acquire a portfolio of over-the-counter brands from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.
In the latest quarter, the consumer health-care segment fell to $746 million from $772 million a year earlier because of discontinued products, currency headwinds and a decline of $523 million in existing products mostly in the animal-health segment.
Sales at the company's Rx-pharmaceuticals segment increased 10% to $278 million. In the new branded consumer segment, which comprises Perrigo's recent acquisition of Omega Pharma NV, sales were $401 million.
Overall, the company posted earnings of $56.4 million, or 38 cents a share, down from $132 million, or 98 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, per-share earnings were $2.18.
Revenue increased to $1.53 billion from $1.14 billion.
Analysts had expected earnings of $1.96 a share on revenue of $1.52 billion.
The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook.
Write to Angela Chen at email@example.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


text:
Broken Hill gets 'Out There' again
Published on 04 March 2021
Broken Hill City Council has partnered with Destination NSW to deliver the next phase of the successful 'It’s Out There' strategic tourism marketing campaign.
The campaign continues to showcase the Broken Hill and Silverton region as a different kind of outback travel experience.
The fun and playful social campaign shines a spotlight on the quirky experiences on offer in this region, from drag culture to camel rides and the vibrant art scene, which proved engaging and enticing to interested travellers in the previous iterations of the 'It’s Out There' campaign.
The five-week campaign launches early March 2021 and will run across paid and organic social media.
Advertising will target Regional NSW, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Victoria, Sydney and South East Queensland.
Mayor Darriea Turley AM said the initial campaign launched in February had proven successful despite the outbreak of COVID-19.
The campaign received coverage in major publications including Travel Weekly, Travel Daily, National Tribune, and from major social media influencers
It also featured in Australian Traveller and Indulgence, Australian Geographic, Canberra Times, Caravanning OZ, and TV shows like the Living Room.
"We staggered the last tourism campaign to try and work around border closures and other complications, so it ended up running for a bit longer than we initially expected," said Mayor Turley.
"A local tourism boost was one of the few positives to come out of COVID-19, and we were fortunate that we were really pushing Broken Hill as a holiday destination at a time when domestic travel was really the only option.
"As we saw when the borders reopened, Broken Hill was a very popular location, and I believe a big driver of that rush was our marketing campaign over that period."
Businesses wishing to get involved with the campaign are encouraged to download resources in the free industry toolkit from Council's website.


text:
HDTV fans following Canon's ongoing drama of trying to bring the nanotechnology based SED display technology to market will be sad to learn yet another obstacle will further delay the process of bringing the new displays to market. As we discussed in January, just as it looked as though Canon and partner Toshiba were on track to build a $1.5-billion assembly plant to manufacture the new displays, an American company named Nano Proprietary filed lawsuits alleging Canon inappropriately shared licensed information regarding electron-emitting carbon nano-tubes with Toshiba (story).
Canon responded to the news at the time by announcing plans to buy Toshiba out of the planned joint SED-manufacturing venture. That apparently won't be enough to satisfy Nano-Proprietary, however, and on Thursday a Texan judge ruled in a summary judgment that Canon did indeed violate the terms of the technology licensing agreement with Nano-Proprietary by bringing Toshiba in as a partner in SED manufacturing. The court has yet to determine what damage this has caused, but at this point a monetary fine may not be the worst of what Canon will undergo in continuing in SED production.
Unless Canon is successful in appealing the judgment, the company will have to renegotiate a new licensing agreement for Nano-Proprietary's technology if it is going to continue with plans to produce SED displays. With Canon now on the defensive it remains to be seen how aggressively Nano-Proprietary will leverage its apparent legal advantage. Regardless, the recent ruling will likely lead Canon to pause its plans for SED manufacturing yet again.
Though SED technology blew us away when we got a look at it during CES 2006 (story), a variety of other technologies like Pioneer's next gen plasmas, Sharps active backlighting LCDs, and Sony's OLED have approached, if not surpassed, the ultra high contrast ratio figures that made SED so striking back in early 2006. Canon has long stated that 2008 would be the focal year for SED's launch, but that was back when a $1.5 billion assembly line was soon to begin construction. With Toshiba out of the game Canon had decided to produce the panels on its own, smaller assembly facility but still promised a launch in 2008. Faced with the necessity of renegotiating rights to key technology and whatever costs are associated with Nano-Proprietary's monetary damages, Canon's plans for the future of SED displays are more uncertain than ever before.


text:
Updated on 28 Dec 2020, 2:34 pm
Plastic waste is a serious environmental concern worldwide. The problem, however, is not with plastics. The problem lies in people's attitude towards handling of plastics, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu pointed out in his call for a mass awareness campaign to bring behavioural changes towards disposal of plastic products and waste.
Addressing the students, faculty and staff of the Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering & Technology (CIPET) in Vijayawada on Monday, Naidu highlighted the importance of plastics during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as they have been used extensively in the manufacturing of medical protection equipment and PPE kits, which play a significant role in preventing the spread of the infection. Polymeric materials are also being used widely to create medical tools and devices like insulin pens, IV tubes, implants and tissue engineering as well, he said.
Naidu, however, expressed concern over the environmental challenges posed by the durability and longevity of plastics. Urging all to follow the best practices of plastics waste management, Naidu said the solution is not to avoid plastics but to ensure that it is used responsibly and recycled properly.
In view of the need to spread awareness, the vice president called for a nationwide campaign to educate people on single-use plastics. He urged media, civil society organisations, students and activists to be an integral part of this awareness drive and appealed to all to commit to using single-use plastic items responsibly.
“People have to understand the deleterious impact of single-use plastic on our environment and think about the future of mankind,” Naidu said, adding that all are dutybound to leave a clean and green planet for children.
Plastics recycling market in India
Plastics recycling market in India is estimated to grow at a rate of 6.5 per cent to attain a market size of $53.72 billion by the end of 2023, Naidu said, adding that waste management presents a golden opportunity for entrepreneurs.
A model Plastics Waste Management Centre has been set up by CIPET in Guwahati, which focuses on offering skill development training programmes in the areas of plastics recycling and waste management.
Calling polymers as wonder materials, the vice president said that they have increased the quality of life immensely and have become an important part of the global economy due to their low weight, durability and resourcefulness. He noted that their versatility and advancements in cost-effective manufacturing techniques have led plastics to replace the conventional materials in different walks of life.
Underlining the importance of polymers in the Indian economy, the vice president said that 30,000 plus plastics processing units are employing over four million people across the country. He also mentioned that with an average national consumption of roughly 12 kilograms per capita per year, India ranks among the top five consumers of polymers in the world.
Observing that the demand for polymers is growing by eight per cent, the vice president said that the global petrochemical industry is projected to reach $958.8 billion by 2025. Various government programmes like Make in India and Start-up India will go a long way in creating the ecosystem for the next-generation research and indigenous technological advancements in the Petrochemical sector, he said.
Naidu also pointed out that the availability of domestically manufactured raw materials is one of the major strengths of the polymer industry which will help in its growth. Terming the current trend in India's plastics exports as highly encouraging, he said that the Indian plastics export industry has always offered excellent potential in terms of capacity, infrastructure, and skilled manpower.
The vice president said that CIPET has completed more than 50 major research projects and has filed 12 patents. It has trained over three lakh unemployed/under-employed youth through its skill development programmes in the last five years. A total of 16 new CIPET Centres have been set up since 2015-16.
Naidu urged the institute to focus on the development of eco-friendly products such as biodegradable plastics so as to balance the environment and development. He also said that the youth energy of young India should be constructively channelized for nation-building through proper skilling and the right motivation.


text:
Facebook added licensed music videos to the social network in the US, challenging YouTube for the attention of online audiences.
Facebook said users will be able to “come together” around official music videos, with the promise of premier content from J. Balvin, Karol G, Sebastian Yatra, and other artists.
“With official music videos on Facebook, we’re creating new social experiences that are about more than just watching the video,” music business development vice president Tamara Hrivnak and entertainment vice president Vijaye Raji said in an online post.
“We’ll continue working with our music partners to build unique social experiences and bring music into the ways people connect and share.”
The Facebook “music experience” was already available in India and Thailand, but is making its US debut this weekend, according to Hrivnak and Raji.
The roster of US partners included Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and BMG.
YouTube boasts over 2 billion monthly users, many of those people tuning into music videos.
Subscriptions to YouTube premium content such as music have been climbing, as stated by recent earnings reports by parent-company Alphabet.
Interest in streamed entertainment has surged during the pandemic, as people staying home to avoid the virus turn to the internet for music, films and television.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.


text:
Solution Buggy- a Bangalore based start-up and India’s largest and exclusive platform for connecting manufacturing industries with Subject Matter Expert launched Mentoring & Execution Module for MSME sector. The company has recently been appreciated at various national & international events for their continued support to manufacturing sector including the recent award by the Ministry of MSME.
This goes in line with the company philosophy of “Connect- Interface- Team-up”. “We started with connecting manufacturing industry to subject matter experts in first few years and then graduated to closely assisting the industry to define their challenges and scope of engagement last year. It was the demand of the industry to hand hold them and provide solutions through a single window and hence we came out with SB Mentoring & Execution modules” says SolutionBuggy founder Director & CEO Mr Arjun N.
India accounts for more than 6Cr MSMEs with around 30% related in manufacturing. The changing demographics of growing younger population requiring employment has been a priority for the country. A platform like SolutionBuggy can create an ecosystem for growth and efficiency in manufacturing sector to effectively transform the MSMEs.
SB Mentoring through its Industry Experts/ leaders, helps entrepreneurs and existing industries to define their challenges and setup a path and priorities for long term business. This is the first and most important to set the ball rolling.
SB Execution provides “Single Window One Stop Solution” to complicated and strategic challenges of the MSMEs requiring multiple skill sets and long term association through best industrial consultants.
The leadership team of SolutionBuggy- Mr Arjun N (Founder & CEO), Mr. Vikas Manral (Chief Marketing Officer) and Mr Guruprasad Bangle (Chief Technology Officer) were present in the launch at Lucknow.
Mr Guruprasad who is also heading Project Management informed about various engagement of SolutionBuggy across India for sectors like Food processing, Chemicals & Défense. “Today after 3 years of successfully running this start-up the passion seems to be accentuated with time. The online platform today connects 60,000+ manufacturing industries with 8000+ expert consultants in India”, he added.
Mr. Vikas Manral says” Solution Buggy has captured the attention and interest of many Indian and foreign investors. These New modules of SB Mentoring & SB Execution will be aimed at manufacturers & entrepreneurs looking to invest in manufacturing. The long-term vision is to team-up with 20 Mn+ manufacturing industries in India and handhold them. ”
SB management looks gung-ho on Indian growth story and looking forward to increase its footprints in four more cities beyond the existing ones (in Delhi-NCR & Bangalore) in next one year. The fast growing start-up seems determined and poised to make a difference to the Indian Economy.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
© Divya Media Publications Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved


text:
Rutendo Tichiwangani, a fashion blogger who has lived in the UK since she was 10 shared an emotional video on her YouTube channel seeking for funds for fears she might be deported to Zimbabwe.
According to her, the UK Home Office has given her until May 6, to re-apply for a visa which will be considered on its own merit.
Since the release of the video, Tichiwangani has been getting a lot of criticism online because according to her followers, she portrays a luxurious lifestyle on her social media pages with designer bags, shoes and clothes.
In a recent interview, the blogger explains to Claudia-Liza Armah of Channel 5 News that she gets some of the luxury items by collaborating with companies, adding that some of the items were borrowed from her friends.
A fashion blogger who has lived in the UK since she was 10, fears she will be deported to Zimbabwe.
— 5News (@5_News) April 4, 2018


text:
Amazon's Prime membership service will help the company continue to dominate online shopping, this holiday season and beyond.
A new look at technology: not just what's coming, but what's staying.
Get an early look at Amazon's 2015 Cyber Monday sales, which will extend the Black Friday online shopping blitzkrieg through December 5.
From the Cheapskate: It's Cyber Monday! Or, as I like to call it: Monday!
Fed up with your dumb "Smart TV?" Tired of waiting for your console to boot up just so you can watch Netflix? Lookng for a cheap tech gift? There are plenty of reasons to get a new dedicated video streamer. We'll help you choose one.
Wait! Before you fight the crowds to plunk down your hard-earned cash, make sure that a Black Friday deal is really a deal.
Get a sneak peek at Amazon's Black Friday sales, which includes hundreds of items, daily deals and local 2-hour delivery.
From the Cheapskate: On your marks, get set -- spend! These are my favorite deals, and not one of them requires a trip to a store.
Shoppers want Cyber Monday bargains on Sunday evening, says retail giant Walmart, so it's moving its online sales schedule ahead accordingly.
Modi, one of the world's most tech-savvy politicians, will join Mark Zuckerberg to discuss a variety of subjects, including how communities can address social and economic challenges.
The day after Turkey Day tends to be mostly hype, but for a select few stores and tech items, Friday should be buy-day.


text:
Revenue have revealed just how much illegal tobacco they have taken off the streets of Louth in 2016.
During 2016, in an ongoing series of operations in the Louth area, targeted to disrupt the sale of illicit tobacco products in local markets, Revenue Officers seized over 124,500 cigarettes and 12.9kg of tobacco.
The seized cigarettes include ‘Excellence’, ‘Marlboro’, ‘MG’, ‘Jing Ling’, ‘JIM King’, ‘L&M’, ‘NZ Gold’, ‘Marble’, ‘Regal’, and ‘Winston’ brands, and the tobacco brands include ‘Amberleaf’, ‘Flandria’ (Yellow and Green) and ‘Samson’. €7,470 in cash, and a car was also seized during these operations.
The contraband tobacco products have a retail value of over €74,000 representing a potential loss of more than €59,800 to the Exchequer. Several people have been questioned, and files are being prepared with a view to prosecution.
Revenue state: "The majority of people pay the right amount of tax and duty. If you know someone is evading tax or involved in smuggling, report it. Contact Revenue’s Confidential Freephone 1800 295 295."
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.


text:
Western Canadian retailer and eco-leader, London Drugs, is celebrating Earth Week and Earth Day with several significant environmental milestones. For the past decade, London Drugs, their customers and recycling partners have kept over 113 million pounds of waste from entering landfills across four provinces.
“We are thrilled to see the cumulative work of our recycling programs and are impressed by the dedication of our staff and customers in supporting these initiatives,” said Maury McCausland, London Drugs Retail Operations Sustainability Expert. “Since we began tracking our waste diversion rates, we have continued to see growth year over year. We are pleased to announce London Drugs achieved a 93.9% diversion rate in 2017.”
First Capital Realty is buying buildings in Calgary’s Beltline, just outside the downtown, for potential future redevelopment into large mixed-use projects.
The event held on grounds of Calgary Stampede focused on supporting Calgary’s creative community
Arbutus Properties says it wants to build a smaller pedestrian bridge, without a parking lot, instead.
Musicians in Whitehorse may lose both of the community's local music supply hubs by summer. CBC chatted with the store owners to find out why.


text:
Today, the Design Director at Sumo Digital, Ned Waterhouse, published a new post on the official PlayStation Blog to share some news regarding the online multiplayer component for Sackboy: A Big Adventure, which is scheduled to launch on PS4 and PS5 on Nov. 12, 2020.
The developers have decided to delay the online multiplayer functionality for the 3D platformer. There will be a patch that users will be able to download and install towards the end of 2020, adding an online multiplayer option. That same patch will also add game save transfers from PS4 to PS5 and cross-generation multiplayer for Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
Of course, there will still be local multiplayer at launch with up to four players. Not only can you play through the entire story together, but there’s also co-op only levels that you can platform your way through.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure launches on Nov. 12, 2020, for PS4 and PS5. For more on the game, you can check out a trailer that shows off gameplay, a trailer on the game’s defining features, and the original announcement during the PS5 event back in June.
The PS5 is set to launch on Nov. 12 for $499.99 in the US and select territories and then on Nov. 19 for the rest of the world. A digital edition of the PS5 will cost $399.99 and will not have a disc drive for physical games.
- Necromunda: Hired Gun for PS5, Xbox Series X, & More Gets New Trailer All About the Sawn Off Shotgun
- Edge of Eternity Gets Release Date for PC; Coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, & More in Q4 2021
- Abandoned Is a PS5 Exclusive Survival Game With Incredibly Realistic Graphics Coming Later This Year
- Anime-Inspired Virtual Reality Game Runner Announced for PS5 & PC VR Platforms
- Blind Fate: Edo no Yami for PS5, Xbox, PC, PS4, & Switch Reveals Enemies in New Video Clips


text:
Kia Motors Nigeria, the sole distributor of the leading Korean brand in Nigeria has recorded increased sales in the year 2017 with over 200% year-on-year sales from 2016. On the heels of this achievement, the company is set to triple its sales in 2018 with a sustained comprehensive business strategy.
Kia’s increased sales followed the country’s economic recovery from the recession that had hitherto stagnated all the sectors of the economy particularly, car sales in 2016. As a major player in the automobile industry, Kia’s business strategy and the extensive customer-based sales and service programs broke the ice and paved way for a record high year-on-year (YoY) sales. “With our strategic business propositions, we are set to triple sales by expanding our units in operations (UIO) with increased new sales in the in the year 2018,” said Chief Executive Officer, Jacky Hathiramani.
On how Kia defied all odds to record the increased sale, Jacky alluded to the fact that Kia had always stay ahead of the curve with the top of the segment cars that have low maintenance costs and are affordable to the customers. It will be recalled that there was an offshoot in the prices of products across all sectors of the economy amidst low buying power, however, Jacky maintained that Kia’s commitment to offering highly competitive pricing on its models played a major role in the record sales.
As a major player in the automobile industry, Kia is poised to sustain the sales growth by introducing new models to the market and offering a highly competitive pricing on all their models. Jacky said he’s confident that the second half of 2017 (2H17)’s sales momentum can be sustained into the 1H18, and this would help the company achieve better results over last year. “There’s an increased sale in the last six months compared with the same period last year. So, we project increased sales in 2018,”
Among the aggressive sales initiatives undertaken by the company in 2017 was Kia Drive Your Dream and Ember Surprise Promos. The company’s service promos also contributed immensely to the overall revenue for the company. The introduction of Kia Double Deal Promo with over 15% discount on both parts and labour recorded tremendous success and helped increase Kia brand confidence among customers. “These programmes increased our customer retention and loyalty towards the brand,” said Jacky.
He added that the company is set to introduce new models in the year 2018, headlining these models will be the world adjudged best-in-class luxury sedan, Kia Stinger, the B-Segment leader, SC Kia Rio and newly refreshed Kia Cerato amongst others.
Meanwhile, on the general low stock level pervading the industry, he said the company was currently facing a high back order for some models, and was looking forward to assembling the cars at its plant in Lagos, Nigeria before the year-end.
It will be recalled that Kia Motors Nigeria began its local production in the wake of the implementation of the auto policy in 2014. The company built an ultra-modern assembly plant in Lagos with a capacity to produce 27,000 units of vehicles per annum. Locally producing cars to the exact standard of Kia Motors Corporations in Korea, Kia Motors Nigeria currently produces the cars locally and the 2018 Kia Rio in addition to the recently launched Sorento, Sportage and Optima are produced in its plant in Lagos.