text:
Verizon to Turn Off Lights in Nearly 500 Buildings in 37 Countries In Support of Earth Hour
More of our content is being permanently logged via blockchain technology starting [10.23.2020].
NEW YORK – On Saturday (March 28) at 8:30 p.m. local time, Verizon will turn off the lights in nearly 500 of its buildings in 37 countries around the world as it participates in Earth Hour 2015. In all, Verizon will darken 25 million square feet (more than 2.3 million square meters) of building space around the world – the equivalent of nearly 12 Empire State Buildings.
Since 2010, Verizon and its employees around the world have participated in the Earth Hour movement, helping the World Wildlife Fund to promote sustainable living, expand energy-efficiency awareness, and take a stand against climate change. Verizon promotes sustainability in its employee culture, encouraging participation in Earth Hour and community-environment events. As a result, thousands of employees – many of them among the 17,000 member Verizon Green Team, the company’s largest employee resource group – have pledged to darken their homes in 25 countries during Earth Hour 2015.
“On Saturday, March 28, millions of people worldwide will join together to celebrate Earth Hour and signal their support for action on climate change,” said Lou Leonard, vice president for climate change, World Wildlife Fund. “As nations all over the world prepare commitments for a climate deal in Paris later this year, people from Beijing to Boston will turn out their lights in a call for global cooperation toward a better future for all.”
James Gowen, chief sustainability officer for Verizon, said: “Verizon sees Earth Hour as an opportunity for our company and its worldwide employee Green Team to promote environmental awareness around the globe. This is our sixth year promoting Earth Hour, and each year the program reminds us to not only live green lifestyles, but to also think green at work.”
Verizon will honor its participating employees by offering to plant a tree; or make a contribution to help an endangered animal; or give the participating employee a free energy-saving kit. The choice is theirs. Since joining the Earth Hour movement, Verizon has planted 6,000 trees to honor its employees who have participated in Earth Hour at their homes.
This year, Verizon will help spread global environmental awareness by dimming lights and illuminated signs at Verizon buildings located in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.
Verizon’s Commitment to the Environment and Sustainability
Verizon has long focused on energy efficiency and instituting sustainable real estate practices. Since 2009, Verizon has invested $160 million in green energy by building on-site fuel cell and solar energy generating systems at 25 of its facilities across the United States. Verizon also uses 26 solar-assisted cell sites in remote areas in the western United States to help power a portion of the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless network serving those areas.
In 2009, Verizon began certifying Verizon Wireless retail stores in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED certification means that a building is designed, constructed and operated to ensure energy savings, emissions reductions and improved environmental quality. By the end of 2014, 230 of our retail stores had earned LEED certification. In addition, Verizon also seeks ENERGY STAR status certification for all eligible retail stores that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By the end of 2014, ENERGY STAR certification had been received for 177 Verizon retail stores.


text:
Your favorite male models Derek Zoolander and Hansel stopped by Valentino this weekend to strike a few poses in the store's windows. The duo, played by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, was in Rome for a Zoolander 2 screening and was spotted flashing peace signs and blowing kisses to the crowd from behind the glass on Sunday afternoon. Zoolander was sporting a butterfly printed suit, while Hansel rocked a colorful Hawaiian shirt. The film's costume designer reportedly worked with Valentino to outfit the models for the upcoming film.
Almost one year ago, Zoolander and Hansel made a surprise return to modeling during the Italian fashion house's Paris show. The cameo did wonders for the luxury brand's social media and it looks like this stunt won't hurt either. According to a post on Zoolander's Instagram, the appearance was literally stopping traffic. Check out the hilarious video below.

domain: news


text:
Lagos State Government has said that the six `Eko Theatres’ under construction across the state would be ready before the end of next year.
State Commissioner of Information, Mr Steve Ayorinde, disclosed that the six theatres are located in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Igando and Lagos Island areas of the state.
Ayorinde, who spoke at the recently-concluded All African Music Award (AFRIMA) 2017 in Lagos, said that the construction of the theatres was aimed at boosting tourism and entertainment in the state.
He said that three of the theatres would be commissioned by the first quarter of 2018 ahead of the third anniversary of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.
According to the commissioner, the construction of the theatres is on course and will be ready on schedule.
“The first three of the Eko Theatres will be ready on schedule by the first quarter of next year.
“Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode is passionate about it: He visited the construction site of one of the theatres in Badagry last week and it is about 65 per cent completion level; same thing we have in Alomosho and Ikorodu.
“There are six of them scattered all over the state, but we are sure that the first three will be ready for inauguration before the next democracy day May 29, 2018. The opening will be used to commemorate the third anniversary of the administration, so we are putting much energy on it to have them completed,’’ he said.
Ayorinde said that other three Eko Theatres would be ready by December 2018, adding that Ambode was ready to make tourism and entertainment the hallmark of his administration.
“We are committed to the new economy because we all know what entertainment and tourism brings to table when it comes to revenue and income generation,’’ he said.
Over-tourism needs to be addressed –UNWTO
Anti-tourist protests arising from over-tourism were a wake-up call to the travel industry, said the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai.
According to the UNWTO chief, who spoke at a travel summit along with other industry leaders, last week, diversifying tourist activities, reducing seasonality and highlighting lesser-known destinations could help address the problems of over-tourism which set off a wave of protests throughout Europe this summer.
Calling the anti-tourist movement a ‘wake-up call,’ Rifai said the industry must acknowledge the discontent of fed-up locals and create a more balanced tourism economy, cites a report out of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
“Growth is not the enemy. Numbers are not the enemy. The key is to manage the growth sustainably, responsibly and intelligently and use the power of growth to our advantage…We cannot continue to build five-star hotels in three-star communities,” said the Secretary General said during the summit.
Cities like Barcelona, Venice and Amsterdam have been struggling with overcrowding, sowing bitter anti-tourist sentiments and driving local residents to the streets in protest.
Amsterdam, for example, has a population of 850,000 residents, but received 6.34 million visitors last year. That number is expected to spike to 6.57 million by the end of the year, and 7.5 million in 2025, according to the Top 100 City Destination Ranking released out of WTM London.
Meanwhile, behemoth cruise ships which belch out thousands of tourists at a time are blamed for causing over-tourism in Venice, while unsustainable tourist arrivals in Barcelona and short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb are blamed for overcrowding.
Speakers cited countries like Greece as a model example, for their efforts at promoting tourism during the off-season winter months and Mexico, which has been promoting lesser-known destinations and cultural sites to attract visitors off the resort path.
On her part, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Gloria Guevara Manzo, opined that the tourism economy can be credited for bringing jobs to Barcelona, which was previously plagued by high rates of crime and unemployment.


text:
Microsoft's Q3 earnings showed its tablets and cloud services are really hitting their stride.
Facebook Creative Labs has released their latest app, "Rooms", a group-based social network that harkens back to the chat rooms of Internet 1.0.
For a Q&A at a Beijing university, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg decided to speak entirely in Mandarin — and Western media thinks this is a big deal.
For those looking for wearable tech that's significantly less nerdy than Google Glass, Nike CEO Mark Parker says don't worry, It's on the way.
As if Facebook didn't have enough apps already, the social media giant released a new app Thursday that allows users to discuss topics…
Three researchers have created the first mobile app that makes conversation possible and simple with those who suffer from hearing loss.


text:
New, crisp, clean website designs are just a start
Microsoft has been busy launching new services, designs for established properties, and keeping a number of secrets under wraps in the run up to the eventful weeks ahead. We've been looking forward to this part of 2012 as it'll be when Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8, Windows 8, Surface tablets, Office, new Xbox update, and - of course - Halo 4.
We've already seen Microsoft go big with the launch Outlook.com to replace the aging Live / Hotmail email service, but the software giant has revealed plans to apply changes across the board. Yesterday we covered a detailed blog post that walked readers through the new design that'll be applied to the MSN portal later this month - changes have been applied to Microsoft web properties, including the official website as well as the home of Visual Studio (see above).
It's going to be a huge month for the company, who has taken up the task to rebrand with a modern look. From changing the branding of a handful of products and services to incorporating the iconic retro Windows logo colour scheme into the company's replacement design to replace 'Microsoft'.
There's a lot riding on the success of all launches we're expecting to see in the next handful of weeks, and the company is investing in a brand new interface for consumers to associate Windows with. Windows Phone Central will be joined by smartphone owners to see what the company has to unveil for Apollo. Details are still believed to be kept locked safe on a foreign planet with not even Russian reviewers being allowed to take a gander through the new hardware.
It's a new change for Redmond. A massive change at that - 2013 will see a new Microsoft.
Microsoft appears to like this month...
To cope with the potential (and likely) increase in demand for products and services, Microsoft will be opening a number of 'holiday stores' across the US to compliment the ever-growing increase of bricks and mortar Microsoft Stores that have been sprouting up this year. By checking out the recently revamped Microsoft Store website, one can locate the nearest establishment to one's location. It seems as though each and every holiday store is set to open on October 26th.
Are you ready to join Microsoft in its system reboot?
Thanks, travisbrowny, for the heads up!
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.


text:
Bengaluru-based furniture and home decor e-commerce store Urban Ladder has raised Rs102 crore from existing investors.
Kalaari Capital, which has remained invested in Urban Ladder since August 2012, pooled in Rs 30.64 crore, while another early investor, SAIF Partners, invested Rs 30.46 crore in this round. Steadview Capital, which has also invested in Flipkart, Quikr and Ola among others, pumped in Rs 27.16 crore while Sequoia Capital chipped in with Rs 13.58 crore, according to the documents.
Urban Ladder was founded in 2012 by IIM Bangalore alumni Ashish Goel and Rajiv Srivatsa. It has till now raised US $77 million in equity funding from the same set of investors. Ratan Tata is also an investor in the firm.
It reported a net loss of Rs 175 crore for the year ended March 2016, a three-fold rise over the previous year. Revenue rose three times to Rs 56 crore. Sales revenue stood at Rs 34 crore against Rs 12 crore a year ago.


text:
It looks like we are getting our first new leak of the year very soon. The upcoming Windows 8.1 Spring 2014 update is already floating around the internet and is nearing a possible leak, according to a reliable source.
The pre-release Windows 8.1 Spring 2014 update is already floating around the internet and in the hands of those who are lucky enough to have it. The build string is reportedly 6.3.9600.16581.WINBLUES14_GDR_LEAN.13122 2-2030.
It looks like Microsoft may release the official build on MSDN in late March, with a public availability on April 1st as a free update – similar to how Windows 8.1 was for Windows 8. Keep in mind that this Spring 2014 update for Windows 8.1 is not considered a “Service Pack.”
According to the report, there will not be a “preview” version of the update, rather, we will just have to wait for the final release. Microsoft’s BUILD Developer conference is set to take place April 2nd, so it makes perfect sense to see a release during that time.
The report also states that a wider distribution may take place after January 14th, which means more people might be able to get their hands on the pre-release build of the update. For now, we are left with a screenshots of the update. Not much else is known about this build and what features or fixes it contains.
The guys over at Neowin are showcasing two more screenshots of the build, which don’t really show much aside from a masked build string. You can take a look at these two screenshots below.
More on this as it develops.
Further reading: Microsoft, Windows 8.1


text:
With the recent advent of 4K TV and the so-called ‘internet of things,’ Roku is now under serious threat if it does not do something to come up with a new offering from its end too.
The competition now includes the American tech giant Apple which is planning to make a new offering pretty soon via its Apple TV. That’s in addition to internet TV services now being offered and gaining so much ground among consumers nowadays.
Big name manufacturers and upstart tech companies are also joining the bandwagon as they all prepare to roll out their respective new media streaming products by next year. And the only way for Roku to pre-empt or beating them all to the draw is by releasing Roku 4 this fall, or at the latest before the end of 2015.
Only the release of Roku 4 will keep its grasp on its niche market and the American tech company knows it too well. Consumers should expect the new media streaming device formally rolling out to the market very soon and it is expected to be pretty extraordinary too.


text:
|Home page World|
President Donald Trump gave prospective buyers of Chinese-owned video app TikTok's US operations until Sept. 15 to forge a deal, threatening to otherwise ban the video app in the country.
Axar.az reports citing foreign media.
"It will close down on Sept. 15 unless Microsoft or somebody else is able to buy it, and work out an appropriate deal," Trump told reporters in the Cabinet Room as he met with US tech workers. "Here's the deal: I don't mind whether its Microsoft or somebody else, a big company, a secure company, very American company buy it."
Trump had previously threatened to shut down the short-form mobile video app, owned by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance, over concerns that it could serve as a trojan horse that would expose American user data to the Chinese government.
2020.08.04 / 09:00


text:
Stylish reality TV star Lauren Conrad has been helping style sick children as part of the Kohl's Cares programme.
Lauren Conrad has been helping style sick children.
The former 'Hills' star visited patients at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles as part of the Kohl's Cares programme and dressed them in her LC Lauren Conrad line.
She told US Weekly magazine: "There's nothing like seeing a smile on someone when she gets something she wouldn't have bought for herself.
"When Kohl's asked me if I wanted to be involved, it was such a no brainer. This is an opportunity to meet new people and go shopping with some girls. It was very enjoyable. The best part about the holidays is about giving, whether it's to your favorite organisation or your family and friends. I just think it is such a nice thing to be able to do and it's my favourite thing to do around the holiday."
Lauren recently revealed she recycles her outfits over the holiday period.
She said: "During holiday parties I end up recycling a lot of my cocktail dresses, and just wearing a layering piece, like a blazer and tights, with it."


text:
The fire not only did an incredible amount of physical damage, it also destroyed the foot traffic that usually comes through the neighborhood.
"For three weeks, which meant people from the north side couldn't get to the south side and the south side couldn't get to the north, so everybody's business went down on this street by at least 50 percent. Our business was a little worse because we were actually at the last point you could walk south and then you had to walk back north to get around" said Telegraph Merchants Association Chairman Al Geyer.
The federal government is now stepping into provide the help the city of Berkeley just couldn't offer.
"There is no city program that could provide assistance. Two additional businesses are closed and we don't know how long that will be, because of damage to the building. So it will have a considerable effect on the business district," said Dave Fogarty of the Berkeley Economic Development Office.
The U.S. Small Business Association has opened a store front today on Telegraph Avenue, offering a place where merchants can apply for help.
"The SBA is offering low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters as well as small businesses and non-profit organizations who were impacted by the disaster," said SBA spokesman Ben Raju.
Some businesses could qualify for a loan of up to $2 million.
"It's hard to recover from being down 50 percent for three weeks, but it will be helpful to get a loan at fair interest for 30 years. That will help a lot of businesses I'm sure," said Geyer.
Officials think this fire started because of an electrical malfunction in an apartment building.


text:
Slogan t-shirts may be on the way out, with slogan tattoos now officially a thing thanks to Stella McCartney.
On Monday, the British designer and daughter of The Beatles Sir Paul McCartney, debuted her autumn/winter 2019 collection at Paris Fashion Week.
Despite the appearance of Karlie Kloss, Alexa Chung and Oprah in the front row, it was the presence of slogan tattoos on models such as Anja Rubik and Natalia Vodianova that stole the show.
The temporary ink, which was applied to the models’ ear lobes, face, and necks, by iconic makeup artist Pat McGrath, was created to send a cruelty-free message during the show.
Tiny black ink with the words ‘vegan’, ‘fur free fur’ and ‘regenerate’ could be seen peeking out from the colourful clothes as models stormed the runway.
“It’s simply Stella,” McGrath explained of the look to Vogue.
Sustainable fashion, a term used to describe the fashion industry’s push to make designers, manufacturers and consumers more conscious of where their clothes are coming from, has become a signature part of the 47-year-old designer’s namesake brand.
She never uses fur, feathers, skin or leather in her designs, swapping them out for vegan leather and faux fur alternatives.
McGrath, who is often referred to as ‘the most influential makeup artist in the world’, didn’t detract from the statement by ensuring the makeup looks remained clean and natural.


text:
posted on by Adriana Hazra
Company to produce content for Ace Combat video game series
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Friday that it and ILCA Inc. have established a new company Bandai Namco Aces. The company, headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, aims to deliver “deep and lasting, high-quality content to fans around the world, including for the Ace Combat series.”
Takuya Iwasaki will be president and CEO of the company, and Kazutoki Kono will be the executive vice president. Jun Ikeda, Shinya Sorimachi, and Masatoshi Furubayashi are on the board of directors. Toshifumi Odaka will be the company’s auditor.
Bandai Namco Entertainment holds 51% of the company’s shares and ILCA holds 49%.
The Ace Combat series are loosely realistic flight shooting games that feature mostly real-world aircraft in a fictional setting officially named “Strangereal.” Evoking the modern world and contemporary political entities, the setting pits superpowers in large-scale political struggles, with players taking on the role of fighter pilots in the world’s frequent conflicts.
Namco released the first Ace Combat game in 1992. Bandai Namco Games released Ace Combat Infinity as the first free-to-play Ace Combat game for the PlayStation 3 in May 2014. The most recent game in the series, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, shipped in January 2019 for PlayStation 4 (with PlayStation VR support) and Xbox One, and in February 2019 for PC.
Disclosure: Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., is a non-controlling, minority shareholder in Anime News Network Inc.


text:
Govt Imposes Restrictions On Import of Televisions: Big Boost For Make In India, But Big Blow To China
India has decided to impose restrictions on the import of colour television sets, in an attempt to encourage domestic production of the sets.
There will now be a licence required for import on certain categories of televisions.
Let’s learn more about this.
Import Restriction on Selective Categories
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) quoted in a notification released on Thursday, “Import policy of colour television sets, is amended from ‘free’ to ‘restricted’”.
The important point here is that not all categories of TVs have import restrictions on them.
This restraint is applicable under the ‘other colour’ category of television sets, encapsulating the very famous LCD TVs, among others.
On a similar note, there is no such restriction on the category of monochrome TVs.
India Imports 35% Television Sets
India holds a free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean countries. This gives China a chance to route its products in India through Vietnam, which is a member country of Asean.
Through this step, India plans to put a stop on indiscriminate imports from China and other countries like Thailand and Malaysia, through this FTA route.
If we speak numbers and figures:
- The restricted category alone attracted $781 million worth of imported TV sets, in just fiscal year 2020.
- Vietnam contributed $428.37 million, while China accounted for $292.48 million of the amount.
- Currently, India imports 35% of TV sets in the country.
A Push to ‘Make in India’ Initiative
As previously mentioned, India is working rigorously towards boosting domestic manufacture, thus cutting on imports.
In fact, just last month, the DGFT put restrictions on importing certain new pneumatic tyres, which are used in two wheelers and four wheelers, to promote the manufacturing in India and check on cheap products from China.
The Chairman of Dixon Technologies believes that such a move shall boost self-reliance and carve a path for ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“India has the capability to manufacture television sets across all sizes and this will spur those investments”, he quoted.
Panasonic India too seemed to be happy with this decision, claiming that such a step shall increase the value of television manufacturing industry.


text:
From shipping to staffing, the Chamber and its partners have the tools to save your business money and the solutions to help you run it more efficiently. Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today to start saving.
Tomorrow, March 12, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will testify before a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled “Approaching 25: The Road Ahead for the World Trade Organization.” The hearing will be an opportunity to take stock of the WTO and its role as a global forum for trade negotiations and an adjudicator of trade disputes.
Despite a number of challenges, the U.S. business community has long regarded the World Trade Organization (WTO) as one of the most successful multilateral organizations. The global rules-based trading system it embodies has benefited the entire world – but no one more than the United States.
While the WTO was created in 1995, it built on the foundation of the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Combined, the WTO and the GATT have revolutionized world trade. Eight successful multilateral negotiating rounds have helped increase world trade from $58 billion in 1948 to well above $20 trillion today. This 40-fold increase in real terms has brought a rising tide of commerce to nearly the entire world.
It isn’t just the tariff elimination brought about under the GATT and the WTO that benefits American companies and the workers they employ. The WTO guarantees that U.S. firms operating abroad will receive “national treatment” (i.e., the same rights and responsibilities granted local firms) and “most-favored nation (MFN) treatment” (i.e., treatment as good as that afforded firms from the most favorably treated country).
In addition, the arbitrary use of technical regulations or standards to block imports is all too common. The WTO provides rules to guard against this kind of protectionism in disguise. WTO rules also prohibits supposed “sanitary” measures that lack a clear basis in science and are protectionist in intent.
American firms rely on these rules – every day of the year – all around the globe.
If the U.S. Congress passed legislation withdrawing the United States from the WTO, the other 163 WTO Member States – representing 99% of the world economy – would be free to raise their tariffs against U.S. exports as high as they liked – and Washington would have no legal recourse. U.S. firms would also lose the protection of the WTO’s rules against discriminatory treatment.
It’s become commonplace to say the WTO’s accomplishments are long in the past, but this isn’t so. The WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which entered into force in early 2017, is a cost-cutting, competition-enhancing, anti-corruption agreement of the first order. Once fully implemented, it has the potential to increase global merchandise trade by up to $1 trillion annually, according to the WTO’s World Trade Report 2015.
Another relatively recent success of the WTO is the expansion of product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), which has delivered a cornucopia of innovative technology products to the world. All told, approximately $1.3 trillion worth of tech goods – ranging from high-tech healthcare devices to advanced semiconductors and software media – are now being traded duty-free under the 2015 ITA expansion.
A forum for negotiations
That’s not to say the WTO doesn’t need reform. It does. The WTO must become more nimble as a forum for negotiations by making it easier for members to pursue new market-opening trade agreements. Achieving consensus in an organization of 164 member states is obviously challenging, but the absence of consensus cannot be permitted to block negotiations among those seeking to tear down trade barriers or update trade rules.
The U.S. Chamber strongly supports the move to seek new “plurilateral” agreements covering large numbers of WTO members but not necessarily all. Good examples of such trade agreements include the WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement and the aforementioned ITA. One area ripe for negotiation in a plurilateral format is e-commerce, where 76 WTO Member States recently announced plans for negotiations.
Similarly, the U.S. Chamber looks forward to the day when negotiations resume for a Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), which stalled in late 2016. This negotiation was not properly taking place within the WTO but on its doorstep (with national governments’ ambassadors to the WTO negotiating). But in the long run, this prospective high-standard trade agreement covering services could potentially become a WTO agreement, as has happened in the past.
The U.S.-China trade negotiations of recent months also underscore the need to put teeth into the WTO’s promises on issues ranging from subsidies to the need for state-owned and state-invested enterprises to act on the basis of commercial considerations, as the United States has discussed at length with the governments of Japan and the EU.
An adjudicator of disputes
But the WTO has other roles. WTO dispute settlement plays a central role in the global rules-based trading system. As Bill Reinsch of CSIS explains, the WTO
is the only multilateral institution that has a fully developed dispute resolution system, one that not only adjudicates disputes but can make its decisions stick. It uses a two-part process – panels of experts that initially rule on disputes and an Appellate Body that considers appeals of panel decisions. Because panel decisions (if not appealed) and Appellate Body decisions can only be blocked by consensus, the system has considerable clout.
The United States has been a major beneficiary of WTO dispute settlement, bringing and winning more cases than any other WTO Member. In fact, the United States has won or favorably settled 75 out of the 79 completed WTO cases it had brought (as of 2016). These wins include cases against discriminatory Chinese taxes on U.S. auto exports, EU subsidies in the aircraft sector, and India’s ban on U.S. poultry. The U.S. could not have secured these wins unilaterally.
The U.S. Chamber supports efforts to improve the effectiveness of the WTO dispute settlement system. As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has pointed out, U.S. governments have raised serious concerns about “overreach” in Appellate Body rulings for more than 15 years, noting rulings that it argues are not clearly supported in WTO agreements.
In frustration, the Trump administration has upped the ante by blocking appellate body appointments. The United States has come under fire from other WTO members for not offering concrete proposals to resolve its complaints. Now, a crisis looms: In December, the Appellate Body will be reduced to a single member and left completely unable to function.
WTO members are wrestling with these issues. The U.S. Chamber believes WTO members should review and agree on rules dealing with the scope of what can be decided by the Appellate Body with regard to U.S. concerns about judicial overreach. Limits on actions by judges after their term has expired must also be clarified.
However, we cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater. The U.S. Chamber urges all member states to redouble their efforts to overcome the impasse on these issues before the blockage over the appointment of Appellate Body members completely immobilizes WTO dispute settlement.
In the end, governments don’t trade: Businesses do. And in the view of the U.S. business community, a healthy, strong WTO is squarely in the national interest of the United States.


text:
Xbox and Bethesda have set a date of 25 January for an upcoming Developer Direct showcase, promising updates on Redfall, Forza Motorsport and more. However, Bethesda’s highly anticipated sci-fi RPG Starfield will not be at this event as Microsoft is planning to host its own dedicated showcase for the game soon. Despite the developer reassuring fans that it’s still on track to launch in the first half of 2023, a new report suggests that it might’ve been slightly delayed out of this window.
According to MrMattyPlays during a recent episode of Defining Duke Podcast, who usually has insider information regarding Bethesda releases, Starfield is getting bumped out of the first half of 2023 because it has not been dated yet. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be a major delay as it’s still targeting a summer release, which is between June and August. The leaker says that the source who divulged this information to him has been spot-on in the past and hasn’t been wrong before.
Starfield getting bumped out of the first half of 2023 makes sense as the first six months of the year are already stacked with big releases, including Bethesda’s own Redfall. Launching in June would also pit Starfield against major releases like Street Fighter 6, Diablo 4 and Final Fantasy XVI so fans are speculating it will launch in either July or August. That said, Starfield is one of the most anticipated releases of the year and (probably) shouldn’t have a problem rubbing shoulders with the aforementioned titles in June.
Of course, we still recommend taking this with a pinch of salt until we get some official confirmation from Xbox and Bethesda.
Starfield was originally planned to release in November 2022 but got delayed to give Bethesda Game Studios more time to polish the game. Bethesda releases are notorious for buggy launches so the studio is probably taking extra steps to make sure it’s not a technical mess.
Starfield is currently in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: MrMattyPlays (via AltChar)


text:
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Dalian Wanda Group has agreed to sell its interests in the high-profile London luxury development project, One Nine Elms, for 59 million pounds, the latest in a string of asset sales that underscore financial strains hitting the Chinese conglomerate.
The conglomerate, which has businesses that range from real estate to football and cinemas, had initially said it wanted to transfer ownership of some its overseas assets to its holding company as part of a restructuring, keeping them within the group.
But the sale has instead gone to a unidentified third party. Bloomberg news, citing people with knowledge of the matter, said the buyer was Guangzhou R&F Properties 2777.HK, a firm that has also stepped up to purchase other Wanda property assets.
Wanda Hotel Development Co Ltd 0169.HK said in a statement it is selling its 60 percent stake in a company that owns the high-profile One Nine Elms project in London for 35.61 million pounds ($49 million). The buyer has also agreed to repay 159.5 million pounds in debt.
A separate Wanda firm, Wanda Commercial Properties (Hong Kong) Co Ltd, is also selling the remaining 40 percent stake in the property project in southwest London at the same terms.
R&F declined to comment on whether it was the buyer.
Last year, Chinese regulators told banks to stop providing funding for several of Wanda’s overseas acquisitions as Beijing looks to curb what it sees as irrational spending by some major domestic conglomerates, sources have said.
Shortly after, Wanda sold a portfolio of domestic hotels and tourism assets, including 13 theme parks, for $9 billion to R&F and Sunac China 1918.HK.
Wanda is also considering a Hong Kong listing for its sports assets as part of efforts to rationalise its portfolio that could also include other sales, according to people familiar with the situation.
Other flagship overseas developments - in Chicago, Los Angeles, Sydney and Australia’s Gold Coast - are also available for sale, according to one source.
Responding to a local online media report that questioned the group’s financial health, Wanda last month said its 2017 revenues had surpassed 200 billion yuan ($30 billion) and it had 200 billion yuan in cash.
Wanda bought the property in Nine Elms Lane on the south bank of London’s River Thames in 2013 to redevelop it into a hotel, residential, office and retail complex.
Last year it dropped plans to purchase a neighbouring property, Nine Elms Square which was bought instead by R&F and CC Land Holdings Ltd 1224.HK.
Shares of Wanda Hotel surged on Wednesday, trading 5 percent higher in afternoon trade. It said it would use the sales proceeds to repay loans and interest, and to finance other existing projects.
Reporting by Donny Kwok and Clare Jim; Additional reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Edwina Gibbs
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


text:
Turn 10 Studios has only announced a new Forza Motorsport for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, but it looks like Microsoft’s approach will continue with this game.
The two images below have surfaced on Reddit, and the moderators have reportedly confirmed their authenticity. The photos are presumably from one of the closed tests, as Turn 10 Studios used them to expand their feedback on the upcoming game. The studio claims to have only made parts of the new game available for testing, and the unannounced Xbox One version was possibly only made available for this closed test.
It would be a massive surprise if Turn 10 Studios did make a cross-gen game out of the new Forza Motorsport, as they’ve promised a substantial generational leap for the next instalment in the series, and this would almost certainly be held back by the Xbox One, which is now a pretty old piece of hardware (2013), and so would have to hold back on the Xbox Series, PC versions (if the Forza Horizon series is already well and truly on PC, it’s time for the main series to pay homage to Windows…).
Last summer, creative director Chris Esaki said that the playtests held at the time gave gamers a sense of how the studio had rethought and deepened the franchise’s physics and core gameplay: “To put the physics work into perspective for everyone, the changes we’ve made from Forza Motorsport 7 till now is more than the changes that we’ve made from Motorsport 4 through 7, so it’s a huge generational leap coming to the game.”
In all previous Forza Motorsports, the tyre collision model had a single point of contact with the track surface and was updated every sixty cycles per second or 60 Hz. Still, the new model has eight such points and is updated every 360 Hz or 360 cycles per second. Six times more frequently via eight times more points. Esaki added, “So if you’re doing the math there, it’s a 48x fidelity jump in a single tyre collision itself, so there’s a huge amount of work there that has just really paid off for us.”
Forza Motorsport 8 (which will most likely drop the number eight in its name) is announced for Xbox Series by Microsoft in the summer of 2020. At the time, Turn 10 creative director Dan Greenawalt said the game was still in the early stages of development.


text:
VERO BEACH — Two locally-owned NAPA auto parts stores — one dating to the 1950s — are scheduled to be auctioned off Aug. 10 in a court-ordered $2.4-million foreclosure sale, court record show.
The Indian River Auto Parts stores are in the 2400 block of 12th Avenue and along State Road 60 west of the Indian River Mall.
The company's attorney and co-owner, Jeff Tomberg, of Boynton Beach, is trying to get the sale halted and have the case reconsidered. He filed a motion asking Circuit Judge Cynthia Cox to reconsider her decision. The stores remain open.
But for now, the foreclosure sale remains as scheduledfor 10 a.m. Aug. 10 through an electronic, online sale at the Indian River County Courthouse website, www.indian-river.realforeclose.com.
The auction stems from a North Carolina-based bank in 2010 filing a foreclosure lawsuit against Indian River Auto Parts and its directors including Tomberg and Wabasso residents Mark and Lori Tomberg. The family members bought the two stores in 2007.
On June 21 Circuit Judge Cynthia Cox made a $2.2-million summary judgment in the case, meaning it won't go to trial. The judgment includes two loan notes: one for $213,000 and one for $2.19 million.
Tomberg said the stores' mortgages are current. The issue, Tomberg said, centers around whether part of the bank's loans can be extended and the interest rate renegotiated. The bank is the Branch Banking and Trust Co., of North Carolina.
The bank's attorney couldn't be reached for comment.
Tomberg contends his company's financial problems are in part due to problems with management of the store on State Road 60 and the management's relationship with NAPA.
NAPA isn't named in the court action. NAPA is a national distributor of automobile replacement parts. NAPA is owned by Genuine Parts Co., of Atlanta, that has been having strong sales and earnings, according to its last quarterly report.
A spokesman for Genuine Parts Co. couldn't be reached for comment.
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-710-6180.
Monday-Friday: 6am-3pm / Saturday: 6:30am-10:30am / Sunday: 7am-11am


text:
We've been waiting for a Pixelbook 2 for a while now, but the new laptop Google is expected to launch next month (at its Made For Google '19 event) looks like it will have a different name. Get ready for the Pixelbook Go, a much more traditional laptop than the original Pixelbook.
Sources speaking to 9to5Mac revealed that this new laptop will ditch some of the top-line bells and whistles we loved about the Pixelbook, such as a convertible 2-in-1 design and its Pixelbook Pen support. This new Chromebook, instead will be designed with a "portable and ergonomic clamshell laptop form."
This pivot to a classic design seems to fit with changes in Google's Chrome OS devices strategy. This past June, we discovered that Google decided it would no longer make its own tablets (third party Chrome OS tablets will still be a thing).
The Pixelbook Go will also have a "tactile feel," according to the report, that's meant to make it grippier and harder to drop. Expect a design that's as light, or lighter than, the Pixelbook, which may be due to a magnesium alloy material. This easier-to-hold material would mean the Pixelbook Go is getting positioned as a built-for-classrooms machine.
Further, expect a high-res screen that matches the original Pixelbook in sharpness, measuring 13.3 inches, with optional 4K. Lower end models will feature a Full HD 1080p screen. Google apparently plans to make Intel Core m3, i5, and i7 configs.


text:
US ecommerce retailer Amazon is set to expand its presence in Mississippi with a fulfilment centre in DeSoto county.
Set to be Amazon’s second facility in the US state, the over one million square foot fulfilment centre will be used to store and ship sports equipment, patio furniture, fishing rods, pet food, kayaks, bicycles and household goods.
The project will be developed by Hillwood Investment Properties.
Amazon global customer fulfilment vice-president Alicia Boler Davis said: “Mississippi has proven itself to be a great place for Amazon to do business and gives us the opportunity to better serve our customers in the region.
“We are excited about our growth and remain committed to creating a positive economic impact in the region with job opportunities that have great pay and benefits.”
When operational, the facility will generate full-time jobs for up to 500 staff members, with a minimum wage of $15 an hour.
The company will offer additional benefits such as full medical, vision, and dental insurance, as well as a 401(k) with 50% match from day one.
Amazon also has plans to invest over $700m to offer skill enhancement training for 100,000 US employees for ‘in-demand jobs’.
Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) executive director Glenn McCullough Jr said: “In just ten months, Amazon has announced two Mississippi locations creating 1,300 jobs for the people of North Mississippi.
“Amazon’s new DeSoto County location is evidence of the fact that the Mississippi team works together to support extraordinary companies, enabling them to achieve their goals in our state.”
Earlier this month, Amazon revealed plans to open a new grocery store in California, US.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO -- Comic books have a lousy reputation. In this country, they're either the domain of prepubescent boys or kooky collectors.
But in Japan, where "manga," or comics, are sold at kiosks on the streets and cut across gender and age boundaries, it's a $4 billion industry. Manga accounts for 40 percent of all printed material in Japan. And in a country where a movie ticket costs about $20, it's an entertainment bargain at $2 for a small magazine and $3.50 for a thick one about the size of a small phone book.
Japanese manga (pronounced MAHN-gah) and anime, or animated movies, such as Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z and Yu-Gi-Oh -- even Speed Racer, which first aired here in the late 1960s -- already have migrated to the United States and attracted legions of fans.
Now, a San Francisco-based publisher of manga has decided the American public is ready for Shonen Jump, a monthly anthology series making its debut Tuesday.
"Most American kids have been introduced to these properties through anime or on television," said Rick Bauer of Viz Communications Inc. "It's our intent to carry the most popular stories and continue introducing the hottest properties in their original form."
Rick Malixi, a 24-year-old anime and manga fan, was thrilled to hear about an English version of Shonen Jump. In high school, he looked at manga for the pictures, but was always disappointed he couldn't read it.
"I love the art, the style," he said. "I think it has much more detail than American cartoons or comic books."
At Comic Relief in Berkeley, manager Todd Martinez sets aside the front section of his store for manga. He says its popularity grows as customers are drawn both to the high-quality artwork and the compelling storylines.
"In Japan, you've got millions of grown adults reading manga, every week. There's not the stigma that comics are for kids," he said. "They've got more people doing it, it's more of a respected medium, so you've got higher quality stuff out there."
Shonen Jump's premiere issue at 288 pages is a mostly black and white, National Geographic-sized magazine that reads Japanese style -- from back to front and from right to left. Bauer acknowledges his company printed it that way "because it's cool" and because that's how the artwork originally was intended to be seen.
Viz Communications already had 10,000 Shonen Jump subscribers before the magazine's release, Bauer said. They're targeting 12- to 17-year-olds who "identify with the anime/manga lifestyle," he said. Those teens spend a lot of time watching television, surfing the Web and communicating via e-mail.
Manga offers complex stories and more realistic characters than stereotypical American comic books, says Seiji Horibuchi, president and CEO for Viz Communications.
"It's a superhero-driven industry," he said. "Those characters are 50 years old now. U.S. publishers didn't create or cultivate a younger audience. They have to invent characters for a younger group. I think they missed that."
And Horibuchi's filling the gap.
No independent group monitors comic book sales, but the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Manga estimates manga accounts for about 5 percent of the comic store portion of the U.S. comics market. When factoring in subscriptions and bookstore sales, manga is probably a $25 million to $30 million market, Bauer said.
Next year, Viz expects to publish Shonen Jump every other week, eventually putting an issue out weekly.
There's a backlog of manga in Japan with only a fraction that's been translated into English, so there's more than enough to keep Shonen Jump readers hooked, Bauer said.
"The vision is to bring all the world together through manga," he said.
On the Net:


text:
WELCOME TO The TRAVEL REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
Thailand Safety and Health Administration | May 26, 2020
Thailand has taken a key step in welcoming back travelers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, launching a new safety certification program that will identify businesses, including restaurants, hotels and travel agents, that meet all appropriate COVID-19 hygiene and quality controls upon inspection.
The Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Certification Program was announced by a handful of the country's top officials on Tuesday, including Phiphat Ratchakitprakan, Minister o...
AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
philippine airlines | March 03, 2022
Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its regional affiliate PAL Express (PALex) have partnered with IBS Software to provide their employees with a new, fully digital system for booking and managing staff travel. The airline group has signed up to implement IBS Software's fully automated SaaS solution iFly Staff, which enables them to automate leisure and duty travel processes. Through the new system, PAL can better support employees, their beneficiaries and PAL retirees to manage travel through a s...
American Queen Steamboat Company | June 30, 2020
Out of an abundance of caution, American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) has extended its suspension of operations onboard the American Empress through August 2, 2020, and the American Duchess through August 16, 2020.
“The decision to extend our suspension was disappointing, but necessary in order to prioritize the wellbeing of our guests, crew and partners,” said John Waggoner, CEO and Founder of American Queen Steamboat Company. “We have continued to monitor the climate...
Amadeus | March 01, 2021
Amadeus and Microsoft today report a worldwide key association that will tackle cloud innovation to improve and investigate new items and arrangements and make smoother travel encounters later on.
The organization will consolidate Microsoft trusted, secure cloud stages and industry-driving joint effort and endeavor advancements with Amadeus' demonstrated skill and development in movement innovation.
Groups from both Microsoft and Amadeus will team up to empower ...
FEATURES AND ADVICE
Keep me plugged in with the best
Join thousands of your peers and receive our weekly newsletter with the latest news, industry events, customer insights, and market intelligence.
Put your news, events, company, and promotional content in front of thousands of your peers and potential customers.
Not a member yet? Not a problem, Sign Up
Sign up to contribute and publish your news, events, brand, and content with the
community for FREE


text:
Car People Blog
Look for some big changes at your local Cadillac store. With sales down 12% Project Pinnacle is geared to upgrade service to include suits and ties, roadside and concierge service and a revamp of how dealerships and sales people are paid. More bonus heavy for hitting sales goals by Tier and customer rating targets plus complying with a lengthy list of new standards. Coming to a store near you this October. Automotive News
US Vehicle Sales are UP
Make US Market Share % YTD
General Motors 16.6%
YTD sales are up 1.2% over 2015
Just When You Thought Things Couldn’t Get Any Better
IRVINE, Calif., March 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- New-vehicle
sales are expected to increase 8 percent year-over-year to a
total of 1.66 million units in March 2016, resulting in an estimated
17.2 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according
to Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the vehicle valuation and
information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers
and the automotive industry. Two additional selling days will
help this month's volume totals as the SAAR will stay relatively
consistent with recent months.
"The industry continues to maintain its momentum in March as
we expect the highest volume of any month in more than 10
years," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.
"However, we continue to follow indicators that demand for new
cars is weakening, while there is increased incentive spending
and an increasing share of fleet sales."
which is up 5 percent year-over-year, making this the second
highest first quarter on record, surpassed only by Q1 2000.
This also could be the highest March sales total since 2000,
when sales also hit 1.66 million units, and the highest volume
total of any month since July 2005.
|Current Unemployment Rates for States / Historical Highs/Lows|
|Feb. 2016||Historical High||Historical Low|
|California||5.5%||Oct. 2010||12.2%||Dec. 2000||4.7%|
|Colorado||3.0%||Oct. 2010||8.9%||Dec. 2000||2.7%|
|Hawaii||3.1%||Jan. 1976||10.4%||Dec. 2006||2.4%|
|Nevada||5.9%||Nov. 2010||13.7%||Jan. 1999||3.7%|
Las Vegas Odds
as of 3-8-2016
US Presidential Election
Tuesday 8th November 2016
Hillary Clinton 4/9
Donald Trump 10/3
Ted Cruz 16/1
Bernie Sanders 20/1
John Kasich 20/1
Marco Rubio 25/1
Joe Biden 40/1
Paul Ryan 66/1
Mitt Romney 100/1
Recond Year in Car Sales
2015 saw a record 17.5 million new cars sold in the USA. Passing a 15 year old record it totalled over $570 billion with the average sale at $34,450. Low gas prices, low interest and continued pent up demand paved the way.
Despite a multitude of problems
from recalls to cheating, the US
market remains strong!
October YTD -
|Ford Motor Co.||13.40%|
|Toyota Motor Sales||13.00%|
|Fiat Chrysler Automobiles||14.60%|
|American Honda Motor Co.||8.60%|
|Nissan North America||12.50%|
|VW Group Of America||5.80%|
|Jaguar Land Rover N.A.||76.10%|
|Volvo Cars N.A.||86.90%|
65% of companies surveyed found new hires through social media in the past year. 57% through Linkedin, 30% through professional or association network sites and 19% through Facebook. The Society of Human Resource Management conducted this survey and also learned that HR professionals almost unanimously recommend that job seekers should have a strong presence on the web. Employers are increasingly searching these sites for potential hires.
On the flip side a large percentage of employers check the web sites of potential hires for content, as do we. Most are pretty well displayed, but too many are not professional and give a negative impression. Poor grammar, bad spelling, inappropriate topics or graphics. It is amazing what people have on their media knowing that an employer has full access to it. If you are in a job search, be sure to police your online presence. Build them like you would a resume with spell and grammar check. If some of your friends post inappropriate items that hit your wall be sure to unfriend them. It just takes one questionable item to hit your wall at the wrong time and you could miss that opportunity.
AutoNews bulletin, David Phillips
The Detroit 3 and Nissan Group, helped by Labor Day promotions and higher light truck demand, all reported double-digit U.S. sales gains for September amid fresh forecasts that the industry would record its strongest performance in more than a decade.
Las Vegas Odds
|2016 US Presidential||2016 US Presidential|
|Sept. 20, 2015 odds||Sept. 20, 2015 odds|
|Hillary Clinton||11/8||Hillary Clinton +150|
|Jeb Bush||9/2||Jeb Bush +450|
|Donald Trump||11/2||Donald Trump +500|
|Bernie Sanders||8/1||Joe Biden +800|
|Joe Biden||10/1||Bernie Sanders +1000|
|Marco Rubio||14/1||Marco Rubio +1400|
|Carly Fiorina||18/1||Scott Walker +2000|
|John Kasich||25/1||Carly Fiorina +2500|
|Scott Walker||33/1||John Kasich +2500|
|Rand Paul||33/1||Ben Carson +3000|
|Ben Carson||40/1||Ted Cruz +4000|
|Chris Christie||40/1||Chris Christie +5000|
|Bobby Jindal||40/1||Elizabeth Warren +10000|
|Ted Cruz||50/1||Rand Paul +10000|
|Mike Huckabee||50/1||Bobby Jindal +25000|
|Rick Santorum||66/1||Plus is the amount you need to bet to win $100.|
A shout out to Michael Mangapit, Fixed Operations Director for the Larson Automotive Group in Tacoma. Michael was one of the 40 automotive “high achieving” professionals under 40 in the latest issue of Automotive News. Noted for his exceptional leadership skills and focus on people first led him to success in transforming his store and then the group of stores he now oversees.Check out the Automotive News video by clicking here
US job openings hit record high in April but hiring edges down June 9, 2015
The number of US job openings in April rose 5.2% from March to almost 5.4 million, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. April had the highest level of job openings since the series began in December 2000.
Job openings increased in healthcare and social assistance but fell in arts, entertainment and recreation. Job openings increased the most in the West.
The job openings rate — a measure of job openings compared with total employment — rose to 3.7% in April from 3.5% in March.
The number of hires edged down 1.6% in April to about 5.0 million. There was little to no change in the number of hires in all industries or regions over the month. The number of separations also fell 3.6% to almost 4.9 million.


text:
Ahead of next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LG has announced that it is going to be showing off a new 55in TV set that is just 4mm thick.
It’s so thin because unlike LED TV sets that need light behind the screen to make the pictures visible, this new set uses OLED – Organic Light Emitting Diodes – as used in some handheld devices. LG says that this “OLED TV generates the most natural colours of any TV set at a much lower price point than could have been achieved using the standard manufacturing process.”
The price, and when we’ll be able to buy one, is about all that LG is keeping secret to reveal at CES. The annual event is traditionally a showcase for new technologies and this year it’s expected that TV sets will feature prominently.
Google is expected to release a new version of its Google TV service in partnership with television manufacturers, which may include LG and Samsung. Google TV has previously been expensive and not very well received but technology pundits believe a new version will at least be cheaper.
CES is also where smartphones get unveiled and this year’s show should include a raft of phones built to use Google Android’s latest version, called Ice Cream Sandwich.
CES runs from 10-13 January at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.


text:
The ‘major concern’ the retail union has about Chadstone’s COVID-19 Christmas plan
Chadstone Shopping Centre will look very different this Christmas, but the retail workers union says there’s a “major concern” with the shopping centre’s COVID-19 reopening plan.
Neil Mitchell has been sent a leaked document outlining the reopening plan.
The plan includes reduced trading hours, more security to police social distancing, and more frequent cleaning.
The 34-hour overnight Christmas trading period will be ditched.
Queuing will also be banned in most of the shopping centre, and workers will have their temperature tested daily.
National secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA), Gerard Dwyer, said the union approves of much of the plan, but there’s one “major concern”.
“A major concern in our mind in relation to the control of numbers going in to the centre,” he told Neil Mitchell.
“That’s, to me, a significant omission.
“It’s critical that we get the shopping centres right.”
Mr Dwyer also questioned why only workers will have their temperature tested when arriving at Chadstone.
“Why isn’t everyone going into that centre also having their temperature checked? The technology is there, it’s simple,” he said.
Press PLAY below for more.


text:
There are no Greeks hiding in the wooden horse of Harman. Samsung’s acquisition of Harman is about increasing its penetration of the automobile rather than offering a sneaky challenge to the car industry.
Samsung has announced that it will acquire 100% of Harman International Industries for KRW9.3 billion (US$8.02 billion) in cash with the deal expected to close in Q3 2017.
Harman is a well-known Tier 1 automotive components supplier with 65% of its $7 billion in revenues coming from the automotive industry.
Its particular area of strength is in audio, electronics and infotainment systems which are already present in 30 million vehicles worldwide, says Dr Richard Windsor, founder of Radio Free Mobile.
I see this deal benefiting Samsung in two ways.
First – Verticalisation. Samsung will have more internal demand for its components as well as a large, new in-house customer for its foundry, Samsung LSI. Furthermore, there will be an opportunity for improved integration between hardware and software which should improve the performance of Harman’s products.
Second – Customer access. Harman has strong relationships with almost every car maker which will give Samsung an avenue through which to sell its other products such as semiconductors and displays to the automotive industry.
I do not think for one minute that acquisition is about Samsung building its own car or about Samsung extending its own digital ecosystem into the car. Consequently, I do not see this deal as threatening for the automotive industry but it is a threat for suppliers of Harman who now may lose out to the in-house supplier and to Harman’s competitors who may have a tougher time going forward.
Apple’s realignment of its automotive experiment (see here) is a strong indication of how it is not a good idea for a tech company to start making cars and I do not think that Samsung ever had any intention of following Apple down this road.
Most importantly, Samsung does not represent the same threat to automotive brands that Apple and Google do, as it long ago gave up trying to compete in the ecosystem. This means that Samsung will not be intending to ensure that its services (perhaps with the exception of Viv (see here)) and its brand are front and centre in automotive infotainment units and it will not be extracting any data. Consequently, I think Samsung simply aims to extend its strategy of selling electronics at huge scale and thereby earning a much better return than its competitors.
This deal positions it well to meaningfully increase its penetration in the automobile as it becomes increasingly driven by electronics and increasingly autonomous. Samsung has realised that software and services is difficult and with every move that Samsung makes I see it increasingly leaving this piece to others such as Google.
Hence, I think the automakers can rest more easily when it comes to Samsung and continue to put their attention on ensuring that Apple and Google do not steal the relationship they are trying to build with the end customer.
The author of this blog is Dr Richard Windsor, founder of Radio Free Mobile.
Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @IoTNow_ OR @jcIoTnow


text:
In beautiful, sunny San Diego, California, The Open Group hosted its latest event January 29 – February 1 at the iconic US Grant Hotel in the lively Gaslamp District. The theme was ‘The Role of Reference Architectures’. We welcomed over 200 attendees from 17 countries – a great first event of the year!
Process automation systems have long been defined by proprietary technical systems. As digitalization continues to create new norms for all industries, manufacturers are beginning to look beyond today’s systems for common technologies that can help them balance requirements for up-time with the ability to take advantage of digital data—and they’re looking to open standards to help them.
How the Standard has been Used Successfully to Deliver Value to the European Union
Testimonial by Raul Abril, European Commission
This is a real case application of the ArchiMate standard in the European Interoperability Reference Architecture (EIRA) modelling.
The Open Group Open Process Automation™ Forum has attracted companies across a wide spectrum of industries, from technology to oil and gas, chemicals manufacturers to food and beverage, minerals and mining to pulp and paper. With many of these industries facing the same technology issues when it comes to digitalization, they have seen a need to come together to explore how open standards can facilitate and address the technical challenges they have in common.
We recently spoke with Dr. Eugene Tung, Director of IT for Merck, about why pharmaceutical companies such as his are interested in open process automation standards and how even open process manufacturing vendors can benefit from them
The rapid pace of technology innovation in today’s digital economy means that businesses require a level of agility and responsiveness that cannot be delivered by conventional business strategies and operating models.
This event focused on how Enterprise Architecture and the use of standards from The Open Group, such as TOGAF®, ArchiMate® and IT4IT™ (for managing the business of IT), are empowering companies to build better systems by architecting for digital business strategies.
Topics included: EA and Business Transformation; EA in Government; EA in Healthcare; Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities; Risk Management and Cybersecurity; Process Automation; and IT Management.
The Open Group, the vendor-neutral IT consortium, is hosting its upcoming event in Amsterdam, October 23-26, 2017. The Open Group Amsterdam 2017 will focus on Architecting the Digital Enterprise, bringing together vendors and end-user organizations to discuss how to architect the new digital enterprise.
The event’s focus will be on how Enterprise Architecture and standards such as the TOGAF® framework, ArchiMate® modeling language, and IT4IT™ reference architecture (for managing the business of IT) are empowering companies to build better systems by architecting for digital business strategies.


text:
2019 began with speculators pondering the possibility of a bear market and finished with the biggest yearly gains since 2013. This time last year, the idea that the S&P 500 would post gains of nearly 30% seemed well beyond the realms of possibility. The tech-focused Nasdaq fared even better, delivering gains of 35% in what was a whopper year for the likes of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), despite the Trade War threatening to thwart the market at any turn and rumbles that a recession may be on the horizon sending investors scurrying to safe havens.
While it may seem that everyone was a winner in the markets last year, there were inevitably some losers. Ed Milliband, former leader of the British Labour Party, once said, “they used to say a rising tide lifted all boats. Now the rising tide just seems to lift the yachts,” and in a sense, that rings true for the stock market in recent years. As tech heavyweights are soaring to record peaks, some smaller firms or former greats are being left in their dust. Here, we’ll look at three such stocks which floundered in 2019 but could again flourish in 2020:
Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED) (NYSE:CGC)
Canopy Growth was the trailblazer leading the charge for cannabis legalization in Canada under the leadership of charismatic pot pioneer Bruce Linton. Investors rushed in to snap up the stock of what remains the biggest cannabis company in the world, but things didn’t go quite to plan. The Canadian cannabis space underperformed massively in 2019 as scandals, supply issues, and regulatory uncertainty hindered growth and led to the continued dominance of the black market. Canopy’s stock fell almost 30% from January 1 to December 31.
However, the cannabis market looks set to see a huge upturn in fortunes in 2020, and Canopy will likely be one of the biggest beneficiaries. This month will see the long-awaited arrival of cannabis 2.0, opening the market up to a host of smoking alternatives, including vapes, edibles, and beverages. Canopy, under new leadership following the controversial ousting of Linton, has bet heavily on the 2.0 market with some really exciting product launches set for the next few weeks. This is definitely a space worth watching.
Newell Brands Inc (NASDAQ:NWL)
While Newell may not be the most well-known name out there, it is the parent company behind a variety of brands that are all too familiar to us, including Sharpie, Papermate, and Mr Coffee. However, Newell’s broad product portfolio couldn’t stave off disappointing financial results, which saw the stock reach its lowest point in over eight years, sinking to just over $13, having traded for $50 in the summer of 2017.
Newell has moved to address these problems and lift its financial outlook. The firm has been engaged in an extensive divestiture program, labeled the Accelerated Transformation Plan, which has seen it offload several noncore brands and sell several assets as it trimmed its debt burden by over $4 billion USD. Newell said it officially completed its Accelerated Transformation Plan on New Year’s Eve, and it certainly benefited the stock, as it rallied more than 40% in the latter half of the year.
Uber’s IPO in 2019 was one of the most hotly anticipated debuts in recent memory due to the fact that it was a ‘unicorn,’ a private company that is valued at over $1 billion USD. Uber went public last May at a debut price of $45, but despite a brief peak to $47 during the summer, the stock massively underwhelmed as investors steered clear of the cash-hemorrhaging ridesharing firm. The loss of its license in London in November saw the stock sink to a low of just under $26.
The last few months of the year offered a glimmer of hope for the company and its investors, with a $1.2 billion USD loss described as “less catastrophic” than the previous quarter, which saw Uber lose $5.2 billion USD. While that may not fill speculators with a great deal of confidence, recent comments from CEO Dara Khosrowshahi claiming that Uber will be profitable by 2021 are definitely starting to look like an indication that the tide may be turning. Uber stock currently trades for $33.97, having recovered about 30% of its value in the last two months.
Trump’s Trade War with China continues to rumble on, fading to background noise in light of recent events, and recession worries continue to flutter in and out of the public conscience. Regardless, those concerns failed to weigh on the performance of the market last year, and with stocks bursting out of the blocks in the early days of 2020, it looks as though this year could even eclipse 2019 with new records. The three stocks above have certainly made a case for themselves, but are there any others catching your eye for the year ahead?
Featured Image: DepositPhotos © iqoncept


text:
HERB GREENBERG'S BUSINESS INSIDER -- Lights, Cameras, Action: Marketing Pixar to the Street / Also, has Kenetech hired an advisor to find a buyer?
Published 4:00 am, Monday, November 20, 1995
Never underestimate the importance of timing and marketing when it comes to initial public offerings. Case in point: Richmond-based Pixar, the animation studio, whose stock is expected to start trading next week.
It's no coincidence that the deal will occur just days after the debut of "Toy Story," Pixar's first full-length motion picture.
And just to make sure you put two and two together -- especially after all of those rave movie reviews, which are expected the weekend before the deal -- color pictures of the "Toy Story" animated stars, Woody and Buzz, grace the inside flap and back cover of Pixar's prospectus.
The marketing of "Toy Story" in conjunction with the IPO reflects a growing effort by underwriters to grab the attention of mutual fund managers and other institutional investors, who are inundated with prospectuses. "It's all about getting differentiated," says one investment banker, who is working on Pixar. "There's no question that in a more cluttered world, there's a greater marketing effort by underwriters to get to companies -- and for companies to get to investors -- than there used to be."
The deal is being underwritten by Robertson Stephens, Hambrecht & Quist and Cowen & Co. Some brokerage firms in fact, offered their employees tickets to a screening of "Toy Story" so they could get a first-hand glimpse at what they were selling. Apparently they liked what they saw, which is important because Pixar is trying to issue 6 million shares -- a high number for an IPO.
LATEST BUSINESS VIDEOS
- How Blackline Makes Accounting Cool Cheddar TV
- Stonyfield Expands Beyond Organic Yogurt...to Organic Fields Cheddar TV
- Unpacking Amazon's Prime Position Cheddar TV
- Study Shows Earning More Money Causes This Major Problem at Work Buzz 60
- Supreme Court Weighs Online Sales Tax Collection Associated Press
- Ex-Cambridge Analytica Employee: Facebook's Disclosures "Just the Tip of the Iceberg" Cheddar TV
- FOX Business Beat: Amazon Prime Hits 100 Million; Gas-Up From Inside Cars Fox5DC
- Small Business Wednesday: Kenna Kunijo Salon Brandpoint
- Some Amazon Workers Pee in Bottles to Make Work Deadlines:Report Buzz 60
- Report: Facebook Investors Want To Oust Mark Zuckerberg as Chairman Veuer
In the end, however, all of the marketing can't help a bad company sell stock -- at least not to institutions. "The professional investment community isn't going to be swayed by a bunch of pictures of pretty toys," say Linda Smith of Renaissance Capital in New York, who specializes in analyzing IPOs.
Maybe not, but pictures and a hit movie may be all the individuals need for a reason to buy Pixar on the day it starts trading. After all, unexpected demand from individuals helped cause Netscape to soar 150 percent on its first trading day.
If that happens with Pixar, investors had better hope the stock is as good as the movie.
-- Hot air?: I hear that San Francisco- based Kenetech, the troubled maker of the kind of wind turbines you see on the Altamont Pass near Livermore, has hired Lehman Brothers to help sell the company. A spokesman said the company doesn't comment on rumors. Kenetech, which traded at a high of 16 last February, closed Friday at 3 5/8.
don, says he wrote Warren Buffett that the game "would be his best investment yet." Buffett's response, through his assistant: "I already have a Monopoly set." Is it anything special? "Anything I have," she said he said, "is regular."
-- Comdex, schmomdex: Seagate CEO Al Shugart, just back from the Comdex computer show in Las Vegas, says the most exciting thing that happened was that he raised $551 for his 110-pound Bermese mountain dog, Ernest, who is running for the 17th Congressional district.
Shugart says the dog's candidacy, first mentioned here a few months ago, is on track for a formal January launch.
Campaign buttons already have been printed, and a few weeks ago Ernest received a $1,000 contribution from EMC Corp. Chairman Richard Egan.
Ernest, incidentally, has competition in the political arena.
Abram Still, from Sonora, is running his daughter's rottweiler, Graffin, for president.


text:
The $133 Million Playstation 3
To put the performance of the machine in perspective, Thomas P. D’Agostino, the administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, said that if all six billion people on earth used hand calculators and performed calculations 24 hours a day and seven days a week, it would take them 46 years to do what the Roadrunner can in one day.
The machine is an unusual blend of chips used in consumer products and advanced parallel computing technologies. The lessons that computer scientists learn by making it calculate even faster are seen as essential to the future of both personal and mobile consumer computing.
The high-performance computing goal, known as a petaflop — one thousand trillion calculations per second — has long been viewed as a crucial milestone by military, technical and scientific organizations in the United States, as well as a growing group including Japan, China and the European Union. All view supercomputing technology as a symbol of national economic competitiveness.
A quadrillion is one thousand million million. The military will have Roadrunner turning its attention to calculations about nuclear weapons, after it has a go at climate modeling for a while.


text:
HMD Global has been teasing today’s special event and, as the reports have anticipated, the company unveiled the Nokia 2.2, what seems to be its most affordable Android One smartphone yet, priced at ₹6999, roughly $100.
With a 5.71-inch display with HD+ resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels, the Nokia 2.2 is powered by a quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 processor, helped by either 2- or 3GB of RAM. Storage options will include 16- and 32GB variants, both expandable via a microSD card.
The camera system consists of a single 13MP main shooter on the back, paired with a 5MP selfie camera on the front, living inside the waterdrop notch. And, as the teaser suggested, the phone’s security will be taken care of AI face unlock.
With a 3,000mAh battery, the Nokia 2.2 will be available in Black and Steel starting June 11 in India, with the most expensive model going for ₹7999, or around $115. The phone will also arrive in Europe soon, where it will go for €99.


text:
Antigua Asks U.S. for “One Last Effort” to Avoid Retaliation in WTO Gambling Case
The United States may be down to its last chance to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling against its ban on Internet gambling before being hit with unprecedented trade sanctions. The Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has been fighting Washington on this issue for a decade and is now threatening to suspend $21 million worth of U.S. intellectual property rights, possibly by setting up a subscription Web site allowing users to download U.S. movies, music and software without having to pay royalties to the copyright holders.
Years ago the WTO ruled that the Internet gambling ban violates U.S. commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services. The U.S. responded by removing online gambling from the scope of those commitments and saying it never meant to include them. The WTO subsequently found that the U.S. had not complied with the initial ruling and granted Antigua permission to levy $21 million in retaliation, far below the $3.4 billion it had sought. Authorities did not want to resort to traditional measures such as higher tariffs on imported goods out of concern that they would be more harmful to Antiguan consumers than U.S. suppliers. Instead, they sought and obtained authorization to suspend concessions under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights concerning copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, patents and protection of undisclosed information.
A war of words between the two countries has escalated since Antigua brought its plan to the WTO in January. U.S. officials have called the plan “government-authorized piracy” and warned that it would “hurt Antigua’s own interests,” for example by serving as “a major impediment to foreign investment in the Antiguan economy, particularly in high-tech industries.” Finance minister Harold Lovell responded by acknowledging that the proposed cross-retaliation is “an extraordinary remedy” but asserting that Antigua had no other options because the U.S. “has completely refused to engaged with us seriously” and instead has continued its “relentless use of criminal proceedings and forfeitures to wreck our remote gaming industry.” Emphasizing that the WTO has authorized the sanctions, the country’s delegate to the WTO called Washington’s comments suggesting otherwise “intemperate and dismissive” and said they represent “a fundamental challenge to the WTO by its most powerful member.”
On April 25, Antigua signaled that it is prepared to proceed with its retaliation given the lack of any “substantial progress” in the last few months. The country’s WTO delegate said that the “destruction of the second-largest economic sector, together with the effects of the economic recession now gripping the world economy, are an existential threat” to the country’s economy and that Antigua has concluded that only utilization of the WTO’s authorization for cross-retaliation “will move this matter forward.” However, the delegate warned that once this step is taken it could have “far-reaching effects that may not necessarily be able to be contained.” He therefore called on the U.S. to “make one last effort at bringing its complex bureaucratic structure to a decision that will avoid unpredictable consequences.”


text:
- Lululemon targets 100% renewable electricity to power business operations by 2021 and to halve single-use plastic packaging by 2025
- Nike and Adidas are driving sustainable innovation across the sector while Unilever, L’Oreal and Amazon launch similar eco-friendly initiatives in response to consumer demand
- Environmental pledges follow America’s controversial withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change
VANCOUVER, Canada — Athleisure giant Lululemon Athletica Inc. has released its first-ever Impact Agenda, outlining 12 commitments to address a range of global issues including diversity, inclusion, mental wellbeing, circularity and climate change.
The NASDAQ-listed company detailed its long-term strategy to become a more sustainable and equitable business, to minimise its environmental impact and accelerate positive change both internally and externally.
Lululemon has also pledged to invest $75 million into equitable wellbeing programmes globally by 2025, expand gender pay equity to full pay equity for its employees by 2022 and make 100% of its products from sustainable materials and end-of-use solutions by 2030.
The Canadian company also listed ambitious environmental targets, including to source 100% renewable electricity to power business operations by 2021, reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2030, and halve the use of single-use plastic packaging and freshwater to manufacture products by 2025.
“Lululemon has a unique opportunity, responsibility and platform to drive meaningful change,” said Calvin McDonald, Chief Executive Officer.
“We share our Impact strategy against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global climate crisis, and systemic inequities in our society. As a global brand, industry, and as individuals, we must play a part to change the world for the better.”
“Move to Zero”
Lululemon’s inclusive and sustainability initiatives follow those of other sportswear companies and retailers across the industry.
Last year Nike launched its “Move to Zero” sustainability plan, building upon existing efforts to fight climate change, including aiming to power facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and operate with net-zero carbon emissions.
“The Move to Zero mission isn’t about a single product, a couple of partnerships, or a bunch of corporate targets,” said Nike’s chief sustainability officer Noel Kinder. “It’s really a reflection of the longstanding, quiet commitment that we’ve had around sustainability and the journey that we see going forward.”
According to its annual impact report, released in February, the company has now:
- Increased vice president representation of women and underrepresented groups by 3% and 2% respectively
- Is powering all its owned or operated facilities in North America with 100% renewable energy
- Is on track to reach its goal of using 100% renewable energy in owned or operated facilities globally by 2025
In September, German sportswear rival Adidas responded with the launch of a new fully vegan, eco-friendly Clean Classics line, redesigned to reduce the brand’s impact on the environment.
The company is also collaborating with rapper Kanye West to create a sustainable algae-based shoe prototype produced from hemp and cotton, and in May announced it was teaming up with New Zealand footwear brand Allbirds in a bid to “create the lowest carbon footprint ever recorded for a sports performance shoe”.
Adidas has committed to a 30% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050 as part of its End Plastic Waste initiative.
Elsewhere, consumer goods giant Unilever recently announced plans to halve its use of “virgin plastic by 2025, having converted 10% of its plastic footprint to more sustainable post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR).
In June, global beauty brand L’Oréal announced 100% of its packaging would be recycled or from bio-based sources by 2030, and allocated €150 million to “address urgent social and environmental issues” as part of its new sustainability program “L’Oréal for the future”.
And e-commerce colossus Amazon has become the latest retailer to signpost more sustainable products on its site, launching a Climate Pledge Friendly filter for shoppers in Europe.
The feature will enable consumers to filter their searches by beauty, fashion, food, electronics and household products so that only those which meet certain sustainability certificates will be included.
The Paris Climate Agreement
These environmental pledges, in particular, are especially timely, given that on 5th November, two days after the US presidential election, America officially left the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Donald Trump had announced his intention to withdraw from the international forum in 2017. In response, Democratic candidate Joe Biden tweeted that “in exactly 77 days, a Biden Administration will rejoin it”.
Under a Biden administration, the US is expected to have the most progressive position on climate change in the nation’s history, with a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and strict carbon tariffs on imports.
But, with Congress expected to be at an impasse, divided between a blue House of Representatives and red Senate, the onus will be on private corporations to draw up and honour environmental pledges.
With leading wellness companies such as Lululemon paving the way at this critical time for the health of our planet, it is hoped the brand’s efforts will raise standards in its respective sectors, and hold big business accountable.
Lululemon’s McDonald added: “Our Impact Agenda is more than a set of commitments. It’s a holistic approach that reflects who we are, guided by our purpose to elevate the world by realising the full potential within every one of us.”


text:
Joe Biden’s ambition to make the U.S. less dependent on other nations for rare earths and minerals critical to the clean energy transition will take years to accomplish.
A review of the U.S. critical minerals and rare earths supply chain that the president ordered this week is likely to show that even with sweeping changes the nation is at ...Read more
Like most Clubhouse users, Rahaf Harfoush doesn't make money on the app. But she does help others avoid losing it.
Harfoush, a digital anthropologist and author who lives in Paris, is part of an "anti-grift squad" that helps newcomers to the audio-only interactive streaming platform avoid falling prey to scams.
She and a crew of veteran users ...Read more
Austin, Texas-based software maker SolarWinds – along with the cybersecurity industry at large – continues to grapple with how to move forward from the massive cyber breach last year that allowed hackers access to multiple federal agencies and more than 100 private-sector companies.
SolarWinds is facing a week of reckoning, as the company ...Read more
House lawmakers kicked off an effort to tackle dominant technology companies, vowing a revamp of competition laws to curb their power.
The House antitrust panel, led by Representative David Cicilline, is hearing from antitrust experts Thursday about potential proposals aimed at fostering competition in digital markers, ranging from company ...Read more
Twitter Inc. gave the first outline of a potential subscription product that will let people charge followers for access to special content or experiences, part of a broader effort to diversify the company’s revenue sources and give high-profile users a way to make money on the service.
Twitter mentioned a new feature called “Super Follows�...Read more
While there’s a famous horror-movie spoof about killer tomatoes, no one seems to have made one about caterpillars — the insect pests that eat the juicy red fruits of summer.
Perhaps the time is ripe, with inspiration from a new study at Pennsylvania State University.
Scientists found that a caterpillar called the tomato fruit worm not only...Read more
Australia’s parliament passed a world-first law to force digital giants such as Facebook Inc. and Google to pay local publishers for news content — a move that may unleash more global regulatory action to limit their power.
The legislation was passed Thursday and will ensure “news media businesses are fairly remunerated for the content ...Read more
Q: My Samsung Galaxy phone won't play the sound on YouTube videos when it's connected by Bluetooth to my car, a 2016 Fiat 500. I can get sound for other things, such as map directions or phone calls. I think the problem is in the car's Bluetooth connection, but the Fiat dealer has been of no help. How can I fix this?
—Jean Mitchell, Edina, ...Read more
Researchers have fetched an ancient dog fossil that provides new context for when the species arrived to the Americas.
The small fragment of a dog’s femur was recently found in Alaska and belonged to a canine that roamed the region about 10,150 years ago, according to a study by the University at Buffalo that was released online Tuesday.
Babylon, the medical startup that helps diagnose conditions and prescribe treatments online, is exploring options to go public as business booms amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to people familiar with the matter.
The U.K.-based health-care group has been approached by several special purpose acquisition companies about going public via a ...Read more
A blank-check company formed by LinkedIn Corp. founder Reid Hoffman and Zynga Inc. founder Mark Pincus agreed to merge with Joby Aviation as a means to take the air-taxi startup public.
Reinvent Technology Partners’ purchase of Joby values the combined company at $6.6 billion and is expected to provide about $1.6 billion in proceeds, the ...Read more
At the end of their shifts in restaurants all over the world, cooks roll up garbage barrels to their work stations. Into the cans goes a lot of unsold prepared food — noodles and meats and chicken and lettuce and tomatoes and rolls and what have you.
But what if this still-delicious food instead could be portioned into takeout containers, ...Read more
So you're ready to take your gaming to the next level. Your quest probably begins with a better gaming rig, but let's say that you don't have a single spot where you like to game. You're a gamer on the go, so to speak. That means you need a laptop, and there are some good ones out there for gamers.
Now, there's more to a gaming laptop than ...Read more
Some weeks I scratch my head over what to write about and some weeks the topic just drops into my lap.
Being an IT guy, I spend my workdays solving problems and answering questions about people’s technology issues.
I’ve been writing long enough to recognize a good column topic when I help a co-worker or friend solve a problem.
This week...Read more
Is it really possible to call a wireless phone charger elegant, or attractive or a piece of art? Well, some of that might be a stretch but after seeing Einova by Eggtronic’s marble wireless phone charger, you’ll know what I mean.
The 4.65-inch rounded charger can produce 5W, 7.5W and up to 10W of fast charging for capable devices, but ...Read more
ATLANTA – Whether in a pickup game of basketball or a summer football league, cops have long challenged teenagers to battles of athletic prowess.
Playing with kids on their own turf helps to build relationships, the officers say, and could help steer them in the right direction. But there is no going toe-to-toe and hand-to-hand in the ...Read more
The Nioh video game franchise is one of the finest titles of the PlayStation 4 era, a satisfying mix of Dark Souls punishment and Ninja Gaiden difficulty that never let you down. Both two Nioh games, released in 2017 and early 2020, suck you in with splendid visuals and relentlessly challenging combat, and they grab you even more once you face...Read more
Games that come with Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus can be hit or miss. The free offerings are often titles that players may already own or are projects that weren’t that great to begin with. Once in a while, the services’ offerings hit that sweet spot: A title comes along that has won acclaim and may have been missed.
For me, that game is...Read more
For most of us, the word “algorithm” is fairly new to our vocabulary. But badly designed decision-making algorithms have a growing impact on our lives and can do a great deal of damage.
Simply put, an algorithm is a set of instructions used by computer systems to perform a task or make a decision. On social media platforms, for example, ...Read more
Throughout history, people have established new governments for all sorts of reasons: to solidify alliances, or expand empires, or secure individual liberties.
Marc Beaulac had a question about sweaters.
Specifically, it was about the age-old debate in offices between men who want the air conditioning cranked up and women who want it turned ...Read more
- 'Like a horror movie': Caterpillar silences tomato's cry for help, scientists find
- Can democracy work on the internet? Reddit tells a mixed story
- CNET: Best AV receivers for 2021
- Why are people spending hours on Clubhouse? It's not (usually) the money
- Antitrust reform is coming for tech giants, lawmakers say