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We’ve recently had a couple of announcements come from Blizzard on social media, the arrival of Kel’ thuzad in Heroes of the Storm and Dehaka coming to Starcraft’s co-op commanders mode. So what are we likely to see at Gamescom? There has been some speculation about a Warcraft Four announcement (There’s always hope.) but that doesn’t seem likely to drop anywhere that isn’t Blizzcon. So what else could they announce. A new Hearthstone expansion perhaps or more classes for Diablo Three?
Personally I would like to see them announce a follow-up to Nova Covert Ops; The Starcraft Two mini campaign.
The small expansion on the story and the return to campaign Gameplay was a welcome addition for SC2 campaign players and I think the game would benefit from another injection of story. With no real likelihood of a Starcraft 3 and the recently announced update for the Multiplayer it would seem like time Starcraft Two’s Single Player got some love.
When launched the Developers made it sound like Nova would be the first of many characters they would spotlight in mini campaigns. Maybe it simply didn’t make enough money to be feasible, but as someone who loves Starcraft Lore and story I am hopeful.
What do you think. Will they release announce a Mini-Campaign for Starcraft Two? If not what do you think they will bring to Gamescom. Let me know in the comments.


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CLEVELAND — Oct. 18, 2011 — Global demand for windows and doors is forecast to rise 6.8 percent per year through 2015 to $192 billion, significantly exceeding the pace of growth registered between 2005 and 2010. Gains will be exaggerated by an extremely weak 2010 base in the developed world, particularly in the U.S.
Demand for windows and doors in the residential building construction market will outpace demand in the nonresidential building construction market as in most developed countries the residential market was far more adversely impacted by the recession in 2009 and 2010. Through 2015, demand for energy-efficient windows and doors will rise faster than the overall market because of increasing consumer awareness and government support in the form of tax credits. Sales of blast-resistant doors will also see above-average gains, especially in the nonresidential market in developed countries due to persisting security concerns.
These and other trends are presented in World Windows & Doors, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
The U.S. market for windows and doors will post a strong recovery and expand 7.7 percent per year through 2015, after declining by around 25 percent between 2008 and 2010 when the country experienced a major economic recession that was spurred by the downturn in the housing sector. Demand in Japan and Western Europe will also post solid recoveries after declines in 2009 and 2010, although neither experienced problems as significant as the US did in those years.
Plastic is projected to be the fastest growing material for window and door products through 2015. Gains for plastic windows and doors will be supported by continuing demand for vinyl windows because of their low cost, durability, minimal maintenance requirements and superior energy efficiency. Plastic windows will account for 37 percent of global window demand in 2015. Fiberglass entry doors will capture market share from wood and steel entry doors.
For more information, visit: www.freedoniagroup.com

domain: news


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Viewsonic is a well-known name closely associated to LCD monitors and LCD TV displays. But at the CES show in Las Vegas, the manufacturer has recently announced their new line computing line including the 10.2-inch VieBook netbook.
Razer™ unveiled Mamba™, a high precision wireless laser gaming mouse, and the Razer Carcharias™, a circumaural audio headset. Mamba cost US- $129.99; Europe- €129.99 available from February 2009 while Carcharias cost US- $79.99; Europe- €79.99 available in Jan, 2009.
Lian Li has launched the PC-A03, a Micro-ATX chassis featuring a functional and user friendly design. Standing at 190 x 380 x 450 ( W, H, D), with a removable 120mm blue LED fan in the front and a 80mm blue LED extraction fan in the rear. Availability: Available on order now at USD99+VAT.
About two weeks back Creative put up a teaser site about something called the Zii. Today, VR-Zone brings you the full story on this pint-sized computer.
VR-Zone attended the Sony VAIO P “Pocket style PC” media launch in Singapore today. Kazutoyo Araki, Senior Manager of Business Planning and Strategy for VAIO Global (center in above pic), gave the opening speech and presented the new VAIO P. Unlike the CES announced US model, the local version does not have built-in GPS or wireless WAN 3G
VR-Zone today takes a Sneak Preview at the new X58 Motherboard from EVGA, the EVGA X58 SLI Classified. It is powered by X58+ICH10R chipset with NVIDIA nF200 X16 and supports 6 DDR3 SDRAM DIMM sockets up to 24GB memories.
Samsung has announced four new stylish-designed digital cameras for the first half of 2009 – HZ10W, TL100, SL102 and SL420 – aimed at users of various skill levels and budgets. The Samsung HZ10W will be available in January 2009 at an MSRP of USD299.99 while the pricing for TL100, SL102 and SL420 will be made
Yes, its official. Sony has unveiled the VAIO P-series notebook which claims to be the world’s lightest 8-incher. It weighs just 0.64kg and features an 8-inch wide LED backlit display (1600 x 768). Comes in four colours, it will retail for approximately USD900.
Besides the high-capacity 16GB mobile memory cards, SanDisk has also announced their new slotRadio Player. This small, stylish and portable music device is bundled with a slotRadio card which is preloaded with 1,000 songs handpicked from the Billboard charts, and professionally arranged into a variety of genre-themed playlists.
Buffalo has unveiled their latest compact, lightweight storage solution – the MiniStation Cobalt Portable Hard Drive. Comes in Onyx Blue, Ruby Red and Pearl White flavors, it can store and back up your digital images, music and other files as well as automatically syncs with your PC or Mac, keeping your files up to date.
XFX, following its recently announced collaboration with AMD, today introduced its first Radeon™ HD-powered 4000 series cards, the XFX Radeon™ HD 4870, 4850, 4830, 4650 and 4350. Future collaborations will include over-clocked versions of these and other popular Radeon™ HD-powered cards.
With this Logitech Pure-Fi Dream Premium Bedroom Music System for iPod, you can now enjoy superb audio experience at the comfort of your bedroom. The Pure-Fi music system also offers FM radio, motion- and light-sensing technology and dual alarm with backup battery.
Although it may look like a mini TV, this QTV is actually a digital photo frame, FM Radio, MP3 and MP4 viewer all-in-one. Comes in pink or yellow, this cute gadget is retailing at USD89.
Imation today launched a new class of SSD solutions and an easy-to-install SSD upgrade kit to help users transition from hard disk to high-performance SSD technology. Imation’s new M-Class SSD drives and S-Class SSD drives will be available in 2.5-inch and 3.5- inch configurations, respectively, with capacities ranging from 32GB to 128GB. The Imation M-Class
SanDisk unveiled its next-generation of flash memory-based SSD to support netbook market – SanDisk® pSSD™. Designed as drop-in replacements for HDDs, SanDisk’s new second generation module has a SATA interface to meet new netbook design requirements. Available in capacities of 8, 16, 32 and 64GB, SanDisk Gen 2 pSSD drives are aggressively priced and slated to be available
LEADTEK announces its latest WinFast GTX 260 EXTREME+ with a new graphics card packaging design. This card has 216 shader processors and is clocked at 602MHz for the core.
Lenovo has announced their new all-in-one IdeaCentre A600 desktop PC that sports a slim and stylish design and equipped with impressive features to satisfy entertainment enthusiasts.
Recently, we revealed the 40nm desktop GPUs lineup from Nvidia and now we will reveal their 40nm mobile GPUs lineup for this year to give you a better picture. Nvidia naming scheme for mobile side is pretty confusing, let alone the number of re-branding and renaming taking place but we have compiled a nice table to make it easy for you to
The Sony Ericsson G705 is small in size, but huge in features. The 3.2-megapixel camera slider phone has almost everything you need to stay connected, enjoy your favourite music and videos and keep you from getting lost.
G.Skill today announces Triple Channel DDR3 2000HMz performance memory at enhanced CL 7-8-7 timings. The “Perfect Storm” series is new from G.SKILL and is equipped with a powerful air-cooling fan to provide outstanding temperature performance.


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Don't-Miss Hardware Stories
Starting next year, tablets with Allwinner's new chip could sell for $250, analyst says
A slew of devices and services were left for dead this week.
Refunds for returned products will be issued in real currency
Dell's the latest big-name seller to jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon.
Whitman joined HP in 2011 and is leading its turnaround effort
A Raspberry-Pi powered tool tricks Google Chromecast into playing Rick Astley
Intel's Broadwell chips will result in PC-replacement tablets thinner than the iPad
It's another change at a company that's battling to get back on track
A new model of the Raspberry Pi is out, but it's not Raspberry Pi 2. Instead, it's the final revision to the old board packed with four USB ports.
DARPA's .50 caliber bullets should help snipers remain undetected as they shoot at a target more than a mile away.
Hack-A-Day is offering $200,000 in rewards for open-source hardware innovations.
The supercomputer will be deployed within the next two years, but would be the world's fastest if deployed today, Cray claims
Database 12c, the cloud and big data will be three areas of focus


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24.02.17 Bytes sells conference centre to BEE Company
Dirk Schreuder, sales and marketing director at SkyGroup Communications. Wholly-owned subsidiary of ...
Revolabs appoints SkyGroup as Southern Africa distributor
Alain Dormehl, Data Solutions architect at Microsoft. Many of the world's socio-economic problems ca...
Using data science to resolve global challenges
Samsung has its latest technology on display at the Samsung Africa Forum in Cape Town this week. Pro...
Samsung shows off new tech in Cape Town


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General Motors Co.'s pre-emptive strike to get leaner before the next downturn likely will be followed by Ford Motor Co., which has said it is restructuring and will lay off an unspecified number of white-collar workers. I said: 'I heard you're closing your plant.
The White House rebuke appears to fly in the face of long-held Republican opposition to picking winners and losers in the marketplace.
Trump said Monday that he had spoken to Barra personally and told her to replace production at a politically sensitive OH factory instead of closing the facility.
The BBC has contacted GM for comment on the president's remarks, and is waiting for a response.
Currently, consumers who purchase a fully-electric vehicle are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. But GM is on the cusp of reaching its subsidy limit.
GM now builds just one vehicle in China that it exports to the United States - the Buick Envision.
At a rally near GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant last summer, Trump told people not to sell their homes because the jobs are "all coming back".
The meeting was planned prior to GM's announcement on Monday, the official said.
"We are right-sizing capacity for the realities of the marketplace", Chief Executive Mary Barra said, adding that the cuts were prompted by auto industry changes.
Police use tear gas on migrants at USA border
As the chaos unfolded, shoppers just yards away on the USA side streamed in and out of an outlet mall, which eventually closed. The president is putting more pressure on Mexico, warning that he might close the southern border "permanently" if necessary.
Harry And Meghan Moving To Windsor Castle’s Frogmore Cottage
The sprawling property has a nursery for the baby and ten bedrooms, compared to just two where they now reside at Nottingham Cottage.
EPL: Emery reveals Arsenal’s game plan against Bournemouth
In conference, Emery said that a number of players had recovered from injuries and trained, such as forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
GM will stop production at the following three plants: Lordstown, Ohio; Hamtramck, Michigan; and Oshawa, Ontario.
More than 16 months ago, the UAW confirmed that it was discussing with GM the potential threat to plants and jobs from slumping USA sedan sales.
GM said it has invested more than $22 billion in US operations since 2009, when it exited bankruptcy protection. The Trump administration has not yet ruled on the request. He has never been shy about voicing his frustration with their decisions. OH is a critical political battleground in presidential elections. Under that deal, Carrier pledged to keep almost 1,100 jobs in Indianapolis, including some 800 furnace production jobs it planned to cut with outsourcing. They will be part of contract talks with the United Auto Workers union next year.
All these actions are expected to increase GM's annual adjusted automotive free cash flow by $6 billion on a run-rate basis by year-end 2020, according to the company. GM curtailed manufacturing operations in South Korea earlier this year, and the idling of the Oshawa plant had been widely reported in the Canadian press as under discussion.
The company will also stop making the models assembled at those plants - the Chevy Cruze, Cadillac CT6, and the Buick LaCrosse.
GM jumped as much as 7.9 percent to US$38.75, the highest since July, as of 12:20 p.m.in NY trading.
The closures also drew sharp criticism from the United States and Canadian labour union representing GM workers, which accused the company of shifting production overseas at the expense of North American workers.
As recently as 2012, passenger cars made up more than 50 percent of all USA new vehicle sales.
While industry-wide passenger vehicle sales were down 13.2 percent through the first nine months of the year, pickup truck and SUV sales rose 8.3 percent.
The moves include shuttering seven plants worldwide as the company responds to changing customer preferences and focuses on popular trucks and SUVs and increasingly on electric models. "We think it's appropriate to get in front of it while the business and the economy are strong".


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CBD oil is getting one of the most blazing new items available today. Truth be told, yearly deals of CBD oil items in 2018 were almost 600 million and are assessed to be developing at a rate surpassing 107% yearly. Before 2017, CBD items were accessible just in head shops, normal food stores, and at a couple of specialist workplaces. Since that time, the market has detonated and CBD items are currently accessible in regular food stores, public food stores, beauty parlors, nail salons, corner shops, and even service stations. Be that as it may, are these CBD items fabricated from safe CBD oil?
Most importantly, we should inspect what we mean by safe CBD oil. A few reports demonstrate that as much as 40% of the CBD items available tried positive for substantial metals like lead and arsenic, concentrated synthetic pesticides, microbes, organisms, poisonous shape, THC, and various other perilous pollutions. The vast majority would concur that items containing these contaminations would be viewed as hazardous.
The vast majority of these perilous CBD oil items are developed and fabricated in China, Mexico, and various underdeveloped nations that do practically zero oversight in the items they sell.
Quite possibly the most widely recognized and risky contaminations normally found in polluted CBD items is substance pesticides. These synthetics are utilized to kill creepy crawlies and different creatures that can be unsafe to the plant. As per the Toxics Action Center, "Pesticides have been connected to a wide scope of human wellbeing risks, going from momentary effects, for example, cerebral pains and queasiness to more genuine medical conditions like malignancy, regenerative harm, and endocrine disturbance." It could Abe risky to ingest any sort of polluted CBD item if it is defiled with pesticides.
The best and most secure items accessible available are those wherein the hemp is filled in the United States and the oil is delivered in a food-grade office. Furthermore, it should be tried by a solid, outsider office. In case you're searching for a safe CBD oil item with steady excellent and levels of CBD, search for providers situated in the U.S. who utilize the just U.S. developed hemp. Likewise, search for providers whose items are altogether tried for virtue, quality, and neatness. Furthermore, as an additional proportion of security and quality, a significant number of these producers are controlled by state offices.
To act as an illustration of this kind of state oversight, CBD producers situated in Colorado should enroll with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Then, they should meet a few necessities, for example, exhibiting that modern hemp delivered in that office doesn't contain more than three-tenths of 1% of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana that makes one get high.
At the point when you buy from providers situated in Colorado or if your provider utilizes other outsider associations that confirm that you are purchasing safe items, you can be guaranteed that CBD items like shower bombs, CBD drops, chewy candies, gel covers, alleviation creams, balms, and more are protected to burn-through and use.
For more info:-


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UK startup and world-leading fuel cell engineering company Intelligent Energy is set to launch a new hydrogen fuel cell at AUVSI Xponential 2019 later this month. The 2.4kW fuel cell is designed for the commercial UAV market. In the past eighteen months, Intelligent Energy has launched four products for commercial drones. All aim to provide […]
The post Intelligent Energy: New Hydrogen Cell For Drone Market & Another Flight Time Record appeared first on DRONELIFE.


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It’s been relatively quiet on the Angel Beats! front recently. The anime ended over a year ago and the last Blu-Ray discs went on sale about a year ago.
However, fans rejoice! We have another destructive product coming out this winter featuring Tachibana Kanade.
Cue the Kanade Bedsheet!
I’m reading that it’s an official product of VisualArts’/Key, but details are scant at the moment.
This awesome bedsheet is slated to go on sale anytime this week.


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The Startup India action plan looks good on paper, but the key obviously will be the execution. The States should also pull their weight to lend support to the Centre’s plan
The Startup India action plan has at least begun on the right note with the announcements of tax breaks, ease of regulations but the reality is that there are significant implementation challenges like use of public funds to invest in startups, definition of innovative startups itself and areas where there will be public private partnership (PPP) execution model. Further, startups in India are unlikely to flourish unless other equally important enabling factors are addressed simultaneously like the current state of physical infrastructure, interference from the tax authorities and state governments which are not in sync with the Centre’s plan.
The startup ecosystem in India is already an well established network with an overwhelming majority led by the technology sector comprising of software product firms, e-commerce entities and business to consumer (B2C) companies. All this has been achieved without much of the assistance or more importantly the interference from the various governments.
The startup action by the government is also important recognition of the fact that this segment is expected to be next biggest employment generator. Harish HV, partner, Grant Thornton India, said, “This (startups) is something that has taken off on its own. The good news is that there is a realisation within the government that it is happening and cannot ignore it anymore.”
The startup ecosystem has also been equally supported by the funding which has come into this segment which stood at $4.9 billion in 2015 as compared to a cumulative investment of $3.2 billion over the 2010-14 period. The biggest projection on the startup segment in India is the hope that it be would be largest employment generator in the near.
As of things today, it has already created 80,000 jobs.
The push from the government in terms of a policy statement has touched the many pain points of the entrepreneurs like ease of doing business, increasing funding measures while also ushering in new measures which will expand this ecosystem like the creation of startup hubs or flexibility in regulations on government purchases. Ravi Narayan—director, Microsoft Ventures said, “The most positive statement from Prime Minister Modi was when he indicated that the government wants to be a facilitator and let the ecosystem mentor and grow on its own. This shows that the government understands the needs of the ecosystem very well and wants to let innovation and entrepreneurial spirit guide the way rather than regulation.“
Further, Nasscom president R Chandrashekhar said, “Startup India is a reflection of young India’s aspirations. Nasscom once again reaffirms its commitment to support 10,000 technology startups and expand its network of Start-up Warehouses across the country that will nurture early stage entrepreneurship. Our ambition is to see India as a startup nation, one that has exponential growth and also enables creation of unique solutions for India’s challenges.”
The startup policy of the government has made very some key enabling provision on the finance and funding front like the creation of the R10,000 crore fund or the credit guarantee scheme which are likely to step up the flow of investments. As Shashank ND, founder and CEO, Practo, said, “This action plan primarily covers all the burning issues from finance to taxation that needs to be addressed. However, convertible note as a financial instrument is one thing that we need and I don’t think we have it right now. From finance point of view if you want startups to stop moving to foreign land then more initiatives should be introduced in the finance front.”
The registration of startup companies overseas largely due to irrational regulations has been of the major irritants for entrepreneurs and the investors, though the hope is that these would be rectified in the near future. TV Mohandas Pai, chairman, Manipal Global Education and a leading angel investor, said, “Value created in the country needs to be captured here.”
The policy has also promised that startups would be able to file their patents in a more cheaper way along with faster process. Manavjeet Singh, founder and CEO, Rubique.com, said, “In the dynamic market scenario like today where it takes few days to replicate an idea, the decision to guide and make the patent process faster is definitely going to be game changer not just in India but worldwide.”
The hopes are certainly raised though many of the suggestions put forward by various industry bodies prior to the formulation of this policy have not been taken into account. However, the startups are hopeful that better days are ahead and much more pronouncements are expected in the forthcoming Union Budget by finance minister Arun Jaitley.
As Harish of Grant Thornton said, “I would say the whole day was a signal that New India is beginning to take over from the traditional India and that should result in some interesting, exciting and energetic times.”
Startup India Action plan
* Self certification: Startups shall be allowed to self-certify compliance with 9 labour and environment laws. In case of the labour laws, no inspections will be conducted for a period of 3 years.
* Startup hub: To be created with the participation of multiple stakeholders like governments, venture capitalists, universities etc. To assist startups through their entire lifecycle.
* Mobile app: This is to facilitate easier and simple registration process. It will also provide a collaborative platform. The app shall be made available from April 1, 2016.
* Easier patent filings: The government shall bear the entire fees of the facilitators for any number of patents, trademarks or designs that a startup may file and the startups shall bear the cost of only the statutory fees payable. The scheme is being launched initially on a pilot basis for 1 year.
* Easier exit: Startups with simple debt structures or those meeting such criteria as may be specified may be wound up within a period of 90 days from making of an application for winding up on a fast track basis.
* Rs 10,000 crore fund: The government will set up a fund with an initial corpus of Rs 2,500 crore and a total corpus of Rs 10,000 crore over a period 4 years. The Fund will be in the nature of Fund of Funds, which means that it will not invest directly into startups, but shall participate in the capital of SEBI registered venture funds.
* Tax exemption for three years: The profits of startup initiatives are exempted from income-tax for a period of 3 years. The exemption shall be available subject to non-distribution of dividend by the startup.
This article was published in the Financial Express, to read please click here.


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APPLE'S next smartphone will have a larger, curved screen, following in the footsteps of Samsung and LG, an unnamed insider source has told Bloomberg.
The report suggests that two new iPhone models, planned for release next year, will have 4.7 and 5.5-inch glass displays - larger than the current model. The screens will curve down at the edges, the report suggested.
Apple has declined to comment on the report.
Samsung released its Galaxy Round, which has a curved screen, soon after Apple unveiled its newest iPhone models, the 5S and 5C. A few weeks later, LG also unveiled a curved handset, the G Flex.
Curved screens are said to be more durable, more comfortable to use, and better suited to watching videos and playing games, according to Sky News. They also help to reduce screen glare in bright conditions.
However, the technology is not without its doubters. "There's no proven market for a smartphone with a curved screen," reports ZDNet. "Both companies that have released a smartphone with a curved display have limited availability to South Korea."
The website adds that if Apple were to make a curved-screen handset it "would be gambling its iPhone cash cow on a fad."
Bloomberg's source said the phones were still being developed and would probably go on sale in the third quarter of 2014.
The report also suggested that future models would react differently to heavy or light touches. This pressure-sensitive technology, being developed with a supplier, is not likely to be ready for the next iPhone release, however.


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At Readie’s recent Digital Economy Research Summit, CEO of Nesta, Geoff Mulgan noted that “we’re witnessing an extraordinary series of digital revolutions in our economy”.
It’s certainly extraordinary. Never before has digital technology attracted such levels of investment or media attention, or been so tightly integrated into the lives of ordinary people. We live in a world populated by more smartphones than humans, in which even the most traditional industries are being disrupted through digital innovation. We still talk about the ‘tech sector’ and the ‘internet economy’. In fact, Nesta’s research has shown that the UK’s digital businesses are performing better than they ever have been – but there’s a growing recognition that the digital transformation we’re seeing is much broader.
It is no longer an exaggeration to say that in the 21st century, the digital economy is the economy
You’d be hard-pressed to find a policymaker anywhere in Europe who doesn’t think digitalisation is important or relevant.
According to a survey conducted by Readie last year, nine out of ten European policymakers think that digitalisation is ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to their work. The problem, as ever, is getting the right information. Less than half of policymakers said that the current evidence-base on the impact of digitalisation was robust or user-friendly.
Denmark’s Business Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, underscored this point when he told us that “solid knowledge of the consequences of digitalisation must be in place” for governments to help businesses succeed.
Many governments – including Denmark – are embarking on fact-finding missions to gather this information, but it’s difficult for governments to take stock of a digital economy which is much bigger than any one country or sector.
Governments are engaging with the complexities of the digital economy
In late 2014, the UK government opted to bring together all of its digital policymakers into a body called the Digital Economy Unit, which straddles two government departments. Bringing expertise together from across government allows for a more intelligent approach to digital policy, incorporating experts on skills and infrastructure as well as entrepreneurship and business growth, as well as coordinating digital strategy across government.
France has opted to do something similar, creating a digital agency – L’Agence du Numérique – and a dedicated Minister for Digital Affairs. Poland, too, has a digital minister, and it’s these clearly demarcated responsibilities which have made greater collaboration between member states possible, such as a recent open letter to the European Commission on the regulation of digital platforms.
The idea of a ‘digital economy unit’ isn’t hegemonic
Many leading digital countries continue to distribute responsibilities for setting digital policy across departments.
Germany, for instance, splits digital functions between three ministries, but has still managed to lead the pack with initiatives such as its path-breaking Industrie 4.0 strategy.
Estonia, a world leader in entrepreneurship and e-government, treats digital economy issues as part of the remit of their economy ministry, but an across-the-board commitment to minimising red tape and embracing e-government has made the country a haven for entrepreneurs. It’s this ‘horizontal view’ that was advocated by Estonian MEP Kaja Kallas in our interview with her. “The question shouldn’t be about centralised digital units” Ms. Kallas told us, as “digitalisation takes place in all spheres of the society as well as all policy areas”.
The future of the digital economy
It may be that we’re yet to discover the most effective way to understand, govern, and support the digital economy. Most of these units and approaches are new and fairly untested, and we believe that there’s a need for greater communication and sharing of best practice between governments across the continent.
We also strongly believe that policymaking on the digital economy needs to become less siloed and more connected. Business leaders and campaigners in civil society have for a long time recognised that ‘turning digital’ isn’t a matter of adopting specific technologies, but of wholesale organisational and cultural change – and it’s encouraging to see governments getting in on the act. This change will only come about if digital policy units from different countries engage with each other in good faith, and in the spirit of experimentation.
Readie Policy Summit 2016
It’s for this reason that we‘re bringing Europe’s digital economy teams together for the first time at the Readie Policy Summit 2016 in Berlin with the purpose to share, explore and interrogate existing policies.
We’ll be fostering the growing conversation about how the digital economy should be governed – a conversation you’re invited to join. Follow @ReadieEU #Readie4Digital to share your thoughts on how governments can make the most of digitalisation.


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First Lady Michelle Obama is on a laudable food crusade in America -- promoting the healthful benefits of fresh, local and sustainably grown nutrition, including produce raised in the world's most famous vegetable garden: that photogenic patch of organic land on the White House South Lawn.
But her office does not want you to know how meat, milk and dairy served at White House events was produced.
Even before moving to the White House, Mrs. Obama made it clear that she and her family enjoyed eating food that was raised free of petrochemicals, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. "You know, in my household, over the last year we have just shifted to organic," she said in an unusually candid moment to The New Yorker while on the 2008 campaign trail.
Supporters of sustainable, organic agriculture were also cheered when the Obamas brought their personal chef from Chicago, Sam Kass, to Washington to help create meals for the First Family. Kass is a major advocate of localized, organic agriculture. "We find ourselves in a fight to salvage a food system that has been ravaged by an approach of quantity over quality," he once wrote. "The industry our society has built around food is harmful and unsustainable."
Soon after the inauguration, The New York Times gushed that "the White House gets fresh fruits and vegetables from farms in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey," and that Michelle Obama had served organic wine at her first big White House meal, a governors' dinner in February, 2009.
And she planted that garden heard 'round the world. Suggested by Alice Waters, the plot consists of raised beds of rich soil amended with official White House compost, crab meal, lime and local sand, instead of commercial fertilizer, and ladybugs and praying mantises in lieu of pesticides. It has helped to feed hundreds of visitors -- from Kings to kindergartners -- at official White House functions.
There are even two beehives that produce organic honey for the Obamas, their staff and guests.
And so, when I wrote to the White House to inquire about the meat, dairy and eggs that are served up on site -- and how much of it is produced in industrial-style concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs, or factory farms) -- I thought they would be pleased to share the information.
I didn't expect the White House to source ALL of its animal protein from local, certified organic, sustainably run family farms, but I thought the Obamas would enjoy boasting of any local poultry and pork that they did procure from surrounding independent farms, much as they had done about buying fruit from the orchards of nearby states.
"Does the White House buy eggs, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry and other meats from sources that raise their animals in industrial-style concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)?" I asked. "And does the White house buy any of those same products from any sources that would be considered, or certified as humanely raised, organic, sustainable, pasture-fed, local, and/or raised by small and medium-sized farms that are not contractors to large corporations?"
I also wanted to know if the sourcing of animal products was any different for food prepared for the First Family, food offered at special events and food served in the White House cafeteria.
These seemed like reasonable questions to me. I told Mrs. Obama's office that I did not need specifics on the names or even locations of farms and companies that produce the White House's food, in recognition of security concerns. But they did not wish to comment.
"I'm afraid we're not going to be able to address your questions at this time," wrote Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Mrs. Obama's Press Secretary.
At first I was surprised and a bit bemused. After all, is it really a state secret whether the Obama family prefers Tyson "Evencook Chicken Breasts" to pasture-raised birds from, say, Joel Salatin's Polyface Farm in Swoop, VA, 150 miles away?
But after thinking about it, I can't really say I blame them. In fact, I can sympathize. The topic is that volcanic.
Virtually everything the Obamas have said and done around food (of all things) -- the organic garden, the fieldtrips to Five Guys, the arugula monologues -- has landed them in somebody's pot of boiling vitriol, on the left or right.
For Barack and especially Michelle Obama, sadly, food has become so political, and politics have become so food-sensitive, that it's wiser to keep quiet about what's for dinner, they reckon, than to actually wade into a frank national dialogue about modern industrial agricultural production.
I think they probably learned this depressing lesson during the Great Garden Backlash of 2009. Last March, Mid America CropLife Association, which represents Big Ag and pesticide companies, lectured the First Lady in a widely circulated missive about her chemical-free veggie patch.
"As you go about planning and planting the White House garden, we respectfully encourage you to recognize the role conventional agriculture plays in the US in feeding the ever-increasing population, contributing to the US economy and providing a safe and economical food supply," the group wrote, before sending an email to its supporters moaning that, "the thought of it being organic," made CropLife officials "shudder."
"We have no problem with this concept," an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation told NPR at the time. "But understand that you're making lifestyle choices here about how you want your food produced. Fine. But don't denigrate the other approaches to food production."
The White House simply cannot win in answering where its meat, milk and eggs come from. (Fascinatingly, The New York Times reported that Laura Bush "insisted that fresh, organic foods be served in the White House, but did not broadcast that fact to the public").
Think about it: If Obama officials confirmed that all their animal protein was procured from independent, sustainable, local, "humanely raised" sources, Agribusiness would eat them for breakfast. Tea Partiers, Republicans and Big Government Deriders would howl at such extravagant spending and "elitist" purchasing. Rush Limbaugh's head would catch on fire.
On the other hand, to admit that all White House meat, milk and eggs came from the very same polluting animal factories that Obama's EPA and USDA have vowed to crack down upon would cause environmentalist and rural activists to equally cry foul -- and fowl.
I suspect that the truth lies somewhere in the middle: that White House chefs buy both sustainable and CAFO-raised protein. But admitting that would only invite "wishy-washy" derision from both sides.
To sympathize with the Obamas, however, is not to excuse them. At that Governors' Dinner last year, the menu featured "wagyu beef," the American version of Kobe beef, which is not only finished on grains; it's finished on beer as well.
And if the Obamas are loathe to appear "elitist," they should serve regular old grass-fed beef rather than wagyu.
One wagyu Website lists sirloin strip at $150 for four 12-oz steaks, and four 8-oz filet mignons cost a cool $300 (one assumes the White House negotiated a better price).
Even so, there are a few steps the White House kitchen staff could take -- if they have not done so already -- to bring less factory-farmed meat, milk and eggs into the presidential mix:
- They could consult with the Animal Welfare Approved label on sourcing at least some products that are raised according to the strictest humane and environmental standards.
As Michelle Obama herself once said: "You can begin in your own cupboard by eliminating processed food, trying to cook a meal a little more often, trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables."
If the First Lady can recommend that people "eliminate processed food," shouldn't she also be able to discuss alternatives to factory-farmed meat without suffering the slings and arrows of indignant opposition?
Again, I sympathize: This collective reluctance to discuss our national nutritional provenance is just silly.
David Kirby is author of Animal Factory - The Looming Threat of Industrial Pig, Dairy and Poultry Farms to Humans and the Environment. (St. Martin's Press)


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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has celebrated the float out of its new ship Ilma at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Royal Caribbean International is upgrading its crew spaces with enhanced facilities debuting aboard Icon of the Seas, according to the latest edpisode of its Making an Icon series on You Tube.
The boutique premium cruise line Windstar Cruises has appointed Dubai-based Cruise Master Middle East as the General Sales Agent (GSA) to source business from the Middle East markets.
Having only just taken delivery of its first cruise ship, Explora Journeys has announced it has placed an additional order for two more vessels from Fincantieri.
Carnival Cruise Line has revealed that Carnival Celebration will debut a new lounge celebrating the line’s history with original fittings and memorabilia from past Carnival ships.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced additional dining and bar details for its two new Prima-class cruise ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
P&O Cruises will debut two new children’s programs aboard its Excellence-class cruise ship Iona for the coming summer cruise season.
Royal Caribbean International has taken delivery of the largest cruise ship ever built, Wonder of the Seas, the latest in its record-breaking Oasis-class of vessels.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has confirmed that the Conditional Sail Order it introduced in 2020 remains on track to become voluntary from January 15th.
Qatar has developed a new cruise terminal in Doha Port, centrally located adjacent to some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, and is preparing an “exciting calendar of events” for tourists […]
P&O Cruises has announced the beginning of the assembly stage in the construction of its new ship Arvia, a sister ship to the recently launched Iona.
The UK has added more countries to its no-quarantine list for inbound tourists, while also giving the go-ahead for international cruise itineraries from UK ports.
Monday was ‘Freedom Day’ in England, the date on which most COVID-19 restrictions such as mask-wearing, social distancing and capacity limits in public venues were eased or scrapped altogether, but cruise lines […]
While there are five cruise ships due to homeport in Dubai for the 2021/22 cruise season, only five additional ships will sail international itineraries from the city as the Middle East cruise […]
With South Africa facing an intense third wave of COVID-19 infections, and the country remaining firmly on the red list of most countries’ travel restrictions, the dozen international cruises scheduled from Cape […]
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced additional itineraries as part of its US cruise resumption plans, with ships due to sail from Port Canaveral, Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.
The Middle East was a significant contributor to the record-breaking booking numbers that Norwegian Cruise Line reported following the opening of sales for Norwegian Prima.
P&O Cruises newest cruise ship Iona arrived in Southampton for the first time on Sunday, joining her fleet mate Britannia, and MSC Virtuosa, which made her maiden call to the port earlier […]
After creating an uproar in the North American cruise market over its near-impossible-to-enforce COVID-19 mitigation rules, the CDC has updated the Conditional Sailing Order again.
The CDC has provided five key updates on its new guidance to cruise lines regarding the Conditional Sailing Order in a statement to Cruise Industry News. In its statement, the CDC said […]


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CBMC, the compact multi-channel electronic circuit breakers from Phoenix Contact, are now available with NEC Class 2 approval according to UL 1310. This approval allows for setting up a maximum of four circuits with a power limited to 100 VA.
Systems or machines sold on the American market must be designed and approved according to UL. Thanks to the device circuit breakers being NEC Class 2-approved, loads and cables without UL approval can be used. The system will nevertheless comply with the requirements according to UL.
Phoenix Contact, founded over 80 years ago, is a leading manufacturer of electric connection and industrial automation technology. 14000 employees, 50 own sales companies and 30 sales partners worldwide ensure customer proximity.
Our work is dedicated to the creation of progress with inspiring, innovative solutions and to a trusting partnership towards our customers and partners with common benefits.


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Lexus Philippines hosted a scintillating event at its elegant showroom in Bonifacio Global City last week, not only to celebrate its 10th anniversary, but also to introduce the 2019 UX subcompact luxury crossover.
When money is not a problem, some of the bigger challenges that come with the takeover of a heritage brand like Morris Garages (MG) are expanding its influence and keeping its legacy.
Palaweños can now look forward to visiting the province’s many exciting tourist destinations and exploring business options using Foton vehicles.
Carmakers and consumers alike are eager to start the new year, what with the steep decline in sales for many brands, and the increase in fuel costs and most vehicle prices in 2018. The year 2019 is shaping up to be an exciting year, launch-wise. Here are the some of the most anticipated cars for 2019:
Electric vehicles are gaining popularity in China at a pace faster than anywhere else in the world.
The Singapore Motor Show is the first motor show to kick off in the Asean region this year, and it has become the launch venue for some brands that are looking to introduce their newest models in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.
The Malaysian car industry is on a roll, primarily because of a new leadership in government that has buoyed consumer optimism since its elections last May.
With the arrival of the Xpander in April 2018, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) brought to our shores the brand’s futuristic X-shaped façade called the new generation Dynamic Shield.
There’s always an opportunity that awaits the 2.6 million out-of-school youths aged 16 to 24 years old in the Philippines, but many are living in poverty, are financially unstable, and some have to deal with family issues and other seemingly insurmountable obstacles in pursuing their goals.
DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 1.6 million vehicles worldwide to replace Takata front passenger air bag inflators that can be dangerous. Takata inflators can explode with too much force, hurling shrapnel into drivers and passengers. At least 23 people have died from the problem worldwide and hundreds injured. The recall covers the […]


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Earlier this year, Nike announced the launch of a sports hijab-- the first of its kind from a major athletic brand.
The product, which will be available in 2018, is constructed of single-layer Nike Pro power mesh, and was tested by several Middle Eastern athletes (including Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari) before the final version was settled upon.
So much research and testing was put into making the product that it was shortlisted for the prestigious Beazley Designs of the Year award, the winner of which will be announced in January in London.
Last week, the Nike Pro Hijab made its international debut at Fashion Forward in Duabi at Saudi designer Mashael Alrajhi's show, but now it's time to really test the product for what it was made for.
On Sunday, as over 50,000 runners took part in the New York Marathon, Nike running and training coach Manal Rustom wore the Nike Pro Hijab as she ran 26.2 miles through all five of New York's boroughs.
She was the first athlete in the world to take part in a major race wearing it.
She's racing against the clock, trying to beat her own personal best, but it's not just about breaking a record. Manal is also running to support the UAE-based charity Big Heart Foundation, a global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees.
While we can't be there in person to cheer Manal on as she takes on the Big Apple, the NYC Marathon app allows people to track runners via their bib numbers-- hers is #38244.


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LEESBURG, Fla. (September 22, 2013) – In the feature article “Partnership in the Plus-Sized Fashion Industry Combats Body Image Stereotypes” dated August 30th, 2013, the partnership between The Curves Ahead Project and La Physique plus-sized fashions was profiled, and while this partnership is still going strong, the two groups also continue to make news independently within the plus sized fashion community.
Founder and Lead Photographer of The Curves Ahead Project Mickey Armstrong confirmed that everything “is going well” since Partnership in the Plus-Sized Fashion Industry Combats Body Image Stereotypes was published. “We have gained several new sponsors and several new models. We have expanded and will be producing a plus size fashion show for the DC area in the spring of 2014. It has been confirmed that the coffee table book, which was the original inspiration of the project, will be officially released in the spring of 2014,” shared Armstrong.
Armstrong also explained, “We have also begun organizing outings and events centered on healthy living. For example, “I’ve been in talks with a Zumba instructor in an effort to set up a Zumba event which would be sponsored by The Curves Ahead Project. Most recently, we were able to travel to NYC to cover Plus Night Out which took place on the 13 of September. This event is very significant in the plus size fashion world as it is the premiere event for the plus sized community during New York Fashion week. We had the pleasure of being one of the press and media outlets for the event and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity.”
Rheba Turnbull, creator and designer of La Physique fashions, was excited to announce that the fashion line is in the running for the Big Game Commercial with Intuit software. The competition will give one emerging small business to have a commercial during the NFL “Big Game” this February. “Also, we are working on a reality show concept in which we should be taping the pilot by the end of this year or early January. In the nearer future, we have the Lupus Awareness Fashion Show we are participating in on October 19, 2013.”
So, while the partnership between The Curves Ahead Project and La Physique fashion line was a step in combatting body image stereotypes, both organizations have remained dedicated in spreading their message of self-acceptance independently as well.


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Minnesota Drag Queen Creates First-of-its-Kind Art Display with Drag Race Outfits
Racers, start your engines, and may the best drag queen win!
Utica Queen, a standout competitor on RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 is a Utica, Minnesota native that will have her iconic Drag Race looks on display for us all to enjoy. “Homecoming Queen,” a 4,000-square-foot art exhibition exploring the wonderful world of Utica Queen will be on display at the Rochester Art Center starting December 4th:
First-of-its-kind drag fashion and photography exhibition will include immersive virtual gallery accessible to visitors worldwide!
The exhibition will feature approximately 20 mannequins dressed in Utica’s most stunning garments, her original design sketches, large-scale editorial photographs of the “Drag Race” alumna, and a 10-minute film highlighting Utica’s background and creative process.
The show is running through April 3rd, 2022, but if you can't make it down to Rochester in that time frame it will be available to explore online. The show will also be offered as a ticketed virtual experience, with a fully navigable online gallery and close-up views of Utica’s creations.
Utica shared some of the creations that will be on display on her Instagram page, including her pastel gingham promo look for season 13, her beast look from the runway, and the outfit she had planned for the "Lamé You Stay" runway. There will be multiple other pieces included in this exhibit, that will show the world just how talented this queen truly is.
For more information on this first-of-its-kind art exhibit, visit Utica's website.
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3D printing is gaining more and more ground in the fashion industry. You might already have come across the revolutionary work of Iris van Herpen. She has rocked the haute couture world several times with her 3D printed wearable artwork.
More artists are picking up 3D printing techniques to experiment with and create new work. And this hasn’t gone by unnoticed. A company called N9 Productions recently visited the 3DEA pop-up store in New York where they were confronted with the 3D printed industrial and design pieces by artists like Pauline van Dongen, Aaron Trocola and Dirk van der Kooij. As N9 Productions is a video production company, they decided to make a short video of this amazing art. And I must say, this video is just as amazing.


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This strike would be terrible for small businesses, but great for couriers.
This is not a rumor, nor is it a joke. This is serious, and it has great potential to cause complete chaos for tens of thousands of businesses across Canada.
If the unionized workers of Canada Post go on strike this weekend, businesses that rely heavily on shipping products nationwide will have to make haste in finding a new delivery system for their clientele. Hundreds, if not thousands of businesses across Canada have already started making the switch to local couriers and other delivery services as the date for the contract end draws closer and closer.
Canada Post [delivers] ~9 billion letters, parcels & flyers per year.
Nobody knows for certain if Canada Post will in fact go on strike or if they will be locked out this weekend, but as each day passes, it seems that chances are leaning more and more towards this actually happening.
If they do go on strike, then that means that this Thursday that just passed, will have been the last day for delivery service from the company until said strike ends.
Canada Post, founded in 1867, employs roughly 50,000 delivery and plant working Canadians.
RISING SHIPPING COSTS — Alternative shipping methods such as FedEx and Purolator are far more expensive than using Canada Post — we’re talking four times as expensive — so if this strike does in fact occur, these tens of thousands of businesses will have no choice but to pay more to ship their products, and as you may already know, this will more than likely end up being an additional cost to us; the end consumers.
“We’re already seeing a slowdown in our depots,” said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton. “Companies are making decisions to go around Canada Post. We hope many of them come back, but that’s no guarantee.”CBC News
If they do in fact go on strike, it is unknown at this time just how long said strike would last. Let’s hope that it doesn’t last long at all, because as we are well aware, this company is a source of income for at least 50,000 of our nation’s population.
DO THEY HAVE YOUR MAIL? — If Canada Post is in possession of a letter or parcel that you provided for delivery, unfortunately it will not be delivered until the strike has come to an end.


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Urban Outfitters kicks of 2017 with awesome campaign featuring trans model
Urban Outfitters is starting 2017 in style, featuring transgender and plus-size models in its new campaign.
The ‘Class of 2017’ campaign is launched working with brands Hanes and Champion, and aims to highlight diversity and individuality.
The 16 ‘influencers’ featured in the campaign includes writers, musicians, artists and students, and includes out trans model Hari Nef.
It has been celebrated as Urban Outfitters’ most progressive campaign so far, and aims to spread social awareness.
The models were picked because they actively go out of their way to “challenge the status quo”.
Each of the influencers featured designed their own Hanes t-shirt.
Trans model Hari Nef is featured in the campaign, alongside plus-size model Barbie Ferreira.
Earlier this week, Nef appeared in a new advert for Love magazine, and it is amazing.
The 24-year-old American model channelled classic Hollywood glamour in the version of Blue Velvet for Love magazine.
The fashion industry has for several years taken to embrace genderless fashion and is becoming more diverse.
Back in 2015, Selfridges department store announced that it had adopted a number of genderless brands, and that it would stop gendering its clothing.
For its September 2016 issue, ELLE UK featured three LGBT+ icons on its covers.


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Today, we’re excited to announce our partnership with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) to help improve the customer experience at dealerships, to provide a new way for drivers to get on the road, and to help auto dealers increase their sales through referral opportunities.
Connecting Auto Dealers with our Driver Network
Through our collaboration with NIADA, we’re helping connect auto dealers with Lyft drivers who need cars, and we’re rewarding dealerships with bonuses for referring new drivers. Auto dealers can now sign up to become Lyft referral partners to earn bonuses every time they refer a new driver. It’s an innovative way for dealers to increase sales while helping grow the Lyft community.
Participating NIADA members will also allow drivers to apply their earnings toward their monthly vehicle payments — a faster (and more affordable) route to getting a new car.
Empowering Dealerships to Provide a Better Customer Experience
We’re also helping NIADA dealers improve their customer service experience with Lyft Concierge, which lets dealers request rides on behalf of customers. It’s an easy, reliable, and affordable way to help customers get to work, home, or their next errand while their car is being serviced.
Supporting Small Businesses
This is just another way that Lyft supports small business owners, identifying unique solutions that are tailored to the needs of small businesses like NIADA dealerships across the country.


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NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 17 – Retail chain Nakumatt Holdings expects to expand its footprint into Southern Sudan in the next one and a half years.
Managing Director Atul Shah told Capital Business that they are very keen on commencing their operations in Juba soon as part of their expansion plans into the East African region.
“Juba is on the map. Plans are there to go and see what Juba looks like early next year. We have been invited several times by many parties that have already been there and one of these days I think we will have a Nakumatt Juba maybe 18 months down the line,” he said.
Desire to increase branch network has seen Nakumatt grow its outlets to 21 across Kenya and in Uganda and Rwanda where it is represented while plans to enter the Tanzanian market are still on course.
But even as the chain goes about positioning itself strategically, Mr Shah reinforced their strategy of charting their own course in virgin markets saying the evaluation of such areas to determine their viability is not a key priority for them.
“Feasibility studies in Africa, I don’t think make sense. There is no data for anybody to do studies. Just go and put your foot there and jump into the deep end,” he quipped.
Once its operations commence, Nakumatt will join the league of other Kenyan companies that are looking for investment opportunities in Southern Sudan which is currently enjoying relative political stability.
The MD spoke after the chain announced the official launch of a pre-paid travel card in Kenya, which has been developed in partnership with the I&M bank
The Visa card, which can be bought off the shelf at selected Nakummat outlets or I&M bank branches is expected to revolutionalise the shopping experience of Kenya both locally and internationally.
Denominated in dollars, the card can be used to shop online and to withdraw cash at any visa ATM around the world.
“You can apply for the card at Nakumatt, get it and start using it immediately. You don’t need to have a bank account or any kind of a credit reference to get this card. You only need your ID (national identity card) and the money you are loading,” he explained.
This, he added was one of the innovative financial products they have introduced to enhance lifestyle and deliver value to their customers.
Although it’s a financial service, Mr Shah was optimistic that the development would not put them in a collision course with the banks.
“We are providing a solution that the banks don’t provide. The card does not require the clients to have a credit history so in one way we are helping the society get something that they have always wanted. We have always been innovative so this is one more product to our portfolio of changing lifestyles,” he enthused.
On his part, I&M bank CEO Arum Mathur said the new card would help customers manage their shopping expenses better and avoid incurring unnecessary debts.
“It also gives you security from carrying and using cash. Besides allowing customers to load, store and use money conveniently to shop, the card can be used to transfer money or as a gift card,” Mr Mathur added.


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October 14, 2022
At Bolt, we’re on a mission to fight for better cities and against private cars by offering a better alternative to every purpose a private car serves.
Our first City Vision research study in Berlin showed that a 7% drop in private vehicles in the German capital would open up 8.2 km2 of accessible public space — equal to 3.5 Tiergarten parks.
The majority of car trips are made alone, and private cars are only used 4% of the time. That’s why we believe that everyone doesn’t need to own a car. And our latest research in the UK proved that we’re not the only ones.
We commissioned a One Poll survey of 1,500 UK car owners aged 18–39 about their transport choices and views on private car ownership. Here’s what we found out:
28% of those surveyed said they’d give up their car if alternative modes of transport improved and there was a wider availability of car clubs, e-scooters, and e-bikes. This correlates with the fact that 55% of respondents believe having a car is useful for occasional access but don’t depend on it.
And finally, 21% of those surveyed think owning a car is wasteful and should be discouraged by governments.
In the study, we asked what was most important when making transport choices. Affordability (55%), convenience (54%), and safety (51%) came out on top.
The findings show that many car owners are considering whether a private car makes financial sense, with 34% revealing that the rising cost of living could push them towards giving up their cars.
Sustainability is the most important factor when making transport choices for those in the East Midlands (70%) compared to the national average of 48%. People from Scotland would most likely give up their private car due to the environmental impact (35%) than any other region, closely followed by the North East (28%).
People from the East of England are most dependent on their private car (72%) but would consider giving it up more than any other region. On the other hand, people from the South West are the least dependent on their vehicles (24%).
British car owners aged 35–39 are the least dependent on their private car (32%), but say that rising petrol costs would be the biggest reason to give it up.
The group most dependent on private cars were 18-23 years old (49%). They were also the least worried about affordability compared to any other age group (45%).
And lastly, those aged 24–29 have considered giving up their private car in the last year (9%) more than any other age group.
We believe in a world with fewer private cars on the road, fewer parking spaces, and less pollution to make our cities more liveable.
January 31, 2023
January 19, 2023


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Four women have joined together to bring a class action complaint against Honda, alleging the passenger cabins in its CR-V line “frequently becomes filled with a harmful noxious gasoline odor.”
Carol Miles, of Chicago, Anne Shapiro, of Hammond, Ind., Mary Mansfield, of Michigan City, Ind., and Kellee Classey, of Ozaukee County, Wis., filed their complaint May 2 in federal court in Chicago against American Honda Motor Co., on behalf of anyone who purchased a CR-V in model years 2015-2017. The women say Honda continues to sell defective CR-Vs “after many consumer complaints … that the passenger cabin frequently reeks of gasoline” and “failed to honor warranties requiring replacement of defective vehicles.”
Calling the odor “intermittent but pungent,” the complaint presumes the class would include thousands of CR-V owners, as the model is “one of the best-selling vehicles in the last decade and numerous individuals have complained online about fumes in the passenger cabin.” The women said the odor “came and went regardless of the outdoor temperature, speed of the vehicle or duration of driving.”
Although the odor issue surfaced as early as July 15, the complaint said, Honda has not issued a recall for CR-Vs or made repairs under the factory warranty, which should extend to three years or 36,000 miles. Some class members, the complaint asserted, heard Honda service center employees acknowledge “a known problem with no known solution,” further stating Honda “has not issued a Technical Service Bulletin about the issue.”
“Honda’s marketing material describers the Honda CR-V as drivable,” the complaint stated. “In practice, the Honda CR-V is not drivable as Honda’s marketing suggests.”
Miles purchased her 2015 CR-V on June 13, 2015, at McGrath City Honda in Chicago, and said she first noticed the fumes on Oct. 18, 2016. She had it serviced at the Continental Honda dealership in Countryside and Ed Napleton Honda dealership in Oak Lawn, and said both were unable to make a full repair.
Shapiro bought hers from Bosak Honda in Highland, Ind., on March 30, 2015, and claimed she noticed the fumes on Jan. 20, 2016. She also took her CR-V to two Honda dealerships for service without success. Classey bought her 2017 CR-V from Wilde Honda in Waukesha, Wis., on Feb. 3, and said she first noticed the fumes on March 17, taking it to the dealer twice for service but not receiving any repairs.
Mansfield leased her 2016 CR-V on June 17, 2016, and noticed the fumes almost immediately. In early 2017 she traded in her 2016 for a 2017 CR-V, “resulting in a substantial financial loss.”
The complaint formally alleges breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violation of consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices acts in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and California. Honda’s American headquarters are in Torrance, Calif.
In addition to class certification, the women want the court to bar Honda from future CR-V sales without addressing the defect, as well as compensatory damages and legal fees.
Representing the women, and seeking to serve as putative class counsel, is attorney Alexander N. Loftus of Stoltmann Law Offices, P.C., Chicago.


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FDA warns consumers not to eat cantaloupes from Burch Equipment LLC of North Carolina
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat whole cantaloupes from Burch Equipment LLC, of Faison, N.C., because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono).
* The company had shipped 580 cases of whole cantaloupes on July 15, which were then distributed to retail stores in New York and Maine.
* Consumers who may have cantaloupes with a red label displaying the words Burch Farms and referencing PLU #4319 should discard them as a precautionary measure.
* Cantaloupes from the North Carolina firm tested positive for L. mono following sampling carried out in New York, as part of sampling conducted through the USDA Microbiological Data Program.
* On July 28, 2012, Burch Equipment LLC issued a voluntary recall of the 580 cases of whole cantaloupes.
* No known illnesses have been reported that are linked to consumption of these cantaloupes.
What are the symptoms of Listeria mono illness?
Listeriosis, caused by L. mono, is typically characterized by fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.
Consumers should also be aware that the incubation period for listeriosis can be 1 to 3 weeks, but may be in the range of 3 to 70 days.
What do consumers need to do?
Consumers who may have cantaloupes should check the fruit’s tag for a red label reading Burch Farms and referencing PLU #4319, and destroy any product with this identification.
Consumers who think they may have become ill from eating possibly contaminated cantaloupes should consult their health care providers.
Where were the cantaloupes distributed?
The cantaloupes were distributed to retail supermarkets in the states of New York and Maine and it is likely those distributors sent to additional states. Grocery store owners should be aware that the FDA also learned that the cantaloupes were packed into sweet potato cartons.
What is being done about the problem?
FDA is working jointly with state officials in North Carolina, New York and Maine to investigate the cause and scope of the L. mono contamination and to ensure that all cantaloupes with the potential for L. mono contamination are removed from the market. Additionally, a recall has been initiated by Burch Equipment LLC.
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, is advising consumers who purchased Burch Farms cantaloupes from their supermarkets, to not consume these cantaloupes as they have the potential of being contaminated with L. mono.
Who should be contacted?
Consumers with questions about fresh fruit safety may call the FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or email email@example.com.
The information in this press release reflects the FDA’s best efforts to communicate what it has learned from state and local public health agencies involved in the investigation. The agency will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Tesla is reportedly the only company that has achieved building 100 fast-charging stations in one single city. Tesla China announced through its social media that Tesla’s 100th Supercharger station and 1,000th Supercharger stall in Shanghai was officially in service. The video below from “JayInShanghai” notes that the 100th Supercharger Station is located in hot new Rafael Sky City.
Today is an historic moment for Tesla!
Tesla is the world’s first automaker to build 100 fast charging stations in one city. “Accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”
— Jay in Shanghai 电动 Jay (@JayinShanghai) September 29, 2021
On YouTube, he gave a bit of historical background about Tesla China Superchargers:
“In April 2014, Mainland China’s first Tesla Supercharger station was completed in Jinqiao, Shanghai. Over a seven-year period, Tesla has deployed 7,000 overcharged piles in Chinese mainland, bringing the total number of Supercharger stations to more than 900.
“With the completion and commissioning of Tesla’s Shanghai Supercharger Factory plant, Tesla’s infrastructure in China will be improved in the future, and more owners will enjoy hassle-free charging services. Tesla has built a full-scene charging network for ‘work, leisure, home and travel’ in Shanghai.
“Tesla China Charging Team announced in October Tesla will open another 10 Supercharger Stations in Shanghai at the same time. Stay tuned for more updates coming from China.
“Big thanks to Elle from Tesla China Marketing Team for the invitation. This was my first Tesla event and I have a feeling that this won’t be the last.”
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A file photo of a KFC meal.
US fast-food chain KFC has triggered an online furore in Kenya after it ran out of fries, with local Twitter users threatening a boycott because it does not use locally-sourced potatoes.
“You love our chips a little too much, and we’ve run out. Sorry!” KFC admitted on Twitter this week, offering its customers various alternatives.
The franchise’s regional boss Jacques Theunissen said it had become the latest casualty of global shipping disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has to do with delays in shipping lines due to the Covid situation,” he told local news outlet Business Daily.
He said KFC was hoping to resolve the shortage with the expected arrival of a container-load of potatoes this week.
But it was his admission that the company does not source potatoes from local farmers that ignited a Twitter storm among Kenyans.
“All suppliers need to go through the global quality assurance approval process and we cannot bypass that even if we run out to ensure that our food is safe for consumption by our customers,” Theunissen said.
With the news coming during Kenya’s potato harvesting season, many took to social media to call for people to snub the fast-food giant and #BoycottKFC was trending on Twitter.
“If you are a true Kenyan, you should not eat chips prepared by KFC! Eat chips elsewhere,” one user tweeted.
The fried chicken franchise entered the Kenyan market in 2011 and has 35 outlets across the East African region.
Kenya grows more than 60 different varieties of potatoes, with farmers currently struggling with a glut.
In an apparent U-turn, KFC said Tuesday it had initiated plans to source potatoes from Kenyan farmers, adding it was already doing so for other goods such as poultry, vegetables, flour and ice cream.
KFC’s competitors were quick to take advantage of the gaffe to promote their own chips, with Burger King tweeting: “We have enough fries for everyone.”


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Western Union’s Bidpay.com sent out a batch of bad money orders in early May because of a software glitch, MSNBC.com has learned. A software upgrade at a third-party firm caused incorrect routing numbers to be printed on money orders purchased through the BidPay.com Web site, making them worthless, spokesperson Danielle Jimenez confirmed.
THE MISTAKE WAS quickly caught, she said, but not before about 1,000 of the bad money orders were sent to online auction sellers. Recipients who cashed the notes were hit with bank fees akin to those incurred when a check bounces.
Some of the money orders are being returned by banks to customers marked “counterfeit,” according to one victim, eBay seller Kevin Carten.
Jimenez said BidPay first noticed the error on May 20, but the bad money orders were actually dated May 12 and May 13. BidPay has attempted to contact all impacted customers through e-mail, and has offered to refund any bank fees, she said.
“We are working with our customers, and we are hoping to, by next week, get reissued money orders out to them,” she said.
Still, that leaves many of the customers without their money for nearly a month.
Rosalinda Baldwin, who runs auction watchdog site TheAuctionGuild.com, learned of the bad money orders from her readers. She was critical of Western Union, saying they did not act fast enough to notify victims.
“BidPay is making them jump through hoops to get their money back and their bank charges paid,” she said. “BidPay is also not contacting sellers who received the bad money orders, and does not have any information posted on their site about this.”
BidPay is Western Union’s online auction payment program. The service allows auction winners to pay with credit cards even when sellers doesn’t accept them. Bidpay users pay a fee, and the Web site then sends a Western Union money order to the auction sellers. Using BidPay can speed up the auction sale process, because Western Union sends an e-mail to the auction seller as soon as the firm mails the money order, guaranteeing delivery of the funds. That frees the seller to ship the auction item to the winner. Ordinarily, sellers wait until they receive the money order or check from an auction buyer before they ship the item.
The glitch will be costly for Western Union, Baldwin said.
“Even if it is only 1,000, at $25 a pop in bank charges they will have to reimburse sellers, that is still a chunk of change,” she said.


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The company earned 8.1 trillion Korean won ($7 billion) in operating profit in April-June period. The consolidated sales likely rose 3 per cent to about 50 trillion won from 48.5 trillion won a year earlier.
Improvement in smartphone sales as well as a weaker won against the dollar helped push up the profit, media reports said.
According to The Australian, the profits lend further evidence that the worst of the company’s recent struggles may be over, thanks to the sustained popularity of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
Samsung sold the most number of smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of the year and is expected to sell 320 million smartphones by the end of the year, a new report said recently.
According to US-based market research company IC Insights, buoyed by the strong sales growth of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung sold 81.5 million smartphones, followed by Apple with 51.6 million smartphones — in the first quarter.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 device has also topped the 2016 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) poll.
According to the annual poll comprising 12,710 people, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phablet has a rating of 86 out of 100, 9to5mac.com reported recently.
The high-end smartphone market is expected to grow 19 per cent in 2016 from 15 per cent in the previous year as more and more customers are upgrading to premium devices from top brands like Samsung, Apple and OnePlus, another report said recently.
While Samsung and Apple will continue to be strong players, new brands such as Gionee, Huawei, Vivo and Lenovo will make some commendable inroads, said the report released by the market research firm CyberMedia Research (CMR).
Samsung and Apple increased their market share in 2015 (in the above Rs 20,000 price band) to 44 per cent and 27.3 per cent, respectively. IANS


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Girl Scouts To Limit Controversial Palm Oils In CookiesAngie McGowan
The Girl Scouts are finally going to limit the amount of palm oil in their cookies after pressure from a few young girls. Five years ago, two young girls from Michigan started campaigning for the Girl Scouts to remove the controversial palm oil. The production of palm oil leads to the clearing of rainforests and the loss of habitats for orangutans. Loss of habitat has made the number of orangutans dwindle over the years. In 1900, there were an estimated 85,000 Sumatran orangutans in the wild. Today that number has dropped to less than 6,600.
These two young girls were outraged, and made it their mission to change how one company operates in an effort to save the Sumatran orangutans, and their rainforest habitat. At first these girl scouts stopped selling their cookies and encouraged other Scouts to join them. The girls also worked with the Rainforest Action Network and the Union of Concerned Scientists to help lobby other Girl Scouts.
The Girl Scouts have finally responded and have stated in the 2012-2013 cookie season, Girl Scout cookies will have a GreenPalm logo on the box as a “symbol of Girl Scouts’ commitment to address concerns about palm oil production.” MSNBC reports that the Girl Scouts will also start buying GreenPalm certificates, which offer a premium price to producers that use sustainable practices. The Girl Scouts said that they cannot presently completely eliminate palm oils because it’s the only “sturdy oil” on the market.
Even though the Girl Scouts aren’t ensuring that palm oil that leads to the destruction of rain forests will not be completely eliminated, it’s a step in the right direction. The Girl Scouts have downplayed this whole campaign, stating that the amount of palm oil they use is a less than 1% of the world’s usage. Hopefully one day consumers that are environmentally conscious will be able to enjoy delicious girl scout cookies guilt free.
If you would like to make your own girl scout cookies, palm oil free, we have some amazing Girl Scout Cookie recipes here.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/hinnosaar


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The long-established Hamburg-based company Leonhardt & Blumberg is ordering up to eight shortsea newbuildings in India together with Dutch company Boosma Shipping.
Boomsma Shipping has developed a low-emission shortsea freighter together with the design office Conoship. Also on board is the Hamburg-based shipping company Leonhardt & Blumberg, which, after almost two decades of abstinence, is returning to an old tradition with its re-entry into the coaster business and wants to establish a third mainstay. To date, the company has operated container ships and product tankers. [ds_preview]
Leonhardt & Blumberg returns to the shortsea sector
The up to eight newbuildings, four of which will initially be ordered from Chowgule Shipbuilding in India, are to be built at the new shipyard site in Mangalore. Construction could therefore start in the spring of next year at the earliest.
L&B and the Boomsma Group have joined forces as strategic partners for the order of the new shortsea freighters. JR Shipbrokers & Consultants acted as agent and broker for the newbuildings.
The vessels will have a deadweight capacity of 8,500 tons and will reportedly be extremely efficient in operation. An optimized diesel-electric propulsion system is also designed for the future use of alternative fuels. In addition, the coasters can be upgraded with an auxiliary wind propulsion system, a CCS system and batteries to further reduceCO2 emissions. Compared to today’s ships of this size, 50% – 60% less propulsion energy is required, they say.
Leonhardt & Blumberg builds up third mainstay
From fall 2025, the ships will be delivered to either Boomsma Shipping or L&B. They will then be chartered by NewTide Chartering in Rotterdam, a Boomsma Group company. A pool solution is planned for this. Boomsma is a family-run company that currently has ten ships in its fleet.
Until last year, L&B only had container ships (1,000 TEU-3,600 TEU) in its portfolio. However, the Hamburg-based shipping company then took advantage of the high second-hand prices and disposed of a number of ships. In return, initially three and later two more tankers were added to the fleet.
Two years ago, Torben Koelln, Managing Director of Leonhardt & Blumberg, said: “Shortsea shipping is where most of the innovations are taking place in order to make ships more energy-efficient and significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. Our group wants to be one of the early adopters of the new technologies and therefore invest in a state-of-the-art type of ship.”


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Friday the 13th Is Gruesome, Cringeworthy, and Scary Exciting
Friday the 13th: The Game is alive and kicking. It’s also screaming and shouting as the 7v1 competitive co-op game is now available for pre-order. We caught up with Executive Director Randy Greenback at PAX East to talk about the game, the Cinderella story behind it, and how gruesomely awesome the new trailer is.
“The game didn’t actually start out as a Friday the 13th game,” Greenback said. “We announced it as Slasher Vol 1: Summer Camp, and it was an homage to Friday the 13th. We started getting covered by everyone, which was a surprise to us.” And about then is where the magic started to happen. The developer team, Gun Media, was approached by the owners of the Friday the 13th franchise and were offered a licensing deal. Essentially, they were handed the license on a silver platter, and Greenback was both grateful and blown away.
“This sort of thing doesn’t happen,” Greenback noted. “It was a huge Cinderella story.”
But with a name like Friday the 13th comes expectations. Gun Media launched a wildly successful kickstarter simultaneously with announcing that they’d acquired the license. Slasher was on the path to being more than just a cult hit game. “There’s no expectations for Summer Camp,” Greenback said. “People are going to expect a much bigger and better experience with Friday the 13th. They’d already given us the license. They weren’t going to give us bags of cash. There was a gap between what was expected and what we could afford.” That didn’t deter the team at Gun Media at all. In fact, they couldn’t be more excited by the explosion.
PAX East Panel with Co-creator Ronnie Hobbs, executive producer Randy Greenback and junior producer/community lead Ben Strauss
Friday the 13th is a franchise with a long legacy, and Gun Media is holding true to their expectations. Their contribution to the franchise is important and could be a remarkable addition to anyone’s game library. It’s the kind of experience that is always different, and Greenback talked about how varied the gameplay was. “There’s so many ways the game can end. Every game has a story to tell. The person who plays Jason is ramped up in power over the course of the match. The gameplay comes down to if Jason lives long enough, he can easily kill everyone. The counselors goals are more nuanced. They can do different things to win the game.”
Check out the trailer Gun Media debuted at PAX, and be prepared to squirm, cringe, and scream your way into preordering for Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Steam.


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The managing director of Accenture New Zealand has called on New Zealand businesses to commit to doing more to prevent cyberattacks in 2022.
Ben Morgan said the results of the company's State of Cyber Resilience report, which surveyed more than 4700 executives globally, reinforces what has already been seen in Aotearoa.
That has included several incidents of high-profile organisations being targeted and hackers successfully accessing personal information and causing significant disruption.
"Over the past year the Reserve Bank and the Waikato DHB have both been victims of cyber-crime, alongside some of our biggest banks and internet service providers," Morgan said.
"These attacks had different levels of severity, but they all led to disruption to day-to-day business and flow-on impacts for ordinary Kiwis."
The report found 55 percent of large companies surveyed were not effective in stopping cyberattacks, fixing the breaches or reducing their impact.
It also found that four out of five respondents believe the constant battle to stay ahead of potential attackers is "unsustainable", a 17 percent increase on last year.
They may have a point: 82 percent of those surveyed said their companies had increased spending on cybersecurity, while the number of successful attacks had still jumped by 31 percent in the last year.
That has prompted the call for New Zealand businesses to protect themselves better.
"We'd like to see Kiwi businesses take a step back and consider how they're putting together their cyberstrategies," Morgan said.
"Chief Information Security Officers need to work with key decision makers to develop a strategy that addresses cyber risk while fulfilling business priorities."
By doing so, organisations could reduce their cost of breaches by between 48 and 71 percent, the survey found.
"We know it will take time for businesses to change the way they work, but the reality is that it is only becoming more difficult to stop these attacks," Morgan continued.
"Ultimately, we want to see less businesses fall victim to cyberattacks and less Kiwis impacted by potentially having their personal information compromised."
In October an HP survey of small and medium businesses (SMB) in Aotearoa found cyberattacks in 2021 were occurring twice as often as in 2018.
Over half of the respondents had seen evidence of security breaches in their workplace in the past year, with each cyberattack costing an average of NZ$159,000.
This is despite those mid-market businesses nearly tripling their investment in IT security over the past three years.


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Via CNN Money:
The social network is teaming up with the French satellite company Eutelsat (ETCMY) to launch a satellite that will provide internet access to people in sub-Saharan Africa. The satellite will launch next year and service will start in the second half of 2016. It will reach 14 countries in West, East and Southern Africa.
Facebook (FB, Tech30) will use the satellite to bring free Internet access to rural areas. The company is using satellites, lasers and drones to get the “next billion” people around the world online as part of its Internet.org initiative. It has already connected people in nearly 20 countries.
Keep on reading…


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By Bob Katzen
Governor Baker did not sign a bill that would ban 11 toxic flame retardants from children’s products, bedding, carpeting and residential upholstered furniture sold or manufactured in Massachusetts, except for inventory already manufactured prior to January 1, 2019. He was unable to propose any amendments to it because the 2017-2018 session ended on January 1st and the Legislature would not be able to act on the amendments.
“I will continue to stand with families and first responders in our state and will be refiling this bill next session,” said Senate co-sponsor of the measure Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton).
The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to review, at least every three years, chemical flame retardants used in these products and include them on the list of prohibited chemical flame retardants that are documented to pose a health risk. Vehicles, watercraft and aircraft are exempt from this law as are any previously-owned product that contains a retardant. Violators would be fined up to $5,000 for a first offense and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses.
In his message to the Legislature, Baker said that he supports the elimination of flame-retardant chemicals from various household and children’s products when those chemicals are unnecessary and toxic but cannot sign the bill in its current form. “Had this bill been presented to me while the Legislature was still in session, I would have returned it with an amendment to address [my] concerns,” Baker said. “Unfortunately, because the Legislature has adjourned, I do not have that option.”
“This bill would make Massachusetts the only state in the United States to ban certain flame retardants in car seats and the non-foam parts of adult mattresses, products already subject to federal flammability requirement,” continued Baker. “In addition, this ban would go into effect in less than five months, cutting the lead time for manufacturers by more than half as compared to the full year provided in the legislation as originally filed. The resulting disruption to what is available to consumers in Massachusetts would likely have a disproportionate impact on families with lower incomes who are less able to afford more expensive alternatives.”
“Gov. Baker has chosen to stand on the side of the trade industries and not with the thousands of firefighters, children and mothers who are at risk every day of cancer,” said the bill’s House sponsor Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge).
Today Massachusetts had the opportunity to make our homes safer for children, firefighters and families by taking the simple step of banning toxic flame retardants from certain home products,” said Senate co-sponsor of the bill Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “However, because [the governor] vetoed this important bill, firefighters and children continue to remain at risk for cancer and other health problems caused by these harmful chemicals.”
Industry opponents of the bill include the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the American Chemistry Council, International Sleep Products Association, the American Home Furnishings Alliance and Boston Bed Company.
They say that some of the banned chemicals can be used safely and that prohibiting them is not necessary and would drive up costs for consumers who would have to buy more expensive alternative products. They note it would also hurt Massachusetts businesses.
The industry lobbied heavily to defeat the bill. They argued that flame retardants are still an effective tool to combat fire risk. “We understand and support preventing exposure to dangerous chemicals; however [the bill] goes too far and could endanger children’s lives,” wrote Kelly Mariotti, executive director of Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.


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As cryptocurrencies evolve with proponents pushing for the sector’s mainstream adoption, wallets have emerged as the basic point of facilitating entry into the digital currency space. Therefore, the adoption of crypto wallets has remained relatively active despite the prevailing phases of market volatility.
In this line, data acquired by Finbold indicates that between January and October 2022, an estimated 102.06 million crypto wallets were downloaded for Android and iOS devices for 21 selected apps that enable digital currency storage. The value represents a drop of 42.37% from 177.85 million downloads in 2021.
Notably, last year’s figure represents the highest yearly crypto wallet downloads ever, representing a growth of 453.12% from 2020’s figure of 32.95 million. At the same time, 2017 recorded the second-highest rate of downloads at 433.33%, when the number of downloaded crypto wallets stood at 16.72 million.
Elsewhere, in 2022, January recorded the highest number of downloads at 16.11 million, while data for the most recent month October stood at 8.7 million. July recorded the least number of downloads at 7.29 million. Notably, the number of wallet downloads does not necessarily indicate the entry of new users. Sometimes, an individual investor can have several wallets under the same device.
Crypto wallets downloads follow market price trend
The data shows that the growth of crypto wallets mimics the general market trends. In particular, the downloads peaked in 2021 when the market enjoyed an extended bull run that saw most assets hit all-time highs, led by Bitcoin’s (BTC) $69,000 valuation.It appeared, the fear of missing out (FOMO) kicked in, with investors getting involved in a bid to capitalize on the rally.
On the flip side, the downloads have plunged amid the prevailing bear market as investor interest in digital assets remains low. Indeed, the low interest has been motivated by related activities such as the fear of losing crypto holding considering high profile incidents like the Terra (LUNA) ecosystem crash and the FTX crypto exchange collapse as confidence in centralized trading platforms took a hit.
Furthermore, the collapse of the FTX exchange has resulted in widespread liquidity concerns that might trigger an increase in downloads. In reaction to the crisis, most investors have opted to transfer their holdings from crypto exchanges’ hot wallets to self-custody wallets to retain control over their digital asset holdings.
Wallets meeting user demands
Despite the complexity of the cryptocurrency sector, wallets are also finding increased use cases as various platforms become user-friendly alongside supporting various currencies. Additionally, the seamless integration with fiat currencies and elements like bank accounts is helping wallets move into the mainstream.
At the same time, developers of crypto wallets are also making improvements to facilitate mass adoption. In particular, creators focus more on robust security features to achieve efficiency.
In general, wallets are a necessity for cryptocurrency users, and the downloads highlight how fast the popularity of decentralized digital money is growing. The trend of crypto wallet downloads has been rising over the past years, reflecting the sector’s growth.
Despite the slowed downloads in 2022, the crypto wallets’ space is attracting some established traditional finance players. For instance, American banking giant JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) and payments platform Visa (NYSE: V) have highlighted the intention to offer crypto wallet services through respective trademark applications.
The future of crypto wallets
Furthermore, the growth of crypto wallets still faces a significant hurdle, with regulatory uncertainty ranking among the top reasons. Notably, different jurisdictions are moving towards enacting regulation for the crypto space, and wallets are emerging as a target. In this line, most regulators focus on security and the possibility of criminals misusing wallets to facilitate illegal activities. Similarly, wallets still face the threat of cyberattacks resulting in limited use.
While it’s challenging to determine the future trends of crypto wallet adoptions, the growth will mostly be dictated by the market price movement trends and the regulatory aspect.
Disclaimer: The content on this site should not be considered investment advice. Investing is speculative. When investing, your capital is at risk.


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GAME has a new batch of Playstation 5 consoles on sale today.
The retailer put thousands of £449.99 disc edition Playstation 5 consoles and £349.99 digital edition PS5s on sale on Thursday February 11.
But customers face a wait to secure theirs, with the GAME's online store struggling to cope with the number of shoppers trying to buy a PS5. Wait times are estimated to be an hour, while customers can only buy one console.
According to tipster PS5 Stock Alert UK, GAME has 10,000 consoles in Stock. The same account has predicted that Very will be restocking PS5s soon too.
GAME has told customers they can expect their consoles later this month.
"If you select our Priority Insured delivery method (details can be found on the product page) your order will be shipped by the 19th February, all other delivery method orders will be shipped by the 26th February. "
Where Can I buy a PS5?
GAME UK had Playstation 5 consoles in stock on Thursday February 11, but customers may face a lengthy online queue before they can order one.
Check stock and order from GAME here.