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It's a business truism that success comes through growth and -- but how can you innovate in your use of technology without risking funding, reputation, and your entire infrastructure?
If you mention the concept of innovation to the majority of chief information officers, they are quite likely to run rapidly down the corridor, screaming loudly as they do so and firing off pink slips behind them. The mere notion of trying something new has become anathema to many IT managers, driven partly by the spendthrift nature of many late 1990s expansion programs and the subsequent reining in of budgets to the point where merely keeping current systems running is difficult enough without attempting a little experimentation. The flipside of the well-known aphorism "no-one ever got fired for buying IBM" -- that plenty of people got fired for trying out something new -- remains evident across the industry.
This is an interesting response given that innovation is endlessly paraded as the lifeblood of the technology industry on a vendor level. This was starkly demonstrated during Microsoft's long-running antitrust case with the US Department of Justice, where the mantra "We live for innovation" was repeated endlessly (and, apparently, successfully).
Microsoft has continued to talk up its capacity for innovation, albeit often in rather broad terms. "Part of what we're seeing in innovation now is taking the world of structured data, like a directory or a customer relationship management system, and the world of documents and bringing those together," Bill Gates told a recent meeting of financial analysts.
While you might not be inspired by the thought of better-structured CRM, market watchers agree that the IT industry is overdue for a new round of fresh ideas. "The technology economy has shown pronounced growth cycles over the past 50 years, alternating with periods of technology digestion when growth slows," writes Forrester analyst Christopher Mines. "We are in such a digestion period right now; history strongly suggests that another growth wave of IT innovation will begin in 2007 or 2008."
The importance of innovation is also widely recognised. "A focus on cost cutting and efficiency has helped many enterprises weather the downturn, but this approach will, in the end, make them obsolete," Gartner points out in a white paper on the topic. "Only the constant pursuit of business growth can ensure survival."
Yet despite this, much business use of technology is anything but innovative. One consequence of centralisation and consolidation is that many large enterprises are running essentially the same core applications in essentially the same way, and thereby minimising their opportunities for expansion. Just how creative can your approach to inventory management become when you're using identical software to your competitor?
Interestingly, the same problem isn't always evident in smaller companies. Ray Ozzie, founder of Groove Networks, creator of Lotus Notes and now chief technical officer for Microsoft, pointed out earlier this year that small companies can often act in an innovative fashion because they are not held back by central policy restrictions. "The tables have turned, and enterprises have become the laggards," Ozzie noted.
A recent Deloitte survey of small and medium businesses identified that creating a culture of innovation is a critical factor in growth, and found that 80 percent of such companies believed they would be able to commercialise the results of such innovation.
"A culture of innovation can be established by having simple mechanisms in place within the business to actually capture innovative ideas and then turn these ideas into commercial realities," says Deloitte director Karina Collins. But just like starting yoghurt from scratch, growing such a culture is not without its challenges. While there may be a multitude of new technologies to explore, how can you decide where to start?The best approach
One clear stumbling block for IT innovation in larger companies is the need to communicate that vision from the technology executive level to wider management. This is particularly difficult in verticals where innovation is not a major element of the culture on any level. Gartner analyst Dale Hagemeyer points to the consumer goods sector as a prime example.
"For more than 20 years, consumer goods manufacturers have introduced new products around an 'efficiency model' that doesn't disrupt engineering, plant production and ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems," Hagemeyer wrote in a recent Gartner commentary paper. "What has emerged is a series of 'flanker products' in new flavours, colours, and features with minimal breakthrough innovation."
That lack of innovation has been in part driven by necessity. "Consumer goods manufacturers have traditionally been able to grow at about the same rate as the population because there is only so much wallet share or 'stomach share'. Going forward, innovation will be necessary for company survival." The same could be said of many other sectors (look at the telecommunications market, for instance, where the packaging and pricing of services is now far more important than basic quality, which is taken for granted).
How can the IT department contribute to a new process of growth and eliminate the stagnation? One critical strategy is to embrace the notion of innovation (and stop running down the corridor).
"To understand IT's ability to deliver business value to the enterprise, CEOs should focus on what Forrester describes as innovation capacity: the potential for the IT function to support new products, processes, and opportunities," write Forrester analysts Laurie Orlov and Andrew Bartels. "Successful companies will grow their IT innovation capacity by focusing on how IT is sponsored, operated, and governed."
It's important to recognise that not every project can be a guaranteed success. "All new business growth strategies are risky; no one knows if they are going to work," Gartner points out. "The trick is to find the one world-beating idea among dozens of duds. The only way to do this is to test ideas using strategic experiments." Identifying where innovation can be a useful contribution and where it will just lead to unexpected complexity is also an important step.
One useful approach is often found in the deployment of the most conventional IT projects: working one department or sector at a time.
When rolling out a speech recognition platform, the Australian Taxation Office deliberately focused on individual projects rather than trying to speech-enable everything in site.Recognising a new idea
Inspiration can come from unexpected sources. When planning new uses for technology, it always pays to spread your creative wings as far as possible. "Gather ideas from many sources," Gartner advises. "Creativity thrives on eclecticism, and ideas for growth can come from anywhere. That's why it's important to engage people who have a wide range of views and experiences."
You might not even need to look any further than the games console in your lounge room. One project, currently being carried out by the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Construction Innovation in Queensland, is looking at ways to combine 3D gaming technology with existing computer-aided design (CAD) packages to change the way in which architects design buildings.
"The associated plans could be studied interactively by planners, builders, suppliers, residents, even traffic authorities or environmentalists," says Stephan Egan from the CSIRO's Division for Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology (CMIT), which is participating in the research.
Elsewhere in the CSIRO, the group's Molecular and Health Technologies division is working on Hidden Image Technology (HIT), which promises to allow manufacturers to minimise counterfeiting by imprinting invisible characters on labels or other packaging. The "tags" can't be seen in normal light, but instantly become visible when viewed through a specific filter. "The digital encoding of the hidden image is complex, impossible to copy, and able to be added to existing packs or cartons without changing designs," explains project leader Peter Osvath.
It doesn't take too much imagination to see how such models could be extended into other areas of business. ID cards that can't easily be duplicated could be a useful addition to security-sensitive businesses, for instance.
Innovation need not be earth-shattering in its immediate scope to have an eventual impact. In one recent example, IBM has been working with the US National Geographic society to improve data collection methods for its Geographic Project, which maps DNA samples to provide a better indication of human population patterns over time. While the idea of exploring DNA sounds suitably high-tech in a CSI kind of way, IBM's assistance was on a more pragmatic level: moving data collection from its roots in people taking down observations via pencil and paper to a more digital model.
"The task of gathering genetic and associated data into a combined format that is usable by scientists and researchers remains daunting in its complexity," says Ajay Royyuru, a senior manager at IBM's Computational Biology Centre and one of the key staffers on the project. While that might seem like an obvious development, turning it into a concrete reality requires considerable patience.
In a similar vein, one project at National ICT Australia (NICTA), the government-backed IT research institute, is examining the eye movements and head position of drivers during accidents, with the aim of minimising accidents caused by a lack of alertness on the job. Again, it isn't difficult to visualise other potential applications. Injury rates in factories could be reduced by tracking the movements typical of someone exhausted or not concentrating. Even in white-collar environments, tracking systems could identify poor posture and other behavioural cues associated with repetitive strain injury.
At its most basic, innovation is finding a way to do something better, using what technologies you have available. A good example of this is a NICTA project that is aiming to exploit wireless networking -- a familiar technology -- in a quite unexpected way. The Water Information Network will use a custom wireless networking system to track water utilisation on farms, making it possible to use scarce resources more effectively. Again, this kind of tracking approach could be adapted for other industries and supplies.
Of course, success can be a difficult thing to measure. Most casual observers would agree that Wi-Fi technology has quickly been an enormous success, but that hasn't necessarily translated into the most obvious commercial operation -- Internet access for people on the move.
A Gartner survey of 2000 business travellers found that just 25 percent in the US and 17 percent in the UK regularly made use of Wi-Fi. The problems? Even those who use Wi-Fi find it too expensive, and not always available in useful locations. At the same time, Wi-Fi has proven ideal for business and home networking. Thus an innovation which appeared set to benefit telecommunications companies now appears poised to be taken over by the community at large -- and used in ways that no one would have originally dreamed of.
The lesson in all of this? When innovating, it pays to expect the unexpected.
This article was first published in Technology & Business magazine.
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Online payments systems providers are finding the lucrative teenage demographic harder than expected to crack.
IdeaEdge Inc. and ModaSolutions Corp. are two companies that have set their sights on teen spending, only to find that their online security approaches were, in effect, working too well and needed fine-tuning.
IdeaEdge introduced its BillMyParents service last month; using it, children select products online and send the bills to their parents for approval. But the company found out the hard way that some of its safeguards designed to ensure that children were actually billing their own parents alienated the kids themselves.
"Things have to be easy. Things have to be intuitive. Things have to work well," said Jim Collas, the San Diego company's president and chief executive.
Online merchants are watching, executives say. A viable payments system could generate significant sales gains beyond the current primary payment method, prepaid cards, as online socializing and general interactions rocket among youths.
Give teens money and they will spend it, Collas says. Research cited by IdeaEdge says the youth market accounted for more than $132 billion of spending in 2007, of which $40 billion was for products researched online and then bought in stores. About 40% of teens said that the lack of a credit card is the main reason they do not shop online.
ModaSolutions, an Ottawa provider, also had to adjust the security measures when it adapted its eBillme system to support online purchases by children. EBillme was designed to let online shoppers pay for purchases through their banks' online bill payment systems, but the system governing risk decisions required that the person initiating the purchase also control the associated bank account, according to Marwan Forzley, Moda's president and CEO.
"We had to adjust the risk management so that it does not throw this capability into exception," he said.
On the eBillme Teens service Moda introduced last month, the company's systems make separate risk assessments of the child and the adult. Even if the last names and addresses do not match, the system will approve the transaction if the child and adult are independently confirmed to be low risks, Forzley said.
The payoff, he said, is well worth the effort it took to rewrite the technology underlying eBillme. "Teenagers are incredibly good at lobbying their parents," he said, and online merchants are eager to gain a larger share of their allowance money.
Research cited by IdeaEdge says that the youth market accounted for more than $132 billion of spending in 2007, of which $40 billion was for products researched online and then bought at stores. About 40% of teens said that the lack of a credit card is the main reason they do not shop online.
Collas said that IdeaEdge has already adopted 30 tweaks of BillMyParents to make it more appealing to teens.
Among the most important adjustments were security procedures that could block a transaction. Children initiate purchases at e-commerce sites, generating a notification to their parents to log in to a BillMyParents account to review the items their child wants and fund the purchase with a payment card or by entering their own bank account details.
As part of this, children had to validate their own e-mail addresses, which they use to sign up for the BillMyParents system.
This turned out to be more than children were willing to do.
"Validating their e-mail address by going to their account and clicking on a link is something that they procrastinate on," Collas said. "We had a lot of pent-up requests to parents that weren't getting there."
Children still must validate their e-mail addresses at a later point, but procrastinating on doing so no longer puts the brakes on the transaction, he said.
Another security feature was a secret word that users would share with their parents to verify that the child, rather than imposters, had initiated the transaction. The system generated multiple-choice questions with five answers.
"Even though the process worked extremely well and was extremely safe, the perception with parents was: If there's only five words, how safe can it be?" Collas said.
Some parents would abandon the process at this point out of security concerns. "We ended up adding something that we thought would make them feel safer and made them feel less safe," he said. BillMyParents removed the secret word system, though it plans to reintroduce it.
Bruce Cundiff, a director of payments research and consulting at Javelin Strategy and Research in Pleasanton, Calif., said that young people already have access to prepaid cards, which are easily available and widely accepted.
IdeaEdge and ModaSolutions both say that their products let teens take the reins in the transaction, Cundiff said, but "you can get to that with prepaid."
However, he said, these new systems could gain ground online if they can help merchants streamline the payment process for teens.
The adjustments the providers are making are signs that they are "figuring it out as they go along," he said, but this is not a bad thing. "Obviously there are hiccups along the way," he said, "but I think that's the case with every payment method."
Several companies offer prepaid cards designed for children, including Visa Inc.'s Buxx product, which can be used online or in stores.
However, Hyung Choi, a senior business leader in Visa's prepaid division, said the Buxx card is "primarily used in the face-to-face environment" and the rising presence of the Internet in teens' lives has not changed this. This mirrors the spending habits of grown-ups, who also transact primarily offline, he said.
Clare Morgan, the vice president of marketing for the prepaid card company nFinanSe Inc., said, though most youth prepaid spending takes place offline, teens are still interested in using the cards online.
If her teenage son and his friends are any example, "they love having plastic in their wallet," she said. "It makes them feel so grown-up."

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The Labour government has said the traffic light system is coming, but a lack of clarity is causing concern and confusion for desperate businesses, says National’s Small Business and Economic Development spokesperson Todd McClay.
“The Government’s announcements have created more questions than answers for Kiwi businesses.
“Hospitality and tourism operators already have hundreds of bookings for summer. Gyms have thousands of members, and hairdressers regular clients who want a haircut. But these business owners have been left to wonder what the rules will be and how they will enforce vaccination checks for customers and staff, in their busiest period of the year.
“The Government’s press conferences are adding greater confusion. The only information available on the traffic light system is that under “Orange” businesses that are able to open today under level 2 will not be able to if they are unable to confirm the vaccination status of clients.
“That means that a gym with a thousand members could face prosecution if one unvaccinated member walks onto their site. A hairdresser who has taken bookings up until the day before Christmas could be forced to phone every client and ask for proof of vaccination status or fall foul of the Government’s rules.
“The Prime Minister has said she’ll announce a move to the traffic light system after November 29, but the policy is still not complete.
“Auckland hospitality businesses need to be planning staff and ordering stock now for the run up to Christmas. They cannot wait for the Prime Minister to announce when she will make an announcement.
“This is a Government big on press releases but light on detail. It needs to show some urgency and stand up for the Kiwi businesses who have once again been left to fend for themselves.
“Summer is coming Prime Minister, let New Zealanders in on your plan.”
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Coalition Seeks Repeal of Maui’s New 24-Hour Alcohol Sales Law
A public sign waving event takes place this afternoon in Kahului in opposition to Maui County’s new 24-hour alcohol sales law.
The new law went into effect on March 4, 2017, and essentially lifts the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. restriction on the sale of alcohol at supermarkets, convenience stores and other after hours retail spots.
County officials say all safeguards and restrictions are still in place, except now retailers can decide for themselves the hours they sell alcohol.
Organizers of the sign waving demonstration say they want the Liquor Commission to reverse its decision and want the law repealed. They are also seeking a public hearing to reconsider amendments approved on Feb. 8, 2017 by the Liquor Commission.
Today’s demonstration will run from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Kaʻahumanu Avenue.
A petition entitled, “County of Maui Liquor Commission: Repeal 24-Hour Alcohol Sales in Maui County” was launched on the Change.org website on behalf of the Coalition to Repeal 24-Hour Alcohol Sales with a goal to obtain 1,000 signatures.
The coalition is made up of concerned organizations and citizens who believe that “round the clock retail sales of alcohol will not contribute to making our community stronger or better.” “Instead,” they said, “it creates greater risks for our community.”
Participants in today’s event include: Coalition founders and representatives of Hawaiʻi Chapter-Mothers Against Drunk Driving, State of Hawaiʻi Organization of Police Officers, Faith Action for Community Equity, Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, and the Family Life Center.


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The popular marketplace's closing leaves a big hole Darknet Drugs Darknet Gun Market Darknet Market Arrests Darknet markets onion address Dec. In 2022 alongside AlphaBay andHansa, Dream Market was the third-largest marketplace in the field. It had an incredibly large product range, including drugs. Sentenced to federal prison for serving as a moderator on a global dark web marketplace that peddled guns, drugs and stolen identities. Prosecutors said the marketplace enabled users, mainly in Russian-speaking countries, to buy and sell illegal drugs, stolen financial data, and. By Z Li 2022 Cited by 5 Overdoses from opioids, a class of drugs that includes both prescription pain relievers and illegal narcotics, account for more deaths in the. Following the closure of the dark web's largest illegal marketplace, operation seized millions of dollars in cash, crypto, and drugs.
Biggest drug marketplace Before it was taken down, AlphaBay was known as the biggest drug market place and bazaar on the dark web. It hosted. Drugs are estimated to account for around two-thirds of darknet market of market dark web drug marketplace However, this does not mean that darknet drug. Million in Bitcoin from a drug trafficking operation on the dark web. According to the authorities, revenue in the marketplace was. A key feature of online drugs platforms is that they are located on the so-called 'dark web', which is accessible via the sophisticated. One key to Hydra's success dark markets ireland is the Russian-language marketplace's Drugs do remain a popular darknet market product, and historical. International operation targets dark web drugs marketplace. Cyber crime. Twenty-four people have been arrested in the UK in one of the.
Million in Bitcoin from a drug trafficking operation on the dark web. According to the authorities, revenue in the marketplace was. However, it's more than dark markets indonesia just a drug-focused deep web marketplace because Tor2door darknet market cannahome cartel darknet marketplace market url 04. So once he said the dark web had totally changed his business There is also, Christin says, a non-trivial risk a marketplace will. Dark Web markets: record spending in 2022. The chart below reveals darknet market revenue and the number of transfers to those markets. The gold. In 2022 alongside AlphaBay and Hansa, Dream Market was the third-largest marketplace in the field. It had an incredibly large product range, including drugs. Synthetic drugs Feb 15, 2022 The complaint alleges that Ombisi and Russell used a marketplace on the Darknet and an encrypted messaging service called.
The Dark Web marketplace, which opened in 2022, has grown into one of the largest and services with the majority of the listings boasting drugs for sale. Monopoly market is an XMR darknet market where people can buy drugs using Dark Market is a small darkweb marketplace it prides itself with running. Among the goods advertised for sale were stolen credit card details, illegal drugs, counterfeit money, anonymous SIM cards, and malware. At. The dark dark markets india web is part of the internet that isn't visible to search engines The drug market's design is clunky and its pages load slowly. Buying drugs from the dark web point to signs dark markets iceland of drug addiction. Where once this marketplace was entirely criminal, the modern version. Silk Road is an underground highway for drug trade and expansion. 6 Silk Road was an online black market and the first modern darknet market.
The dark web dark web drug marketplace marketplace, Wall Street Market, was one of the largest dark web drug marketplace operating hosts for vendors peddling illegal wares, said DEA San. Has taken down the world's largest darknet marketplace, whose Australian alleged operator used it to facilitate the sale of drugs. New Working Empire Marketplace Links July 10, darknet empire market Market for a dark web or deep web complete drug market place for buy drugs online. Popular darknet sites.Hydra Market Russian Marketplace, dark web drug marketplace.World Market, dark web drug marketplace.Dark0de Market This market has. Drugs still rule the darknet, but aren't the only inventory on offer For instance, Hydra Marketplace, by far the most popular market on. The seizure of the Hydra dark web marketplace is a positive development in the fight and money laundering and drug trafficking offences.
“Buyers who place an order Friday get dark web drug marketplace two and a half times the ordinary amount of the drug, a listing on the deep web's AlphaBay Market says. On the Klaytn blockchain platform, the process of data anchoring connects data from the auxiliary service chain to the mainchain.”
Daeva Darknet Market
Investigations revealed that the accused allegedly used dark markets hungary Tor search engine through the dark web anda booked drugs on some websites that operate only on the darknet. Is 125 Bar going to do a reasonable job or just be a waste of money? February 6, The post read: Especially as something we are not used to doing. Payments Cards & Mobile is the go-to market intelligence hub for global payments news, research and consulting. It was a chaos on both the deep web and the surface web. This type of source-code review would be less reliable if a compiled language were used, since a binary executable could potentially have been altered and may differ from the source code it was purported to have been compiled from. Customers order through the website and the vendor is responsible for delivery. Dark fox market is one of the fastest- websites that allow you to purchase or sell thousand of products like all other dark markets hungary popular markets. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.


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May 7 (UPI) -- Jared Leto walked the pink carpet at the 2019 Met Gala while holding a wax replica of his head.
The head resembled the actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars singer, complete with blue eyes, matching beard and long hair.
Leto carried the head around the event on Monday as he donned a long, red silk gown from Gucci that featured a turtleneck and was covered in silver jewels.
Miller's makeup stood out as his face was peppered with detailed eyeballs, with a pair set below his eyes, one placed above his eyebrows and two more at the top of his forehead.
The theme of the 2019 Met Gala was camp. The yearly New York fashion showcase also featured Nick Jonas and his wife Priyanka Chopra appearing for the first time as a married couple after they reconnected at the Met Gala last year.


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Uber announced plans Wednesday to start using self-driving cars to pick up passengers in Pittsburgh sometime in the next several weeks. That’s one way to (indirectly and perhaps accidentally) deal with an apparently pervasive sexual assault issue!
The AP reports that the cars will be Ford Fusions, arriving soon in downtown Pittsburgh and offering free rides, for now. Bloomberg Businessweek reports that the self-driving Volvos will also eventually be part of the fleet. Also, importantly, for the moment there will still be a human being behind the wheel to supervise:
Uber’s Pittsburgh fleet, which will be supervised by humans in the driver’s seat for the time being, consists of specially modified Volvo XC90 sport-utility vehicles outfitted with dozens of sensors that use cameras, lasers, radar, and GPS receivers. Volvo Cars has so far delivered a handful of vehicles out of a total of 100 due by the end of the year. The two companies signed a pact earlier this year to spend $300 million to develop a fully autonomous car that will be ready for the road by 2021.
On the one hand, fully autonomous cars are a really interesting step forward. On the other, it’s hard not to reflect on the fact that both Uber and Lyft fought bitter and expensive legal battles over background checks for their drivers. While there’s no hard evidence that ridesharing services are actually more dangerous than regular taxis, it’s also true that the company has some, let’s say, real hiccups to work out in terms of how they deal with reports of sexual assault. And whenever they tell you that they’re working on that one as fast as they can, or that more rigorous background checks are unfair (or claim that, actually, most violent incidents in an Uber are the passenger’s fault), let’s just remember what kind of technological feats this company is capable of, when they feel like it.


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MangaGamer's April Fools' Sale Is Still Running
In celebration of April Fools’ Day, MangaGamer decided to hold a sale on their website and Steam.
A Week Long Black Friday Sale Now on MangaGamer
MangaGamer is offering an assortment of box game releases on sale, and has made Koropokkur in Love ~A Little Fairy’s Tale~ Kickstarter goods available for purchase.
MangaGamer's Summer Sale Begins
Kick off this summer with a bang by checking out MangaGamer’s Summer Sale.
Save Up to 50% During MangaGamer's Thanksgiving Sale
MangaGamer is currently offering up to 50% off hard copy editions of its games during its Thanksgiving sale. Read more on LewdGamer.com.
No Joking, MangaGamer is Hosting an April Fool’s Day Sale
44KPanda discusses the details of MangaGamer's April Fool’s Day Sale. Find out more about these limited time discounts on LewdGamer.com.
Indiegala's X-mas 4Play Erotic Game Bundle
Bundle and game platform website Indiegala has just put up a new erotic game bundle for the holidays, aptly named "X-mas 4Play."
The MangaGamer Black Friday Sale is Here
44KPanda discusses the MangaGamer Black Friday Hardcopy sale on LewdGamer.com, the Internet's best source for hentai news.
MangaGamer Moe Day Sale Ending Soon
The winter season will soon be upon us, but you'll feel like Christmas has come early this year with MangaGamer's Moe Day flash sale.
Mothers in Eroge
Mother's Day is a time to celebrate maternal bonds and shower mothers, and other maternal figures, with love and affection.


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The NFT hype prepare rolls on.
This week, Mythical Games, an NFT video games startup based mostly out of Los Angeles introduced it had managed to safe a $75 million spherical of funding from new and present buyers to help aspirations for its first title and open the door for extra blockchain-based gaming experiences.
The spherical was led by WestCap, a progress fairness agency headed by former AirBnB government Laurence Tosi, with present buyers joined by 01 Advisors and Gary Vaynerchuk’s VaynerFund within the Sequence B spherical.
Hailed as the following crypto craze, Non-Fungible Tokens are a part of the Ethereum cryptocurrency blockchain and have been designed to assist creatives and artists higher monetise their work. “Non-fungible” implying that it’s distinctive and may’t get replaced — in an try to present digital artwork the identical standing, and value tags, as bodily artwork.
Whereas coming off their preliminary highs, NFTs are nonetheless courting worth in plenty of circles. The pure development can be to carry the world of blockchain and NFTs to the booming $260 billion international video games market.
Not that it hasn’t been tried earlier than. During the last 5 years, blockchain video games have turn out to be a style of their very own. Blockchain for gaming has lengthy been considered the right utility, as the final consensus agrees blockchain solves lots of the legacy issues of the gaming trade.
Nonetheless, discovering a success has been problematic.
Regardless of all its promise, blockchains of their present format don’t truly assist remedy the challenges players are asking to be solved. Add to that the present state of blockchain gaming, which has been largely targeted on creating property for invaluable transactions, versus making entertaining titles players will love.
The development has been magnified lately with cellular gaming, the place recreation play is sidelined in favour of microtransactions and strict adherence to monetisation fashions designed to squeeze as a lot income from gamers as attainable.
Flappy Bird feels so way back.
Legendary is making an attempt to vary that, and the massive finish of city believes it may — placing cash the place it counts.


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Fiat cuts prices of Linea by Rs 77,121, Punto Evo by Rs 47,365
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles cut the prices of its Linea range by 7.3% and of the Punto Evo by 7%.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) India has cut the prices of its sedan Linea by up to Rs 77,121 and hatchback Punto Evo by up to Rs 47,365 in a bid to attract more customers in the country.
Prices of Linea range have been cut by 7.3% and the sedan will now be available between Rs 7.25 lakh and Rs 9.99 lakh. It was earlier priced between Rs 7.82 lakh and Rs 10.76 lakh.
Besides, prices of Punto range has been reduced by around 7% and the hatchback would now be available between Rs 5.45 lakh and Rs 7.55 lakh. It was earlier priced ranging from Rs 5.85 lakh and Rs 7.92 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi).
"We started the strategic rationalisation in terms of pricing last year. Urban Cross was launched at very competitive price while we also adjusted prices for Avventura range. Following this strategy, we have now cut the prices of Linea and Punto Evo by 7.3% and 7% , respectively," FCA India President and Managing Director Kevin Flynn told PTI.
In a market where every other automaker has announced price hikes, the company is rationalising product prices to give a greater value proposition to the customers, he added.
"Even as we rationalise prices, we have already enhanced features on our cars. Our products now come loaded with features," Flynn said.
The company, which is the wholly-owned subsidiary of the world's seventh largest automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has been struggling in India.
According to SIAM data, the company sold 4,314 units in domestic market during the April-November period, down 22.67%, from 5,579 units in same period of previous fiscal.
Elaborating on strategy going ahead, Flynn said, "2017 is a significant year for FCA as we enter a new phase of growth with both brands Fiat and Jeep. We want to make this the year of our transformation in approach towards engaging with existing customers and winning new ones," Flynn said.
This thought led us to start 2017 by enhancing the value proposition on Linea and Punto EVO as the first step, he said.
FCA, that parents both Fiat and Jeep brands, as part of its vision for 2017 is also sharpening its focus on customer centricity.
"This year, we will move the needle on our sales and service network for which we have started implementing significant changes," Flynn said.
The company is currently in the phase of overhauling its sales and service network to make it modern and better equipped to handle more footfalls in the new year.
It has launched new format of dealer showrooms, called destination stores, and workshops in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Bengaluru, adding to its existing sales network of around 90 outlets.
The company plans to have Jeep-exclusive as well as Fiat-Abarth- Jeep Destination stores by mid-year.
"We will have a combination of new investors and existing dealer partners in network enhancement drive.Network expansion plan will be proportionate to growing volumes, now with Jeep Compass joining current product portfolio," Flynn said.
He added the company is also excited about the launch of Jeep Compass later this year. The model would be locally produced at Ranjangaon, Pune and compete with the likes of Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V and Toyota Fortuner.
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BATAVIA – Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center have Thursday approved tax abatements totaling nearly $80,000 for a $1.1 million expansion project at Alpina Foods Inc. in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park on East Main Street Road.
Since the request was for less than $100,000, the board was able to support the fund resolution without having to schedule a public hearing, said Rachael J. Tabelski, marketing and communications director for the IDA.
Tabelski said the plant will receive $62,903 in property tax incentives and another $15,408 in sales tax breaks as it constructs a 3,200-square foot addition.
The company plans to add more space for a new bottle-filling machine and packaging equipment for a new drinkable yogurt product.
“They are excited about their drinkable yogurt line and are committed to staying in Batavia,” said Tabelski, noting that Alpina spent $5 million in 2014 to install a line to manufacture 32-ounce “family-style” Greek yogurt.
She added that Alpina already has hired temporary workers who are expected to become full-time employees, and that this latest project will create four new positions.
Work on the new addition will start right away and is expected to be completed in September, she said.


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If you own one of Amazon’s pre-2012 Kindles, listen up: there’s a critical update that you need to install if you want to keep using it, and you must do so before March 22nd.
If you’re thinking of giving someone an Xbox, PlayStation, Wii U, 3DS, Vita, or iPad this Christmas, there’s something you can do to sweeten the deal even more for the recipient: download every update for the console first.
If your Mac’s app updates are acting a little weird, you’re not alone. A security management slip-up means that some software updates might actually require a delete and reinstall to work properly.
Windows 10 gets its first major update today, with a number of features you’ve asked for—like colored title bars, fixes to the Start menu, and (finally!) a better way to activate your Windows 10 license.
The new Apple TV is here, which means it’s time to start downloading some apps. There’s all kinds of new stuff to search through, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
iOS users have been complaining about the Facebook app’s big battery drain. Today Facebook admitted it had a problem–and pushed an update that should help.
PS4 players now have the power to form groups for all their favorite games. Almost immediately, people used this power to make all sorts of ridiculous, hilarious, WTF, and sometimes horrible communities. Here are some of the best (and worst) that I’ve found.
Good news for early Microsoft Surface adopters and other RT lovers: an update for the Windows RT 8.1 brings a Windows 10-like Start menu to the OS. It’s not an overhaul, but it breathes a little fresh air into the orphaned software.
It’s pretty great that you can get Windows 10 for free if you want it. If you don’t—or if you simply want to download it on your own terms—however, bad news: Microsoft is downloading it anyway. Here’s how to block it.
The files needed to install Windows 10 are being automatically downloaded to Windows 7 and 8.1 users by Windows Update—even if users have no intention of upgrading.
Every time Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, its servers get slammed. To help alleviate this burden, Windows 10 can download updates from other users’ computers. The problem is, it can use up your bandwidth and data caps to do so. Here’s how to turn it off.
If you’ve reserved a copy of Windows 10 but haven’t gotten the upgrade prompt yet, here’s a secret: you can skip the line and upgrade right now.
When Microsoft called Windows 10 “the last version of Windows,” it wasn’t just posturing. The company is betting on staying power, pushing a full decade of updates for its newest OS. Microsoft is requiring mandatory updates for its Windows 10 Home users until 2025.
All around the world, Windows users are discovering a new icon in their notification trays—an offer to reserve a free copy of Windows 10. Sounds too good to be true, yes? Except Windows 10 actually is a free upgrade, and this really does appear to be the way you’ll get it.
It’s a busy year for Apple. The super-shiny (and incredibly expensive) Apple Watch hit shops last month and the smart money and Mac Diviners have it on good authority that a brand new iPhone model may be touching down as early as August. (Apple even recently outed its latest budget-orientated iPhone on its own site.)…
Mistake-makers, rejoice. After years of choosing between deleting an entire photo and report it or living with the typos and ill-conceived jokes of the original, Instagram has decided to allow us to edit our captions after they've been published.
Every iOS update is a small deception. 117MB, well that's not so bad! Then you look at the fine print, and some a few gigabytes are required make to actually install the damn thing. So what's really going on here?
Well, it's official: Apple is holding an event on Oct. 16th that will reportedly air out its stale iPad. But as they often do, the invitation to the event included a cryptic tagline: "It's been way too long."


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2023 BMW X1 M35i
The current generation X1 was launched back in 2015 and there’s no secret that it was never a very successful car. No wonder BMW is preparing big updates for the next model set to arrive in 2022. In a recent press release, the company confirmed that the next X1 will be offered with "both a combustion engine and a fully-electric drivetrain."
The model will also receive the same treatment as the recently launched 1-Series and 2-Series: An X1 M35i version that will pretty much replace the usual M version you get with cars like the X3 and the X4.
Updated 02/28/2022: The upcoming BMW X1 M35i was caught testing once again in cold winter conditions in Northern Sweden. The prototype is still wearing lots of camouflage, so it is still very difficult to see what it will look like, but we all know it will not be an actual M car; so you should only expect a sportier X1.
2023 BMW 7 Series
The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is nothing but a declaration of high-tech war aimed at its two main rivals, the Audi A8 and the 7 Series. BMW’s flagship received a hefty facelift in 2019 for the 2020 model year and other than the enlarged grille, it got a tech upgrade, including BMW’s then-new iDrive 7.0 setup. However, you can only stay relevant for a short time in the current luxury car climate and with the S-Class making no rebates on the technology front, BMW is already working on the next-generation 7er. Here’s everything we know so far.
Update 2-3-2022: The 2023 BMW 7 Series has been caught testing again, this time looking a little more production ready.
The 2024 BMW M5 Hybrid Confirmed via A New Set of Spy Shots
Rumors of a BMW M5 hybrid have finally been confirmed thanks to the latest M5 prototype that has been spotted doing some public road testing. We know this isn’t a basic 5 Series due to the extra-large brakes, but the “Hybrid Test Vehicle” sticker on the driver’s door exposes BMW’s desire to take the M5 electric. There’s also a new flap on the front fender, which is likely for a charging port indicating that this is a plug-in hybrid M5 and will likely offer some kind of usable electric-only range. It should be noted that this charging door is in the same place and is the same shape and size as that on the 545e xDrive.
With all of this in mind, will BMW manage to keep the V-8 under the hood? We’re going to say that it’s quite likely. Part of the reason the M5 is going the hybrid route is to help it not only cut fuel consumption but meet the stricter emissions regulations. As of now, there’s not much more to say about this prototype, but this is its first outing, so if it will be revealed anytime in 2022, it’ll come much later in the year, with 2023 being more likely. It should go on sale as a 2024 model.
2024 BMW 5 Series - A Retro Look With Modern Tech?
The BMW 5 Series has long been one of the brand’s most significant models. With nearly 50 years of history and millions sold, the 5er has enjoyed great success. The current G30 generation was recently updated, so it’s not going away in the next couple of years. That said, we’ve already seen spy footage of the next generation BWM 5 Series, set to debut around 2024. This is what we know so far.
2023 BMW M4 CS/CSL
We have reason to believe that BMW will offer a hardcore, lighter, and potentially more powerful version of the current M4 coupe. Firstly, the previous M4 was further distilled into such a variant and secondly, a set of spyshots sent in by our photographers shows a couple of interesting test mules.
2022 BMW M8 CSL
BMW has been testing an odd-looking BMW 8-Series. On the outside, the car looks like a normal BMW M8, but with a few very distinctive differences. We have known for a while that BMW has been cooking something else based on the 8-Series and all evidence suggests that it will be a hotter version of the car, sitting above the M8 Competition. Straight away, there are a few noticeable differences, and this is what you need to know.
2022 BMW i4 - This Is The German Automaker’s Answer To The Tesla Model 3
BMW unveiled the i4 digitally at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. A year later, the company has finally debuted the model along with its crossover sibling, the iX. The 2022 BMW i4 will be offered in two different trims, one of them being a performance version that makes over 500 horses. The i4 will launch Stateside in the first quarter of 2022 and will come with a starting price tag of $55,400.
2023 BMW M2 Electric
2023 BMW X1
There is no secret that the X1 is getting a bit long in the tooth just like there is no secret that BMW is already working on the crossover’s replacement. Test mules have been spotted recently doing pre-production runs and with a debut slated for 2022, it is time to reassess what we know about the incoming BMW X1.
2022 BMW iX1
The 2022 BMW iX1 is an upcoming all-electric crossover that’s scheduled to debut sometime in the second half of 2021. As the name suggests, the 2022 iX1 will be based on the X1 subcompact SUV and will feature an all-electric drivetrain. The 2022 iX1 will be BMW’s second electric crossover after the iX3, introduced in 2020.
The 2022 BMW iX1 will be offered with at least two powertrain options, including an entry-level FWD variant and a more powerful AWD versions. Let’s find out more about it in the speculative review below.
2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
The new BMW 4 Series is already a fact. With the coupe and convertible versions being introduced, the new Gran Coupe is ready to make an appearance as well, thus expanding the 4 Series family.
BMW has always been a competitive brand across the board. That said, BMW came late to the four-door coupe party. A segment that has become rather competitive over the last decade. Although the Bavarian brand was beaten to the four-door coupe party, it eventually managed to regroup and now they have four different four-door coupes in their lineup. But has the new 4 Series still have what it takes to play the game?
2022 BMW iX - Photo Gallery
The BMW Vision iNEXT has become the BMW iX – a pre-production prototype that previews the brand’s upcoming electric SUV. With a year still to go before its market launch at the end of 2021, the BMW Group is providing a first look ahead to the future BMW iX, which is currently still in the series development phase. The BMW iX is the first model based on a new, modular, scalable future toolkit developed by the BMW Group and focused on a fresh interpretation of design, sustainability, driving pleasure, versatility and luxury. Check out our awesome photo gallery below!
2021 BMW M3 Touring
Although wagons aren’t selling well in the States, the same can’t be said for the European markets. Jaguar made a bold move and introduced the XF Sportbrake Stateside in 2017, but took it off the market recently due to poor sales. However, the European markets are gearing up for an exciting offering from the only German automaker who didn’t have a performance wagon in its lineup until now.
We’re talking about BMW and the upcoming M3 Touring. The company confirmed that the wagon will arrive by 2022. It was also recently spotted testing near Nurburgring. Do Audi and Mercedes have anything to worry about?
2022 BMW i4 M
It’s been just about a month since BMW launched the new M3 and the M4. While the bucktooth grille became the talk of the town, there was one other piece of news around that time that didn’t receive as much attention as it should have. BMW Performance Division’s CEO, Markus Flasch, said that M’s first fully electric car will arrive next year and it will be based on the i4. When you have a confirmation from the automaker, it doesn’t take long for the car to be spotted doing test runs, and the same has happened here, too.
New spy shots have appeared that show the i4 M draped in black and white sheets to avoid people from guessing what it is, but hey, who are we kidding here?
2021 BMW i3
BMW is one of the most proactive automakers to advance towards electrification. The company has not just announced new electric models, but will also electrify the existing lineup. Recently, it revealed the iX3, which carries over all the shenanigans of the regular X3, but with an electric powertrain. Recently, the electric version of the 3 Series was spotted yet again and it seems to be on the same transformational path as the electric X3.
2022 BMW iNext Electric SUV
When BMW launched the Vision iNext concept at the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show, it took the world by surprise. It was supposed to be the next big thing to come out of the company’s stable, but all people could talk about was that gaudy grille that eclipsed everything else.
The crossover with the Bavarian DNA is designed to combine advanced autonomous systems, connectivity, and electrification blended into one recipe that is touted to be the company’s flagship electric product. The model sits on a new platform and will provide the building blocks for the automaker moving forward. Is this a preview of what we can expect from BMW 10 years down the line?
2021 BMW M5
The BMW 5 Series is in line for a mid-cycle refresh and it won’t be long before it comes to full effect. What’s more, the revamp will also affect the M5 performance sedan, as our spy photographers have spotted a heavy-camo’ed facelifted BMW M5 mule out on the open road.
BMW is tight-lipped about the revised M5 (as it is about the 5 Series as a whole) but the test prototype displays a couple of interesting changes that touch on the front and rear light clusters and bumpers. There’s no word on power upgrades yet, but let’s take a better look at what the revamped M5 might have in store for us.
Update 2/21/20200: The 2021 BMW M5 was just spotted doing some cold-weather testing and it’s starting to come together nicely. Check out the new spy shots and what we’ve learned in our “Spy Shots” section below!


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Nike's Brand Legacy Continues To Outweigh China Headwinds, Goldman Sachs Says
Although Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) may face some headwinds in China due to the recent backlash against Western brands, the social media and app download trends remain robust, according to Goldman Sachs.
The Nike Analyst: Goldman's Kate McShane initiated coverage of Nike with a Buy rating and a price target of $172.
The Nike Thesis: The stock has become even more attractive, following the recent pullback due to sourcing concerns, which appear transitory and are now priced in, McShane said in the initiation note.
The stock could rise further “as Nike will likely benefit from more customers focusing on wellness, a likely increased casualization of fashion trends post the pandemic, continued execution of the company’s differentiated retail strategy which should drive stronger sales and margins, the leveraging of its rich customer data and suite of apps to drive membership and demand globally, and as supply/demand remains extremely tight; limiting promotions,” the analyst wrote.
Nike’s app downloads have historically outperformed archrival Adidas (OTC:ADDYY), “having generated ~53% more downloads than adidas since the beginning of 2020 and 80% more since the beginning of 2021 (as of September ‘21), according to SensorTower,” McShane noted.
“Globally, Nike continues to dominate from a follower perspective on Instagram, while also generating strong U.S. Google search interest,” she added.
NKE Price Action: Shares of Nike had risen by 0.92% to $151.66 at the time of publication Tuesday.


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The New Vegetarians
Whether it’s to save the earth, money or their waistlines, more Americans are cutting back on meat. Should you elevate vegetables from sidekick to leading role? Here’s all you need to know to make meatless eating work for you.
Vegetarianism is having a moment
When former President Bill Clinton showed up to daughter Chelsea’s wedding looking slim and trim, he credited his strict vegetarian diet for his transformation. Meanwhile, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres recently gave up animal products, publicly declaring herself a vegan.
These two high-profit Americans have plenty of company in the meatless movement. Sure, countless others still hold onto childhood Brussels sprout biases; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 26.3 percent of adults eat vegetables three or more times per day. But signs suggest that the number of herbivores in the U.S. is on the rise. For example, last November the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics issued its first-eve guidelines for dietitians who are counseling vegetarians. With efforts like Meatless Mondays, a campaign to cut meat consumption to improve personal and environmental health, gaining momentum, nearly 20 percent of households are eating more meatless meals, reports the Food Marketing Institute. Some cite saving money as the primary driver, but most say they’re cutting down on meat to improve their health.
Scaling back on meat won’t necessarily net you better health or a svelte body. And let’s be clear: Going meatless won’t miraculously melt off extra pounds. However, swapping plant -based foods for animal-based ones will often save you calories and fat grams, and may make meeting your goal weight easier. In general, vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than meat eaters, according to an analysis published in Nutrition Reviews. What’s more, other studies link a well-planned vegetarian diet with a lower BMI and a wealth of health benefits, including reducer risks for cancer and chronic disease. The emphasis here is on the phrase “well-planned”. If you end up substituting meat with high fat options like cheese, your health bonuses are nil.
With that, here’s some freshly picked info for exploring the veggie landscape in a way that’s healthy and delicious.
Get what you need
Afraid you won’t get enough nutrients if you cut out meat? Most lifelong carnivores feel they need meat and other animal products for god nutrition, but that’s not the case. You can get key nutrients (and promote good health) from these plant-based sources.
Nutrient: Plant-based sources
Protein: Beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, nut butters, peas, whole grains and soy-based products (tofu, tempeh, veggie burgers)
Iron: Fortified cereals, spinach, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, turnip greens, soy products, whole wheat breads and peas.
Omega-3s: Flax and other plant sources provide some, but not enough; if you don’t’ eat fish, consider an algae-derived DHA supplement.
Calcium: Fortified soymilk, cereals and orange juice; tofu made with calcium sulfate; dried beans and peas; nuts; seeds; some greens.
Vitamin D: Fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms (especially mushrooms treated with UV light, available in supermarkets), fortified cereals.
So you call yourself a Vegetarian?
The vegetarian spectrum runs the gamut from those who eat meat occasionally to raw foodists who will not consume anything cooked above certain temps. Below, a veggie glossary, from least to most extreme.
Flexatarian (Semi-vegetarian): Eats mostly plant-based foods; occasionally eats animal products as well as fish, poultry or meat.
Pollo-vegetarian: Eats poultry, such as chicken, turkey and duck.
Pescetarian: Eats fish and seafood, but no meat.
Lacto-ovo Vegetarian: Eats dairy products and eggs.
Lacto Vegetarian: Eats dairy products.
Classic Vegetarian: Eats diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts; no meat, poultry or fish.
Vegan: Follows a strict vegetarian diet that excludes animal-derived products like butter.
Raw Foodist: Eats no plant-based foods heated above 115 to 118 degrees.


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Star Wars Battlefront may have been a huge success in terms of sales, but the reception from fans and critics certainly wasn’t as strong as Electronic Arts would have liked. Well, it seems EA has taken the criticism on board, and is promising to rectify things this year with the currently-in-development Battlefront 2.
“We’re thrilled to bring a new Star Wars Battlefront game to fans worldwide in the 2017 holiday season,” reads a statement on the official EA website. “In the past two years, Rogue One and The Force Awakens have opened new storylines and captured the imagination of hundreds of millions of Star Wars fans. We’ve listened closely to our passionate Star Wars Battlefront community, and expanded our existing game with more great content and experiences since its launch. As that game continues to thrive, we have also heard our players’ desire for even more depth and progression. Our next Star Wars Battlefront will be even bigger, taking players into more locations, and allowing them to play with more heroes and characters across multiple Star Wars eras. There will be new ways to play, including an all-new single-player campaign, and much, much more that we are excited to share with our players in the months ahead. To build a game of this magnitude, we’ve brought together three great studios – DICE, Motive, and Criterion – and aligned their areas of expertise to deliver an amazing experience in the next Star Wars Battlefront.”
We’ve already heard that Star Wars Battlefront 2 will feature content tying in to Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but could these multiple eras include a return to the Prequel Trilogy era as well as the OT? Hopefully we’ll find out more information at Star Wars Celebration Orlando in April.


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In a recent catch, the Central Investigation Bureau(CIB) has arrested a 26 years old man Kundan Shrestha, on charges of extorting a woman threatening her of exposing her private photos and videos online.
Nepal Police in its press release states that Shrestha a resident of Biratnagar, currently staying in New Baneshwor had met the victim online in facebook. As time passed they fell in love and got intimate, but when their relationship soured, Shrestha started black mailing the family threatening to expose the girl’s private pictures and videos online.”
During the investigation, the agency confirmed that Shrestha had extorted NRs 1.3 million from the victim’s family and the police have successfully obtained the pictures and videos. Shrestha has been charged under the Electronic Transaction Act, 2008 which terms a jail term of up to five years,and a fine of Rs 10,000 fine or both after proving guilty.
The number of facebook user have increased phenomenally where due to lack of proper awareness people are getting exploited every now and then. According to a report currently there are 19,40,820 facebook users in Nepal which is the 7.3 % of the total population.
Prakash Shrestha a cyber expert says, “If we look at the online scenario then we are very vulnerable, we share our picture and feeling online in social networking sites without any restriction where we don’t know who is watching us. we allow our children to use internet without teaching them the basics of safety online. We need to raise awareness about privacy, safety and security measures online where we have been lacking . Identity theft, copyrights, cyber bullying, cyber frauds, cyber crimes etc are merely examples of what can happen online for which we need to be prepared.”
The online scenario of Nepal is very scary where internet users are prune to externalities, apart from that due to lack of proper expertise, Nepal faces huge hindrance in online policy and counter mechanism, it’s high time that the government thinks about launching an awareness program to safeguard public interest.


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By Amiad Soto, CEO at Guesty
While the entire world and hospitality industry has been rocked by COVID-19, travel isn’t slowing down. One and a half years into navigating the pandemic, pent-up demand to travel, along with continued access to vaccines, has resulted in consumer attitudes shifting back to vacationing, whether for quick holidays, weekend escapes or longer-term remote work stays.
And our data is proof: Christmas bookings in the UK are up 433 per cent compared to where the holiday’s reservation volume sat at this time last year. Prices are also up, with 2021 Christmas average nightly rates 102 per cent higher than 2020 and 47 per cent higher than 2019.
With alternative accommodation the leading choice for those looking to avoid crowded areas associated with traditional hotel stays, holiday rental bookings aren’t slowing down. This makes the short-term rental ecosystem ripe for consolidation; here’s my outlook on what’s coming.
Why consolidation is the way forward
The massive expansion of the short-term rental industry has produced greater consumer expectations from guests, and in turn, increased the workload for property managers and vacation rental owners. The number of products and tech solutions needed to maintain a thriving business is growing and therefore, software companies in this space must offer full-service offerings to meet the demand. To achieve this in the alternative accommodation industry, you need a substantial amount of resources to keep up, and the only way for the quality of products to rise is through consolidation.
Though I don’t believe this is a winner-takes-all market, when it comes to software, for example, having several smaller players hinders the ability to bring standardisation to the space. It’s also a headache for users to work with several different providers that offer one stand-alone service or capability, resulting in the need to jump from platform to platform.
For example, channel integration is one of the most important aspects of managing short-term rentals, and long gone are the days of connecting calendars via iCal. All major OTAs continue to add additional capabilities to their APIs and adjusting to those capabilities to offer a top-notch user experience is a great deal of work. When you add in additional business needs such as accounting, analytics, owner relations, payments, revenue management and more, it requires a full standalone product build and substantial amount of capital and investment.
This is why we advise brands to consistently grow their R&D teams. A property management software that boasts many tools is appealing for hosts. As such, users have access to a larger team working on the next generation of products, services and technologies to power their growth, boost their revenue and scale their businesses.
We should also cater to those we weren’t previously serving—such as hosts just starting out with rental business as a side gig. And we won’t stop there—we need to continue to push for more consolidation of the industry with future acquisitions and product offerings.
But it’s not just about software.
Consolidation will result in the standardisation of short-term hospitality brands
Alternative accommodation hospitality brands—think Mint House, Vacasa and Sonder—are cashing in on their appeal to the traveller personas that have emerged from the pandemic. And their success shows.
Sonder confirmed it’s going public in a major $2.2 billion SPAC [special purpose acquisition company] merger deal and Vacasa will go public as well in a $4.5 billion SPAC following the company’s recent acquisition of TurnKey, which boasts rentals in 80 destinations across the US. These players continue to expand their footprints by snapping up smaller hospitality brands while also introducing more technology and automation to their daily operations.
As a result, we can expect more property management companies raising capital to acquire more inventory to meet consumer demand. What we can also expect from their consolidation efforts is a focus on aligning their style, aesthetic and brand guidelines across locations. Design and amenities must align across each market and property to create a cohesive brand.
New age digital nomads, longer-stay business and leisure travellers now expect familiarity, flexibility, comfort and consistent service and amenities in the same way that more traditional travellers know what to expect from legacy brands such as Hilton and Marriott. A prime example to learn from is Mint House’s ‘Mint Pass’ programme, which allows guests to hop from location to location with perks and comfortable ‘working from home’ [WFH] setups. And Sentral launched its flexible living offering Home+ to combine the comforts of home with the adventure of travel, so guests can live, earn, work and travel simultaneously.
The industry’s consolidation will act as a catalyst to an increased emphasis on brand building which in turn, will result in hospitality megabrands seeking to boost their direct booking numbers.
Short-term rentals are primed to meet today’s traveller demands
Demand is at an all-time high and supply has not yet caught up; the case in point is Airbnb’s Brian Chesky noting that the platform would need millions of additional hosts to meet the booming desire to book rentals.
In the year ahead, it will be the tech and hospitality brands who smartly consolidate the market, as well as pivot and adapt quickly to changing consumer expectations, that will come out on top.
One thing is for sure: the short-term rental ecosystem will be a lucrative space for both large, enterprise property management companies, along with independent, smaller hosts and homeowners as they continue to meet the new demands of today’s consumer.


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Last week’s heavy rain in the Maritimes caused flash flooding in many areas. Some streets looked like rivers. While most drivers attempt to drive cautiously in such conditions, there are many who aren’t careful enough.
According to car experts, driving recklessly on flooded streets can be damaging to a vehicle.
“If you drive through deep water, the ignition system could get wet, which cause a vehicle to stall,” says Ralph MacKay, from MacKay’s Auto Repair.
MacKay points out that he helped one customer whose car’s engine was full of water. The engine will suck water into the cylinders. As a result, the engine will stop quickly. MacKay’s even had cars towed in where the engines were completely ruined.
Experts recommend avoiding roads that are flooded, because not only can it be risky, but if your car gets ruined, you’ll be left with hefty bills afterwards.
With files from Shelley Steeves


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The UK’s knowledge watchdog has introduced plans to tremendous the airline British Airways a file £183 million over final yr’s knowledge breach. The Info Commissioner’s Workplace (ICO) stated that “poor security arrangements” on the firm result in the breach of bank card data, names, addresses, journey reserving particulars, and logins for round 500,000 prospects. The tremendous can be the most important the ICO has ever issued, BBC Information reviews, excess of the £500,000 tremendous towards Fb for the Cambridge Analytica scandal that affected thousands and thousands. British Airways will now have 28 days to enchantment the ruling earlier than it’s made ultimate.
In a press release, the Info Commissioner Elizabeth Denham stated that the lack of private knowledge is “more than an inconvenience” and stated that firms ought to take acceptable steps “to protect fundamental privacy rights.”
“People’s personal data is just that – personal. When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft it is more than an inconvenience. That’s why the law is clear – when you are entrusted with personal data you must look after it. Those that don’t will face scrutiny from my office to check they have taken appropriate steps to protect fundamental privacy rights.”
The tremendous comes lower than a yr after the regulator fined Fb simply £500,000 for the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which affected as many as 87 million customers. If that sounds small to you, that’s as a result of it most undoubtedly was. Nonetheless, Fb’s tremendous was the utmost authorized quantity allowed below the UK’s earlier knowledge privateness regulation, the 1998 Knowledge Safety Act. On the time regulators stated it will have been “significantly higher” below the brand new GDPR guidelines. GDPR permits an organization to be fined a most of 4% of its worldwide turnover; BA’s tremendous quantities to 1.5 % of its 2017 income.
Responding to the information, British Airways’ chairman and chief government Alex Cruz stated that the corporate was “surprised and disappointed” by the ICO’s determination, and added that the corporate has discovered no proof of fraudulent exercise on accounts linked to the breach. The ICO notes that the corporate cooperated with its investigation, and has made safety enhancements for the reason that breach was found.


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Google has started to sell Samsung Galaxy Nexus though its Google Play Store (earlier called Android Market) in the USA. It has created a new ‘Devices’ section in the Google Play web store, though which it will only be selling the unlocked version of Nexus phones initially.
Google started making Nexus phone more than two years ago to give people a pure Google experience. The first Nexus phone called Nexus One was made by HTC, but the later two versions Nexus S and Nexus Prime has been made by Samsung.
Galaxy Nexus by Samsung runs the latest Android software, Ice Cream Sandwich, with Google mobile services, Google Play and new features like Android Beam and Google+ mobile hangouts. It also offers a 4.65 inch HD Super AMOLED display.
Initially made available in the USA, Galaxy Nexus costs $399 (Rs 21,000 approximately) and comes unlocked, without a carrier commitment or contract. Buyers can use it on the GSM network of their choice, including T-Mobile and AT&T. It also comes pre-installed with the Google Wallet and a $10 (Rs 500 approximately) credit to get users started with new mobile wallet.
Google has also implemented new customer support services to improve the purchasing experience on Google Play. We’ve taken all of this into consideration in designing devices on Google Play.
The service will be available in more countries soon, Google has informed through its official blog. We however do not expect the service to come to India anytime soon.
Google is soon expected to launch a low cost tablet, which we believe will also be sold through Google Play store.


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2025 Chevy Camaro SUV
Rumor has it that GM is already considering discontinuing the model without replacement.
There is new information about the Camaro, which envisions not only a new generation of models but also the expansion of the portfolio into a sub-brand with other sports cars and SUVs wearing the Camaro moniker.
2025 Chevy Camaro SUV
According to reports, General Motors plans to expand the Camaro name into Chevrolet’s sub-brand. Thus, the company took the same path as the Corvette, which also became its brand with an expanded portfolio.
According to the report, GM looked at Silverado or Suburban, but neither was suitable for its sub-brand.
According to this analysis, the range for a separate sub-brand should include at least three or more distinguishable models that can combine under one brand umbrella.
For this reason, it makes perfect sense for the company to return to the Camaro brand name as coupes and convertibles, offering far more variety than pick-up trucks or ladder-frame SUVs.
A portfolio of future models from the all-electric Camaro sub-brand has also been designed. The offensive model will likely start with a new generation of classic muscle cars such as coupes and convertibles.
This will be followed by sporty crossovers with two- and four-door bodywork, while the range is likely to be rounded off with dedicated sports cars in the mid-price segment.
This sports car will be based on the next generation of Corvettes in terms of technology but not appearance.
But this could be a significant drawback of the Camaro sub-brand, as GM already has a successful sports car in its lineup, a Corvette.
General Motors is currently running its own electric vehicle strategy, and whether there are direct competitors of the Mustang Mach-E.
But GM has a flexible EV platform in 2021 that will support at least nine different vehicles, the first being the Cadillac SUV.
If GM wanted to follow in Ford’s footsteps, capitalize on the Camaro name, and look for its sporty electric crossover, it would look like this rendering.
Camaro style translated as expected from the SUV’s tall body style, the now-generation Blazer draws freely from a pony car wearing a bow tie.
Sloping rooflines, such as the coupe popularized by the BMW X6 and others, will likely become requirements, such as opening a narrow house.
Also, some semblance of muscular hamstrings would be a must if the car wanted to trade under Camaro.
We expect the Chevy Camaro electric SUV to at least match the 255-horsepower Ford targets for the base Mustang Mach-E.
Chevy will likely have to adopt a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup for the higher trim variants to remain competitive with the 332-hp, 417-lb-ft Mach-E 4 and 459-hp, 612-lb-ft Mach-E GT.
2025 Chevy Camaro SUV Price
The 2025 Chevy Camaro SUV price is expected to start at $50,000 (Est).


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Chevrolet's sixth-generation Camaro may look familiar, but it's all new under the skin -- and it's lighter, quicker and more high-tech than before.
The Oxford Dictionary welcomes a swarm of new entries, including matcha, mecha, subreddit and manic pixie dream girl.
As social-news site Reddit tries to clean up its act by limiting some speech, an alternative springs up, promising to be more freewheeling.
It's all about interpretation. Meanwhile, lose unsightly home-theater cords and score the best deal ever on the awesome South Park game.
Technically Incorrect: Champaign-Urbana, Ill., the place that educated Mark Andreessen among others, thinks you associate it with "overweight white people." So it makes an ad to say so and get you to bring your tech skills there.
Silicon Valley's male-dominated culture could cost the technology industry the thing it values most: innovation.
We embed in the field and go behind the scenes of Google's augmented reality game, Ingress. Is walking through the streets of hundreds of countries the future of gaming?
If luggage was featured in "Blade Runner," it would probably look like the Trunkster, a zipperless suitcase with a sliding door.
It was October 4, 2004 that Scaled Composites won the Ansari XPrize. 10 years later, what started as one man's quest to get to space has evolved into an international organization for global good.
Think your beloved superhero is as hunky as Chris Evans? The real Cap' is more likely to be overweight and behind in school.


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* Apple weighs on indexes in third straight session of losses
* Debt ceiling debate, earnings worries hurt sentiment
* December retail sales suggest stronger consumer spending
* Indexes down: Dow 0.11 pct, S&P 0.17 pct, Nasdaq 0.46 pct
By Chuck Mikolajczak
NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday on continued selling of tech heavyweight Apple and concerns over the brewing fight in Washington over raising the U.S. debt ceiling.
Apple fell for the third day in a row as the biggest drag on both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after reports on Monday of cuts to orders for iPhone parts. Apple was down nearly 3 percent at $487.50 after hitting a session low of $485.60, its lowest level since February.
A government report that retail sales rose more than expected in December was seen as a favorable sign for fourth-quarter growth and helped to limit losses. However, a separate report showed manufacturing activity in New York state contracted for the sixth month in a row in January.
Stocks’ decline is “in part the result of the weight that Apple has on the market overall, particularly the indexes. It also has a large impact on investor psychology because it has been such a darling and such an overperformer,” said Peter Kenny, Managing Director at Knight Capital in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“But the market is shifting some of their focus towards the data release regarding U.S. retail sales where we got a lot more clarity on today.”
On Monday, President Barack Obama rejected any negotiations with Republicans over raising the U.S. debt ceiling. The United States could default on its debt if Congress does not increase the borrowing limit.
Resolving the debt ceiling debate is more a question of how than if. Investors don’t expect a U.S. default, but they are also wary of another eleventh-hour agreement like the one in August 2011.
“If you were to look at a hurdle, the easiest one to look at is the debt ceiling because it’s really going to underscore and underline with bold ink this protracted, institutionalized political battle in Washington,” Kenny said.
The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 14.45 points, or 0.11 percent, to 13,492.87. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index shed 2.47 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,468.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 14.25 points, or 0.46 percent, to 3,103.25.
An expected lackluster earnings season also kept investors from taking aggressive bets. Analyst estimates for the quarter have fallen sharply since October. S&P 500 earnings growth is now seen up just 1.8 percent from a year ago, Thomson Reuters data showed.
Homebuilder Lennar reported a sharp rise in quarterly profit, but the stock fell 1.8 percent to $40.30 on worries that growth in orders was slowing. The PHLX housing sector index edged down 0.09 percent.
Express Inc surged 20.8 percent to $16.99 as the biggest percentage gainer on the New York Stock Exchange after the apparel retailer raised its fourth-quarter and full year 2012 outlook.
Shares of Dell rose 1.3 percent to $12.45 the day after sources said the company is in talks with private equity firms on a potential buyout.
Facebook added 0.8 percent to $31.18 ahead of a major news event at its headquarters. The secretive nature of the event has triggered a guessing game about what the company could unveil.


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When Disney+ launched — much like other apps — there were some technical glitches.
On launch day, the app crashed for many and since then, there have been minor issues here and there. However, more recently, Disney+ stopped working entirely for some viewers.
Viewers took to Reddit to report that after an update to the software on their 2016 Samsung Smart TVs, Disney+ stopped working.
Samsung and Disney are both aware of the issue and are working on a solution to bring Disney+ back to viewers affected. If you don’t have a Samsung 2016 Smart TV, but you’re still having issues with Disney+, you can find some possible solutions here!
What devices do you watch Disney+ on? Let us know in the comments.


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USA Vs NAM | Match 4 Sep 20, 2019
NAM 211/6 (41.2)
Latest News on Uberblack
Showing of 0 - 10 from 4 results
Uberblack - Total results - 4
Apr 13, 2018
US court rules that UberBLACK drivers are independent contractors and not its employeesA US District Judge Michael Baylson on 11 April said San Francisco-based Uber does not exert enough control over drivers for its limo service
Dec 19, 2017
Top EU court to decide whether Uber is a digital company or an entity providing cab serviceJudges at the Luxembourg-based court will decide on Wednesday whether Uber provides transport services, online services or a combination of both.
Oct 09, 2017
Uber to suspend unlicensed UberPOP services in Oslo until Norway introduces new rulesUberPOP will be paused on 30 October, while Uber’s licensed services UberBLACK and UberXXL will continue to operate as normal.
Jun 28, 2014
Uber X comes to India with lower price tiersUber, the cab service that works via a mobile app and allows users to higher luxury vehicles, has launched its cheaper service in India called the Ubur X.


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AP: Collaborate with Mango and Tomato Farmers: Minister Kanna Babu
Minister Kannababu held a review meeting with marketing department officials on Friday. Covid directed the authorities to focus on mango and tomato markets. Minister Kannababu said the focus was on fruit prices as per the directions of CM Jagan.
Minister Kannababu said farmers could also bring goods into the markets at night. The minister also directed the officials not to cause any inconvenience to the vehicles returning from the markets. Marketing department officials were told to monitor mango prices on a daily basis.
He said the government would take steps to prevent tomato prices from falling. He explained that the state government has taken steps to procure 2,000 tonnes of tomatoes for processing units.


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Rackspace Wants to Encrypt Customer Data in the Cloud
Data in the cloud, whether public or private, remains the most precious commodity for many enterprises. Now, Rackspace wants to help those businesses encrypt that data.
On Tuesday, Rackspace is planning to expand its managed security service to include what the company calls Privacy and Data Protection (PDP), which offers a layer of encryption for customers.
The encryption service is composed of two parts. The first is a data protection service that restricts access to company data and can alert IT about unauthorized access to applications or data. The second is a report that publishes information about data usage and what is being protected, which can help with government compliance and privacy regulation.
Daniel Clayton, the director of security operations at Rackspace, told Enterprise Cloud News that businesses know how important encryption is in protecting data, but it's difficult to implement and costly to run. This is where the new service comes in.
"Encryption is something that has always worked well, and I think everyone should be encrypting their stuff," Clayton said. "The reality is obviously that it is expensive and difficult to deliver so many of our customers weren't encrypting a lot of the data that we were managing at Rackspace … it makes sense that we would offer this to help with this important but difficult service."
Rackspace Chief Security Officer Brian Kelly noted in an interview that enterprises are concerned about compliance issues, whether it's PCI DDS, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or newer regulations such as the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that the European Union will implement next year.
"Businesses are thinking more about where is that data, how important is our data, how do we control our data, and as you look forward to GDPR, I think a lot customers realize that they don't have the view of their data set that they should," Kelly added.
When Rackspace switched from building clouds to managing clouds, security is one of the first services that the company offered under its managed service portfolio, which already includes monitoring, detection and compliance.
Since then, Rackspace also expanded into other managed services areas, including an announcement earlier this year that it would now offer a service built around enterprise applications. (See Rackspace Acquires TriCore, Eyes Enterprise Apps Management.)
Additionally, the company has partnered with Pivotal to offer a service around platform-as-a-service (PaaS). (See Rackspace, Pivotal Ink Partnership to Court Developers.)
However, Rackspace's biggest change was to begin partnering with the biggest public cloud providers to help manage those clouds for customers. It now has long-standing relationships with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, and recently added Google Cloud Platform to its offerings. The company also plans to offer its encryption service in conjunction with all three public cloud platforms that it manages.
Rackspace has beta tested the encryption service for several months, and it will be available to customers as of August 15.Related posts:
- Rackspace Taps EarthLink Executive Joe Eazor as New CEO
- Rackspace Getting Used to Turmoil
- GE Gets Healthy With OpenStack, Remote Managed Private Cloud


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By Chris Macias On the surface, the scene looks like an idyllic snapshot of brunch time in downtown Sacramento. It’s a recent Saturday morning at Jim-Denny’s Diner, where servers carry Frisbee-sized pancakes to its sunny and crowded patio. Inside, the 10-seat counter remains packed and chatty while onions and burgers sizzle on a tiny grill. The line … Continue reading Closing Time. Why are so Many Sac Restaurants Shutting Down?
The neighborhood has avoided a plague of vacancies, but stability brings its own threats By Shwanika Narayan and Roland Li | Sept. 27, 2019 On most days, West Portal Avenue teems with shoppers. Parents with little children scuttle from Ambassador Toys to the public library. When thousands of daily commuters exit the century-old Muni station, they’re steps away from … Continue reading West Portal Worries
Marilyn Hansen has joined TRI Commercial/CORFAC International in Walnut Creek as senior director with more than 30 years’ experience in investment and leasing advisory. By Lisa Brown | April 24, 2019 at 04:03 AM WALNUT CREEK, CA—Longtime commercial real estate advisor Marilyn Hansen has joined TRI Commercial/CORFAC International in Walnut Creek as senior director. With more than 30 … Continue reading CRE Veteran is Bullish on East Bay Investment Market
Marilyn Hansen Joins TRI Commercial/CORFAC International in Walnut Creek WALNUT CREEK (APRIL 23, 2019) – Longtime commercial real estate advisor Marilyn Hansen has joined TRI Commercial/CORFAC International in Walnut Creek as Senior Director. With more than 30 years’ experience in investment and leasing advisory, she will primarily focus on retail and investment brokerage by providing … Continue reading Marilyn Hansen Joins TRI Commercial
Third quarter 2018 marked the lowest downtown Walnut Creek vacancy rate in more than a year as it dropped to 4.5%, and veteran retail broker John Sechser makes a break for TRI Commercial amid growing development. John Sechser is a well-known fixture on the CRE retail scene, having recently joined TRI. WALNUT CREEK, CA—Third quarter … Continue reading Walnut Creek Retail Revs Up as Year Winds Down
Cautious Optimism is the Watchword for Retail Investors Presented by CORFAC International June 7, 2018 | By John Salustri “We’re busier than ever,” says Christina Snyder, one of three CORFAC brokers lending their views to this exclusive RECon video. But that doesn’t prevent the trio from sharing some words of advice. LAS VEGAS—“There’s a healthy … Continue reading Cautious Optimism is the Watchword for Retail Investors
Erik Reese is no ordinary restaurant and retail real estate adviser. In fact, restaurants are kind of his super power. He comes to the table (no pun intended) with an impressive set of credentials including receiving his BSBA in Hospitality Management at the University of Denver, and graduating at the top of his class from Le Cordon Bleu Paris. From there, he went on to hone his skills at Le Taillevent, … Continue reading Erik Reese – From Restaurants to Real Estate


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Numerous apparel companies are taking steps to produce their clothing without potentially harmful chemicals, but even proponents acknowledge the logistical and technological hurdles those manufacturers must overcome.
Bloomberg this week detailed ongoing efforts by Levi Strauss & Co. to produce its flagship blue jeans without petrochemicals.
Levi's was one of numerous companies lauded by environmental advocacy group Greenpeace for progress toward eliminating numerous chemicals — namely alkylphenolethoxylates, phthalates and perfluorinated chemicals — from their supply chains.
The San Francisco-based company, the report said, is currently asking its suppliers to use a variety of alternative substances, including some derived from bacteria, fungus or yeast.
The textile industry, however, relies on thousands of chemicals — many of which are linked to environmental contamination and human health issues — and change hasn't been easy.
Suppliers are often less than forthcoming about their manufacturing processes, while alternative chemicals can be costly and, in some cases, haven't been developed at all.
Levi's and other companies nonetheless continue to press ahead with their environmental initiatives for environmental and financial reasons.
Although only a handful of chemicals are restricted in the U.S., the European Union — where companies must demonstrate their products' safety before they hit the market — banned more than 1,000.
In addition, shoppers are increasingly concerned about what goes into the products they consume. Bloomberg noted that the global market for so-called "green chemistry" is expected to jump from about $11 billion last year to nearly $100 billion by 2020.
"When it comes to materials, we’re at the very initial step, which is figuring out what the heck is actually in our products," Marty Mulvihill, who helped found the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, told the publication.


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A bipartisan group of attorneys general from 21 states are urging Congress to crack down on THC-infused edibles that look like popular snack items consumed by children.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority says it expects its budget request to increase for fiscal year 2023 as it transitions to becoming an independent agency by November.
Montana's marijuana industry expects to see a surge in sales this summer as tourism season is in full swing.
Marijuana sales in Colorado dipped to $153 million in April, according to the latest market data from the Colorado Department of Revenue
South Dakota voters will get another chance to decide if they want to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
With adult-use marijuana sales eclipsing $3 billion in Massachusetts, other New England states are now entering the recreational marijuana industry.
A statewide petition drive is currently underway in North Dakota to put a measure on the ballot this November legalizing recreational cannabis.
Marijuana sales in Colorado rebounded slightly to $162 million in March, according to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Revenue.
In South Dakota, two separate campaigns submitted their petition signatures on May 3 to get their initiatives on the ballot in November.
Most of the states that legalized recreational marijuana for recreational use are collecting more tax revenue from marijuana sales than alcohol sales.


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European Shares Extend Gains, Tracking Wall Street’s Overnight Rally
European stocks rose on Thursday after U.S. stocks posted strong gains overnight, helped by strong earnings from some major companies and positive consumer-confidence data.
The pan European STOXX 600 was up half a percent at 433.41 after climbing 1.7 percent in the previous session.
The German DAX, France’s CAC 40 index and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 were up between 0.3 percent and half a percent.
Swedish real estate company Castellum AB fell about 1 percent. The company said it is divesting a soon-to-be-completed property with the Swedish National Courts Administration as the sole tenant.
BP Plc rose half a percent and Shell added 1 percent in London as oil extended gains for a fourth day running on data showing a larger than expected drop in U.S. crude inventories.
The Character Group, a designer, developer, and distributer of toys, games, and giftware, slumped 5.4 percent after posting a decline in earnings for the full year.
600 Group shares plummeted 26 percent. The industrial laser systems business reported that its first-half Group pre-tax loss was $1.45 million, compared to profit of $72 thousand last year.
French automobile major Renault SA was down 0.8 percent. The company has placed a 210 billion yen or about 1.4 billion euros new Samurai retail bond that will mature in December 2026 and carry a coupon of 2.80 percent.
Hornbach Holding AG & Co. KGaA, a German DIY-store chain operator, added 1 percent after backing its FY23 outlook.
Retailer Metro AG edged up slightly after saying that it agreed to divest Metro India to Reliance Retail Ventures Limited.
In economic releases, investors shrugged off data showing that the U.K. economy contracted more than initially estimated in the third quarter, due to the downward revisions to industrial and construction output.
The decline in gross domestic product was revised to -0.3 percent from -0.2 percent.
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