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The demise of the darknet marketplace Empire has seen a wave of DNM users flocking to Biggest Darknet Market 2022 Bitcoin Dark Web Black MarketDrugs. By S Miller 2022 Cited by 6 We present a novel method to predict drug use based on high-frequency sales data from darknet markets. We show that models based on historic. R/DarkNetMarkets, and a number of smaller forums following changes in to use PGP) and a harm reduction resource (darknet marketplace drugs. who supplies proper drugs). Dec 22, 2022 77:59 This is the story of a darknet marketplace vendor Nov 11, 2022 Darknet Drug Markets Continued Their March to Dominance in 2022. The illegal marketplace for drugs, SIM cards, stolen and fake credit card data, counterfeit money and more reportedly ramped up in usage this. -world-collaborate-international-darknet-marketplace> accessed 28 July 2022. Martin J, Drugs on the Dark Net: How Cryptomarkets are Transforming the. Founded in 2022, Hydra sold illegal drugs but also stolen credit card data, counterfeit currency and fake identity documents, masking the identities of. The notorious deep web marketplace known for facilitating the trade a list of illegal goods that includes drugs, firearms, stolen data.
Torrez Market is one of the best deep web drug stores because of its Price Of Black Market Drugs R Darknet Market Reddit. The marketplace dark markets russia offered for sale all kinds of drugs as well as counterfeit money, stolen and fake credit card data, anonymous SIM cards. A film about the rise and fall of illegal darknet marketplace Silk Road, best known for selling illegal drugs, is out now in the US and. One more tap, and the marketplace opens. In general, drugs are far and away the most popular darknet products, thanks equally to the level of demand. The website allegedly trafficked in illegal drugs, stolen documents, counterfeit goods and "other computer hacking tools, firearms, and toxic. Given the explosion of interest in Dark Web drug markets, specifically the Silk Road during its run between 2022 and 2022, there is a growing body of. -world-collaborate-international-darknet-marketplace> accessed 28 July 2022. Martin J, Drugs on the Dark Net: How Cryptomarkets are Transforming the. By J Van Buskirk 2022 Cited by 59 Respondents who had purchased any drug from a dark net marketplace in the preceding year were compared to those who had not in terms of demographic information.
I personally know people whose families have been impacted by drug addiction. seizure of a website that was the largest dark net marketplace dark markets romania in history. Drugs still rule the darknet, but aren't the only inventory on offer. Currencies included: BCH, BTC, LTC, USDT. Above, we see how the top. Hydra primarily functions as a market for drugs but other contraband such as fake passports, stolen credit cards, and counterfeit currency is. Hydra has developed uniquely sophisticated operations, such as an Uber-like system for assigning drug deliveries to anonymous couriers, who. These markets host hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of people who sell drugs, commonly referred to as vendors. The dark web offers. By J Brosus Cited by 85 Through the analysis of relevant data collected on a popular marketplace in are focused on drugs trafficking and the darknet market named Agora 8,9. EMCDDA: Europol: DarkNet markets ecosystem lifetimes and reasons for closure of over 100 global darknet markets offering drugs, sorted by date (2022) 5. The vendors on the marketplace mainly traded all kinds of drugs and White Archetyp is a drugs-only, XMR-only darknet market that was.
A darknet marketplace has announced that it has prohibited the sale of fentanyl after a dramatic rise in the number of overdoses related to. Okparaeke used the dark web marketplace AlphaBay to peddle his drugs between 2022 and 2022, engaging in over 7,000 sales of synthetic. Black market illegal drugs Mar 28, dark markets portugal 2022 Black market drugs Mar 28, Leading "darknet" marketplace.pretty frequent illegal sports betting (online through. Through a combination of anonymity technology and a sophisticated user-feedback system, Silk Road makes buying and selling illegal drugs as easy as buying used. The market primarily caters to criminals in Russia and surrounding nations. Treasuremen, or dealers connected with the site, push drugs. -world-collaborate-international-darknet-marketplace> accessed 28 July 2022. Martin J, Drugs on the Dark Net: How Cryptomarkets are Transforming the. Founded in 2022, Hydra sold illegal drugs but also stolen credit card data, counterfeit currency and fake identity documents, masking the. By A Scourfield 2022 Cited by 22 We identified darknet drug markets using dark markets poland an index database and Tor Browser to access markets. We identified SC in product listings using a.
I personally know people whose families have been impacted by drug addiction. seizure of a website that was the largest dark net marketplace in history. DarkMarket, reportedly the world's largest dark web marketplace, around two thirds of the offers on darknet markets are drug-related. Through a combination of anonymity technology and a sophisticated user-feedback system, darknet marketplace drugs Silk Road makes buying and selling illegal drugs as easy as buying used. Smuggler notes that in Eastern Europe and throughout the Balkan States, there's another end of the spectrum of the online drug trade where darknet marketplace drugs DNMs. Hydra has developed uniquely sophisticated operations, such as an Uber-like system for assigning drug deliveries to anonymous couriers, who. By S Miller 2022 Cited by 6 We present a novel method to predict drug use based on high-frequency sales data from darknet markets. We show that models based on historic. Investigators said on Tuesday that they had shut down the German servers for Hydra, a Russian darknet marketplace that was used to sell. The illegal marketplace for drugs, SIM cards, stolen and fake credit card data, counterfeit money and more reportedly ramped up in usage this.
What’s more, it’s a network that includes assassins for hire, child pornography, and even live streams of murders. Trust in darknet markets further declined in late April when it was revealed that the team behind Wall Street Market appeared to be exit scamming, making off with all the money left in the market’s escrow. Well TOR browser is a powerful effective tool for protecting your privacy online. But in June 2018, the court declined to hear Ross’s case. Experience to date shows that enforcement efforts through surveillance, hacking and other forms of interdiction may be successful in closing down a particular site, but at the cost of proliferating hidden drug markets and incentivising technological innovation. Auf diesem Online-Marktplatz, der nur über einen speziellen Browser erreichbar war, wurden Drogen, ausgespähte Daten, gefälschte darknet marketplace drugs Dokumente und Schadsoftware gehandelt. New York Times bestselling author "Stars Over Clear Lake is an absorbing love story full of nostalgia, heartbreak, and secrets long buried-whether to protect others or simply for survival. The registration process takes no more than couple minutes at best, and there are no personal details or identity documents required. Gary Player's Black Book contains fifty questions and detailed responses from eighteen-time major winner Gary Player. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organized crime forms. We identified roughly 5,000 mentions or advertisements to Telegram pages post- AlphaBay and Hansa takedowns. Plus, it will be constantly updated with new info, darknet marketplace drugs bigger entries, and more features, meaning there ’Il always be something new to learn.
“One sloppy operator with bad operation security using the same blocks means that all operators are at risk once threat researchers have shared the details with the community.”
Telegram has added a feature that darknet marketplace drugs lets a user delete messages in one-to-one private chats, after the fact, and not only from their own inbox. Proof of Storage (PoStorage) is a consensus algorithm used by the Filecoin network to prove that network participants are indeed providing the specified amount of storage that they claim to be. Such markets are made up of sellers of gray market and black market goods and services on the Dark Web, which uses TOR or another anonymization service to keep users identities and the source of transactions a secret. The Dark Web is the global network through which users accessed Silk Road. These crimes include extortion, kidnaping, robbery, corruption, alien smuggling, document fraud, arms trafficking, cyber crime, white collar crime, smuggling of contraband, money laundering and certainly drug trafficking. In VPN over Tor, your trust should be in your Internet Service Provider and not the VPN provider. This week, a cryptocurrency subsidiary of a large video game, entertainment and technology company announced that its interactive gaming token, ATRI, will now operate on the Fantom proof-of-stake blockchain, shifting away from the ERC-20 proof-of-work standard on which the token was originally launched. Guns and ammunition, fake fiat currencies, banned substances, and fake passports are readily available on the internet’s literal darkest corner. This is how much, on average, a full set of information for a credit card is selling for, including a name, SSN, birth date, and CVV. The marketplace sold a variety of content, including drugs, stolen data, and counterfeit consumer goods, all using cryptocurrency. In some cases, these are offered on an exclusive, one-time sale basis. A minimum of ten of these were generated, saved dark markets philippines to disk, and then averaged to determine the mean site page size.


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Class action against ‘diet’ drink giants in the States
PepsiCo ditches aspartame in diet drinks in the US
Class action lawsuits have been filed in the United States accusing major soft drink manufacturers Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple of false advertising for labelling some of their drinks as ‘diet’.
At the crux of the lawsuit is the notion that a product labelled ‘diet’ makes consumers think it will help them lose weight.
The class action lawsuits are all represented by the same law firms and make similar arguments.
The plaintiffs are using scientific studies to argue that the use of artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks may actually cause consumers to gain weight.
The lawsuits all state that, “sweetness- whether from sugar or non-caloric artificial sources, increases appetite, which can lead to weight gain.”
Coca-Cola U.S. has responded to the complaint, labelling it “completely meritless.”
The Dr Pepper Snapple Group told Food Navigator USA that, “we stand by our products and believe these lawsuits to be completely without merit.”
PepsiCo U.S. are yet to comment on the matter.
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations permits the use of ‘diet’ in the brand name or label of a soft drink, “only when it is not false or misleading”.
The use of the word ‘diet’ accompanying soda products in the United States faced a challenge not dissimilar to this current class action in 2015.
The consumer group ‘U.S. Right to Know’ made a request to the federal government that the ‘diet’ label be ruled misleading.
The Federal Trade Commission which protects consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices denied the petition. The FDA never acted on it.
What is the Australian law relating to diet claims?
Under Schedule 4 of the Australian Food Standards Code, a diet claim is allowed to be made in relation to energy.
The product must have an energy content of no more than 80 kJ per 100ml to use the word diet.
The Australian Consumer Law also prohibits claims that may mislead or deceive consumers, placing the onus on businesses to ensure that they hold sufficient data to support any diet claim made.
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Trust my second home to provide a comprehensive overview of the 9-7x and of Saab’s history and future. Jeremy Cato has managed to write up one of the best reads on the 9-7x, and there’s been a few lately as you know.
Go read the article in full for yourselves. Jeremy doesn’t pull any punches about the company or about the 9-7x, but ends up with a pretty honest and upbeat assessment. Here’s an excerpt:
“Some 40 per cent of existing Saab customers have SUVs in their garages and 30 per cent of our owners have left Saab to buy a four-door SUV,” Spenchian says. “Our dealers have told us they need this vehicle. The initial reaction has been great.”
Not bad for what in all honesty is a stop-gap measure before the more serious barrage of new Saab models arrives. It starts this fall with the 9-3 Combi, a wagon-like version of the 9-3 sedan. There’s also an important refresh coming for the 9-5 in the autumn.
Next year, the 9-6X will debut. It’s a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) based on the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca platform that Saab engineers are working on with their Subaru partners. And toward the end of this decade, Saab will very likely add a smaller CUV to the lineup, a vehicle Saab insiders are calling the 9-4X. And Saab is also expected to replace the current 9-2X with a new version more uniquely Saab, but still based on the Subaru Impreza chassis.
“This is a pretty important time for Saab,” says Spenchian, a marketing whiz who recently took the top North American job at Saab after running marketing at Cadillac during its remarkable turnaround these past few years. “Years from now, we’ll probably be looking at this as the turning point.”
Perhaps so. If that does prove to be the case, Saab’s about-face will have come none too soon under GM ownership. Keep in mind that GM purchased a 50-per-cent interest in the Saab car business in 1989 and acquired the other half in 2000. But during all that time, Saab hasn’t put a penny into GM’s coffers as it has struggled to survive as a tiny brand selling no more than 130,000 cars a year. That happened last year, Saab’s best in history.


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Selfridges is opening the UK’s biggest undercover skatepark tomorrow, and is selling 1,000 exclusively designed skateboards by designers including Stella McCartney and Christian Louboutin.
The pop-up space is open from March 27 until April 19 and is situated at the Old Selfridges Hotel on Orchard Street. It is being run in partnership with mobile handset company HTC.
The 18,500 sq-ft area will recreate interpretations of famous London skateboarding street spots, such as the Southbank’s Undercroft and the Big Ben Road Gap, and features ramps and jumps.
To coincide with the pop-up, HTC has also opened its first concept store at Selfridges, where shoppers can try the brand’s latest technologies.


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Osteo Bi-Flex®, the joint health supplement market leader today announced that it is launching a national education campaign to raise awareness of joint health and to encourage consumers of all ages to start paying attention to their knees, ankles and other joints. Experts agree there are steps everyone can take to support joint health.
NEW YORK — February 11, 2015 – Osteo Bi-Flex®, the joint health supplement market leader today announced that it is launching a national education campaign to raise awareness of joint health and to encourage consumers of all ages to start paying attention to their knees, ankles and other joints. Experts agree there are steps everyone can take to support joint health.
The campaign will provide U.S. consumers with steps they can take to help strengthen their joints and to help support their joints throughout their lives. The brand has retained MWW, one of the top five global independent public relations firms, to engage the effort.
“As the leader in the joint health supplements category, Osteo Bi-Flex® wants to start having the conversation with runners, walkers, athletes, or even people who just want to play with their kids more — that helping your joints stay healthy is something you should be thinking about well before reaching advanced years,” said John Frame, Sr. Director of Brand Marketing, Osteo Bi-Flex®.
“While occasional joint issues are commonly associated with aging, our research shows joint health as an emerging concern — nearly 70 percent of Gen Xers and Boomers are feeling the effects of stressed joints. Our team of researchers, scientists and formulators are committed to providing consumers with the highest quality joint health supplements, and we believe we can help improve their quality of life. Consumer education on joint health and wellness is part of our core mission.Working with MWW will give us a microphone through which we can educate consumers, spread our message and help people understand how important an issue joint health is.”
A survey commissioned last year by Osteo Bi-Flex® found that nearly 7 in 10 Americans over 34 years of age experiencejoint stiffness or other concerns. The survey also found that 62 percent of Gen Xers — now in their late 30s and 40s – are concerned about developing serious joint health issues as they age.
The national education campaign will include insights linking joint health to a range of health issues including fitness, weight management and heart health, discussion of key ingredients for proper joint nutrition and joint health wellness tips from medical experts.
Built on quality and innovation, Osteo Bi-Flex® provides a range of products to support joint comfort, mobility and flexibility.* The brand’s products include Osteo Bi-Flex® One Per Day, Osteo Bi-Flex® Herbal Formula and Osteo Bi-Flex® Triple Strength. Last year, the brand launched its innovative Osteo Bi-Flex® Edge products which include added ingredients for muscle and energy support.*
Osteo Bi-Flex® products contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which are a natural part of normal cartilage. The Osteo Bi-Flex® brand also contains Joint Shield™. Joint Shield™ exclusively features 5-LOXIN™ Advanced, a concentrated extract of Boswellia serrata herb which helps with occasional joint flare-ups.*
“Osteo Bi-Flex® is the joint health supplement market leader and offers a range of products to fit every life stage and lifestyle. The brand is in a unique position to reach a wide range of consumers and raise awareness of joint health issues,” said John Digles, MWW executive vice president and leader of the firm’s global Health and Wellness practice. “This campaign will address joint health as a pivotal issue that affects overall health, fitness and quality of life. We’ll be raising a meaningful conversation on how people can take better care of their joints and what they can do to support joint wellness throughout their lives.”
MWW’s team for Osteo Bi-Flex® includes trained specialists in health and wellness communications and media relations, as well as professional writers and bloggers. The Osteo Bi-Flex® account will be based in MWW’s Chicago office led by Mr. Digles.
1 Survey conducted in May 2014 by Wakefield Research for Osteo Bi-Flex® among 500 US adults ages 50-68 (Boomers) and 500 US adults ages 34-49 (Gen X)


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In a new report conducted by Decipher, Inc. on behalf of Devicescape and other Wi-Fi leaders, more than 2,700 Wi-Fi users shared their opinions about Wi-Fi. The questions were provided by Wi-Fi pundits. The survey queried a cross-section of Devicescape's members, a group that includes a variety of both professionals and students from around the world.
Key findings from the "Devicescape Wi-Fi Report" showed:
-- An overwhelming number of Wi-Fi users expect Wi-Fi while on the road (91%);
-- Most respondents want citywide Wi-Fi (84%) and, surprisingly, many are willing to pay for it (56%) as they would a utility;
-- When traveling, the most-often used device for accessing Wi-Fi was the smartphone, such as an iPhone (vs. laptops);
-- The overwhelming majority of smartphone users (81%) prefer using Wi-Fi over 3G for browsing Web sites, downloading data, Google searches and
-- 86% of respondents want OEMs to build Wi-Fi into their handsets;
-- 82% of respondents want the service provider to provide an overall 3G/Wi-Fi data package
Many of the statistics within the UK and mainland Europe were similar to the US, but one significant difference is that Nokia is the most used device tapping into Wi-Fi, more than laptops and iPhone users.
"This data reflects the fact that people recognize that Wi-Fi -- a technology they know and love on PCs and home entertainment systems -- is also a great way to stay connected with their handsets," said Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Wi-Fi delivers a terrific user experience for web surfing, downloading multimedia content, and doing voice calls, so it has become a must-have feature on all the coolest phones."
Industry trends parallel evolving consumer tastes towards 3G and Wi-Fi
With the overwhelming popularity of smartphones, carriers too are increasingly embracing Wi-Fi. Specifically, growing demand for streaming video, online gaming and daily downloads are putting a greater strain on carriers' 3G networks. However, this new-data intensive traffic can be offloaded from 3G to Wi-Fi networks -- a much less expensive alternative and faster technology. Service providers are now working closely with OEMs to build in Wi-Fi and, in turn, encourage users to take advantage of new Wi-Fi capabilities on their smartphones.
Challenges to growing Wi-Fi adoption
However, Wi-Fi on a smartphone is new territory for consumers, who often find it difficult to get and stay connected to a Wi-Fi network. With widespread customer adoption of Wi-Fi hanging in the balance, the need for easy setup and seamless connectivity is critical. Notably, the Devicescape Wi-Fi Report revealed that "complicated login screens" was the most common frustration consumers had when attempting to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot. Moreover, the vast majority (90%) of handset users want their service provider to allow them to roam between 3G and Wi-Fi networks seamlessly.
This is Devicescape's first report regarding consumer attitudes towards Wi-Fi and other high-bandwidth, wireless technologies. Devicescape will continue to deliver information about Wi-Fi usage and consumer behavior via The Devicescape Wi-Fi Report. Devicescape encourages the public to submit questions for future surveys by submitting them to: DevicescapeWi-FiReport@devicescape.com.
Devicescape Wi-Fi Report Methodology
Decipher Inc. surveyed more than 2,700 Wi-Fi users, representing a cross section of Devicescape's overall membership. The survey questions were developed by Devicescape, Trustive, DeFiMobile and industry pundits. Devicescape members include a wide array of both working professionals from a variety industries as well as students in both the U.S. and around the world.
With more than one million members, Devicescape is the leader in Easy Wi-Fi. The company has worked with original equipment manufacturers and service providers since its inception. Devicescape's Easy Wi-Fi enables anytime, anywhere, any network Wi-Fi access.D


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Also in the news...
The UK is one of the best places on Earth to have a business. This makes many overseas companies seek to enter the UK market.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria’s capital is gradually becoming a renowned city in Africa. In recent times, there has been an influx of people into the city and its real estate development and construction sectors are developing at a tremendous pace.
Looking to set up your UAE company? How about a visa for life? It might sound too good to be true, but it’s a reality. And the offer ends October 31st.
If you want to build traction for your startup, you need to invest in a high-quality website. You also can't afford to make too many mistakes, because a good website costs money.
The Government reveals the 12 businesses from across the UK who will showcase their green technology and innovations at the Global Investment Summit.
UK Export Finance announces support for line of credit in Brazil
New line of credit of US$500m for Petrobras be used to finance the purchase of goods and services from UK exporters
UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, is finalising its support for a new line of credit of US$500 million for Petrobras. The British Government, through UK Export Finance, will support a loan for the Brazilian national oil company to purchase goods and services from UK exporters.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Francis Maude, currently visiting Brazil. “I am pleased to announce that UK Export Finance is close to finalising its support for a new US$500 million line of credit for Petrobras. With this arrangement, Her Majesty’s Government, through UK Export Finance, is helping UK exporters to realise the opportunities within Petrobras’ ambitious investment programme”, says Lord Maude.
The loan can be drawn on over the next 12 months and is then repayable over 10 years. Petrobras can propose specific UK contracts to be financed under the line, some of which have already been identified for potential financing.


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Meta has launched its TikTok-rival short video making app Facebook Reels for iOS and Android in more than 150 countries across the globe.
To help creators earn money from Facebook Reels, the company said it is expanding tests of overlay ads, starting with banner and sticker ads.
"New Facebook Reels features include Remix, sharing to Facebook Stories and more," Meta said in a statement late on Tuesday. "Watching video is half of time spent on Facebook and Instagram, and Reels is our fastest growing content format by far," it added.
In an alternative to popular video-making app TikTok, Facebook in 2020 started testing its short video-making app Instagram Reels first in India.
Meta said that the ‘Reels Play' bonus programme, part of its $1 billion creator investment, pays eligible creators up to $35,000 a month based on the views of their qualifying reels.
"In the coming months, we'll expand the bonus programme to more countries, so more creators can get rewarded for creating reels that their communities love," said Meta.
The company is also building direct monetisation options for Facebook Reels through ad revenue share and fan support.
"We're expanding tests of Facebook Reels Overlay Ads to all creators in the US, Canada and Mexico, and to more countries in the coming weeks."
Any creator in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, who is a part of Facebook's in-stream ads programme is automatically eligible to monetise their publicly-shared reels with ads.
By mid-March, these tests will expand to creators in nearly all countries where in-stream ads are available.
The users can find Facebook Reels in Feed, Groups and Watch.
(Published in an arrangement with IANS.)


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Microsoft has hardened ties with SAP, the business application vendor which the company has several partnerships and collaborations with. The latest agreement between the enterprise software providers will see SAP's HANA in-memory database made available on Microsoft's Azure public cloud platform.
Specifically, HANA will be available for machines with dense RAM configuration, while Office 365 will now have Ariba, Concur, SuccessFactors, and Fieldglass (all from SAP) integrated. Speaking to VentureBeat, SAP's chief Strategy officer, John Torrey, said along with Microsoft the company is embracing an open market:
“We're not simply focused on finding new ways to work together or incrementally extending that partnership. I think that we're focusing on changing the tone of our open approach to the market.”
Microsoft has been working hard to open its doors and work with more providers, even those who could accurately be called rivals. The level of collaboration with SAP is another hint that Microsoft sees its cloud first strategy as only workable if it is an open Azure platform behind it.
“At Microsoft, we are focused on empowering organizations to advance their digital transformations,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Together with SAP, we are bringing new levels of integrations between our products that provide businesses with enhanced collaboration tools, new insights from data and a hyper-scale cloud to grow and seize new opportunities ahead.”
Along with SAP services integration in Office 365 and HANA support for Azure, the two companies also revealed that enterprise customers using SAP's Firoi user platform will be able to manage mobile applications through Microsoft's Intune mobile device management (MDM) software.
Office 365 integration of SAP services will include the ability for administrators to use Outlook in Fieldglass to manage job postings, hiring, and timesheets. Concur users will also be able to use Outlook, with the service allowing them to manage travel plans, while Ariba users can use Word and Excel to collaborate remotely on work.


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Posts Tagged ‘ Airbnb Inc. ’
Monday, March 20, 2017
Home-sharing company Airbnb Inc has introduced a new offering in India, as it seeks to expand its operations in a market that is still tiny but growing rapidly. The company, whose online rental listings range from private rooms to manors and islands, launched the Trips platform during the visit of c...
Online home rental marketplace Airbnb Inc is said to be raising $1.5 billion in a fund raising round led by U.S. private equity firm General Atlantic with participation from Hillhouse Capital, Tiger Global and others. This fundraising round values Airbnb at $25.5 billion, The Wall Street Journal sai...
27 June, 2015 |


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/7/2013 (1479 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
What do Winnipeg auto dealers have to do to convince you to part with your ride?
An acute shortage of used vehicles has created an owners' market and now dealers are eagerly stocking up on cars and trucks between one and five years old.
That includes paying a premium on trade-ins. One south end dealership was paying 25 per cent more on trade-ins last week than it was a few years ago when used vehicles were plentiful.
But the economic slowdown of 2008-09 convinced many drivers to hold on to their cars and trucks a little longer than they might have otherwise. That precipitated the collapse and government bailout of several manufacturers in the U.S.
'A good, clean local car with no accidents, you're going to get a premium for'-- Steve Chipman, president and CEO of Birchwood Automotive Group
At the same time, the number of leased vehicles in North America was in steep decline and rental-car companies were holding on to their vehicles longer, eliminating two sources of used vehicles.
"We're paying premium dollars for used cars," said Steve Chipman, president and CEO of the Birchwood Automotive Group, which owns 11 dealerships in Winnipeg.
The strong demand is pushing up prices dealerships and private sellers can charge for used vehicles.
And if you're on the fence whether to buy new or used, the smaller the price discrepancy between the two, the more likely you are to want to breathe in that new-car smell.
But dealers aren't looking for just any old beater. They're cautious when kicking the tires of a used vehicle for a number of reasons, including wanting to avoid the thousands of vehicles that were damaged in Calgary's flood in June.
"A good, clean local car with no accidents, you're going to get a premium for," Chipman said.
Michael Hatch, chief economist for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, said leasing, which represented nearly half of the new-vehicle market in 2007, fell to less than 10 per cent just two years later. That caused a "real tightening" of the supply of used cars in the two- to four-year-old range, which is the bread and butter of new-car dealers' used operations.
The used-car market has started to rebound in recent months as leases have grown to become about one-quarter of all new sales.
"It's like a meal working its way through a snake," Hatch said.
Dealerships are keen to replenish their used-car stock because they have higher margins than new cars, he said.
"Some dealers might have gotten used to having an easy supply of used vehicles when leasing was strong," he said.
If current trends continue, there could be more written-off vehicles -- another source for the used market -- back on the road this year, too. Brian Smiley, spokesman for Manitoba Public Insurance, said 16,021 vehicles were written off during the first six months of 2013. If that continues at the same pace until the end of December, it will mark the most vehicles written off in the last five years. Even when MPI writes off a car, it can be sold to another driver.
"We'll put it in salvage, sell it and if it is repaired to safety standards and passes the safety, it could return to the road," he said.
The only instances where vehicles that have been written off can't be repaired is in cases of flood damage, fires and fatalities.
Chipman said industry analysts are predicting a record year for new-vehicle sales this year in Canada and he thinks that will extend to the used market, too.
"There's a pent-up demand for cars," he said.


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Eliminating Non-Tariff Barriers and lowering telecommunications costs are some of the top issues the private sector want sorted for a good business environment.
The private sector through their umbrella organization dubbed the East African Business Council (EABC) Technical Advocacy Coordination Team (TACT) also wants the liberalisation of the regional Air Transport services hastened.
TACT made these recommendations during their annual meeting held on Friday last week in Arusha-Tanzania. Here, they reviewed the EABC policy actions for the year and formulated next year’s agenda.
Peter Mathuki, EABC executive director said: “I urge the policy experts to look at how the private sector can contribute to the implementation of Monetary Union among other emerging issues such as the African Continental Free Trade Area that have implications to business in the region.”
He said that for the EAC Political Federation to take place all other stages of the EAC integration process should be properly and fully implemented.
The policy experts emphasized the need for Tanzania and Burundi to join the One Area Network to reduce telecommunication costs for both East Africans and business people.
One Network Area – an initiative that eliminated mobile telephone roaming charges for networks in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. Burundi and Tanzania had said they would join in, but did not.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) bringing a larger continental market of approximately 1.2 billion people together is an opportunity for EABC to sell goods and services made in East Africa.
Adrian Njau, EABC trade and policy advisor said: “The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement aims at benefiting the private sector through reducing transaction costs by cutting red tape, improving transparency, simplifying customs procedures for export, import and transit businesses.”
The policy experts also agreed to combat illicit trade in the region, fastrack the cotton textile and apparels industry, transport and logistics in addition to harmonising standards in the region.
This year, EABC adopted the 10 per cent Import Duty on sugar for industrial use which is an important raw material used by manufacturers.
The adoption of Common External Tariff (CET) Proposals on iron and steel and paper products by partner states to protect the industries from cheap imports.


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Tag Archives: Vigil Games
Vigil’s highly anticipated Darksiders II has been delayed from June 26th 2012 to an unspecified time in August. When questioned as to why the game had been pushed back an additional two months publisher THQ responded by citing the need for more time to polish and perfect the game. It’s no secret that THQ has been going through some hard times lately – cancelling projects, letting a significant number of employees go, and forcing their president to take a fifty-percent pay cut; however, those things are forcing the publisher to concentrate on what really matters: making good games. There’s a lot riding for all of them on Darksiders II. If it tanks no doubt THQ and even Vigil will soon to follow.
When I say there’s been a launch title confirmed for an upcoming Nintendo console, what comes to your mind? Mario? Zelda? Maybe even Metroid or Pokemon? Part of Nintendo’s glory has always been their devotion to their franchises. Launching new hardware has always been their time to prove their talent for adapting those beloved franchises to the ever-changing world of video game technology and the expectations of fans. Third-party titles have historically taken a backseat to Nintendo’s own developments, especially on launch day. But this time around, the spotlight has so far fallen on something very different from what Nintendo fans would have expected.
2010 was the birth of yet another entirely new IP and fortunately it was a success. Now over two years later it won’t be long before the next installment of Vigil’s anticipated title arrives. Why should you care though? Well for starters, here are six reasons why you should be excited for Darksiders II:
THQ is giving fans an opportunity to vote for the cover image they desire for the upcoming Darksiders II’s Collector’s Edition via their official Darksiders Facebook page. There’s also a chance to win one of three signed copies of the final collector’s edition when you vote and share. No purchase is necessary and the contest ends on March 9, 2012. Here are your choices:
Don’t forget to vote here.
Creative director of Darksiders II, Joe Madureira, doesn’t want Nintendo gamers to confuse his upcoming release with The Legend of Zelda series. In his interview with ONM, Madureira expressed the following:
I’ll be curious to see who we’re compared to this time, but the only game we want to be compared to is the original Darksider.
With Darksiders’ dungeon-based gameplay, it’s easy to see why so many gamers often compare the series to the Legend Of Zelda franchise. Hopefully this time around the developers manage to innovate the genre in order to help establish its own identity within the industry.
You can watch the entire interview here.
Darksiders II ships this June for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. The Wii U version is to be announced. As always, you can expect our insightful and detailed review once the game becomes available.
It looks like Death’s upcoming adventure, arriving this Summer, just got a whole lot more epic with the recent news of Danish composer Jesper Kyd coming on board. Kyd is responsible for memorable music scores in hit franchises such as the Assassin’s Creed and Hitman series. Developer THQ says to expect the final release to contain dark, ethereal themes combined with melodic fantasy. It will be exciting to hear what emotional and captivating score Jason Kyd has created once the game becomes available on June 26th, 2012 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Press release after the jump:
Today Vigil Games let loose a bunch of new screenshots from their upcoming Darksiders II. Leaving behind War and moving onto the big man himself, Death, the sequel looks to be bringing back everything we loved about the original game and vastly improve upon it. Darksiders II is set for release this March for the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Wii U. After the break you’ll find all nine new screens!


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Kevin De Bruyne stars in new TV campaign by Manchester's ABF Pictures
ABF Pictures has created the latest TV campaign for football card brand TOPPS featuring Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.
The adverts showcase the new season Premier League and Champions League Match Attax cards. The campaign launches in the UK from September 28th and is aimed at Children aged six to 12 years.
ABF Pictures produced the adverts and effects in-house, with shoots taking place at The Sharp Project and City’s Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
The entire digital world was designed and developed by the agency’s motion and effects team and the campaign was created within just six weeks, including versions for both TV and digital.
Creative Director Matt Barraclough said: “We wanted to develop a creative that would bring together the real Match Attax cards with the digital world. We’re really pleased with the response we’ve had from young people who’ve seen the advert, it was a very exciting project.”
Domenico D’Altila, Marketing Manager at Match Attax, added: “We chose ABF’s creative based on research that took place with our target market group. The concept was a unanimous decision amongst the children and they equally responded positively towards the finished adverts. We can’t wait to see them on TV.”
The adverts will be distributed across Nickelodeon, Nick Toons, Kix, Pop, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Disney XD and CITV across peak viewing times.
ABF Pictures recently won a contract with Peacocks clothing to produce their Christmas TV creative and continue to work closely with fast-growing bathroom retailer soak.com.


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Photographs can be seen in our Volvo Gallery
First pictures of the new Volvo XC60
20 February 2008
Here are the first pictures of one of this year's most exciting new car models - the new Volvo XC60! "It's not only the safest Volvo ever. If you ask me, it's also the most stunning. Not a bad combination, is it?" says Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp. The new XC60 has its premiere showing at the international car show in Geneva on March 4 and the first cars will reach dealers in Europe in autumn 2008.
Volvo Cars' new crossover steps boldly into what is the motoring world's toughest and fastest-growing segment, boasting an exciting mix of two car styles. Down below, the unmistakeable, capable XC muscles are pumped up, creating a strong athletic body mated with high ground clearance and large wheels. Up above, the flowing lines create the sporty charisma of a coupe.
"This car is charged with more emotive form and more energy than any other Volvo. We're elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally turning up the visual volume. If you say that you'd recognise a Volvo from a hundred metres away today, I dare say the XC60 radiates a clear Volvo presence from at least twice that distance," says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.
A variety of intelligent safety systems are another important part of the XC60 model's special character. The big news is City Safety - a unique feature that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and traffic tailbacks. If the car is about to drive into the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car brakes itself.
"We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard. City Safety clearly advertises that the new XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced. The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision," says Fredrik Arp.
The XC60 project has its sights set on a target group that imposes high demands on design, brand integrity and high-tech content in its choice of lifestyle products.
"One might say that this could be the C30 owner's next car. It's as sporty and exciting, but way more capable. With the XC60, we're widening our model range to attract even more customers with an active urban lifestyle," explains Fredrik Arp.
Equal volumes to Europe and North America
The new XC60 is being launched with a choice of three engines: the turbocharged T6 which produces 285 hp, and two variants of the D5 turbodiesel, producing 185 and 163 horsepower respectively. All Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard.
"During 2009, we will offer a front-wheel driven 2.4-litre version powered by a Euro 5 diesel engine producing 163 horsepower and with a CO2 rating of around 170 g/km," reveals Fredrik Arp.
The sales target for the new XC60 is over 50,000 cars per year. The five largest markets during peak year 2010 will be the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and China.
The Volvo XC60 will be built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. Sales of the car will start in Europe during the second half of 2008, while sales in North America will get under way in early 2009.


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Sumeet joins Nando's from Reliance Brands Ltd where he most recently held the position of Business Head for Superdry, Brooks Bros, Diesel and Kenneth Cole.
Nando's plans to open about 20 own restaurants in the next three-four years in addition to outlets opened by its franchisees.
Food and Beverage is emerging as a lucrative category for malls, especially since portals such as Flipkart, Myntra, Jabong, Amazon, Snapdeal and Yepme.com have weaned away consumers.
Google is teaming up with Oxford University to advance research on artificial intelligence to ultimately enable machines to better understand human users.
CyberHub gets an average daily footfall of 25,000 people compared with about 5,000 at leading food courts in malls, many of these patrons looking for the next new thing.
Offerings at The Corner include Moroccan roast chicken breast and chipotle pulled pork and personalised salads of brown rice, lentil and eggplant.


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Revenue rose almost 11 percent to $1.44 billion, slightly above expectations, and grew from the previous quarter in all regions.
Based on the spending trends we have seen and the improving consumer confidence, I think I am cautiously optimistic that we will see continued improvements in 2011, MasterCard Chief Executive Ajay Banga told investors in a conference call on Thursday.
Cross-border volumes, which indicate that people are traveling more and using their cards in foreign countries, grew almost 19 percent in the fourth quarter.
MasterCard, like larger rival Visa Inc
The company also said the U.S. economic recovery will help its revenue grow more in 2011 than it did in 2010, despite the prospect of increased U.S. regulation.
The earnings showed some really nice fundamental progress, said Jim Tierney, chief investment officer of money management firm W.P. Stewart, whose assets under management include MasterCard shares.
These are signs both that banks are issuing cards, and cardholders are using their cards again, he said, so we're getting back to normal.
Shares rose 2.8 percent to $246.08 by midafternoon on Thursday.
'DISAPPOINTED' IN WASHINGTON
But threats from new regulation and ongoing legal challenges initially dampened investor enthusiasm on Thursday. Like Visa, MasterCard is facing several challenges to the fees it collects from merchants for processing credit and debit card transactions.
Earnings were good, as expected ... but the fundamentals weren't good enough to change the perception back from regulation to fundamentals, said Evan Staples, analyst with Chicago-based Nuveen Investments, which owns MasterCard shares.
The Federal Reserve has proposed rules under the U.S. Dodd-Frank law that would cut some $13 billion of the banking industry's $23 billion in annual debit card processing fee revenue. MasterCard and Visa are making a furious last-ditch effort in Washington to blunt the law's impact, but industry experts say that effort is likely too little, too late.
Banga said he was disappointed with the Fed's proposals and added that he has visited Washington several times in the past few weeks to meet with regulators and lawmakers.
I don't know if that will lead to any change, he told investors during a conference call on Thursday morning. I am planning as though it won't, but I'm going to try my best to help make a change happen.
Like Visa CEO Joseph Saunders the day before, Banga would not be specific about how MasterCard plans to offset the potential lost revenue. On Wednesday, Visa reported a 16 percent increase in quarterly profit, to $884 million or $1.23 per share.
The card industry is also facing a long-simmering merchants' antitrust lawsuit over processing fees. MasterCard said on Thursday that it had entered into an agreement with Visa and partner banks over how to divide the costs of a potential legal settlement or ruling against the industry.
The company is continuing to fight the lawsuit and said in a regulatory filing that it is not possible to determine the ultimate resolution of, or estimate the liability related to the lawsuit or related claims.
Staples called the agreement an incremental positive, but he said it would not eliminate investor uncertainty about the size or timing of a legal settlement. That uncertainty has helped make MasterCard shares cheap by historical standards, he said, as the company's shares are currently trading at about 14 times full-year earnings. In the past they have traded at more than 20 times full-year earnings.
The world's second-largest credit and debit card processing network, reported a quarterly profit of $415 million, or $3.16 per share, compared with $294 million, or $2.24 per share, a year earlier.
Analysts on average had expected $3.04 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
(Reporting by Maria Aspan; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Matthew Lewis, Phil Berlowitz)


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11th Aug // 2015
Google has surprised the world by announcing a major restructuring of the company. How they managed to keep this a secret is anyone's guess.
The search engine giant said in a blog post by Google Co-Founder Larry Page that Alphabet will now form the parent of a group of Google owned ventures, from healthcare to search and home tech.
In the post, Page said: “Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. As part of that, we also said that you could expect us to make “smaller bets in areas that might seem very speculative or even strange when compared to our current businesses.
“From the start, we’ve always strived to do more, and to do important and meaningful things with the resources we have.
“We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. And we haven’t stopped there. We are still trying to do things other people think are crazy but we are super excited about.
"We’ve long believed that over time companies tend to get comfortable doing the same thing, just making incremental changes. But in the technology industry, where revolutionary ideas drive the next big growth areas, you need to be a bit uncomfortable to stay relevant.
“Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet. I am really excited to be running Alphabet as CEO with help from my capable partner, Sergey (Brin), as President.”
The new company will now oversee some of the biggest and most successful tech projects ever created, as well as well-funded new ventures owned by Google. These include:
Google: including Android, Search, YouTube, Apps, Maps and Ads
Fiber: Providing super-fast internet
Google X: Working on big breakthroughs
Google Ventures: Funding for bold new companies
Calico: Fights age-related diseases
Nest: Smart home products
Google Capital: Invests in long-term tech trends
The re-structuring will also see a change in management at the top of the Google tree. Co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin will serve as CEO and President respectively, whilst newly appointed Sundar Pichai will become CEO of the core Google business.
Page concluded: “We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity's most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search!
“We also like that it means alpha-bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products—the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands.
“Don’t worry, we’re still getting used to the name too!”
For more information on what Alphabet means for the financial structure of Google, click here.


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1. Which iconic piece of hardware made its debut 25 years ago on January 24 to start a major revolution in the PC industry?
2. What was codenamed ‘Coltrane’ after John Coltrane?
3. In which two Indian States has Google decided to reward top five panchayats with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, with the ‘Google.org Gram Panchayat Puraskar’ initiative, for doing more good in their communities?
4. Till now, which is the only letter of the alphabet that isn’t used to begin a top-level Internet domain?
5. What would happen if one sent an SMS to 9-77-33-00000 in India?
6. The first OS that Microsoft has named according to the version number is…?
7. What was the reason given by Steven Jobs on his decision to stay away from Macworld 2009?
8. On the above theme, who did the honours instead of Jobs?
9. Which post on the official Google blog alone had 1,735,093 unique visitors and generated 12 per cent of the total-year pageviews on the blog?
10. According to industry figures, which video game passed the sales of Super Mario Bros, at 40.24 million units, in the last week of December 2008 to become the best-selling video game of all time?
1. The legendary Apple Macintosh.
2. WordPress 2.7 released in early December.
3. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
5. One would be using Google’s SMS search service.
6. The upcoming Windows 7.
7. That he’s dealing with a hormone imbalance and chose to spend the holiday season with his family rather than ‘intensely prepare’ a keynote address!
8. Phil Schiller.
9. The post on the earlier-than-planned unveiling of Google Chrome.
10. ‘Wii Sports’.
Courtesy: V V Ramanan, Business line


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While the Moto G8 hasn’t even launched in some regions yet, Motorola is launching two budget phones that are even cheaper: the Moto G Fast and the new Moto E.
Both handsets are priced below the Moto G8 series, and while they aren’t quite as refined, they have respectable perks and features for their cost. Much like this year’s generation of G8-series phones, though, both of these new cheap phones have more defined identities than you might expect.
The Moto G Fast is the slightly swankier device with a Snapdragon 665 chipset and 3GB of RAM. The 32GB of storage is notably small, but it can be expanded up to 512Gb via microSD. The phone has a 6.4-inch HD Plus display and a pair of rear cameras (ultra-wide and macro) and a punch-hole front-facing camera, as well as a large 4,000mAh battery.
Given that Motorola is being a bit more restrained in its G-series releases this year, the G Fast is essentially taking the role of the ‘Play’ version of the Moto G8 series, packing most of its costlier sibling’s perks at a lower pricetag.
- A year for budget phones! The iPhone SE 2020 sets the bar
- The Moto G Stylus and Moto G8 Power have already been released
- And, perhaps soon, we'll see the long-awaited Google Pixel 4a
The new Moto E
The new Moto E is a step down from the G Fast in price and features, though not by much: its Snapdragon 632 chipset, dual rear camera (13MP main shooter and depth sensor) as well as 3,550mAh battery make it a solid budget choice. Its 32GB storage isn’t impressive, but it can also be expanded to 512GB via microSD card.
Both of these new phones are up for preorder on June 5 and will be available in the US at retailers like Best Buy, B&H, and Amazon beginning June 12, though we know the Moto G Fast is coming to the UK at some point (pricing TBA). The G Fast will retail for $199, while the Moto E will cost $149.
A year for budget phones
While plenty of features from last year’s best phones usually trickle down to cheap handsets, this year’s crop of cheap phones are finally getting a particular set of long-awaited premium features: more cameras.
The Moto G8 and its specialized versions, the Moto G8 Power and Moto G8 Stylus, all have a trio of shooters: main, ultrawide, and macro. The Moto G Fast gets this triple-camera rear setup, too, proving that even the more modest phones are getting the big boy toys. While the Moto E isn’t included in the club, the line had to be drawn somewhere – and the 13MP main camera and depth sensor should suit budget consumers just fine.
- Best cheap phones: our list of the top budget handsets


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Don’t believe the CDC — it’s vacation time!
As pandemic peaks, travel agent pitches "relaxing and warm" Thanksgiving getaways
The travel industry is still fuming after my recent USA Today story that questioned the ethics of promoting a vacation during a dangerous pandemic.
Looks like a fair number of Americans don't believe COVID-19 is a problem, either. I'm sure you've seen those images of crowded terminals in the news.
Here's the scene at my home airport on Friday, courtesy o…


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KARACHI: The board of directors of Bank Alfalah Ltd has approved a fund amounting to $10 million (Rs2.18 billion) for flood relief efforts in Pakistan.
Bank Alfalah chairman Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan has pledged the amount to help with the extensive aid and rescue work required across the country.
Bank Alfalah president and CEO Atif Bajwa thanked Sheikh Nahayan and the board for their generous support.
The amount will be distributed for the flood relief activities including donations through selected NGOs and organisations to provide immediate relief and a substantial amount will be earmarked for infrastructure rebuilding in the medium- to long-term to help the affected areas attain normalcy.
NBP to provide potable water in affected areas
Meanwhile, the National Bank has announced Rs50 million for Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund and decided to fight waterborne diseases by providing clean drinking water on a large scale in affected areas.
NBP CEO and President Rehmat Ali Hasnie on Wednesday said that NBP had also launched a digital payments platform enabling people across the globe and within Pakistan to donate using their preferred payment method.
Also, the NBP in collaboration with Thardeep Microfinance Foundation and Rural Community Development Programme has stepped up to provide immediate aid to the vulnerable communities by providing water purifiers, developed by PakVitae, to provide flood-affected households access to clean drinking water.
Meezan Bank launches POS
The bank will act as a link between merchants, issuers and payment networks by offering them state-of-the-art POS machines and making cashless transactions available over the counters, enabling retailers to benefit from the adoption of digital payments. The POS machines support acceptance of local and international cards, card and mobile tap payments and integration with the retailer system.
Meezan Bank has launched Point-of-Sale (POS) payment and online payment gateway services to further enhance its digital retail offering and fast-track the country’s digital ecosystem.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2022


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Anyone remember that old Disney MMO Club Penguin, and how fans have been trying to keep it alive on private servers? Well, it seems that dream is dying now. Especially with the shutdown of Club Penguin Rewritten. All thanks to Disney, of course.
Disney: “No More Club Penguin For You!”
TechCrunch recently reported that Disney has shut down Club Penguin Rewritten: a fan-made remake of the 2005 MMO game Club Penguin hosted on a private server. As of April 13, 2022; that game no longer exists. If you attempt to access the Club Penguin Rewritten website, all you get is a notice saying that:
“This site has been taken over by Operation Creative, Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU)”
According to TechCrunch, the City of London Police have shut down Club Penguin Rewritten due to a copyright complaint from Disney. In relation to this, they have also shut down the game’s official Discord server. If you try to access the server, all you get is a single message that states:
“CPRewritten is shutting down effective immediately due to a full request by Disney.
We have voluntarily given control over the website to the police for them to continue their copyright investigation.”
As a final touch to this tragedy, Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police emailed a statement to TechCrunch explaining the situation, and why they have shut down Club Penguin Rewritten. The full contents of the email is as follows:
“Following a complaint under copyright law, PIPCU have seized a gaming website as part of an ongoing investigation into the site.
Three people were arrested on April 12 on suspicion of distributing materials infringing copyright and searches were carried out.
They have been released under investigation and to aid with the police investigation, they agreed to sign over the website to the control of PIPCU.”
Club Penguin: Details and Opinions
Club Penguin was a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that New Horizon Interactive created back in 2005. In 2007 though, Disney acquired both the game and the parent company (now Disney Canada Inc.), making it into their own. However, on March 30, 2017; Disney finally shut the game down for low amounts of activity. Disney attempted a remake of the game called Club Penguin Island, but they shut that down too a year later.
However, Club Penguin had been active for 12 years. Simply shutting it down wouldn’t erase that fact. Especially since the game had attracted over 330 million players in over 190 countries, according to the Club Penguin Wiki. With that large a player base for so long, there’s bound to be some nostalgia for the game. It’s why fan-made remakes like Club Penguin Rewritten were so popular. Until Disney decided to shut them all down, starting in 2020 with the shutdown of Club Penguin Online. To be fair though, Disney shut that particular game down for numerous legitimate reasons, including obscene messages and suspicions of child pornography.
However, Club Penguin Rewritten is not an example of that. That’s just a case of copyright infringement. It seems to basically be another case of Disney not wanting anyone to profit off of one of their brands. Even when Disney themselves is not using that brand, and doesn’t appear to have any plans for it in the future. Sure, copyright infringement is copyright infringement. But just this once, couldn’t Disney have just let it go? Well, I guess not.


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Scams related to coronavirus are on the rise. Loan EMI deferment scam and fake UPI ID for donation to PM Cares fund are some of the examples. To help users spot online scams and avoid them, technology giant Google has shared tips.
As listed by Google, there are mainly five types of COVID-19 related scams. These include fake offers on goods and services, stealing personal data, impersonation of authorities, fraudulent medical offers and fake requests for charitable donations.
Scammers offer massive discounts on masks or subscriptions to online entertainment services from unknown third parties to dupe citizens, warns Google. They can also pretend to be government authorities offering COVID‑19 information and steal personal information, such as address, bank account details or even PIN number to “fix” your insurance policy or conduct fake contact tracing.
They can also lure customers by offering cures, test kits, hand sanitiser or face masks that never arrive. Fake requests for charitable donations is another way scamsters use to steal money from the users.
The information was shared by Google in a post on micro-blogging site Twitter. “As online scams related to COVID-19 continue to rise, it’s more important than ever to stay safer online Closed lock with key…Here are some tips to help you spot and avoid these scams” the tweet read.
The safety tips as shared by Google are :-
Know how scammers may reach you
Scammers are taking advantage of the increase in COVID‑19 communications by disguising their scams as legitimate messages about the virus. Alongside emails, scammers may also use SMS, automated calls and malicious websites to reach you.
Check trusted sources directly
Scammers often pose as well-known, trusted and authoritative sources. Directly visit sources like Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to get the latest factual information about COVID‑19.
Be cautious of requests for personal or financial information, pause and evaluate before sharing
If you receive an unsolicited request for information, take extra time to evaluate the message. Scammers will often ask you to share more information than necessary, such as login information, bank details and addresses with them. They may also request payment via bank transfer or virtual currency.
Donate directly through non-profit organizations
Some scams take advantage of goodwill, requesting donations for COVID‑19 relief efforts or impersonating non-profit organizations. To be more confident your money will reach a non-profit organization, you can donate directly through their website ─ rather than clicking a link sent to you.
Double check links and email addresses before clicking
Fake links often imitate established websites by adding extra words or letters. If it says something like “click here,” hover over the link or long press the text to check the URL for mistakes ─ being careful not to click it. Misspelled words or random letters and numbers in the URL or email address may also indicate a scam.
Search to see if it’s been reported
If somebody has sent you a fraudulent message, it’s likely they’ve sent it to other people as well. Copy and paste the email address, phone number, or most suspicious portion of the message into a search engine to check if it’s been reported by others.
Add an extra layer of security to your account
For extra protection online, add two-factor authentication — also known as 2-step verification — to your accounts. This provides another layer of security by requiring two steps to gain access to your account: for example, something you know (your password) and something you physically have on hand (like your phone or a security key).


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Briland News Link (click)
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|New Florida-to-Nassau Catamaran Service In 2004|
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|Posted by:||Dec 31st 2003, 06:21:09 pm|
|Fig Tree News Team||December 31, 2003
New Nassau-Florida 'Cat' Service Coming
After being abruptly suspended in 1999, and despite reservations by at least one Bay Street merchant, a bi-weekly catamaran service between Nassau and Florida is expected to be relaunched in early 2004.
The "sophisticated" twin-hulled, hydrofoil-powered vessel, at over 300 feet in length, can accommodate up to 900 passengers, 250 vehicles, and travel at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
Chief Marketing Officer of Bahamas Ferries - that operates the service through its sister company, Bahamas-Florida Express, Khaalis Rolle, said Monday that services between Fort Lauderdale and Freeport, Grand Bahama started on November 1, but not extended to Nassau as there was no berthing facility in place at the time.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Mr. Rolle said that, "Logistically, the facilities were not in place to accommodate a vessel of that size and the amount of Bahamians and their goods that we anticipated transporting."
However, he said, regular services between Nassau and Port Everglades, with operational costs estimated at $60,000 a day, should commence either at the end of January or the first week of February 2004.
A round trip fare of $150, not including taxes, is presently being considered, with the voyage taking four-and-a-half hours.
A "temporary service" into Nassau from Grand Bahama, is expected to start on New Year's Day, according to Mr Rolle.
Dock improvements needed
Mr Rolle said that the vessel will use the same
Prince George Wharf facilities previously used by the discontinued service to clear passengers, although some improvements were needed, as the area was presently not up to par. "We are presently discussing with the government what needs to take place for this to happen," he said.
Due to the diversity of goods that can be transported, he added, restrictions would be placed on items that could be carried. With regard to a formal policy being announced, he said, "The hold up on this right now is determining how our facilities will accommodate what we can bring."
When asked to comment on the re-introduction of the service, local businessman Norman Solomon, who operates a variety of Bay Street businesses, said that, in his opinion, the 1999 operation was not effectively organized, with many goods being brought in without benefit of Customs clearance.
He said: "I think the feeling was that goods were being off-loaded and taken away, and that would be it. I may be wrong about this, and I think the authorities felt that a lot of merchandise was coming in without being cleared, and I believe this is why they kind of clamped down and stopped it.
"If this is the case," he said, "then obviously it is nothing that you would want to see re-introduced."
According to Mr Solomon, his businesses were only "marginally" affected by the service, but was concerned that "legitimate businesses" paid their import duties and stamp taxes, while some using the catamaran did not.
"They did not have to, did not need to, and got away with not doing it; and I guess they did it over and over again by buying not only for themselvespersonally, but for their businesses," he charged.
"This of course created a problem," he continued, "but if it is going to be re-introduced, I gather that authorities must have solved the problem."
According to Mr Solomon, he did not intend to use the service, and as to possible competition from those who did, he said, "I am not terribly concerned. I am more concerned about me paying import duty and tax, and I would like everybody else to do the same, and the only way I can agree to introducing it would be to take care of that problem."
'Sound' clearance procedures
When asked about possible concerns among Bay Street merchants about possible detrimental effects on their businesses, Mr. Rolle said that, to the contrary, the Cat could "enhance" their operations, providing them with the opportunity to use the service to import their own goods.
"I don't see the Cat being a major competitor to local businesses, but our goal is not to compete with local businesses; our goal is to enhance the service and the quality of goods that local businesses provide," he said.
"We are in a totally different transportation business from the other service providers and I don't see where this is going to impact the local merchant community."
The system that the company plans to put in place to clear goods is very "sound", Mr Rolle said and a noticeable improvement over previous operations. He said that discussions have already been held with Customs Comptroller John Rolle.
The proposed operation has also received the full support of officials of the Ministries of Transport and Tourism, he said.
Mr Rolle said that one of the challenges faced by the operators using the Freeport facility was related to space, but "progress" was being made on a daily basis. A large vessel such as the Cat needed a lot of in order to operate efficiently and comfortably, he said.
"This has been one of our biggest constraints right now," he said, and could pose a problem once the Cat arrives in Nassau. "Certainly this is one of the reasons why we are taking so long because we are going through the logistical process to make the service comfortable for our customers," he noted.
Mr Rolle said that the 98-meter vessel was built by INCAT, an Australian company, is very "sophisticated" and based on one of the best design concepts in the hemisphere.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
us online at


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China’s demand for cloud services is booming. By 2024, IDC predicts that China’s share of the global cloud services market will rise to more than 10.5%. In Q4 of 2020 alone, public cloud infrastructure spending rose by 32%, reaching $39.9bn in a single quarter.
Now, sources within tech giant Microsoft have revealed that the Redmont, Washington-based firm is investing even more heavily in the region than it has before, in order to capitalise on the trend. This week, reporters at Bloomberg spoke with several sources familiar with Microsoft’s strategy for APAC expansion, who revealed that the company plans to build four more data centres in China, which will be ready to begin operations by early 2022.
Microsoft already operates six data centres in China through its local subsidiary 21Vianet, which make up two Azure Cloud availability zones in the country, but the expansion announced in March claimed that it would “effectively double the capacity of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud portfolio in China in the coming years.” Raising the company’s footprint from six facilities to 10 would, depending on the capacities of the various facilities, achieve tht goal.
In March, Microsoft Azure announced plans to develop a new data centre region to support its Azure public cloud offerings in the north of the country near Beijing. “The new China North 3 region will provide customers with high availability and additional tolerance to data centre failures. The new data centre region will have a presence in Hebei province, in response to growing customer demand, supporting the creation of new jobs and local business growth,” said the company in an uncharacteristically curt press release.
It’s unclear whether the four new data centres currently under construction will be part of the aforementioned China North 3 region, or are part of another project. However,
Microsoft was the first international cloud company to set up shop in China - albeit through its 21Vianet brand back in 2014. Now, the US brand looks set to go toe-to-toe with domestic Chinese public cloud providers like Alibaba and Huawei for a slice of one of the world’s fastest-developing markets.


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Zume, a startup supported by SoftBank, is undergoing significant changes as it lays off 360 employees, which accounts for approximately 50 percent of its workforce. The company has decided to close its robotic pizza business in order to shift its focus toward food packaging. This development adds to the series of setbacks faced by SoftBank’s Vision Fund, as several of its portfolio companies have recently announced layoffs and executive shake-ups. Just this week, Getaround, a car rental company backed by SoftBank, laid off around 150 employees, equivalent to one-quarter of its staff. Moreover, SoftBank has faced disappointing performances from major investments like Uber and WeWork, with the latter’s initial public offering being put on hold last year.
In 2018, SoftBank invested $375 million in Zume, granting the startup a valuation of $1 billion. Prior to this investment, Zume’s value was a mere $218 million, having raised a total of $71 million, according to Pitchbook data. Like other startups backed by SoftBank, Zume utilized the capital infusion to rapidly expand its operations and increase its workforce. However, in the past year, investor sentiment has shifted from a focus on “growth at any cost” to a more discerning emphasis on achieving profitability.
CNBC interviewed Zume CEO and founder Alex Garden, who acknowledged that the changes being implemented were challenging for the startup. Garden revealed that Zume is creating 100 new positions in its Source Packaging unit, allowing affected employees to reapply for these roles. Pizza Hut has already conducted limited tests with Zume’s round boxes. The startup’s packaging, protected by several patents, is made from sustainably harvested plant fiber and is industrially compostable.
Garden shared his initial impression of SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, the visionary behind the $100 billion Vision Fund, stating that he found Son to be an inspiring figure. According to Garden, Son’s sole objective is to enhance people’s lives, which strongly resonated with Zume’s own vision and mission.
Raised in New York City by parents who are electrical engineers, Jill was easy prey for entry into the field of electrical engineering, where she worked on designing engine control systems for a number of large auto manufacturers. She developed an "interest" in robotics during this period of time and decided to fuel her interest by reporting on the topic.
In its continual move towards automation, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) NIO (NYSE: NIO) has initiated a pilot program employing humanoid robots on its EV assembly line at one of its manufacturing facilities.
BMW, the automotive giant has inked a commercial deal with robotics startup Figure, paving the way for the deployment of their “general-purpose” humanoid robot at BMW’s manufacturing facilities, starting in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Social robots, which refer to robots engaging with humans by demonstrating social behaviors and adhering to norms, have experienced a surge in popularity as reported in a research paper by IScience. The landscape has witnessed a rapid increase in research prototypes and commercial devices.
The City of Helsinki has initiated the second phase of a pilot program, employing an autonomous delivery robot to transport packages directly to residences in the Ruoholahti and Jätkäsaari neighborhoods.


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Shoppers turned out in force to check out the newly renovated Aldi grocery store in Harwood Heights.
"I'm super excited to check it out once the line dies down; we didn't expect this many people to be in line already by now," said Monica Bobek, 25. She arrived at the Friday grand reopening with her family around 8:20 a.m. The line to enter the store stretched back to the neighboring retail business' entrance.
The Aldi, at 4703 N. Harlem Ave., first opened its doors in February of 2011, according to Aldi Director of Operations Lindsay Barton. On May 22, the store closed in order to undergo renovations to bring it in line with the company's nationwide plan to remodel and expand more than 1,300 US stores by 2020.
Barton said the store's sales floor is now about 830 square feet larger than it was previously, for a total of about 11,000 square feet.
"We've always had the high ceilings here, but now the store is brighter with lighter colors on the wall and a lot more open flow as well regarding traffic patterns to allow shoppers to better choose their shopping experience," Barton said.
In February, Aldi announced a $1.6 billion investment in its stores across the country, with nearly $180 million dedicated to enhancing more than 130 stores in Chicago and the surrounding metropolitan areas, according to a news release from the company.
"I think this is great, it's much more ample and more organized. It just has a better visual appeal," said Wanda Barsano, 50, after she left the store with a cart full of groceries Friday morning. "And they're going for a healthier feel. ... And they're keeping the prices the same, which is great. Because sometimes companies will expand and that affects the prices."
The remodeled store in Harwood Heights will have more gluten-free items, an expanded organic food line called Simply Nature, and a line of infant essentials called Little Journey, says Barton.
"Aldi really did a beautiful facelift; everything is just so shiny and new. But what impresses me is that the entire staff participated in the changeover of the store," says Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny. "A week ago, I drove by and the entire store was still gutted, wall to wall. And in like a week's time, the staff had everything in place."
Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.


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Apple admits 'coldgate' bug that makes iPhone X screens unresponsive if temperatures drops suddenly
- iPhone X users have reported their screen becomes unresponsive in the cold
- The problem lasts for just a few seconds, and then the phone returns to normal
- Apple says problem happens in sudden temperature changes, and fix is coming
Just a week after the iPhone X officially hit the shelves, customers have begun reporting problems with the $999 device's responsiveness in cold temperatures.
On Reddit, several iPhone X owners complained the handset’s screen does not work upon stepping outside into a wintry chill.
While Apple recommends using its devices in temperatures above the freezing point, the issue so far appears to be occurring within the described range, causing problems with swiping and even FaceID.
Scroll down for video
On Reddit, several iPhone X owners complained the handset’s screen does not work upon stepping outside into a wintry chill. Apple says the issue happens when temperatures drop suddenly, and the firm is working on a fix. Stock image
APPLE ROLLS OUT iOS 11.1.1 AMID BUGS
Apple issued iOS 11.1.1 this week, promising issues including the bizarre 'i' autocorrect, which changed the letter to an A and a question mark symbol.
To get the update, go into Settings > General.
Tap Software Update, then press Download and Install for iOS 11.1.1.
Reddit user darus214 revealed the issue in a thread this week, writing: ‘I've noticed that my iPhone X screen becomes very unresponsive as soon as I step outside.
‘It literally takes 2 seconds from going inside to the cold outdoors and my screen stops being very responsive. I try swiping on websites and it doesn't register my finger. It's very noticeable. Is anyone else having this problem?’
A slew of other iPhone X owners joined the conversation to add that they, too, had been having similar troubles.
Some said the phone was failing to recognize their touch, while others said FaceID did not recognize them.
On Apple’s support site, the firm recommends using iOS devices in environments where ‘the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F).’
Outside of this range, the device could act up in a number of ways.
‘Using an iOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range might temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off.
‘Battery life will return to normal when you bring the device back to higher ambient temperatures.’
While Apple recommends using its devices in temperatures above the freezing point, the issue so far appears to be occurring within the described range, causing problems with swiping and even FaceID
But, in many cases, it appears the issue is occurring even when users are within the right temperature range.
One user noted that it was about 45 degrees F when they experienced the problem.
The issue occurs when the temperature drops suddenly, and Apple is already working on a fix, set to come in a software update, according to 9to5mac.
For now, the phone should return to normal within seconds.
Dailymail.com has contacted Apple for comment on the issue.
Just yesterday, the firm rolled out another update for iOS 11, following complaints of a bizarre autocorrect issue that change the letter 'i' to an A with a [?] symbol.
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As Nigeria tries to control the spread of COVID-19, it seems inevitable that states such as Lagos would have to experience an extended lockdown; having people distance themselves from each other and stay at home. This month, Afripay joins those companies that are contributing to ensuring the comfort of people while they are still under lockdown.
Afripay, a UK retail financial services company focused on money remittance; ensuring secure and direct money transfers from Europe and the UK to recipients’ accounts in Naira has announced that till April 30th,2020 all transfers to loved ones in Nigeria made on the Afripay platform will be at zero charges.
According to the CEO of Afripay Mr. Kevin Orogun, “The challenging times we are experiencing have caused so many disruptions to our daily lives and routine, but people still need to move money around to support their loved ones.
Afripay is a digital-only money transfer service, delivery money transfer from the UK and the rest of Europe into Nigeria bank accounts through our website or app. Since the pandemic our teams have been working remotely and we have continued to deliver transfers quickly and securely.
With the understanding that every cent counts as people try to maximize their resources but Africans in Diaspora still have an obligation to send money home to their families and loved ones; Afripay wholeheartedly as a show of support for their customers cancels ALL fees on transactions done within this time.
Afripay encourages anyone still wondering how their loved ones can send money directly to them without going to the bank or through a third party receiving agent, to go here and remember to stay safe and stay at home.


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Former Leipzig GC Relocates to Cologne
Avantenor writes in to tell us the results of a press conference regarding the future of the former Liepzg Games Convention. This event, a consumer showcase for the European game industry, will now move to Cologne and be known as the GAMESCom. The date of the conference will change from August to September.
This post at Eurogamer gives the rationale behind the move:
The new event, GAMESCom, will begin in September 2009 and enjoy considerably better travel access and accommodation resources than its Leipzig counterpart.
German TV station RTL and the World Cyber Games are based in Cologne as well, with both said to be playing a key role in the new event.
There's also German language coverage at Eurogamer.de.
Gorath adds that this year's Games Conference is still scheduled for August in Liepzig.
Information aboutGeneral News
Release: In development


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Samsung Touch hits the Auckland Home Show
Samsung Touch hits the Auckland Home Show.
How do you create an interactive experience so customers can visualise a solution in real time? Our digital display division did just that recently for Graphic Glass on their stand at the Auckland Home Show.
We helped Graphic Glass, a leader of architectural and engineered glass systems, set up and install a Samsung 55" Touch screen in a 'mock' kitchen, where customers were able to touch, and choose, different splashbacks so that they could stand back and visualise what they might look like in their own kitchens.
With our Samsung range, there are so many ways to utilise digital displays and touchscreens to create a more immersive experience for the end-customer, that results in better ROI, more conversions and more engagement with brands.
Jenne von Pein, General Manager at Graphic Glass, said, "I confess to being very sceptical about the show and the ROI – but I can say that we absolutely exceeded our expectations and it was a great success. The screen was a fantastic way to show customers what could be achieved, and they were convinced with the result when they saw a ‘splashback’ they liked!”
Stock is currently on the way direct from Samsung and will land soon, for more information or to see a demonstration model, email Dave.


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Microsoft is extending the time it will allow OEMs and retail outlets to sell PCs with Windows XP. The company has been forced to act, due to customers' continued reluctance to upgrade to Vista.
The company had originally planned to stop selling XP through OEMs and retailers on 31 January next year, while custom system builders have until 31 January the following year , to pre-install XP on machines. But because sales of Vista PCs have not been as strong as expected, OEMs and retailers have asked Microsoft to extend XP's availability. OEMs and retailers will now have until 30 June 2008, to sell PCs with Vista preinstalled on machines, Microsoft said. Retailers also can sell XP out of the box until that time if they choose, the company said.
"While we’ve been pleased with the positive response we’ve seen and heard from customers using Windows Vista, there are some customers who need a little more time to make the switch to Windows Vista," Microsoft said.
Microsoft also is extending the life of Windows XP Starter Edition, the version of XP for emerging markets. The software will be available until 30 June 30 2010, so users in those markets can take advantage of low-cost, hardware-constrained PCs that Vista may not be compatible with. Vista requires hardware upgrades that most PCs running XP do not have.
Per Microsoft's policy as of 2002, a new Windows OS would stay on the market about four years after its original availability date. But XP was released on Oct. 25, 2001, more than five years before Vista limped out the door to consumers Jan. 31, 2007, after several delays and a major code overhaul.
Microsoft had high expectations for customer adoption of Vista, and claimed the launch would be one of the most successful in Windows history. Unfortunately for the company, those predictions so far haven't panned out, and in July, Microsoft lowered its projections for customer adoption of Vista. The company had said the split between XP and Vista sales in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, would be 15 percent to 85 percent; now the company is saying the split will be 22 percent XP and 78 percent Vista.
Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), a rollup of updates for the OS that Microsoft has said will be available in the first quarter of 2008, should make Vista more market-worthy. In fact, many consumers and businesses have said they would wait for the update before moving from XP to Vista.


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Lionsgate has released online a new Trailer and Poster for ‘Rambo: Last Blood’, the upcoming fifth installment in Stallone’s Rambo franchise. Continue on below to check out the new trailer […]
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment have officially announced and detailed their releases of the latest upcoming DC Universe Animated Movie. ‘Wonder Woman: Bloodlines’ will arrive home early on […]
MGM has released online a new, full Official Trailer for their upcoming animated ‘The Addams Family’ film which features a great deal of new footage. Continue on below to check […]
HBO has revealed the first Official Tease for the upcoming fifth season of their Dwayne Johnson starring original series ‘Ballers’. Continue on below to watch the preview now.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has now revealed the first Official Trailer and Poster for the long-awaited sequel ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ which features the return of all four key cast members. Continue […]
Paramount Pictures has released online a new Trailer for the Ang Lee directed ‘Gemini Man’ starring Will Smith. Continue on below to watch the new trailer now.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has released online the first Official Trailer for ‘A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood’ featuring our first look at footage from the film. Continue on below to […]
Fox has released a new Comic Con Reel for ‘Family Guy’ which showcases some of the upcoming fun Season 18 will have to offer, along with poking fun at plenty […]
Following the panel at Comic Con, CBS All Access has now released online Official SDCC Trailers for both the anticipated new series ‘Star Trek: Picard’, as well as for the […]
We have some slightly belated news from Netflix who recently released online a Comic-Con Sneak Peek for their highly anticipated new Dark Crystal series ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’. […]
HBO has now released online the Official Comic Con Trailer for the upcoming third season of ‘Westworld’ which offers tons of new footage from the forthcoming season. Continue on below […]
Via San Diego Comic Con, HBO has now released online the stunning full new trailer for their upcoming ‘Watchmen’ series featuring three minutes of footage. Continue on below to watch […]
Following today’s Comic Con panel, AMC has now released online the Official Comic-Con Trailer for Season 10 of ‘The Walking Dead’, in addition to a brief teaser video for the […]
FX has now released online the Official Trailer for the upcoming sophomore season of ‘Mayans M.C.’. Continue on below to watch the Trailer for season 2 now.
Shudder has revealed via Comic Con the first Official Trailer for their upcoming ‘Creepshow’ TV series, as well as announcing that the show will premiere on September 26. Continue on […]
Paramount Pictures has revealed via Comic Con the first Official Trailer and Poster for the highly anticipated sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ featuring Tom Cruise back in the iconic role. Continue […]
On the first day of Comic Con, Kevin Smith gave to us.. the first raunchy Red Band Trailer for the anticipated ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’ film! Continue on below […]
Warner Bros. Pictures has revealed the official Final Trailer for ‘IT Chapter Two’ which features plenty of new footage from the film. Continue on below to check out the new […]


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For the first time in three years, the post-crisis regulatory squeeze no longer tops our retail banking trends. Banks may not like the renewed regulatory focus on know-your-client and suitability, but they now have a more pressing draw on their resources: financial technology (fintech).
The scale of disruption is unprecedented, across every market, every distribution channel and every single product line. Fintech poses a potentially fatal risk and will be a severe test of banks' IT systems and their ability to respond to rapid changes in customer expectations, short product development times and growing cyber risks.
Discussions now centre on just how quickly and how far transactional banking will be unbundled and margins slashed. Strategically, banks have a number of potential responses. Some are building their own technological solutions, others are buying the fintech upstarts outright, and others are partnering or opening up their bank platforms to give third parties access to customers.
Key findings include:
- The banking world of the future. By 2020 bankers expect the banking environment to be shaped strongly by technology and non-traditional competitors. They believe that retail peer-to-peer (P2P) lending will be available via banking platforms (65%); retail banking will be fully automated (64%); and more money will flow via fintech firms than traditional retail banks (57%).
- Profits face multiple attacks. Business models must adapt to survive. Individually, the “scare scores” attached to changing customer behaviour (22%), new entrants (26%) and new technology (24%) are significantly lower than in previous years; collectively, however, they still represent a significant threat.
- A multi-headed monster. That competitive threat will come from many quarters. Apple Pay and its ilk (20%) and other non-financials (20%) may yet emerge to really upset the traditional banking sector. As keen as regulators are to encourage competition, new banks are seen as less of a threat (16%). Robo-advisers could lure away more profitable wealthy (and the not-so-wealthy) clients (17%), and P2P lenders attract dissatisfied borrowers and savers (21%).
- Regulators still watching. The too-big-to-fail rules are almost complete, but there is still plenty to keep compliance departments busy. Regulators now have time to cast an eye over consumer protection issues, with product design and transparency (24%) and fines and recompense orders (19%) still in play.
- Banks are adapting. Bankers see three main areas that they must change in order to survive: adapting the role of the branch network (36%); getting the right talent (35%); and modernising their technology (31%). Banks still have the relationships and the data, but can they maintain and build on that advantage?


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Somewhat sad news from the protein skimmer world, Euro-Reef is shutting its doors.
I just got this sad email (see below) stating that Euro-Reef has decided to cease doing business. However, Reef Dynamics is picking up the pieces somewhat by providing customer support to existing Euro-Reef product owners by handling warranty issues. The email doesn’t state why Euro-Reef is closing, but it does suggest that former owners and employees are separating to create distinct companies. Perhaps a rift between the head hanchos or maybe an effort to bolster sales by changing markets. The details are somewhat scarce for now.
New Year, Big Changes…
After 13 years of business, we at Euro-Reef have decided it’s time for a change.
As of Dec 31st, 2009 Euro-Reef, Inc. will cease doing business.
Former CEO and Vice President Jeff Macaré has started a new company called Reef Dynamics which offers American Made, top of the line protein skimmers. Reef Dynamics only sells to Brick & Mortar Retail Dealers in the US & Canada.. Look HERE to find a dealer near you.
In addition, Reef Dynamics will also provide product support to existing Euro-Reef customers as well as limited warranty support for Euro-Reef products currently under warranty. For more information CLICK HERE.
Visit the new Reef Dynamics support forum at REEFTOOLS.
Former COO and President, Robbert Macaré has started a new company called Nano Reef Systems (new website coming soon at www.nanoreefsystems.com) which offers top of the line Nano Protein Skimmers.
We want to thank all of you who have supported us through the years and we hope you visit our new websites soon. And please, don’t hesitate to drop us a line!
The Euro-Reef Family
Regardless of the reasons, it’s sad to hear that Euro-Reef is moving on. I own some of their skimmers and they are rock solid performers.