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New technologies focus on automation, traceability, sensors and energy savings
Labor shortages, regulatory requirements and the need to increase productivity are among the reasons automation has become more necessary in feed mills, said Martijn van Eijk, area sales manager – North America at Dutch equipment manufacturer KSE Process Technology.
“The requirements and regulations set to animal nutrition are rapidly increasing and formulations are becoming more complicated. The industry bar is set higher when it comes to … tracing of ingredients and proportioning and ingredient quality. All often require significant changes to one’s production process. Additionally, there is an increasing shortage of qualified staff and a need to produce higher volumes, which requires a higher level of automation within the plant,” van Eijk said. “We also see an increasing need of lowering operational costs in terms of labor, system failures, energy consumption and creating a safe and clean working environment due to an increase of corporate social responsibility.”
Increasing importance of automation
Van Eijk believes plant automation will become increasingly more important in the next few years, with a focus on smart automation and flexible equipment to meet modern-day requirements.
“Equipment that features dosing slides instead of the traditional dosing screws. Single equipment that can operate on a large dosing range and require less operators. Plant automation that is exclusively designed for the animal nutrition industry,” van Eijk said. “The reason behind this is that specialists in automating this specific industry have better insights in understanding the needs of the manufacturers of animal nutrition. Increasing attention for food safety and therefore all technology that truly contributes to this.”
Consolidation in the animal feed industry, particularly in Europe, also increases the need for more automation, he said.
“In Europe, we have seen a consolidation wave, where smaller feed mills have merged into a bigger plant with a higher volume. With their high level of plant automation, these plants run on an average of 250,000 metric tons yearly, with just a handful of operators. These new plants with higher capacities justify investments in automation, delivering high-quality products to the market and are companies where staff enjoys working thanks to the fact that their employer invests in a safe and healthy working environment. This is global trend within our industry.”
Among KSE’s new innovations are dosing and weighing products that save on energy consumption and labor. The ALFRA dosing slide is a tool to dose product out of silos and is mounted underneath a silo and doses product out of the silo and into a weighing system.
“Thanks to the up-and-down movement of the dosing slide, it activates the product in the silo before it doses the product into the weighing hopper underneath. Dosing slides are driven by one hydraulic unit instead of a motor, therefore saving on energy consumption,” van Eijk said, adding that several types of the company’s dosing and weighing equipment feature the weigher-in-weigher concept.
“With two weighing scales in one hopper, we make full use of our dosing slide concept. By dosing large quantities directly into the larger weigher – with smaller quantities first going into the smaller weigher – a high throughput can be combined with excellent accuracy. This also eliminates the need of multiple weighing systems because of its wide dosing range,” he said.
KSE’s ALFRA box dosing system is a scalable platform that is designed to completely automate the preparation of micro ingredients for animal feed production in boxes. Instead of dosing into a weighing hopper, all micro-ingredients are dosed into a small box. After these ingredients are collected, this box is discharged into a mixer.
“In most production environments, these steps are still done by hand, making this process both difficult to control and prone to product contamination and human errors. Also, the manual addition process often involves health and safety risks for employees,” van Eijk said.
Sensors and automation to maximize value
Digital solutions, such as sensor and automation systems, maximize value for feed mills over time, according to Roman Grundler, senior product manager for digitalization and plant automation at Bühler AG.
“The latest digital solutions we’ve introduced to the market start with essential dashboards to maximize operational transparency and allow for informed decision making,” he said. “They continue with predictive maintenance and a complete new consulting experience, combining expert knowledge with data analytics.”
Availability of production and sensor data can help feed mills be more productive and efficient.
“With this advantage, feed producers can optimize plant efficiency and decrease operating expenses,” he said. “At the same time, experienced employees are hard to find. Data analytics and digital tools will help feed millers to be much faster and more efficient in optimizing processes and finding root causes for efficiency losses.”
Grundler also said traceability and feed safety will be key drivers to feed technology trends in the next five to 10 years, as well as autonomous production and smart factories.
“Technologies like blockchain can contribute to make feed production more transparent along the whole value chain. Energy efficiency, product quality and CO2 emissions will have to be reported. This is definitely a topic to watch and be prepared,” he said.
Bühler’s new PelletingPro smart pellet moisture control technology utilizes sensor and automation systems in combination with cloud data availability, Grundler said.
“The smart pellet moisture control PelletingPro finally allows feed millers to operate pelleting lines at very stable process conditions and with maximum efficiency and reliability,” he said. “This has a huge effect on yield, pelleting throughput and specific energy consumption. Customers are excited that the process now depends less on highly skilled operators and that the efficient operation is further automated.”
PelletingPro “solves a general industry pain,” Grundler added, by accurately controlling the final pellet moisture after the cooler to ensure product quality and to benefit from constant process conditions.
Energy savings ‘is a must’
“Energy saving is a must for everybody due to the rise of energy costs as a result of geopolitics and as a duty to operate in a sustainable way and to think about our climate,” he said, adding that he expects to see an increase in applications that will contribute to energy savings in the next few years.
By using online features and solutions that measure and collect data, feed mill operations can be made more efficient with predictive maintenance.
“Feed mill owners will need more intelligence to measure what is happening in their mill and how they can control the operation making use of data collection,” de Vaan said. “By this, they are able to monitor the health position and performance of their mill. This will enable them to control the cost of operation and allow predictive maintenance.”
PTN’s new MonoRoll pellet press, a single-roll pellet press, can help feed mills achieve significant energy savings and deliver higher output. It is unique in its design and concept, as no other pellet press manufacturer has a single-roll machine, de Vaan said.
Feed Mill of the Future digital supplement
WATT’s feed brands Feed Strategy and Feed & Grain magazines join forces to launch the monthly Feed Mill of the Future digital supplement. Each edition aims to provide animal feed industry stakeholders with forward-looking content, market insights and a spotlight on the leading-edge technologies shaping the global feed industry of tomorrow.
Subscribe today! https://bit.ly/3dWzow7


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The cryptocurrency funfair has grown at a staggering rate throughout December and the year as a whole. People are not only looking to expand their crypto-portfolio but also bet on the various offerings. The crypto-market left its mark on 2017 with a combined market value that has soared to just under $500 billion from $18 billion at the start of the year. However, the cryptocurrency market lacks a level playing field for ordinary people and all market participants which form the basic functions of money, including acting as a medium of exchange and a store of value. Cryptocurrencies are not yet in a position to replace traditional money.
For this reason, there is a need to combine all isolated blockchain networks into a unified open network to kick off a revolution in commerce backed by blockchain technology. So, what is Open Trading Network? Open Trading Network (OTN) is the first 100% collateralized decentralized trustless network to support fully secure exchanges between the blockchain networks.
At the moment, there are a number of decentralized crypto exchanges available. What makes OTN stand out is that it was not created as a standalone technology but as an integrated part of IQOption’s (the online trading platform) functioning trading platform. OTN Exchange (to be launched in April 2018) will act as a fast, centralized order matching engine that can sign token exchange orders in record time in the safest way possible. This will provide flexibility to meet all of the market’s needs and fast implementation of the ecosystem, due to a modular iterative approach to deployment.
Open Trading Network will create a public API for all their products tailor-made to contribute to the growth of the market. At the base of the crypto market growth stands four major types of players; Individuals, Businesses, Traders, and Regulators, who also form OTN’s target clients. OTN will focus on creating customer-oriented solutions to satisfy the need of each cryptocurrency player.
One such product, OTN Wallet is a universal cryptocurrency wallet which will support a maximum number of cryptocurrencies and provide secure operations for exchanging and purchasing tokenized assets in the most versatile and powerful way. The OTN wallet will have features that will support the storage of all assets, buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and tokens for fiat money, tokenization and detokenization of assets, peer-to-peer transfers and direct exchanges among others. This component of the system will be implemented without waiting for the Open Trading Network infrastructure to be fully functional.
All transaction data from the blockchain will be available through OTN Explorer, which will allow regulators to identify users and their transactions. The user can also store their assets on a fairly new product, OTN Depository (to be launched in October 2018) will store assets in its accounts using OTN as a security guarantee, with a separate application for managing and analyzing the depository and monitoring profits. In February 2019, Open Trading Network is expected to roll-out OTN Business, a product that will make it easy for users to perform widely-used operations such as issuing tokens and listing them on the exchanges instantly, and crowdfunding among other features, which will be available as ready-made smart contracts with a user-friendly interface.
OTN has already outlined the tentative timeline in its roadmap for deployment of various features, which it intends to strictly adhere to. Some of the significant launches include OTN.x in September 2018 and OTN Clearing in the same year by the month of November. The OTN Integration feature will be implemented by April 2019.


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Dunkin’ Brands CEO says there’s ‘anxiety’ over minimum wage increases
Nigel Travis, the CEO of Dunkin’ Brands, told TheStreet that his franchise owners are less-than-happy about minimum wage increases for their empoyees.
“There is anxiety over minimum wages, so franchisees have increased prices a lot, probably in some cases beyond our recommendation — so that perhaps erodes some of our value perception,” said Travis in an interview with TheStreet.
This isn’t the first time Travis has come out against the minimum wage increase. In July, he said in an interview, “it’s going to affect small businesses and franchises.” And added, “I don’t want to sound threatening about that.” At the time, Travis said that it could prevent the company from hiring more employees going forward. “A debate needs to take place about how to tackle income inequality,” he continued in the interview.
The comments come as Dunkin’ shares dropped 12% on Thursday due to slow sales growth during the third quarter. Menu prices have, indeed, grown to meet the higher employee pay, according to the article.
Travis also pointed to a bird flu virus that caused a shortage of eggs, which increased menu prices and may have led to reduced sales.
Earlier this year, New York State said it would increase minimum wage for fast-food employees to $15 per hour in the next few years. In July, Fortune examined what the boosted minimum wage would mean for menu prices.


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Pro audio console developer Harrison has announced the hiring of Claude Hill as director of sales for domestic and international markets. Most recently immersed in the computer and networking industry, Hill’s background includes work as part of Harrison’s research and development team during the firm’s early years. The firm notes that Hill’s hiring comes in anticipation of multiple new product releases to the broadcast and studio markets scheduled for the final quarter of 2006.
For more information, please visit www.harrisonconsoles.com.
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UK: Burberry files trademark lawsuit against South Korea's SBW
Burberry is understood to have tried to settle the dispute before taking legal action
Luxury business Burberry has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against South Korean underwear manufacturer SBW.
The patent violation lawsuit was filed with the Seoul Central District Court this week over SBW's Try underwear, which is said to be carrying Burberry's trademarked check pattern.
"Burberry confirms that it has taken legal action against TRY for trademark infringement," a spokesperson for the UK fashion house said. "As a global luxury brand, Burberry considers the protection of its trademarks vital to the health of its business and brand. Burberry protects both its brand and its customers by defending its intellectual property rights and will always act against the abuse of its trademarks."
Burberry is understood to have tried to settle the dispute before taking legal action but was unable to reach an amicable agreement.
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BT finally launched its Next Generation Text Relay service in the UK today, Monday, to make it easier for people with hearing and speech impairments to make phone calls. The new service enables users to send and receive text over a computer link — a PC, or a free app for Apple iOS and Android 4 tablets and smartphones — while talking on a mobile phone or landline connection.
BT says: "Users can link a TextNumber, which looks like a standard phone number, to their home, work or mobile number so that when someone dials the TextNumber the call is automatically connected to the NGT service without the need for a caller to dial a special prefix."
Like the original Text Relay, NGT uses relay assistants (ie people) to convert speech to text or vice versa, rather than computer-based converters. However, NGT users can also make direct text-to-text calls.
NGT does not require a textphone, but people who already use a BT Textphone, Minicom, TextLink, Uniphone etc can still use the service. Also, Text Relay users who don’t want to change can continue to use the 18002 prefix
BT has been running NGT trials since March, to meet an Ofcom deadline that said a next-generation service should be provided "by no later than 18 April 2014". The launch was delayed after tests revealed "a problem with the quality of emergency calls that could have put users at risk".
Ofcom, the UK government's regulator, published the original requirements for "an improved form of relay service, referred to as 'Next Generation Text Relay' or NGTR" in October 2012. Having developed an Ofcom-approved service, BT is supplying NGT to its own customers, and offering it on wholesale terms to other telecoms providers.
Colin Lees, BT Business chief information officer, said in a statement: "This is a really important development. Whatever your hearing or speech impairment, this will make using the phone much simpler and easier."
People with hearing and speech impairments will no longer have to tell callers to use a special prefix to phone them, and will not have to carry any specialised equipment to make calls while away from their homes and offices. This should make it easier for people to do their jobs, and increase their chances of employment.


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Photo source: scenic.org
Do you have the feeling that what was until recently a Sci-Fi scenario is becoming part of our real life? Smart digital billboards that can transform reality or know exactly their surroundings are used to promote smart brands in a surprising and involving manner. They are more and more seen in cities around world, another way for socially involved corporations to become a part of their consumer’s life.
The latest smart digital billboard is this one put up in the Piccadilly Circus in London. The city, well-known for the many planes flying over it every hour, has now a smart digital billboard that points to them. It doesn’t only know that the plane is visible, reading the cloud height, but it also gives information on destination, flight number and the weather up there. British Airways signs this breakthrough way of advertising.
A smart phone chose a smart digital billboard for the launch in New Zealand. Samsung Galaxy S4 created the virtual waiting line in which people would virtually gather competing to be the first to get the phone. Sharing news they received about Galaxy S4 earned them points and sent them further up the line. See the video for all details of the campaign.
BMW iWindow reflected traffic in New York in a futuristic manner. In the smart digital billboard, cars driving by were transformed into BMW concept cars. The image showed BMW’s vision of the future city streets. Using motion detection and digital projection, the window functioned in real time.
Smart digital billboards make use of the technological evolution creating smart media. Digital culture transforming marketing as we know it. Are we witnessing a new revolution of marketing tools? What do you think?


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LK Bennett collapses into administration
Written by Hannah McGrath
LK Bennett has become the latest victim of turbulence on the UK High Street after it collapsed into administration, putting nearly 500 jobs at risk.
The upmarket womenswear retailer has appointed EY to oversee the process, with the loss of 55 jobs at the firm’s headquarters already announced, and hundreds more at risk across its 39 stores in the UK.
The company was founded in 1990 by Linda Bennett and is known to be a favourite of prime minister Theresa May, work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Five stores in Sheffield, Bristol, Liverpool, and London stores in Brent Cross and Westbourne Grove have already been earmarked for closure after the firm raised a warning over its search for new financing last week.
The firm’s website displayed a message this morning informing customers that it had stopped trading after “experiencing some issues” but said that they “should be up and running again soon”.
Joint administrator Dan Hurd said in a statement that "tough trading conditions for retailers, LK Bennett had been further impacted by significant rent increases and business rate rises”.
Therefore, he added that: "Linda and the management team therefore made the difficult decision to place the company into administration, to protect the future of the business."
The business has been put up for sales in the hope that it will be “attractive to a prospective buyer”.
Stores that remain open will trade as normal and administrators are understood to have suspended the website temporarily to process orders. Customers have been advised to call the customer services team with any queries.
The group reported operating losses of £6 million the year to July 2017.
Last week Ms Bennett, who returned as an adviser to the business in 2017 after selling her majority stake in 2008, sent an email to staff saying that “fought as hard as I can, with all your help to turn the business into the success that I know it deserves to be".


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The global chicken menu category is poised for growth after demonstrating its resilience during the pandemic, a leading industry analyst firm has declared.
Technomic has just carried out a “deep drive” of the sector exploring the impact of Covid-19 on sales and the extent to which local and international chains have fared during the crisis.
Its 2021 Chicken Global Menu Category Report reveals that 84% of consumers order chicken from a restaurant or dining establishment at least once a month.
In terms of cooking style, 39% of consumers prefer their chicken grilled, over preparations such as fried and roasted.
Spicy chicken varieties are common among limited-time offers, with Nashville hot, Korean and mala among the most influential flavours.
The United States and South Korea are currently the world’s largest exporters of chicken chains.
Aaron Jourden, senior research manager of global at Technomic, said: “Chicken chains have been resilient amid the pandemic and the menu category remains primed for future growth.
“With accelerating competition among chicken chains and crossover competitors looking to grow in this category, it is crucial for operators and suppliers alike to know what the top and fastest-growing chains are, what consumer preferences are across global markets, which menu trends are emerging and what strategies chains are adopting in response to the pandemic.”


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Jazz gives radio giant new hope
The UK's largest commercial radio company, GCap Media, will launch its latest national station, theJazz, on Christmas Day under the management of its team at Classic FM.
The company plans to fill the gap left after Guardian Media Group changed Jazz FM into Smooth FM and target the mature ABC1 audience that listens to Classic FM.
Gcap also owns Capital Radio, which broadcasts in and around London. It said profits fell from £12.4m to £8.4m in the six months to September as advertising revenues tumbled. In the two months since, ad revenues are down 13%, but excluding Capital only 8% lower. Capital, still reportedly looking to recruit Birmingham City football club's Karren Brady as managing director, has launched a major marketing offensive to listeners and advertisers.
Chief executive Ralph Bernard said: 'Despite a very difficult advertising market, we are confident that we are taking the right steps to align our business to a rapidly changing environment.'
GCap sold its two Century radio stations in the North East and Manchester in a deal worth £60m during the period and said it was in the next phase of its recovery plans for Capital Radio.
The company relaunched Capital in January in bid to attract more listeners in the key 15 to 44-year-old age range and said its hopes for the station remained on track, despite seeing revenues down £6.3m year-on-year.
GCap said it now trades off an audience of 16.4m around the UK and pointed to Classic FM as the group's leading station in terms of revenue generation, boasting around 6m listeners on its own.
The company expects a profits boost thanks to the launch of the first mobile phone equipped with BT's Movio services, which will allow users to access digital radio and TV from their handset.
Group revenues fell to £102.2m during the six months compared to £111.6m at the same period last year as the business felt the pinch during June's World Cup because of weak advertising figures.
The company warned: 'The current advertising market remains very difficult and visibility poor. We anticipate tough trading conditions will persist over the next quarter.'
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Redmond, Wash.—Microsoft Corp., which in October began adding Facebook "likes" to its Bing search results, has greatly expanded its Facebook integration to boost the "third-party endorsement" value of search query results.
The new Bing feature expands on the previous Facebook integration that allowed Facebook users to "like" their search results, which in turn enabled Bing to highlight those results to the users' Facebook friends. The enhanced integration allows users who search for anything—news, companies, brands, restaurants, entire sites, etc.—to see prominently in their search results whether their Facebook friends and members in general also "liked" those items.
The new options work only when a user is logged into Facebook and Bing at the same time. Users can turn off the sharing of "likes" if they wish.


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BMW AG plans to boost its investments in start-ups, as competition intensifies with new rivals including Tesla Motors Inc. over technologies that make cars smarter and more energy efficient.
The i Ventures division will be moving its headquarters from NY to Silicon Valley and it will also be allowed to operate with more autonomy.
Its HQ is being relocated from NY to Silicon Valley and the organisation is being given a higher level of autonomy so that it can move swiftly on startups that it wants to invest in or partner with.
“These days, more and more innovations come from the start-up scene”, said Peter Schwarzenbauer, the BMW executive who oversees vehicle sharing. In addition to money, it will offer technical expertise to the start-ups it supports. “To be successful one must shape this change and gain access to the best ideas”. It will have two managing partners – Ulrich Quay and Uwe Higgen, who will report to BMW Group Steering Board. This will give BMW i Ventures considerable autonomy and allow it to make investment decisions quickly, as necessitated by the industry. BMW i Ventures has also broadened its scope when it comes to searching for startups and the division will begin to look in Europe and Asia for new companies to acquire.
BMW i Ventures was established in NY in 2011 with an initial venture capital of $100m
The division has held a minority stake in San Francisco-based technology start-up RideCellsince 2014, . This time, however, it seems that BMW is focusing on technology that focuses around what we know as future tech, such as autonomous driving.
BMW Group board of management member Peter Schwarzenbauer explained why the company has made a decision to invest heavily in its i Ventures division, saying: “These days, more and more innovations come from the startup scene”.
Another example is Chargepoint, headquartered in Campbell, California, which is another of BMW i Ventures’ portfolio companies. Additionally, BMW has invested in Chargepoint, helping to expand its own ChargeNow service that provides public charging stations. In a joint project with BMW, Chargepoint has installed 95 rapid charging stations on the East and West coast of the US.
BMW i Ventures’ most recent investment, in Silicon Valley-based company Carbon3D, already reflects the venture capital unit’s expanded focus.


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July 2023, Singapore — We are proud to share that Hashtag Interactive has won the Bronze for Content Marketing Agency of the Year at Marketing Interactive’s Agency of the Year (AOTY) awards.
This marks our second Bronze since we debuted in the AOTY awards in 2020. The win is doubly meaningful as we mark our 10th anniversary this year.
Looking back at our previous successes, we learned that harnessing the power of social media to inspire good in the community brought out the best in our people. It allowed us to make some of our most notable accomplishments.
Seizing on this lesson, we actively sought out a partnership with Science Centre Singapore and KidSTOP™, accounts that promote a love for science and STEM among the younger generation.
We began a new relationship with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), taking on content creation and social media management for its three brands — Silver Generation Office, mosAIC and AIC itself.
And we took great pride in working on projects that benefited society, such as our collaboration with Electrolux to create the Sustainability Squad, a large-scale sustainability campaign that aimed to encourage people in the region to live more mindfully in their homes. This campaign became a finalist for the Regional Campaign Category of the 15th Annual Shorty Awards back in May.
Commenting on this achievement, Mina Sunico-Chin, Managing Partner, Hashtag Interactive said: “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. We are grateful for being able to work with such amazing clients and we are thrilled to know that our efforts are getting recognised.”
About Hashtag Interactive
Hashtag Interactive is a Singapore and Manila-based digital marketing agency offering real-world marketing solutions. Hashtag Interactive optimises brands and companies for the digital age by covering everything from digital strategy and transformation to performance marketing, content strategy, and social media marketing.


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July 19, 2015
Single purpose API
Related Articles (888)
Apperian, mobile application management leader, has launched an API for its enterprise mobility platform. Both partners and customers can integrate the platform with existing infrastructure and better manage mobile solutions. Apperian hopes that the API will allow its users and partners to expand their mobility strategy in a secure and feature rich fashion.
Facebook is partnering with cloud hosting service Heroku to make Facebook application deployment more plug-and-play. The new service likely uses the Heroku API to allow developers to instantly have a basic Facebook app running in minutes instead of hours or days. Facebook's app wizard lets you choose from Heroku's supported languages, then pre-populates an app with working examples of common tasks using the Facebook API.
Your phone may soon be all you will ever need to carry around. Up until now, your online identity and the real world hasn't mixed. We have ways of authenticating offline and different methods online. Enole is trying to fix that, with an uncomplicated RESTful web service that enables developers to store user details alongside a mobile device ID.


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The rock-n-roll world is stepping up big time for the Pablove Foundation and its fight against children’s cancer. Our friend Jeff Castelaz is less than two weeks away from swinging a leg over his new Felt F1 and riding across the country for his Pablove Across America tour. Now you can do your part for the Foundation by bidding on these hot items.
You can score rare signed items from Shirley Manson, Silversun Pickups, Eagles of Death Metal and Ziggy Marley. Or how about this: Have legendary Green Day and Nirvana producer Butch Vig record your band!
Go to the auction now. And when you’re done there, check out Pablove.org to find out more details about the ride and the Pablo Foundation.


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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services players, for saw consolidated net profit grow by 14.1 per cent year-on-year at Rs 9,624 crore, and up 6.8 per cent sequentially. Revenue for the quarter grew 16.8 per cent year-on-year at Rs 46,867 and was up 3.2 per cent sequentially.
Total contract value (TCV) in Q2 came in at $7.6 bilion, H1FY22 TCV now stands at $15.7 billion, led by increased momentum in North America, BFSI, retail, manufacturing. However, the deal wins are slower compared to Q1, which had total TCV of $8.1 billion.
The company reported margin expansion of 10 basis points for the quarter, as margins came at 25.6 per cent. This, despite higher expenses, increased currency headwinds and higher sub-contract usage.
The company added 19,690 employees during the quarter under review taking its total headcount of 528,748. But the attrition for the quarter has gone up to 11.9 per cent, much higher than past quarters, but slower than the industry peers.
The company said that it has already crossed projected hiring target earlier with 43,000 freshers joining in H1.
All industry verticals had strong double-digit growth. BFSI saw a year-on-year growth of 17 per cent, manufacturing was up 21.7%, Life sciences 19%, Retail 19%. Moreover, BFSI (excluding products & platforms, emerging markets) crossed $2 billion in absolute revenues during the quarter.
All major markets saw strong double-digit growth. North America led growth with 17.4% YoY; UK up 15.6%; Europe up 13.5%. Importantly, the company saw a strong bounce back in India with growth of 15.1% (QoQ) & 20.1% (YoY).
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New York State Adopts California-style ZEV Mandate
Albany, New York - The State of New York has adopted California's vehicle-emissions standards that 10 percent of cars, light trucks and sport-utility vehicles sold starting with the 2004 model year to emit little or no air pollution, reports the Associated Press. Of the 10 percent, 40 percent must be zero-emission vehicles; 60 percent may be hybrid-electric cars that produce very low emissions.
The state's Environmental Board has given its final approval to the new guidelines, which also require diesel engines to meet the same emissions standard as gasoline-powered engines. Approximately 15 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. each year are sold in California and New York.
Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont are also considering adopting California's vehicle-emissions program. New York officials say the adoption of California's rules are part of its goal to cut emissions by 56 percent by 2020.
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Global Pride events have gone virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Kind found a way to physically celebrate the 50th anniversary of New York’s first march.
The snack brand created a rainbow light tribute to join the city’s skyscrapers on June 27 through early this morning. The brand partnered with experiential marketing agency Bankrobber Projects to produce the installation in the West Village on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street near the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
The installation was visible across Manhattan as well as from Brooklyn and New Jersey. For those living outside of the city, the brand livestreamed the installation on its website and YouTube channel.
“With our light tribute, we seek to keep the spirit of Pride Marches alive while inspiring future generations to continue demanding freedom, respect, and equality for all,” said Daniel Lubetzky, founder and executive chairman of Kind, in a statement.
The installation is an extension of Kind’s ongoing partnership with the Ali Forney Center, an organization that supports and protects homeless LGBTQ+ youth, especially youth of color. In conjunction with the tribute, Kind is donating 100% of net sales of its special-edition Pride Bar to the Ali Forney Center, with a maximum donation of $50,000.
“There has never been a more critical time for Americans to remember how Pride all began,” said Alexander Roque, president and executive Director of the Ali Forney Center, in a statement. “About 90% of the homeless LGBTQ+ youth we serve are adolescents of color. The rights our youth have today are because of people, who looked just like them, marched. We’re proud to partner with Kind and hope we can bring more awareness during this revolutionary time.”
The brand’s Pride efforts are part of the Kind Snack & Give Back Project, a multi-year program that aims to inspire kindness and empathy through partnerships with organizations including the Ali Forney Center and Hope For The Warriors.
In March, Kind also launched a gender equality campaign tied to Women’s History Month. The brand released a limited-edition Equality bar and created a direct-to-text bot that sent a petition to a user’s state officials asking them to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
The Fans. The Brands. Social Good. The Future of Sports. Don't miss the upcoming Brandweek Sports Marketing Summit and Upfronts, a live virtual experience on Nov. 16-19. Early-bird passes available until Oct. 26. Register now.


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It’s a bit behind, but Switch users can now check out the first expansion.
The Outer Worlds was a solid return to a type of RPG many were craving. It’s rumored that a sequel is already in the works, and DLC for the titles is still coming. The game also got a Switch version, but up until now it was unclear if the expansions would make its way to the hybrid version. Well, it seems they will.
Peril on Gorgon, the first expansion that released on other platforms in September of last year, is now available for Switch. It’s a bit late, obviously, but it was probably a bit more work to get everything ported down for Nintendo’s system. The DLC sees you and your crew going to the Gorgon Asteroid after getting a strange message and finding yourself in the middle of a lot of bad dealings, as you’d expect.
The Outer Worlds and Peril on Gorgon are available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC. The second expansion, Murder on Eridanos, has been announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC for sometime in March and presumably at a later date for the Switch.


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A123 ramps up trailer-sized batteries for the grid
- Kyle Alspach
A123 Systems Inc. isn’t just getting bigger as a company. Its products are getting bigger, too — much bigger.
Selling batteries for Blacker and Decker power tools put the Watertown-based lithium ion battery company on the map in 2005. But A123 has been putting less emphasis on consumer products as it’s shifted into electric car batteries and tractor-trailer-sized batteries for electric grid uses.
“Over the last few years, we were really focusing on the transportation market, just because you have to put in a lot of infrastructure in order to pursue that business,” said Andy Chu, the company’s vice president of marketing and communications. “We’re well down that path now, so we’re actually devoting more resources to the grid.”
It’s that side of the business that has A123 expanding in Massachusetts. The company already manufactures the trailer-sized battery systems — which are used to help stabilize electric grids — in Hopkinton.
Now, A123 plans to open a new location in the Bay State that will focus on grid battery R&D, Chu said, even as it plans to move its headquarters and R&D operation in Watertown to a larger facility in Waltham next March.
The expansion comes through a $5 million forgivable loan from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which requires the company to add 250 jobs in the state over four years, doubling its head count in the state. Most of the jobs will be in the company’s grid business.
A123 saw its grid revenue jump to $11 million in 2009, from $2.9 million the previous year. The grid business represented 14 percent of the company’s product revenue in 2009.
Chu said he eventually expects grid to contribute 30 percent of the company’s revenue, with 60 percent coming from transportation (batteries for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles) and 10 percent from consumer products.
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Salmonella found in pet food: human infections possible
Pet owners may want to see if their pet food brand is affected by a recent recall of products due to salmonella contamination. In some states and in Canada, human cases of salmonellosis, traced to these foods, have been recently documented. If you suspect illness due to using any of the listed foods, please contact the Maine CDC or the Department of Agriculture.
The company website for updates on this situation is http://diamondpetrecall.com/ and recent updates can be found at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dog-food-05-12/pet-owners-info.html.


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- Kmart's parent company, Sears Holdings, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. The company says it will close 142 Sears and Kmart stores before the end of the year, and its CEO, Eddie Lampert, will step down.
- The rise of e-commerce, declining foot traffic to malls, and a higher demand for off-price products are just some of the factors that have caused department stores to suffer in recent years, and Kmart is no exception.
- We visited a Kmart store the day after the company filed for bankruptcy, and it was a mess.
The company says it will close 142 stores before the end of the year, and its CEO, Eddie Lampert, will step down.
Sears has been closing stores and selling off assets following years of crippling sales declines. The company operates 687 Sears and Kmart stores, according to its bankruptcy filing. That's down from nearly 2,000 stores in 2013.
The rise of e-commerce, declining foot traffic to malls, and a higher demand for off-price products are just some of the factors that have caused department stores as a category to suffer in recent years.
"The problem in Sears' case is that it is a poor retailer. Put bluntly, it has failed on every facet of retailing from assortment to service to merchandise to basic shop-keeping standards," said Neil Saunders, the managing director of GlobalData Retail.
Inside Sears' death spiral: How an iconic American brand has been driven to the edge of bankruptcy
Kmart stores seem to be facing the same issues. When we visited one of the discount stores the day after the company filed for bankruptcy, it had rusty shelves, huge empty spaces, and piles of boxes left around.
Here's what it was like:
Read more about Sears' downfall:
- Trump slams Sears leadership after bankruptcy filing, saying the company was 'obviously improperly run for many years'
- Sears is shuttering 142 stores with liquidation sales starting immediately — here's the complete list of closing stores
- Sears, once the largest retailer in the world, has filed for bankruptcy and is closing 142 stores. Here's how it got there.
- 'I've decided to step down as CEO': Eddie Lampert sends email to Sears employees after the company files for bankruptcy
- Sears is closing hundreds of stores and keeping the rest open through the holiday season — but shoppers won't get the blowout deals they may be expecting
- Sears has filed for bankruptcy and is closing stores. Here are the retail rivals who could benefit the most from its downward spiral.
- 'There were mistakes along the way, for which I take responsibility': Eddie Lampert addresses Sears employees day after bankruptcy filing


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Fashion focus: Net-a-Porter says no to fur
Pioneering a revolution
Luxury online retailer Yoox Net-a-Porter Group (YNAP) has confirmed that it will implement a fur-free initiative throughout all of its digital platforms including Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter, Yoox and The Outnet. The move, mimicking the no-fur policies employed by several of its stocked labels — Stella McCartney (pictured above with faux fur designs), Vivienne Westwood and J.Crew — is in line with the firm's commitment towards a more sustainable fashion future.
"The Group started its journey towards creating a sustainable future back in 2009 with the launch of Yooxygen, the pioneering Yoox's destination for social and environmental responsible brands," said Matteo James Moroni, Head of Sustainability at YNAP. "Since then we have made great steps. Yet there is still much more to do and we remain more focused than ever on our commitment to create a sustainable future. We have a strong sense of responsibility and recognise the importance of making a positive contribution to society. With a range of initiatives, partnerships and innovations, our goal is to act as an industry-wide catalyst for change."
In addition to excluding all fur products from its digital store, YNAP has also joined the international Fur Free Retailer Program, embarked on sustainable fashion partnerships as well as ensure that all of its new buildings are eco-friendly, cementing its status as an environmental leader in the industry.
Stay connected with Buro 24/7 Middle East as we bring you updates to this story. Also, discover Net-a-Porter's exclusive Arabian campaign.


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The HTC Desire X was just announced, and now we can tell you when it will become available in the UK and how much it will cost. The Desire X has been put up for pre-order by well known retailer Clove. The phone will be out in black and white.
The price you’ll need to pay is £228, VAT included. For that amount of cash, you’ll obviously get a SIM-free and unlocked device.
The Desire X will start shipping sometime in late September. Unfortunately, we don’t know anything more specific that that yet. But more details will surely be out pretty soon, so stay tuned.
If you liked the post, you might find these interesting too:
- UK: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S ships on September 30, Xperia Pro on October 6
- HTC Desire X now available in the UK, yours for £217.98
- BlackBerry Q10 goes on pre-order in the UK for £529.98, will be out on April 26
- HTC Desire C pre-orders start in the UK for £189.99, shipping on May 24
- HTC Desire S will be available in the UK before the end of this month, earlier than expected


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Amplifier technology developer Lab.gruppen, part of the TC Group of companies, has been confirmed as the co-headline sponsor of the second Pro Sound Awards, to be held at the world famous Ministry of Sound on 25 September.
Lab.gruppen shares the spotlight with microphone/headphone giant Sennheiser.
““The Lab.gruppen name has been built on a pioneering spirit of innovation and excellence, growing hand-in-hand with the professional audio industry as it has matured over the past four decades into the exciting and vibrant industry that it is today,” says media & PR executive Mark Millar. “It’s natural and fitting for us to support a fantastic event such as the Pro Sound Awards which seeks to recognise and honour such spirit among the people and companies that continue to push the boundaries… and of course we wish all the finalists the best of luck!””
Lab.gruppen launched its new D Series of amplifiers at InfoComm this year. This range demonstrates advances in three key areas: system interoperability, smart power handling, and superlative green credentials. The 35-year-old Swedish company said D Series represented “the most advanced and capable install-dedicated platform [it had] ever conceived”.
The second Pro Sound Awards, to be held at the south-east London nightclub on 25 September, encompasses the wide spectrum of pro audio, recognising excellence in the four sectors of Installed Sound, Studio, Broadcast Audio and Live/Touring Sound, along with four special awards for Rising Star, Marketing Initiative of the Year, Grand Prix and Lifetime Achievement. Martin Audio is sponsoring the reception drinks at the event, and Sony is once again supporting awards in the Broadcast Audio category. Further sponsors are to be announced. For more information on how to get involved contact [email protected].
‘The Pre-Roll’ will run for two hours ahead of the awards. This is a two-hour session of one-on-one interviews and panel discussions starring leading lights of the pro-audio industry. Both Monty Python producer Andre Jacquemin and Depeche Mode/Elbow producer Ben Hillier are confirmed participants at the event, with more names to be confirmed shortly.
Tickets are available now from the website.


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Digital + slows subs loss
November 9, 2010
Reporting as a unit of media conglomerate Prisa for the first time, pay-TV operator Digital + played up the success of its PVR proposition, the increase in ARPU and a slowing loss of subscribers.
In September, Digital + had 1,772,677 subs, down 73,100 in the nine month period reported compared with a loss of 135,600 in the same period last year. It has 245,940 subs for its iPlus DVR service and ARPU was E41.10, up 4.7 per cent year-on-year. Subscriber revenue was E688.7 million, down 9.5 per cent, but total sales were up at E817.5 million, boosted by a strong advertising performance up 14.5 per cent at E325 million (doubtless helped by the removal of ads from the national public broadcasters).
Over all Prisa group had sales of E2.3 billion for the nine months to September, down 5.3 per cent.


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Renaissance is pleased to announce Lisa Henderson has joined San Francisco headquartered Soul Machines as VP of Marketing. Founded in 2016, Soul Machines technology is brought to life by creating highly-detailed Digital Humans with personality and character – humanizing computing to better humanity.
These “artificial human” advisors are helping some of the world’s leading companies provide next-generation customer service in a highly scalable, cost-efficient way.
Lisa is an innovative, strategic and hands on marketing executive, dedicated to building category “rocketships.” Following a Global Start-Up Marketing Lead position for AWS in 2012, Lisa was the Head of Demand & Enablement at Salesforce. Lisa led events, executive engagement, integrated campaigns, field marketing and sales enablement on a global scale – creating a 200% pipe growth over a year.
For more information, please visit www.soulmachines.com


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Dubai: Emirati airline FlyDubai has made tickets to 11 international destinations cheaper.
According to the details, flydubai has made air tickets cheaper for eleven cities on the arrival of winter.
Economy class discount tickets start at AED 1,105, according to Emirates News Agency, as Flydubai has released details of the discount offer across its network.
According to the notice, booking till October 31 while the journey can be started from December 15, 2022, the economy class fare to Armenia’s Breifan Airport will be priced at AED 1105 and business class ticket at AED 3400.
According to flydubai, prices for Baku and Tbilisi are set at AED 1,200, while business class fares are set at AED 6,300 and AED 6,700.
1650 for Beirut and 4200 dirhams for business class, 1650 tourist class and 4400 dirhams for business class to Oman.
A ticket will be available for 2300 dirhams for Sarajevo, 1550 dirhams for Zanzibar, 2500 dirhams for Salzburg and 3000 dirhams for Beza.


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Do I really NEED to take a multi-vitamin? Why should I take vitamins?
According to Golan Raz, vice president of health and nutrition at Lycored, taking vitamins isn’t even a question. “Before we answer this question we should be aware that vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are essential for the human body,” says Raz. It is not a question of whether one should take vitamins, as the answer to this question will always be yes. It is a question of how can we get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients we need just from our daily diet. The basic principle is to be aware that we can improve our health by adding specific vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to our daily diet. ”
We Obviously Need Vitamins Because;
Celebrity fitness trainer and health expert Latreal Mitchell also believes that in a world full of processed foods, supplementing nutrients with vitamins couldn’t be more important. “It is so important to take quality, science-based vitamins because in this era of fast food and convenience over quality, there is no way for people to get all the vitamins and nutrients they need through food alone,” explains Mitchell. “Most people skip meals, eat unhealthy food on the run, and skip green veggies with all the great phytonutrients that are essential for optimal health. I’m a strong believer that everyone should get a little help no matter how healthy or unhealthy they eat. There is more processed food and GMOs on the market, and all the good stuff is being pulled out of our food to make things quick and easy. Good, quality vitamins and supplements are a great source of those missing nutrients.”
Are People Who Take Vitamins Healthier Than Non-Vitamin Takers?
Jaakko Mursu, a nutritional scientist, was among those in the medical community who had grown skeptical of multivitamins. So he led a team of researchers to study the issue. Even he was shocked by what he found, which was published as the Iowa Women’s Health Study: Older women who took multivitamins were 6 percent more likely to die than others. This was true even though the women taking the vitamins tended to have healthier lifestyles than those who didn’t (calcium was the only vitamin or mineral associated with decreased risk).
Well this is awkward.
So vitamins are good for us and we need them but some research is showing that people who take them die sooner than people who do not?
However;researchers looked at the effect of long-term multivitamin use in healthy men on various aspects of health. Here is what they found:
- Cancer: Men were 8% less likely to be diagnosed with cancer. The protective effect was greatest in men with a history of cancer.
- Vision: Lower risk of developing cataracts.
The truth is, that there just is not enough conclusive research on vitamin use yet. There is a general suggestion that it is best to take them just in case you are missing anything in your diet and pee out the rest.


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In addition to the team, the fan experience at the Rose Bowl has also never been better. In the spirit of the Associated Press’ annual preseason Top 25 released this past Sunday, a poll in which UCLA weighed in at No. 7 to begin the 2014 season, we have compiled a list of 25 key gameday enhancements and promotions that you should be aware of when attending UCLA’s six home games at the Rose Bowl this upcoming season.
The Pregame Experience
1. The Fan Zone presented by Ralphs is back and bigger than ever. Open to all fans free of charge four hours prior to kick-off, the Fan Zone is located in Lot H, just outside of Gates A & B, and features the Food Zone, Bruin Spirit Zone, UCLA Store, music, UCLA Football team Bruin Walk, interactive displays and a Kids’ Zone.
2. The Ralphs Ultimate Tailgate opens three hours before kickoff and will now feature live music this season from John Lafayette Ramey and the Orchestra. One of UCLA’s most popular pregame tailgating spots has tripled in size this season due to popular demand. It is open to all fans for $25 or FREE with a Ralphs receipt for $25-plus of qualifying purchases. The tailgate includes unlimited food & non-alcoholic beverages, flat-screen televisions and three drink tickets good for beer or wine.
3. The Bruin Bash is coming home. The UCLA Alumni Association has partnered with UCLA Athletics to bring the traditional away game pre-party – The Bruin Bash – to the Rose Bowl this year for all home games. The Bruin Bash is located in the Fan Zone and features delicious food and beverages, games, a DJ and special guests at this new event specifically for UCLA alumni.
4. A new tailgate area located immediately south of the Fan Zone in Area H has been designated for the UCLA Alumni Band and longtime UCLA Alumni tailgating groups.
5. The Lawry’s Tailgate is now open in the Fan Zone for every home game this season. Lawry’s Tailgate is the perfect tailgate for Bruin fans with a penchant for prime-rib. Lawry's opens three hours before kickoff. Admission is $75 and includes unlimited hand-carved prime rib sandwiches, sides, desserts and drinks all while being surrounded by flat-screen televisions.
6. UCLA students now have a place to tailgate with an exclusive space within the Ralphs Ultimate Tailgate inside the Fan Zone. It is open to the first 500 current UCLA students to arrive on gameday. Admission is either $25 cash or a Ralphs receipt with $25-plus of qualifying purchases. The tailgate has flat-screen televisions and live music and features unlimited food and beverages.
7. UCLA season ticket holders are now offered commemorative Tap Cards, which allow fans to take the Metro to the game. Tap Cards cost $40 for the all six home games. The train’s drop-off is near the Parson’s lot in Pasadena where fans can take the Parson’s shuttle to the Rose Bowl.
8. Donors to UCLA Athletics through the Wooden Athletic Fund at certain giving levels now have access to priority parking in Lot A, a grass lot great for tailgating, located in Area H just south of the Fan Zone.
9. UCLA students have the opportunity to purchase deeply discounted season-long passes to ride the Rose Bowl Rooter Bus from campus for $25 for the season, which equals just $4.16 per game. New this year is an expanded loading area to make it easier and faster for UCLA Students to get to the game.
The Gameday Experience
10. Before heading into the stadium, walk through the brand-new Rose Plaza, located outside Gate A. The plaza is a huge mosaic of personalized bricks in the shape of the Tournament of Roses logo and serves as a tribute to the historic Rose Bowl while offering UCLA fans a chance to buy a personalized UCLA logoed brick.
11. The Rose Bowl has added powerful cellular signal boosters to enhance the cellular signals for all fans attending UCLA home games this fall.
12. The Rose Bowl Stadium’s historic field hedges have been re-installed, bringing back an original feature that was pulled out when the venue needed to install a cycling track for the 1932 Summer Olympics.
13. The Blue Moon Club, located in the Terry Donahue Pavilion, will be improved in 2014 with bigger televisions, a new lounge furniture layout, and the opening of Pucks Tavern, a brand new walk-up restaurant with a menu inspired by Wolfgang Puck. The Blue Moon Club is the place to be on game day! Season-long access to the Blue Moon Club is $300 per person. Entry into the Blue Moon Club begins two hours prior to kickoff. Post-game the Blue Moon Club stays open one hour after the last play.
14. Beginning in 2014, Blue Moon Club members have the opportunity to purchase $300 worth of Pucks Tavern food for just $200.
15. A new UCLA Gameday app will be available prior to the first home game, putting gameday information at your fingertips on your mobile device. The official app of UCLA Athletics will be available soon FREE in the App Store for users of iPhones and iPads as well as in Google Play for Android device users. The UCLA Gameday app also will allow fans the ability to upgrade their seats on gameday through their mobile device.
16. Fans can now get mobile ticket delivery to their smartphones. Tickets can be scanned directly from their devices at the gates of the Rose Bowl Stadium.
17. BruWin Rewards, UCLA’s fan rewards program, has been improved with the introduction of a new mobile app. The app allows for an easier check-in process on fan’s mobile devices.
18. New social media gameday features will allow fans the opportunity to “check in” and interact via Facebook at the game. Also, beginning with our game against Utah, the most spirited Instagram photos posted on gameday with #GoBruins will be highlighted on the video board.
Gameday Promotions and Giveaways
19. For the September 6 home opener vs. Memphis, the first 10,000 fans wearing UCLA blue will receive a complimentary UCLA Football Schedule Magnet.
20. The first 10,000 fans wearing UCLA blue to enter the gates for the October 4 game vs. Utah will receive a 2014 UCLA Football Poster.
21. Arrive early for the October 11 game vs. Oregon, as the first 30,000 fans wearing UCLA blue will receive a replica adidas UCLA Football jersey rally towel. And upon exit after the game, 10,000 fans wearing UCLA blue will receive complimentary JELL-O UCLA Mold Kits.
22. On October 11 UCLA will recognize the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2014.
23. UCLA will honor the 60th anniversary of the undefeated 1954 National Championship football team at the November 1 Arizona game. The first 12,000 fans wearing UCLA blue will receive a complimentary tote bag courtesy of the Wooden Athletic Fund. UCLA will also honor and recognize United States Veterans on Armed Forces Appreciation Day.
24. At the November 22 game vs. USC, UCLA will recognize former UCLA All-American quarterback John Sciarra for being selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Sciarra is the 12th UCLA player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and will be in attendance as our Honorary Captain.
25. At the final home game of the season, November 28 vs. Stanford, the first 10,000 fans wearing UCLA blue will receive 2014 UCLA Football Senior Trading Cards. Stay tuned as UCLA is also planning to announce a very special guest who will be joining us for this Friday afternoon game.
The Bruins' 2014 football season kicks off on Saturday, August 30 at Noon ET at Virginia. UCLA's home opener will take place on Saturday, September 6 at 7pm at the Rose Bowl against Memphis. The Bruins have six home games at the Rose Bowl in 2014 – September 6 vs. Memphis, October 4 vs. Utah, October 11 vs. Oregon, November 1 vs. Arizona, November 22 vs. USC and November 28 vs. Stanford. Season tickets for 2014 are on sale now at uclabruins.com. For more information on tickets or the gameday enhancements and promotions, please call 310-825-8699.


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One finding of Axway's new survey about smartphones is that developers perhaps shouldn't concentrate on Siri-related projects at the expense of good, old-fashioned apps.
Corona Labs has made both of the main components of its namesake cross-platform development framework free to use.
Facing a 0.1 percent market share, Microsoft continues to chug along in developing Windows 10 Mobile, having this month released two new Windows Insider preview builds.
Android mobile app developers use more analytics SDKs than any other type, according to the latest data from SafeDK Mobile, which also noted big growth in usage of Google's Firebase back-end offering.
MongoDB, the popular open source, document-oriented, NoSQL database, has unveiled its own Backend-as-a-Service offering, promising to relieve data developers from the drudgery of writing boilerplate code.
"Python is now the No. 1 tool being used by developers and tech pros, followed by Git and Visual Studio."
Stack Overflow has released the raw results from its huge developer survey, letting users mine the treasure trove of data for insights such as: Those who indent with spaces earn more money than those who indent with tabs.
Facing an ever-increasing demand for more mobile apps, enterprises that use mobile development platforms are shipping more apps than average, according to a new research report.
In the latest Programming Language Rankings from the industry watchers at RedMonk, Kotlin, a language that didn't make the Top 20, was given special attention in its discussion section.
In-memory data grid specialist Hazelcast Inc. announced the release of an updated version of its relatively new distributed processing engine for Big Data streams.
Google this week announced a revision to its Google Play rules, essentially cracking down on incentivized Android app ratings, reviews and installs associated with the app store.
Four the first time in four years of tracking, a recruiter has noticed a decrease in salaries for early-career data scientists -- a position once dubbed the "sexiest job of the 21st century" -- caused by more junior-level entrants into the field, and other factors.
A Gartner analyst, noting a low number of mobile apps being created for the enterprise, indicated that frustration with native and hybrid app development may be causing a growth in mobile Web apps to meet demand.
Cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality and machine learning highlighted Apple's new mobile app development efforts revealed at the ongoing Worldwide Developers Conference.
Despite the popularity of open source software development, the growing movement is plagued by poor documentation and negative interactions -- primarily rudeness -- among developers, according to a big new survey from GitHub.
Developers are once again being blamed for cloud security vulnerabilities, this time in a new report from Appthority, which found terabytes of enterprise data exposed on cloud back-ends, including personally identifiable information.
Here's a roundup of recent news about Big Data, including Pentaho scaling Spark across the enterprise, MongoDB expanding the reach of its Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS), MariaDB unifying its offerings, Cloudera'a new Altus Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and more.
Realm is continuing to build upon its database-centric mobile app development platform, adding a new logic layer to incorporate back-end, serverless functionality.
Developers lacking security training unknowingly jeopardize public cloud computing environments, says a new report from RedLock Inc.


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For the financial year ended September 30, 2016, Jamaica Teas Ltd (JTL) group showed improved earnings of 43 cents per share up from 21 cents during the 2015 financial year.
The company in its financials states a loss on discontinued operations of $28.57 million for the period. Of that amount $10.71 million is assigned to JRG Shoppers Delite Enterprise Ltd and $17.86 million to Bay City Foods Ltd, both supermarkets for which the company signed agreements for sale in September last year.
A gain of $3.61 million on the enterprises was subsumed in the year’s expenses for the two supermarkets.
JTL jettisoned the loss-making enterprises as it moved towards the end of its financial year in September.
Published in the Observer
Read Full Article →


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PRAGUE, August 4, 2015 – The Internet of Things (IoT) market in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) is expected to expand 22% in 2015 year on year, reaching $14 billion in total value, according to a new forecast from International Data Corporation (IDC). The first-of-its-kind IoT forecast focuses on 25 of the fastest-growing IoT use cases in 11 vertical industries, including manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, government, utilities, retail, and consumer, while also sizing IoT opportunities across the technology stack. (TZ)
Unlike any other research in the industry, the new forecast specifically highlights Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Middle East and Africa (MEA) spending across IoT use cases — asset management, automated public transit, digital signage, smart grid, connected vehicles, and smart appliances, among others. The comprehensive spending model was designed to help clearly understand the industry-specific opportunities for IoT technologies today.
About IDC – IDC leads the ICT innovation discussion through events, research, and consulting. For nearly five decades it has been giving ICT and business professionals data and insight for making strategic and practical decisions. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.


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(Yicai Global) June 23 -- Alibaba Group Holding and Huawei Technologies have joined other companies in setting up the first international organization that aims to foster open interoperability standards for metaverse technology.
The Chinese tech giants were among more than 30 founding members of the Metaverse Standards Forum, which was launched in the United States on June 21, according to a press release. Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Qualcomm Technologies have also joined, though Apple and Google have not.
“The metaverse industry and ecosystem will benefit from the collaborative actions and open standards,” said Xiao Ran, Huawei’s vice president of corporate strategy and industry development, adding that the Shenzhen-based company looked forward to working with other groups and industry partners to expedite standards and share its experience.
The industry-wide forum aims to encourage common standards, including consistent terminology, for the virtual world of the future internet. Chaired by international standard-setting institute Khronos Group, the new group is expected to hold its first meeting next month.
Tan Ping, head of the extender reality laboratory at Alibaba’s DAMO Academy, said the Hangzhou-based firm looked forward to "sharing our technology know-how and joining global industry leaders to accelerate constructive dialogues to advance new initiatives in the metaverse space.”
Founded in 2017, DAMO Academy conducts basic science and innovative technology research in machine intelligence, data computing, robotics, fintech, and XR technologies.
Apple's absence will significantly diminish the forum’s influence, Zhang Junyi, managing partner at Oliver Wyman Consulting, told Yicai Global. As the global smartphone leader, Apple has a great advantage in building a metaverse ecology, he added, noting that it can take a leading position in the emerging industry by releasing its own products.
Editors: Dou Shicong, Futura Costaglione


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Is it possible to venture into China in the middle of this coronavirus storm? Can a business still operate in the world’s second-largest economy in spite of the recent lockdowns, closed factories and even entire cities being placed under quarantine?
China’s market has been battered recently as the number of confirmed cases shot up and strict measures were adopted to bring the outbreak under control. Fortunately, authorities just announced on Tuesday that restrictions on people leaving Hubei province, where the pandemic first emerged, would be lifted as the number of new cases reported each day there has been on a downward trend. This encouraging sign warrants a closer look for international brands that are looking to expand in China.
Consumer behavior in China over the past few months
Consumer activity normally freezes during Chinese New Year as millions of people travel and spend time with their families. Most businesses are shut down. Because of the coronavirus, the Chinese government extended this year’s holiday for a second week and many locales, such as Shanghai, extended it a third week. In my view, these extra holidays were the right decision, but this resulted in a near collapse of consumer spending in February. People don’t buy when they are away from home.
Beyond the holiday shut-down, consumer behavior is altered during turmoil. People pull back from spending during uncertainty. Purchases of necessities continue, but big-ticket items are deferred. Car sales in China were down 80% in February, with the major names suspending production.
Location-dependent industries such as food and beverage, Shanghai Disneyland, and the hotel industry are in for longer-term bad news as people minimize their travel, similar to the patterns we are seeing in the U.S. and Europe.
What is working
As the storm in China begins to abate, we see a solid uptick in China consumer behavior in March. It is worth highlighting a few of the strengths in the Chinese retail segment.
Necessities. We see a sustained improvement in demand for groceries and personal care products, with apparel holding its own.
E-commerce. Formal statistics will lag by several months, but the impact of travel disruption, quarantines, and social distancing all means that e-commerce is relatively more popular. Prediction number one: 2020 will see e-commerce account for close to 40% of retail spend by the end of this year, with up to 50% for premium and international brands.
Financial support. The “dog that didn’t bark” during February was China’s financial sector. China was determined to see that the public health disaster did not become a broader economic disaster. The PBOC (China’s central bank) lowered rates and pumped in liquidity. Domestic banks were given leeway on loans, and there were other initiatives similar to what western countries are now implementing. Although there will no doubt be economic damage because of the coronavirus, the interesting story is how well the economy has held up. Consumer confidence is on the rebound. One data point: The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index is down only about 10% for the year.
What this means for International Brands
First, the fundamental value proposition of entering the China market remains intact. China is still China. China consumers are still consuming. The economy, though off-peak, will be the best performing of the major world economies.
Second, there can be volatility in the market. You need a variable cost model. If you had pre-storm projections of $8 million in sales it might now only be $7 million. This drop in revenue might be a disaster if you were in bricks and mortar, but it is manageable if you are on-line.
Third, you need a time horizon. Success in China can easily take a few years, particularly if you are a new-to-market brand. You need a model that can withstand a bad month or even a bad quarter. You need to play for the long run.
In sum: There is certainly a lot of bad economic news in China, but in the consumer segment at least, the good news outweighs the bad. Prediction number two: 2020 will be the best year ever for Alibaba, Pinduoduo, and JD.com. Hope it is for you as well.


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April 22, 2015, Wednesday
Mobilegeddon offers a window into why the EU's seemingly strong case against Google might be more tenuous
March 23, 2015, Monday
India is posed to over the US in number of internet users, but has the lowest broadband speeds in the Asia-Pacific region
December 14, 2014, Sunday
Theoretically, 4G promises download speeds of up to 100 Mbps, compared with the speed of 21 Mbps that 3G supports
October 10, 2014, Friday
About 1,400 people, most of whom are technology experts in various fields, were asked for their thoughts on how they see the ...
May 29, 2014, Thursday
Though you could get back up to Rs 5 crore, it is difficult to notify the government
January 30, 2014, Thursday
Now that e-commerce is being seen as even more disruptive than FDI, the rush to set up business in this sector has grown that ...
December 30, 2013, Monday
The year 2013 has seen a lot of events as far as Cyberlaw jurisprudence in India is concerned. It has been an eventful year that ...
December 26, 2013, Thursday
2013 has truly been a tumultuous year from every aspect, be it the Syrian unrest, the Snowden revelations or Typhoon Haiyan in ...
December 10, 2013, Tuesday
By June 2014, its user numbers will be staggering - ahead of the US and only a little behind China - but there are gaping holes ...
July 17, 2013, Wednesday
Precisely, it has been a year since former Google executive Marissa Mayer took charge of Internet pioneer Yahoo! Inc. Mayer's ...
May 16, 2013, Thursday
Who is raising money for the Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
May 09, 2013, Thursday
Report says online video audience in India grew by 69% to 54.02 mn viewers in March 2013 compared to 31.94 mn viewers in March ...
April 25, 2013, Thursday
It's not just those with serious looking passport pictures and profiles on LinkedIn that get job calls. Even those with holiday ...
March 26, 2013, Tuesday
Dreams come true on web. Initially, it took shape in virtual reality and transformed his real world forever. It has happened with ...
March 04, 2013, Monday
Privacy is no longer just a regulatory headache. Increasingly, Internet companies are pushing each other to prove to consumers ...
- CBDT, SEBI to exchange data, call their agreement 'beginning of a new era'
- EU secures potential Covid-19 drugs from Roche, Germany's Merck: Report
- HDFC AMC, Nippon Life AMC decline as equity fund inflows tumble in June
- Curiosity resumes Martian mountain climb as Nasa team runs rover from home
- As action takes backseat, GoPro Hero8 Black takes up double duty of webcam
- Coronavirus drags Tata Steel production and sales volume in Q1FY21
- ASUS ROG Phone 3 to debut with Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ SoC on July 22


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The New York-based firm, which launched in April, and is closing to new capital, including from existing investors, on July 1, people familiar with the matter said.
The firm is expected to manage around $2 billion, up from the $1.5 billion that it launched with three months ago.
It is not clear when the firm will reopen to outside money.
Holocene's size was already big by current hedge fund launch standards, and comes as some industry titans are shutting.
The fund has long been expected to be one of this year's largest, with founder Brandon Haley said to be putting in a significant amount of his net worth into the fund. The firm was expected to initially employ a stock strategy focused on the consumer, industrials and tech, and media and telecommunications sectors, people familiar with the matter previously told Business Insider.
Haley previously led Citadel's Global Equities unit.


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NZFGC Conference 2011
An article in FMCG Magazine about the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council’s annual conference said:
“A report produced for the Ministry of Economic Development by Coriolis Research was the standout feature of the 2011 New Zealand Food and Grocery Council conference held in Wellington at the beginning of November. As evidence that the food production sector has a bright future it was a breath of fresh air for delegates, and for those who see export business opportunities for food processing it added weight to recent advances such as the Food Bowl production development facility in Manukau.
While for many the conference highlight was a rare opportunity to dine in the banquet hall at Parliament’s Beehive, complete with entertainment by the Topp Twins, it was the intensive data rich compilation of the Coriolis report that stood out as the salient feature of the conference. While the report is available online to all who are interested in reading it in full, its presentation was revelatory for many as it dispelled a number of myths about the food export sector that have hampered its development in the past.
One of these was the claim that New Zealand is isolated from its markets. While the report was commissioned to understand the drivers of the growth and success of processed food exports to Australia, it made clear that the enormous potential of other Asian and Pacific markets was well within our neighbourhood. It also compared New Zealand with real competitors and similar sized nations, rather than with the giants of China, Japan and the United States. By matching New Zealand’s performance with nations such as Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Austria, the real advantages of our food business were enhanced.
With data showing that exports of food to Australia have been growing at double digit rates to a current level of NZ$2 billion a year, with half in high value processed foods, the report stimulated a lot of discussion amongst delegates. Some even questioned whether the food industry was getting the level of recognition from government that was commensurate with a sector that shows food is the biggest lever in the New Zealand economy…
… the Coriolis research was the most talked about presentation at the conference.”


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Updated: April 8, 2021 7:23:16 am
New regulations requiring corporates to disclose all dealings in cryptocurrencies do not indicate that the government has taken a stance to regulate rather than ban such currencies, a senior government official told The Indian Express.
The new norms, notified in March, require that corporates disclose any profit or loss on transactions involving cryptocurrency, cryptocurrency holdings, and any deposits or advances received from anyone for the purpose of investing in cryptocurrencies in statutory filings to the Registrar of Companies.
Industry players had welcomed the disclosure requirements as a sign of the government’s intent to regulate cryptocurrencies and noted that the move would boost awareness and acceptance of cryptocurrencies as well as give comfort to companies with cryptocurrency holdings.
“This is just about disclosure,” said a government official, adding the Corporate Affairs Ministry had received complaints that certain companies were luring people to invest in schemes investing in cryptocurrencies by promising high returns.
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The official noted that the decision on whether cryptocurrencies would be banned would be taken by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Finance Ministry.
The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, which aims to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies and lays the regulatory framework for the launch of an “official digital currency” was set to be introduced in Parliament during the Budget session, but was not taken up.
A high-powered inter-ministerial committee has also previously recommended the banning of all private cryptocurrencies.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has, however, recently noted that the Centre would take a calibrated approach to cryptocurrencies and would not close the window on experimentation with cryptocurrencies.
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- The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.


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13. Google Chromebooks
Date: May 11, 2011
Google's Chromebooks were supposed provide consumers with a faster, more secure, and affordable alternative to laptops from which they could search the Web and store files. With Google’s Chrome OS serving as the primary browser, analysts praised the Chromebook as a genius move that would generate huge sales for the search engine giant. That was far from the case. Due to its sluggish performance, limited Chrome capabilities, and heavy reliance on an Internet connection, the compact laptops were undesired. A recent report from The Register indicates Chromebook sales are "unlikely to exceed 30,000 units” by the end of 2011. Ouch.


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The Free Fire OB34 update is all set to arrive today, May 25, 2022. However, mobile gamers will have to wait for a while before they can enjoy the features of the updated battle royale game. This is because the servers have been taken down for maintenance.
On the date of release of every major update, the developers take down the servers to get them prepared for the features in the upcoming update. Since both Free Fire and its enhanced version are getting the update today, developers have already taken the servers down for maintenance.
Maintenance time for the Free Fire OB34 update
All servers of the battle royale game have been taken down at 9:30 AM IST today. This means that mobile gamers will not be able to enjoy matches as long as the servers are down for maintenance.
The servers are expected to be unavailable for around eight hours. However, it has been confirmed by the developers that the game will be up and running from 5:10 PM IST onwards.
In the meantime, players can head over to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store to get the game updated. If they do so, once the servers go live, they will not have to spend extra time updating the game and will be able to enjoy the features right away.
Highlights of the OB34 update
Here are some of the exciting features in the upcoming OB34 update:
- The overall ranked system has been optimized.
- The abilities of Dimitri, Wolfrahh, and D-bee have been reworked.
- Many characters like Alok, A124, Nairi, Misha, Wukong, Clu, Xayne, Kenta, Chrono, Steffie, and Skyler, have undergone skill adjustments.
- Memory fragments can now be purchased by spending gold coins to level up the characters.
- The maps in the Clash Squad mode have been balanced to induce better gameplay.
- Players can level up their armor from the CS Store.
- A new Craftland mode map, Isle of Champs, has been introduced.
- Airdrop enhancements, visual effects on rare loot, and other weapon adjustments have been made to the Battle Royale mode.
- A new weapon named M24 (sniper rifle) has been introduced.
Disclaimer: Since Free Fire is banned in India, players from the country are recommended to play the MAX version instead.


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Honeywell International said Tuesday that it has sold the last piece of its noncore industrial-wax operations to the International Group. Honeywell sold its wax operations in Farmers Valley, Pa.; Titusville, Pa.; and Marshall, Texas, to Toronto-based International Group. The price was not disclosed. Shares of Honeywell HON, -0.30% finished Friday's session at $36.63.
Honeywell sells wax operations to IGI