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Burberry Is Joining the NFT Game With Blankos Block Party Drop
The House is launching an exclusive, limited-edition Blanko skin this month.
Burberry has announced an exciting partnership for gamers and fashion aficionados alike. The house is teaming up with Mythical Games to launch its first NFT (non-fungible token) collection in the multiplayer party game Blankos Block Party. The label is also the first luxury brand to be featured in the game.
Blankos Block Party features digital vinyl toys – the Blankos – that live on a blockchain, meaning players have proof of verified ownership and authenticity. Players can engage in a range of minigames with friends, collect and blend Blankos and earn fully ownable digital items in NFT form, which can also be traded on the Mythical Marketplace using real money. Neither the game nor Blankos NFTs require any crypto mining and use a Proof of Authority model, making them more environmentally friendly.
The limited-edition, limited-quantity Burberry Blanko is a shark named Sharky B, which features the label’s new TB Summer Monogram and was inspired by the house’s Animal Kingdom motif. Just like other Blankos, Sharky B can be purchased, upgraded, and sold within the Blankos Block Party marketplace.
The partnership also includes an exclusive lineup of Burberry in-game NFT accessories, such as a jetpack, armbands, and pool shoes, which players can apply to any other Blanko they own. Sharky B can also be trained to master a variety of powers, including speed and agility, making it even more unique and rare.
“Pushing boundaries through experimentation sits at the heart of what we do at Burberry, and we are continually looking to connect with our communities in the spaces they love,” Burberry chief marketing officer Rod Manley said in a press statement. “Gaming is a unique space for us to test and learn and trial digital innovations that embody our values and celebrate creativity amongst our communities.”
Mythical Games vice president of marketing Nicole Yang highlighted how this has been a highly anticipated partnership for both brands. “We’re incredibly excited to bring the iconic TB monogram into the dynamic, unique world of Blankos,” she said in the statement, “giving players a new way to interact with a beloved and forward-thinking brand.”
This will be the first digital item launching as part of Burberry’s “B Series,” a series of limited-edition product drops available on the label’s channels influenced by the combination of moments of inspiration and discovery.
Sharky B, the Burberry Blanko, will be available for in-game purchase to all Blankos Block Party players worldwide on Wednesday, August 11.


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New The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild screenshot features snowy landscape
Thursday, December 22nd 2016 - 12:44 GMT
A new screenshot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild released by Nintendo features a look at a part of the game's snowy landscape.
The new screenshot is the second newly released image in a series of screenshots that the company plans to release over the next few months as it approaches the game's launch.
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Nintendo has not yet confirmed whether the game will feature distinct seasons, but did confirm that some areas in the game may feature different weather and temperatures.
The first new screenshot was released on Monday and features a look at a currently unknown location.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launches in 2017 for the Nintendo Wii U and the Nintendo Switch.

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Release Date: Jun 20, 2013
Trio of Yogis to Host Embeddable Webcast of Daylong Yoga Event to Mark the Longest Day of the Year Available at TimesSquareNYC.org on June 21st, 2013
(NEW YORK, N.Y.) – The Times Square Alliance today announced that yoga enthusiasts around the world will get to experience the 11th annual Solstice in Times Square via a 14-hour, live, free webcast of the event, during which thousands of Yogis will come together for a collective ohm in one of the world’s busiest and most frenetic places: Times Square. The Times Square Alliance and title sponsor Athleta, the premium fitness and lifestyle apparel brand for women, will offer up free “Mind Over Madness” yoga classes and a yoga village from 7:30a.m. to 9p.m. on the longest day of the year.
The webcast, which is sponsored by Tampax® Pearl® Active and produced in partnership with Livestream, will be hosted by yogis Amy Pearce-Hayden, Sherida Mullins, Tracye Warfield and Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance.
The webcast will capture all of the day’s activities, most notably the five, free outdoor yoga classes and the yoga village. The classes include:
- Early morning yoga at 7:25a.m. featuring veteran instructor, acupuncturist and Athleta model athlete Drisana Carey with special pre-class meditation by Tao Porchon-Lynch, 94 years-young and founder of the Westchester Institute of Yoga
- Tampax Pearl® Active pose demonstration at 9:45a.m. and mid-morning yoga at 10a.m. with Paula Tursi of Reflections Yoga in NYC
- Lunchtime Bikram yoga at 1p.m. taught by Donna Rubin of Bikram Yoga NYC along with special guests
- Late afternoon yoga at 5:30p.m. taught by Colleen Saidman and her husband Rodney Yee
- Evening yoga at 7:45p.m. led by Douglass Stewart, co-founder of Solstice in Times Square
Thanks to a custom-designed embeddable video, the event organizers and Livestream are providing viewers with a full feed experience that includes live video, chat, photos, text updates, real-time DVR, animated GIFs and video highlight capabilities. This full feed experience is available for digital media outlets, bloggers, webmasters and Facebook users to embed as a source of fun and entertaining content on their own sites customized for their communities.
The 2013 Solstice in Times Square Live Webcast presented by Tampax Pearl® Active will begin on June 21st at 7:25a.m. and end at 9:05p.m. For more information and to view the webcast, visit TimesSquareNYC.org and Livestream.com.
Webcast information, including the sizes and embedding codes, is available at www.TimesSquareNYC.org/Solstice. Additional event sponsors include Glaceau smartwater®, LUNA®, Solstice Sunglasses, Bodylogix, Tribe Hummus, Fresh 102.7 FM, Toshiba, Yoga Journal and IN New York and WHERE New York Magazines.
About Times Square Alliance
The Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square - cultivating the creativity, energy and edge that have made the area an icon of entertainment, culture and urban life for over a century. Founded in 1992, the Alliance keeps the neighborhood clean and safe, promotes local businesses, manages area improvements and produces major annual events including New Year’s Eve, Solstice in Times Square and Taste of Times Square. As the custodians of Times Square, the Alliance works every day to improve the quality of life for the neighborhood residents and businesses while driving economic growth in New York City.


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BIBA is pleased to welcome Investec Premium Finance as an associate. With over 15 years lending experience within Asset Finance and 30 years as a Bank, Investec have recently launched in the Premium Finance market.
Osian Rees, Head of Investec Premium Finance commented: “With so many economic changes there is a real need for premium finance to excel in customer service. Being an associate of BIBA gives us opportunities to contribute and assist with issues within the premium finance market that impact brokers and BIBA members.”
Find out more from their website.


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iPhone 6S rose gold leaked images
iPhone 6S and 6s Plus official announcement is expected to take place on 9 September, but we have got some leaked images of iPhone 6S rose gold. The design seems to be the exactly same found in predecessor. The bending issue has been resolved as well. It got 0.2 mm thicker than previous version, and it is because of the force touch feature. Let’s have a look at the iPhone 6S rose gold leaked images.
You may also like to read about iPhone 6S and 6S Plus shipping date


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INTL FCStone Announces Unique Online Physical Gold Trading Platform
By GCRU Gold News on Tuesday, October 18 2016, 01:31 - Permalink
INTL FCStone's precious metals division today announced that it is launching PMXecute+, an online trading platform connecting consumers and suppliers of physical gold globally. This unique platform provides seamless real-time access to the global bullion market routing customized bids and offers to the most relevant platform participants, based on inventory availability and preferences, and couples this with fully automated transaction processing.
"PMXecute+ will revolutionize gold trading by delivering entirely new levels of market access, efficiency and convenience to our bullion customers," says Barry Canham , Global Head of Precious Metals. "This unique ‘one to all' model leverages INTL FCStone's leading market position, broad customer base and supplier network and cutting-edge technology to deliver unprecedented global market access - 24 hours a day, seven days a week."


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MIAMI, FL, USA - Eight-time grand slam champion and Olympic gold medalist Bethanie Mattek-Sands has added a new title to her resume: fashion designer.
The American and global tennis brand Lucky in Love have partnered for a series of limited-edition capsule collections which will debut next year.
"As personal fans of Bethanie, we are thrilled to be working with her on this special series,” said Brad Singer, CEO and founder of Lucky in Love.
"We pride ourselves on taking a unique twist to traditional tennis wear, and we feel that Bethanie’s style perfectly resonates with our brand."
The first of the series will debut on Jan. 1, 2019, and the brand is collaborating with a top tennis professional for the first time.
Lucky in Love and Mattek-Sands have teamed up to create a series of outfits that transcend the American's trademark unorthodox style and fearless personality, merged with the brand’s modern approach to tennis apparel.
In alignment with next year’s Grand Slam tournaments and other major tennis events, her capsule collections will redefine women’s tennis fashion by bringing versatile styles that can be worn from sport to leisure.
The collaboration kicks off with the Australian Open Capsule Collection, designed and inspired by the former World No.1's eclectic style and bold tattoos.
The four-piece line will introduce a new high-waist skirt that merges fashion and function, featuring smoother fabrics and more comfortable fitting mesh inserts, the newest style will also provide better movement on the court.
The outfits include mesh crop tops and a "Love Down Under" limited-edition bomber jacket that pays homage to Australia's blackbird. This exclusive jacket will be sold for a limited time with only 100 pieces available for purchase.
The Bethanie Mattek-Sands + Lucky in Love series will continue launching new styles throughout 2019. The first Australian Open Capsule collection is available for pre-order on Dec. 15, 2018, and officially launches on Jan. 1, 2019, two weeks before the tournament begins.
The entire collection will be available exclusively online at shopluckyinlove.com and tennis-warehouse.com.


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Lots of gamers would kill to get their hands on Halo 4— the upcoming new installment of the legendary first-person shooter franchise due this fall for Xbox 360. Unlike most of those gamers, however, Jimmy Fallon actually has friends at the game's development studio, and they dropped by his show last night to give him a sneak preview. In the video above, Josh Holmes, creative director of 343 Industries, gives Jimmy a hands-on walk-through of Halo 4's campaign, making him the first person outside of the studio to play the game.
Fallon makes it through relatively unscathed, BUT we're pretty sure he has it on easy mode. Halo 4 hits stores November 6.


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Adobe announced out-of-band security updates for Adobe Reader and Acrobat will be released during the week of August 16th. The updates will fix a vulnerability that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on your system by creating a specially-crafted TrueType font. The vulnerability is identical to the one in Apple's iOS4 browser, which is used to jailbreak the iPhone 4.
Adobe is planning to release updates for Adobe Reader 9.3.3 for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX, Adobe Acrobat 9.3.3 for Windows and Macintosh, and Adobe Reader 8.2.3 and Acrobat 8.2.3 for Windows and Macintosh to resolve critical security issues, including CVE-2010-2862 which was discussed at the Black Hat USA 2010 security conference on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Adobe expects to make these updates available during the week of August 16, 2010.
Note that these updates represent an out-of-band release. Adobe is currently scheduled to release the next quarterly security update for Adobe Reader and Acrobat on October 12, 2010.


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The model is powered by a 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 190hp and is mated with 7-speed transmission.
The model comes with a 1.4 litre petrol engine with on average fuel consumption of 19.2 km/lt. The hood can be raised or lowered even at speeds up to 50kmph, the company said in a statement.
Toyota lost its crown as the world's top-selling automaker in 2016, company figures showed today, with the Japanese giant overtaken by Volkswagen as the industry prepares for an uncertain trade environment under US President Donald Trump.
German carmaker Volkswagen will recall nearly 600,000 vehicles in the United States, most of them its premium Audi brand, over defects that could lead to fires or airbag malfunctions.
The company's board has approved a capital expenditure plan of up to Rs 100 crore over a period of 12 months for expanding existing manufacturing facilities in Sanand and future expansion for supply of automotive lighting products to its customers, Lumax Industries said in a regulatory filing.
German luxury carmaker BMW sold 7,861 units in India last year, up 14 percent as compared to total sales in 2015 even as rival Mercedes-Benz retained the top slot for the second year in a row by selling over 13,000 units.
Mercedes-Benz is expected to reach its goal of becoming the largest premium carmaker four years early - a feat achieved, ironically, only after it stopped chasing market share and focused on making stylish high-tech cars loved by consumers.
Volkswagen has said it had reached an agreement in principle with owners of 3.0-liter cars affected by its emissions cheating scandal.
Despite considerably cheaper ownership cost of pre-owned Merc and Audi cars, their counterparts from the BMW stable command a premium, according to an industry report.
The car is powered by V8 petrol engine with displacement of 3,993 cc, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. It can reach top speed of 305 km/h with the dynamic package plus, the company said in a statement.
The new case filed Tuesday in Illinois court, cites a media report Audi installed the cheating devices on gasoline-powered cars to hide the true emissions of climate-warming gas carbon dioxide, court papers say.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) discovered the software in an automatic transmission Audi last summer, the German weekly newspaper said, without citing any sources.
Management and labour leaders are seeking to agree on cost cuts and investments that will form part of the German carmaker's efforts to revive its fortunes more than a year after the diesel emissions scandal broke.
The group's profit for the three months ending September fell slightly short of the 2.45 billion euros forecast by analysts, but was a sharp improvement from the 1.73-billion euro net loss posted for the same period last year.
Overdrive team takes the new Volvo S90 and the Audi R8 V10 Spider for a test drives. Here's what they have to say.
"We have investigated the concern regarding Audi Q5 and have identified the corrective measures. We have conducted testing of the solution in Q5 vehicles with ARAI," an Audi India spokesperson said.
Investigations by Jones Day have shown that Stefan Knirsch, an Audi board member, knew about the use of cheat software in 3.0 litre diesel engines and gave a false promise under oath, the paper said on Sunday.
"The Audi A4 has been among the volume drivers for us and we expect the all new A4 sedan to account for one-sixth of our total sales," Audi India Head Joe King told PTI.
"In 2020, most cars we will sell will be combustion engines, so to fulfil (fuel consumption targets) you have to improve the consumption of each and every car of the Audi model range," Audi China chief Joachim Wedler said at the opening of the new plant. Wedler didn't comment on Chinese peers' electric car plans.
While Mercedes-Benz will make available petrol variants for all its models sold in India by next month so as to align with the demand shift, Audi is likely to complete such an exercise by the first quarter of next year. Tata Motors-owned JLR has also started working on a similar strategy.
Watch accompanying videos of Overdrive's Independence Quattro Drive 2016, where the readers and the views of the magazine and the show respectively, drove up to Siachen base camp to celebrate India's Independence Day by hoisting the national flag at the snout of the Siachen Galcier, the highest battlefield in the world.
Domenicali told Reuters the company plans to cap yearly production of its supercars at 3,500. He also expects sport-utility vehicle production will be at least as high but could be higher depending on demand. The Italian automaker is owned by Volkswagen Group through its Audi unit.
VW and suppliers Cartrim and ES Guss -- which make seat covers and gearbox parts -- had returned to talks on Monday after negotiations into the small hours of Saturday yielded no results.
The company estimates it may lose around Rs 760 crore worth of sales this year due to the overall impact on consumer sentiment created by the diesel ban and different excise rates for diesel vehicles, which was imposed in the Budget.
Audi of America, which is owned by Volkswagen, said select 2017 Q7 and A4 models built after June 1, 2016 will be equipped with its vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.


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Ark: Survival Ascended debuted on Steam on the PC on October 25, and it will be getting cross-platform support from modders thanks to Overwolf as the console launches approach in November.
Studio Wildcard, the maker of Ark: Survival Evolved, showed off the gameplay of Ark: Survival Ascended during Microsoft’s Xbox Partner Preview livestream. The game is a next-generation remake of the beloved Ark: Survival Evolved, a dinosaur survival experience which debuted in 2015.
Built with Unreal Engine 5, it features upgraded graphics for players as well as the ability to play mods with friends across platforms, said Uri Marchand, CEO of Overwolf in an interview with GamesBeat.
Ark: Survival Ascended was developed in partnership with Grove Street Games and Instinct Games, and it’s now available on Steam, with releases on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation5 scheduled for November.
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The entire codebase of Ark has been rewritten, and the artwork has been meticulously recreated to harness the full potential of Unreal Engine 5, said Doug Kennedy, cofounder of Studio Wildcard, in an interview with GamesBeat.
“While the team is moving on to Ark II, the mod support will give” something for the players of the original Ark to play in the meantime, Marchand said. Kennedy said that creates the best of both worlds for the studio and its players.
Players can expect stunning visuals and high-end graphics features, such as fully dynamic Global Illumination, which provides realistic lighting effects by bouncing light off hundreds of millions of triangles.
While the upcoming Ark II is taking a Souls-like approach, Ark: Survival Ascended ensures that the original Ark experience thrives in next-gen quality with continued developer support and the exciting growth from user-generated content (UGC) creators.
“We will see some of those mods in the coming weeks,” Marchand said.
Some of the developers have been working on their mods for some time while others will be able to start work now.
The gameplay of Ark: Survival Ascended spans across various worlds, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ark Genesis Part 1, and Ark Genesis Part 2. At launch, players can explore The Island, with subsequent expansion worlds to be added regularly. Ark: Survival Ascended will feature its own content roadmap, including gameplay and quality-of-life improvements, new downloadable content (DLC), seasonal events, and more.
One of the most significant additions to ASA is the cross-platform modding support facilitated by Overwolf and CurseForge, Marchand said. For the first time, PC-crafted ARK mods will be compatible with consoles, extending the reach of modders and enriching the gaming experience for players across different platforms.
“That’s possible thanks to Unreal Engine 5,” Marchand said.
Mod authors are already creating exciting new content, such as dinosaurs, structures, and weapons, while game studios like Blue Isle Studios and Skymap Games are developing premium mods akin to DLC-level content, Marchand said.
In addition to the extensive gameplay enhancements, ARK: Survival Ascended introduces the Ascended Physics System, which incorporates advanced physics features such as dynamic water and interactive physical foliage.
Players will witness realistic interactions as creatures move through fluids, causing waves, ripples, splashes, and bubbles. The environment will respond dynamically to character actions, including the demolition of buildings, with debris interacting with grass and water as it falls.
The game also boasts extensive quality-of-life improvements, including redesigned user interfaces, intelligent creature pathfinding, Wild Babies, Photo Mode, new camera systems, a new Map system, Tracking System, new Structures and Items, new Creatures, and more.
ARK: Survival Ascended supports various multiplayer options, including public online multiplayer for up to 70 players, private-session multiplayer for up to 8 players, and local split-screen for 2 to 4 players.
Players can also form online tribes across different gaming platforms, allowing for cross-platform multiplayer experiences. Console and Windows PC players will have this capability at launch, with Steam PC players joining the cross-platform battle in December 2023.
To celebrate the release of Ark: Survival Ascended, Overwolf and Studio Wildcard will host an official modding competition. The competition will feature two tracks: one for DLC-level, premium mods created by game studios and another for modders. A total prize pool of $350,000 will be awarded to the most creative cross-platform mods that transform the Ark: Survival Ascended experience, Marchand said.
“Ark: Survival Ascended provides an evergreen adventure that re-energizes the classic-ARK experience, one that will continue to grow and leverages the latest tech advancements with UE5, as well as what we’ve been working on with the ARK Franchise as a whole,” said Jeremy Stieglitz, co-creative director at Studio Wildcard, in a statement. “With ARK 2’s direction as a Souls-like adventure, we realize our community still wants and loves the original ARK. ASA enables that original ARK experience to thrive in next-gen quality with continued developer support as well as the exciting growth from UGC creators.”
ARK: Survival Ascended is now available on Steam for a limited time price of $40.49 (MSRP $44.99), with the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions set to launch in November.
“In Ark the creative community has developed and shared a wide range of impressive mods that PC players enjoy,” said Thomas Williamson, CEO and technical director at Grove Street Games, in a statement. “We’re excited to bring these to the console players as well, so now all Survivors have access to the brilliant mods that enhance and evolve the ARK experience.”
Grove Street Games has been around since 2007 and it is based in Gainsville, Florida. Instinct Games is based in Egypt and it was founded in 2011.
GamesBeat’s creed when covering the game industry is “where passion meets business.” What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you — not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.


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The Brown Derby on Tulane Avenue just got a Bitcoin ATM
The Future of Money: Bitcoin and Other CryptocurrencyThe Baton Rouge machine, as well as those yet to be installed, allow consumers to buy bitcoin with fiat currency, but not convert bitcoin to US Dollars.
Host Bitcoin ATM
Starting A Bitcoin ATM Company, Looking For A BusinessBut with its new ATM, it is also seeking to be a haven bitcoin enthusiasts.
July 31, 2017. LinkedIn 0. Building Business Capability Orlando FL November 6.Bitcoin will take another step toward becoming a mainstream currency as.More than two dozen businesses in the Portland area accept the digital currency bitcoin and now the city has its second bitcoin ATM.Bitcoin is a digital currency used to purchase products online.There is lot of untapped potential as many countries like India yet do not have any Bitcoin ATMs.Shortly after launching the machine in the city of Sliema, the owner.
The Bitcoin ATM: Possible, yes. Marketable...? | ATM
Fifteen minutes later, the machine was ready to be turned on.There are several new bitcoin machine installations worldwide daily.
Culture Desk The Unlikely Return of Cat Stevens By Howard Fishman 4.
Portland gets a second bitcoin ATM - Portland Business JournalHayley Ringle covers technology and startups for the Phoenix Business Journal.
We manufacture reliable and affordable buy and sell bitcoin kiosks.Cryptocurrency meets cash at new bitcoin ATM in Fells Point. But adding the ATM could help raise awareness,.Chris Yim dropped out of Wharton with buddy Kyle Powers in 2013 to launch the first U.S. Bitcoin ATM startup.Bitcoin ATMs Boom: New Locations. without access to a Bitcoin ATM,. and he is mainly using it to learn about the business.
First bitcoin ATMs coming to Los Angeles - LA TimesCoinOutlet CEO Eric Grill, right, demonstrates how to use his Bitcoin ATM.Coin ATM Radar is the premier online destination for information on the nascent Bitcoin ATM industry.
Culture Desk The 2017 Emmy Awards: A Great Night for Television, Except for Sean Spicer By Michael Schulman 3.Leading japanese ATM manufacturer OKI has entered into Bitcoin ATM business.They are launching their first line of Bitcoin ATMs this month.The OKI electric company.He explained that a manager who was away that morning had made the Coinsource decision.While operating a Bitcoin ATM is an exciting. and ultimately the launch of your bitcoin ATM business.The statement also warned institutions against the risk of investing in Bitcoin because of the extremely volatile price.The machine, available for sale to individual operators such as banks and private entrepreneurs, allows users to buy or sell Bitcoin in just a few minutes.
Commentary, news and updates on the businesses involved in Bitcoin and Blockchain technology.Antidomingo is a bar and restaurant, where one can hear live music and eat.In order to operate a lucrative BTM business, many costs and risks need to be considered.While it did not outlaw individuals from owning Bitcoin, it specifies that it is not to be considered a currency.
Lawsuit Accuses Bitcoin ATM Owner of Smashing CompetingBitcoin ATM manufacturer Lamassu has released new data that aims to illustrate that its core product is profitable for owners.Cryoptocurrency service provider Point of Coin has announced the grand opening of its first bitcoin ATM in the Westfield Mall, located at 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall.Friday, November 13 2015 will be recorded in the local history books as the day on which the Hampshire Bitcoin ATM was made available to.
In a makeshift office - a living room crowded with desks, monitors and a beanbag chair - programmers are hacking away on computers, aiming to make their mark on the.


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Virtual games specialist supplier Kiron has marked its entry into the Colombian market after going live with BetPlay, Corredor Empresarial ‘s online arm.
Under the deal, customers of BetPlay can gain access to Kiron’s games range, including its virtual GOAL football app, as well as virtual horse and greyhound racing, car racing, table tennis, match roulette and keno.
Kiron’s co-CEO Steven Spartinos has said: “As Colombia’s most popular online betting brand, BetPlay is the perfect partner to enter the promising Colombian market and we are incredibly proud to be the first provider of virtual games in the country.
“The deal reflects the growing demand for our portfolio on a global level and we have no doubts that our games will gain quick success with local players, offering exciting fixed-odds betting options 24/7 on an array of popular virtual sports.”
The integration of Kiron’s BetMan Online RGS, facilitated through the platform of Salsa Technology, will equip BetPlay with a range of high frequency betting markets across multiple virtual sporting events and number games, marking the first time players in Colombia will be able to try their hand at virtual content.
The launch of Kiron into Colombia supports the company’s growth strategy to expand into both mature and emerging markets around the globe.
German Segura, BetPlay ‘s CEO, added: “We are thrilled that our partnership with Kiron has allowed us to be the first operator to offer virtuals in Colombia, and we have every expectation that they will be an instant hit with our customers.
“We have so far been incredibly impressed with the support and flexibility Kiron has offered us when integrating their BetMan platform and look forward to gaining access to even more quality titles when they become available.”


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Van Anh (VTV reporter residing in the Middle East)–Tuesday, June 7, 2022 12:05 GMT+7
Indians love mangoes and they take pride in their mangoes too. The country currently grows more than 1,500 varieties of mango, which are exported around the world, accounting for 55% of global production. This year, however, Indian mangoes are facing a painful reality – yields have fallen by up to 80%. The record-breaking heat in March and April ruined the flowering period of mangoes, while erratic rains caused pests to thrive.
The president of the All India Mango Growers Association said he had never seen such a drastic drop in mango production in his entire life.
The traditional mango season of India is from March to June. This is one of the main export items of this country, each year exporting to the world nearly 50,000 tons. India’s Times Now newspaper reported that, after rice and wheat, mango is the next crop to fall victim to an unusually intense heat wave in the past few months. The price of mangoes sold domestically in India has now surpassed Rs 100/kg (more than VND 30,000).
Mango production in India has fallen sharply.
The current situation makes New Delhi worry that it will lose its export market share, especially in the leading markets of Indian mangoes such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar or Kuwait.
The unusually hot weather is having direct consequences on life, the Indian economy from severe electricity shortages, crop failure.. The Economic Times of India said that this is a vivid proof of the problems. challenges India is facing, to ensure Food Security in the context of Climate Change.
The heat in March in India is a record for more than 120 years, April is a record in 50 years. However, now, according to Indian scientists, the probability of such heat waves has increased 30 times. While the north of India is hot and sunny, the south is pouring rain, not according to any rules.
Farmers have always considered rain and sunshine as a matter of heaven, so they accepted. But now climate change seems to be pushing Indian farmers to the threshold of tolerance.
As noted by the Postal Service of India, mango fruit production has actually been continuously declining for the past 3 years because of inclement weather. As of this year, as recorded in a gardener, there are only less than 5 trees left in 100 trees. Not only mango, wheat, rice… tomato production in India is also suffering heavy losses, down to 80% in some places.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vtv.vn – Read the original article here


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The new Freightliner Coronado SD is designed for rugged vocational applications.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Freightliner has introduced a new severe-service version of its Coronado truck.
The Coronado Severe Duty (SD) is aimed at the toughest vocational applications, the company announced when unveiling the new model at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exhibition.
“The flagship vocational product for Freightliner Trucks, the Coronado SD encompasses Freightliner’s most advanced technological innovations, resulting in a versatile product that is built to perform and work,” said Richard Shearing, director of product strategy for Freightliner Trucks.
The Coronado SD is available in set-back and set-forward axle configurations. Features include a durable fiberglass hood and fenders made of impact-absorbing material to minimize the risk of damage and cracking. A one-piece stainless steel grille surround is accented with chrome steel horizontal bars.
New headlights feature single, high-tech reflectors for improved lighting. The new truck also has new doors that the truck maker says are built lighter yet sturdier, to minimize mirror vibration.
“We created a truck strong enough to tackle the most extreme elements,” said Shearing. “Everything about the Coronado SD was carefully developed and built to keep it running and earning revenue in any environment.”
“We understand that every minute counts, so we developed the Coronado SD to keep customers out of the shop and on the job longer,” added Melissa Clausen, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. “Our new design elements enable drivers to easily make adjustments on their own, keeping repair costs and downtime to a minimum.”
The Coronado SD retains the Coronado’s distinctive chrome steel intakes on either side of the hood, however the intakes are aerodynamically-designed, the company points out. The Coronado SD also features a new single air filter with improved filtration capabilities. An optional pre-cleaner creates a vortex effect to spin dust and heavy water particles out of the air and away from the engine.
User-friendly features include a 90-degree hood tilt for easy access to engine components and easily-replaceable headlight bulbs.
“We focused on and have delivered what is needed to get the job done – a resilient and sturdy truck that is easily maintained out of the shop,” said Clausen.
Inside the cab, the Coronado SD boasts a new dash design with well-lit gauges and controls and switches strategically placed within easy reach of the driver, Freightliner claims. It also reduced the number of joints in the dash to cut down on squeaks and rattles.
“Vocational applications are often loud, dirty and distracting at jobsites, so we created a quiet interior for drivers,” said Shearing.
The new Coronado SD will be available with Detroit Diesel DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines as well as the Cummins ISX.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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Study: Chocolate protects the heart
We all know that many women love chocolate. But does chocolate, in effect, love them back? Well, a new study provides new evidence that eating chocolate can protect a woman's heart.
Murray Middleman of Harvard Medical School and his colleagues studied 31,823 middle-aged and elderly Swedish women, examining how much chocolate the women ate compared with their risk for heart failure over a nine-year period.
Women who consumed one or two servings each week of what is considered high-quality chocolate because it contains a higher density of cocoa had a 32 percent lower risk of developing heart failure, the researchers reported in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, which is published by the American Heart Association. Those who had one to three servings per month had a 26 percent lower risk.
But women who treated themselves to at least one serving each day did not appear to benefit, the researchers found. The researchers speculate that the reason for that may be that the additional calories of eating that much chocolate instead of more nutritious foods outweighs the benefits.
Previous research has indicated that compounds in chocolate known as flavanoids lower blood pressure. The new study is the first to show over the long term that chocolate appears to protect against heart failure.
The researchers noted that in Sweden even milk chocolate has a higher cocoa concentration than dark chocolate sold in the United States. Although 90 percent of all chocolate eaten in Sweden during the study period from 1998 to 2006 was milk chocolate, it contained about 30 percent cocoa. U.S. standards require only 15 percent cocoa to qualify as dark chocolate. So American chocolate may have fewer heart benefits and more calories and fat for equivalent servings. In addition, the average serving size for Swedish women in the study ranged from 19 grams to 30 grams. In contrast, the standard American portion size is 20 grams.
So the message is that eating a little dark chocolate in moderate amounts can be healthful, as long as you don't eat so much that you gain weight.
August 16, 2010; 4:00 PM ET
Categories: Cardiovascular Health , Chronic Conditions , Nutrition and Fitness , Obesity , Women's Health
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Mark Taylor: Canada's food industry must take important lessons from the U.K.
A grocery code of conduct can reduce, if not eliminate, many of the issues that have weakened Canada’s food supply chain
We all remember the early days of the pandemic when consumers witnessed the fragility of Canada’s food supply as panic buying led to shortages of key items on store shelves. We withstood this unwelcome stress test thanks in large part to the extraordinary efforts of our country’s farmers, food manufacturers and grocery retailers, who quickly reacted to solve the immediate problems posed by the pandemic.
The return to some form of normalcy doesn’t mean that all is well. A historically fractious relationship between Canada’s food manufacturers and grocery retailers continues to threaten the long-term strength and stability of our country’s food supply, which is once again being tested, this time by an incredible inflationary strain that is raising the price of food.
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In Canada, five retailers account for 80 per cent of the grocery market. This concentration has created an imbalance in the relationship between some grocery retailers and manufacturers. Some retailers are building income streams outside of the straightforward supplier-seller relationship that consumers rarely see, including opaque listing fees, arbitrary demands for price reductions, and payments for retailer infrastructure. Left unchecked, food manufacturers will continue to be disadvantaged, resulting in less investment in infrastructure, fewer full-time jobs, and limited innovation. Ultimately, current conditions threaten the sustainability and competitiveness of an already weakened food manufacturing sector.
That’s why it’s so important that the country’s food manufacturers and grocery retailers are now meeting to design a grocery code of practice, the goal of which is to create a more balanced relationship, ultimately to better serve the needs of consumers.
As someone who spent most of my career in the United Kingdom’s dairy industry before coming to this country to serve as head of Lactalis Canada, I have experienced firsthand how a code of conduct can reduce, if not eliminate, many of the issues that have weakened Canada’s food supply chain over the past couple of decades.
Development of the U.K. code did not come without challenges. Grocery retailers had some of the same concerns that their Canadian counterparts now have, including being able to adapt business models and balance sheets that historically relied on practices that disadvantaged manufacturers.
But today, every retailer I speak to in the U.K. says the code has had a positive impact, and that early fears were unfounded. They have noticed that food manufacturers are now more likely to make investments because much of the uncertainty that existed in the retailer-manufacturer relationship has been eliminated. Data show that overall investment in the grocery sector increased, and consumer prices fell, after the code was introduced. Collaboration across supply chains has also improved, increasing resources available to work on adding value and to confront bigger challenges such as climate change.
There are three overarching principles I believe the Canadian code should seek to replicate from the U.K. experience:
Have one uniform approach across Canada with centralized, expert adjudication. Whether this can be accomplished through a voluntary code or will rely on government regulation remains to be seen; however, the U.K.’s initial attempt to create a voluntary code failed spectacularly to gain any traction, eventually requiring legislation.
Keep it simple. Whilst written into statute books, the U.K. code is not set out in legalese. Its broad language provides for discussion and collaboration between retailers and manufacturers to resolve issues before requiring adjudication. A code that everyone can understand is critical.
Focus on a “light touch” and only seek adjudication when absolutely necessary. The carrot as opposed to the stick works best.
There will no doubt be growing pains as grocery retailers and food manufacturers learn to work better together within the framework of a code of practice, but like so many things in life, the sector is stronger when we all work together.


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You’ve heard the saying “You are what you eat.”
At a workshop sponsored by the Office of Human Resource Services and the Institute for a Healthiest Maryland (IHM), Greer Huffman and Kate McManus provided tips on how to stay healthy and support local agriculture.
“By making healthy choices, you’re reducing your likelihood of suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis,” said Huffman, community outreach coordinator for IHM.
How do you maintain a healthy diet? Huffman provided some healthy how-to tips:
- Read food labels for calories, serving size, saturated and trans fats, and sodium.
- Monitor caloric intake.
- Cook at home because “you can control what you’re putting into your body and into your meals,” Huffman said.
- Reduce foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt.
- Build a healthy plate.
What constitutes a healthy plate? Huffman provided a handout from choosemyplate.gov, sponsored by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. With vegetables making up most of the meal, it’s also recommended you account for fruits, grains, protein, and dairy.
“The choosemyplate graphic is a really useful tool as it provides a visual of what a nutritious plate should look like,” Huffman said.
Besides beef and chicken, attendees also mentioned other items you can use to meet your protein requirements such as beans, oatmeal, nuts, quinoa, kale, and spinach.
McManus, director of facilities and food service, said she’s allergic to dairy and acquires calcium from other sources such as supplements, goat and sheep’s milk, and the sun.
“If you have restrictions or concerns, it’s best to speak to your doctor or a nutritionist and figure out what’s best for you,” McManus said.
The USDA also sponsors a free SuperTracker tool, which calculates calories based on your height, weight, and physical activity levels.
One way you can start building a healthy plate is by changing your shopping habits such as purchasing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share with a local farmer to receive fresh produce for half of the year.
The University hosts a CSA program with One Straw Farm.
“You buy a share for 26 weeks worth of produce, and the farm uses that money to buy seeds, fix machines, and hire labor. You’re supporting the local farmer,” McManus said.
One Straw Farm also offers organic produce (no pesticides). Program participants pick up their shares once a week. McManus recommends splitting a share, which is eight items per week.
“If you’re getting things locally, either with a CSA or at the farmers market, you know where your food is coming from,” McManus said.
For information on joining One Straw Farm’s CSA, contact McManus at firstname.lastname@example.org.
You also can visit the University Farmers Market in Park Plaza (across from the medical center entrance) every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through November. SNAP and EBT benefits are offered.
“We want to further the University community,” Huffman said, “and this is one way to do it — through healthy eating.”
For additional resources, Huffman and McManus recommend the following:
- We Can! Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition
- Maryland Department of Agriculture
— Tracy Gnadinger
Plate graphic courtesy of choosemyplate.gov. Nutrition facts graphic courtesy of FDA.


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We are still reveling in and recovering from Apple’s latest releases – iPhone 11, pro and pro max – and next thing, we hear there’s a 12 series already in the works! Apple should take it easy on us now!
thanks to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Phoneanalyst, there is now a rather convincing rendering of what the upcoming device may look like.
Most important, instead of a curved or beveled edge around the phone, we now see a design reminiscent of the revolutionary iPhone 4, with flat edges coming down the sides, turning the device into more of a slab. The top notch on the surface of the screen is also expected to be reduced in size, while a fourth additional camera will be added, speculated for AR support of Portrait Mode when shooting video.
For a better look at the renderings based on previous Apple leaks, take a look at the tweet below
— Milen Yanachkov (@MilenYanachkov) November 11, 2019


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The management of Viju Industries Limited has held the fifth edition of its Distributor’s Party to reward distributors for their support.
The event, which held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, was an opportunity for the company’s management to meet with its 127 distributors spread across the country.
Its overall best distributor, Bincon Ltd smiled home with N2.5million. Others had N1.5 million.
Head of Department, Viju Milk, Tom Hod, said the event was held to sum up results, share experience and plan for the future. He lauded the company’s distributors as the hands it uses to get to the market, and agent that has helped it grow to be one of the preferred Nigerian brands.
He said since the inception of the company in 2005, Nigeria has been a big market and doing business in the country is good, as compared with other countries, noting that it will be delving into other markets which is the production of biscuits and bottled water, before the end of the month of July, having just moved to its big factory in Ibesa, Ogun State.
“This initiative is geared towards making our distributors earn more money and ensuring that Nigerians enjoy more quality of Viju products. The diversification will make Viju the preferred beverages and milk drink for both individuals and companies.” he added.
He however lamented some of the challenges associated with doing business in the country such as inflation in raw material prices, bad roads, security and electricity.
Marketing Manager of Viju Industries Limited, Sulaiman Solomon, said the distribution of cash money is not part of the profit but its own way of appreciating its partners in progress in the business. He also noted that in the last 2 years, it has lost its market in the entire north due to the insecurity challenges and other infrastructural decadence associated with doing business.
Charles Isintume of Pico Industries, who spoke on behalf of the distributors, urged the company to look at price control and uniformity to achieve a symbiotic relationship. He however asked for a formidable price and for the company to work out a savings scheme for the distributors that can help them cater for expenses when needed.
The company has over 2000 workers, comprising both Chinese and Nigerians.


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Usain Bolt’s Mobility company unveiled a two-seater, all-electric and zero-emission vehicle, named the Bolt Nano at the VivaTech conference in Paris last Thursday. The Nano, which will begin deliveries next year, is expected to start at $9,999.
Mobility is currently taking refundable deposits of $999 to reserve a Nano, which has an interchangeable battery. The vehicle, which was launched the same week that the company announced its new e-scooter in Paris, can accommodate a driver in the front and a passenger in the back.
Bolt Mobility, a rideshare company, provides carbon-free e-scooters that users can locate via app and pay for through their account in cities around the world. In the US, it costs $1 to unlock a vehicle and then 15 cents per minute to drive it.
In an interview with CNBC, Bolt said that this new venture was inspired by his time traveling as a professional athlete. “Through my times as a track athlete, I’ve learned that the cities around the world need help with congestion.” The Olympic track star, who co-founded the company with Sarah Haynes, hopes to reduce traffic and reliance on “personal vehicles” by working with city governments to “weave transportation alternatives into the fabric of urban environments.”
“The cities that we have today are the same ones that have been there for centuries, and they’re not made for this many cars,” Haynes said, adding that sustainability is also integrated into the vehicles, which are customized from recycled parts.
The Bolt Nano responds to the way that people are currently moving around urban areas with ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, as well as bicycle sharing services. Aside from Bolt’s electric scooter, other companies such as Bird and Lime, allow users to locate and hire electric scooters through their smartphone.
Some countries have placed restrictions on e-scooters. In the UK, e-scooters are classified as “powered transporters,” which means they are considered “motor vehicles” and cannot be used public roads without adhering to requirements, which makes it difficult to rent them as a tourist. Also, using powered transporters on sidewalks and bike lanes is prohibited.
Last March, however, the government announced, “the biggest review into transport in a generation,” which will consider regulations concerning vehicles such as e-scooters and e-cargo bike trailers.
The Nano two-seater offers greater maneuverability in congested areas with limited parking. In fact, four Nano vehicles can fit into s standard parking space. The company’s first four-wheeler, it’s been in development for the last two years. Although it’s uncertain were the Bolt Nano will be first launched, the company, which is established in both the US and Europe, says we can expect to see Nanos in many more markets in the coming months.


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Amazon has, for the first time since its release in April of last year, listed the Amazon Fire TV as “currently unavailable” with the subtext: “we don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that Amazon will never sell the device again, but it’s a pretty strong indication that they’ve exhausted their supply and are not in a rush to produce more. For example, the Certified Refurbished Fire TV has been listed as “currently unavailable” in the past, only to be made available once again. Speaking of the refurbished Fire TV, Amazon has added a box to the Fire TV’s product page directing customers to purchase the refurbished version.
We’ve been seeing more and more indication that a new Fire TV is just around the corner, so this change in the Fire TV’s availability is another big sign of a new model on the horizon. Ever since Prime Day, the Fire TV has been mostly listed as out of stock with the availability date periodically moving further away. Yesterday, the Fire TV was listed as being in stock near the end of the month. It’s telling that the device is being listed as unavailable instead of just listing a distant availability date. The Fire TV Stick Non-Voice Remote, for example, has been listed as out of stock with the message “usually ships within 2 to 4 months” ever since Prime Day. While it might as well be listed as unavailable, the key difference is that you can still place an order an item with a distant availability date, like the non-voice remote, but you cannot place an order for something listed as unavailable, like the Fire TV is now listed.
When refurbished Fire TVs first became available back in November, they were being sold for $79. The price increase to $94, where they stand now, occurred a few months ago in June. It may be that Amazon just has a large stockpile of refurbished Fire TVs that they want to sell, so making the Fire TV unavailable is their way of redirecting customers to the refurbished units. Time will tell, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Fire TV’s availability.
8/16 7:38 am PT The Fire TV availability now seems to be bouncing back and forth between being unavailable and being in stock at the end of August.
8/20 4:57 am PT The Fire TV is now listed as “In stock on August 27, 2015.”
Whether it’s right around the corner or not, I’m really curious to see what the next generation brings…. and the price point.
I’m guessing Amazon will follow the Kindle model. Same price at release but with improved specs: new processor, maybe more RAM, definitely more storage (16gb?)
Perhaps the new device (or its remote) will be always listening and offer the Alexa service that we see in the Amazon Echo. I hope not.
Do any other stores carry the fire tv other than Staples & Best Buy?
New fire tv’s are still available on the UK Amazon
Sorry, we can’t deliver this item to the United States
“In stock on August 23, 2015. “
currently, back in stock
I think they are waiting for the Apple event and see if a new Appel TV device comes out. If so, they will know if they need to have a new price point, specs, etc. It is an exciting time, that is for sure.
…and we’ll see if people that invested in Apple TV and were constantly disappointed that there was no app ecosystem added, etc and have moved on are willing to move to a new piece of hardware when Apple could have paid attention to the current one over the past years. It would have to be AMAZING to get me back on board. I have my Apple TV 3rd gen and never use it.
I’m more likely to upgrade my Fire TV or just keep using it because it already kicks Apple TV’s ass and I’m sure any future version will do the same.
I’m with you Pete. I never use my Apple TV anymore and I have migrated to Amazon for all my media purchases. If you look at the rumored specs on the new Apple TV it seems to be nothing more than a copy of the Fire TV. Interested to see what, if any, new features it will have. Otherwise, I will stick with the Fire which does everything I want and more.
These are out of stock at all Best Buys in Phoenix. I need a second unit. Hopefully they release this soon or I may just snag the Nvidia Shield TV.
I think they are going to phase out the Fire Tv. The Fire Tv Stick sold like hotcakes. I can see them just doing away with the Fire TV desktop(or whatever you want to call it) no reason to keep it if the other is selling sooo much better.
Its a pity tho. I’d pay a premium to have a Fire TV desktop with expandable memory(SD card), multiple USB ports, fastest available cpu/gpu, 3+ gigs of ram and 64+ GB internal space.
I think the biggest reason the stick sold so well was due to crushing the competition at it’s price point. I think if we see a $100 stick, the sales won’t be quite as hot. If they offer a prime, pre order discount, I’m in.
Still available in Germany as well.
I can power the stick from the USB port on the back of my TV. It turns a cheap tv into a high powered smart tv. The stick is definitely sluggish compared to the box, but it’s tolerable.
Thanks for that last comment. I have the FireTV and my son has the stick. The stick is [seems] sooooooo slow to react to the remote, I was beginning to believe there was interference or something.
I own both, and the stick definitely has some input lag. It is ok if you never used the box, but if you own both it is really annoying. Surprised by the lag, since the stick is still pretty powerful, especially compared to Roku for instance.
Amazon now shows the Fire TV available by August 23, 2015. Fire TV stick is available now.
This could just be something more related to lack of supply and they’re just manufacturing new units, but now that we know AFTV box & stick ate getting OS 5, I think maybe they’re slowing down production so they can market the devices that now feature a new OS which judging by the kindle preview is going to be a lot different than the old one at least in terms of looks.
Great article. For those who live outside US like me, you can access Netflix, Hulu and similar media stations on your Amazon Fire TV by using UnoTelly or similar tools.
Dont put time in Fire TV, it has the most worst interface on the market (launcher)! I thought Sony Android TV was the one, but it can be worst. Better spent a little bit more and buy the NVIDIA Shield TV, now with Android 8.0 on it you will have the complete freedom to put on your screen what you want…


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Oklahoma State University has “discovered” a new cut of beef that used to be minced for use in burgers, which they are calling the Vegas Strip Steak. The university won't reveal where exactly this steak can be found, because it's trying to patent it.
A combined team at the university's Food and Agricultural Products Centre (FAPC), the Technology Development Centre and university restaurant The Ranchers Club have worked to brand and market the cut of beef.
Meat researcher Tony Mata, said of the mysterious meat: "Initially, the cut was labelled as undervalued. This muscle produces a steak that is on par with, or better than, today's most popular steaks."
Jacob Nelson, a meat processing specialist at FAPC, said, "The department of animal science provided some preliminary objective evaluation of beef steak tenderness attributes." According to the team's analysis (to be taken with a hefty pinch of salt and pepper), their steak is more tender than a butlers' or club steak and doesn't require a long time to age.
Once they had discovered a muscle that could produce a steak, the next step was to try to protect the carcass. This is where the Technology Development Centre stepped in to provide patent guidance. The Ranchers Club subsequently hosted a series of tastings.
The Vegas Strip Steak then had its moment in the spotlight at the illustrious-sounding "Protein Innovation Summit" in Chicago in April.
Steve Price, the associate vice president for technology development at Oklahoma State University, told NPR's Jacob Goldstein: "It's an un-obvious chunk of meat that has just been sititng there—a little diamond surrounded by a bunch of coal. The patent actually claims the kind of knife strokes that you make in order to create this cut of meat. You take this muscle, you make cuts here, here, and here, and you end up with this Vegas Strip Steak."
Traditionally recipes or fashion haven't been patented. That's why companies like Coca-Cola and KFC have opted to make their recipes a "trade secret." The advantage of this route is that trade secrets don't expire, but the downside is that they can be stolen. The OSU team has decided to go the patent route because the cutting technique and location of the "steak" would have to be taught to any manufacturing plant that wanted to sell the steak—meaning that it would be hard to keep it as a trade secret. Instead, they want to get meat plants to acquire a license to produce and sell the steak.


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Pop Up Farmer's Market Saturday in Geneseo
Shoppers will find a wide selection of Valentine gift ideas at the “Pop Up” Farmer’s Market tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 13) in downtown Geneseo. The Market will be featured from 9 a.m. to noon at area businesses.
Jill Darin, Geneseo Farmer’s Market coordinator who volunteers her time with the program, said she came up with “something different to promote shopping local and to support the Farmer’s Market and local businesses, and we are hoping shoppers will stay downtown and eat lunch.”
She is in charge of the weekly Farmer’s Market held on Saturdays from June through October in the street by Geneseo City Park, and said, “We are having a ‘pop up’ market since it’s to cold and snowy to be at the park.”
“It’s something new and we are going to try it,” she said.
The “Pop Up” Farmer’s Market vendors will offer a variety of baked goods, painted and glass artwork, face coverings, sewn crafts and local author Steve Kastorff with the books he has written about Geneseo.
Darin said, “It’s a great way to get sweets and a gift for Valentine’s Day.”
Vendors will be located at the Geneseo locations:
-Geneseo Brewing Company, 102 South State St.
-Four Seasons, 110 South State St.
-JW’s Shooting Parlor, 207 North State St.
-My Moon Creations, 104 South State St.
-Pegasus, 117 South State St.
-Smith Studio and Gallery, 124 South State St.


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India’s third-largest drugmaker by sales, Lupin, has diversified into biosimilars — cheaper versions of expensive biotech drugs — in a bid to stimulate growth amid a slowdown in recent years. Lupin plans to supplement its traditional business in generics and specialty drugs with biosimilars slated for launch in Japan, Europe and other markets by the end of the year, Lupin Biotech President Cyrus Karkaria told the Nikkei Asian Review.
The market for biosimilars is now dominated by bigger players, such as Switzerland-based Novartis and American groups Amgen and Pfizer, as well as South Korea’s Celltrion. The entry of a major Indian drugmaker will heat up competition.
More than 100 Indian biopharmaceutical companies are engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of biosimilars, consultancy Frost & Sullivan estimates.
Lupin suffered another setback in December when the FDA raised concerns about its Mandideep facility in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The plant is now subject to regulatory or administrative action, and the FDA may withhold approval of any pending applications that list the facility. The company announced on May 15 that net profit after exceptional items increased to 6 billion rupees ($85.4 million) for the year ended in March, but that was only one-fourth the level of two years ago.
HDFC Securities analyst Amey Chalke feels that while a number of Indian companies have a head start in biosimilars, Lupin took a different route: first establishing itself in the U.S. with legacy products as regulators sorted out rules for the relatively new biotech sector. “What [Lupin] is also trying to do now is to build niche products that have fewer potential competitors,” Chalke said.


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Airtours back on buy trail
Airtours chairman David Crossland today revealed a war chest of more than £700 million and pronounced the company ready and willing to try another big deal after this year's double disappointment of losing First Choice and German travel agency Deutsches Reisebüro.
As well as £500 million in the bank, Crossland said £210 million in five-year debt had been raised through Citibank. He declined to name his target but said: 'The major areas of opportunity are in Germany and the US and in hotels in leisure resorts.'
He said Airtours would not change its acquisitive nature despite its estimated £300 million bid for Deutsches Reisebüro being trumped just weeks after competition authorities blocked the £1 billion move for First Choice.
'Sure it is disappointing...but we have very large cash reserves allowing us to make very large acquisitions as they come up. Thomson and First Choice do not have that flexibility,' he said.
Crossland blamed Airtours' poor share performance - the price has plunged from 540p to as low as 329p since the blocking of the First Choice bid - on being judged on sector sentiment rather than company credentials. He said: 'You've got to go back to fundamentals. We've got the best management and the best balance book, and next summer's bookings are up by 29%.'
He added that strong winter demand was disguising a dearth of activity around the millennium holiday and warned that first-quarter results would be weaker than last year's because of this. However, he stressed his confidence for the coming year as a whole.
The market took his words to heart and sent the shares up 12p to 341p as pre-tax profits for the year to end-September rose 12% to £156.5 million, in line with expectations. After bid costs of £4.5 million and £1.1 million of amortised goodwill, the post-exceptional figure was £150.9 million.
Total turnover grew by 23% to £3.77 billion. Continental European income, boosted by a strong performance from the Scandinavian business, passed the £1 billion mark for the first time, up 13% at £1.104 billion.
Diluted earnings per share are 5% higher at 24.2p and a final dividend of 6.6p raises the total to 8.25p, up 7.5%.
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According to the latest research by the UK Gambling Commission, the casino market in the United Kingdom is set to reach its all-time high (ATH) in 2023. This means that more people are likely to be attracted to gambling venues, resulting in more considerable revenue for operators and more significant expenditure of cash by players. The research also highlighted that while online casinos continue to gain traction, land-based venues remain popular with locals and tourists alike. As such, this could mean more opportunities for both operators and players alike in terms of attractive bonuses and other incentives. It also presents an ideal opportunity for those looking to invest in this lucrative industry, as demand is expected to rise along with profits within the next few years.
Exploring how different gaming regulations affect the growth of UK casino revenues
The UK gambling industry is arguably one of the most heavily regulated in the world, and this, quite expectedly, has a direct impact on the growth of casino revenues. Different gaming regulations can affect how these UK gambling sites operate, what games they offer, and how much money they can make. For instance, some regulations may limit the number of slot machines that a casino can have or restrict certain types of games from being offered. Other restrictions may require casinos to pay taxes on their profits or impose limits on how much money customers can spend at any given time. All these factors play an important role in determining the overall profitability of a casino and its ability to generate revenue. By minutely examining how different gaming regulations affect the growth of UK casino revenues, operators can better plan for future success and ensure that their businesses remain profitable in an ever-changing market.
What factors are driving the UK casino revenue to reach Its ATH in 2023?
The UK casino industry is expected to reach its all-time high in 2023, with revenue estimated to exceed £5 billion. Astounding number, right? How did this happen, and what was this growth driven by?
This growth was primarily driven by the increasing popularity of online gambling and the introduction of new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. But there are, naturally, other crucial factors to this end. The UK government has also supported the industry, introducing legislation that allows for more flexible opening hours and increased advertising opportunities. Next in line is the rise in disposable income among consumers, which has led to an increase in spending on leisure activities such as gambling. And, of course, the emergence of new casinos across the country has helped to drive up demand for gaming services.
How will this increased revenue impact the UK economy?
The increased revenue from taxes and other sources will indubitably have a positive impact on the UK economy. It will help to reduce the budget deficit, allowing for more government spending on public services such as healthcare and education. This could lead to an increase in employment opportunities, which would further stimulate economic growth. The additional funds could also be used to invest in infrastructure projects, such as roads and railways, creating jobs and boosting productivity. Furthermore, the extra money could be used to reduce personal taxation or provide tax breaks for businesses, encouraging investment and entrepreneurship. All these factors combined should result in a more robust economy with higher levels of prosperity for all citizens.


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Exports down by 4.3% in December. Industrial production down by 2.9% in the same month. An economy on the skids? It certainly looks that way. Are we talking about Greece? No. Portugal? Think again.
The economy in question here is Germany, which has started to post the sort of data that smacks of a double-dip recession in Europe's biggest economy.
Consider the evidence. Germany is an export-driven economy but its main markets – the rest of the eurozone, the UK, the US, China – have all seen a sharp slowdown in growth in the second half of 2011. During that period, the most significant German export was austerity, which has now come back to haunt Berlin through diminished demand for the industrial goods produced by the Mittelstand. Total export orders were almost 9% lower in the final two months of 2011 from their peak in June-July.
But the domestic economy is also suffering. Imports were down by 3.9% in December, so there is little hope that countries like Greece can export their way out of trouble, even if they accept the terms of their new bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Germany has already admittted that it is on course to suffer a drop in gross domestic product of around 0.25% in the fourth quarter of 2011, although the figures for industrial output and exports released this week suggest the drop may be bigger than that. Order books are weak, which suggests that the downturn could persist into the first three months of 2012.
All of which illustrates why Angela Merkel is growing increasingly impatient with Athens over the failure to sign off on the new austerity plan. Germany can ill afford an intensification of the Greek crisis, especially if there are ripple effects across the rest of Europe.
Clearly, the lesson that should be learned from Germany's renewed flirtation with recession is that there needs to be a crash rethink of blanket austerity – a strategy that is sucking demand out of the European economy and making it harder to bring down budget deficits.
Germany may, however, decide that the moral of this story is that it is suffering too high a price for keeping the single currency together – and that the stragglers need to be cut loose, perhaps once the French presidential election is over.


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The account includes all five of GM's brands -- Cadillac, Hummer, Chevrolet, GMC and Saab -- as well as the after sales and corporate business.
In addition to developing and implementing integrated PR campaigns for the respective brands, Memac Ogilvy PR will be responsible for executing GM's corporate public relations and Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.
Memac Ogilvy PR, which is based in Dubai and is part of the Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide network, won the account after initially pitching against 11 other agencies. Those 11 were whittled down to four and Memac was chosen to replace incumbent Hill & Knowlton, which decided to withdraw from the tender process and cease working with the auto manufacturer.
The appointment comes as General Motors experiences record growth in all areas of the business in the Middle East.
Ronald Howes, managing director of Memac Ogilvy, said: "This is a significant win for MOPR and one that I am proud of. This is not only because of the importance of General Motors as an automotive leader, but also because of GM's brilliant track record in the Middle East and their expansive growth potential."
Edmond Moutran, chairman of Memac Ogilvy, is in the process of selling a further 30% of his business to WPP. The move would give WPP a controlling stake of 70%.


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Buhari promises to address foreign exchange supply to manufacturers for import
Buhari said this during an advocacy visit by the leadership of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), led by Mansur Ahmed, to the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday.
The president, who was responding to calls to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the Nigerian economy, said the relevant ministry would reconsider its concerns about increasing excise duties on identified products and other issues related to the Nigerian economy. prices.
Regarding the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the President said Nigeria will speed up the process of setting up the designated competent authority that will oversee the administration of rules of origin and the Commission as well as the automation of the issuance of the electronic certificate of origin. .
According to him, the federal government will also ensure that relevant structured platforms are established for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the ease of doing business and improving government sponsorship of products made in Nigeria.
Our strategic plan to boost manufacturing activity in the country is on track.
” We will continue to improve sponsorship of locally produced products, bridge the gap between the skills required by industry and those provided by our higher education institutions, and ensure transparent access to long-term funding for our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
” We recognize that MAN remains a key stakeholder in this journey and we will continue our engagement with you,” he said.
According to the president, an economy led by the private sector is the way to create jobs in the country.
He therefore urged MAN leaders to continue to encourage manufacturers to have the government recognize the resilience of their members and other private sector organizations in promoting a manly manufacturing sector in Nigeria.
”I beg you to continue to support the government in our quest to provide the appropriate environment which will attract the necessary investments both domestic and foreign for the nation’s economy to flourish, ‘‘ he said.
Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on global economies, the President noted that while the pandemic has negatively impacted the Nigerian economy with the accompanying fluctuations in the price of oil, his administration has effectively contained the spread of the pandemic. and other diseases.
He added that the federal government would continue to systematically deploy prudent means of using limited revenues wisely to support the economy and stimulate growth.
President Buhari also reiterated that despite limited resources, his government has made good progress in developing road and rail infrastructure.
He said the government had also provided stimulus packages for the manufacturing sector; improving energy management and supporting exporters with a view to improving the operating environment for businesses in Nigeria.
These projects are there for everyone.
In addition, we are vigorously pursuing reforms on the ease of doing business and are putting in place other necessary policy measures and incentives that will ensure a full recovery from the consequences of COVID-19, support economic development and further protect the environment. economics of the potential impact of fluctuations in the price of crude oil on the world market.
“ I have listened carefully to all of the challenges listed by the president of MAN and I want to assure you that, as we have done in the recent past, we will take into consideration some of the constraints that have not yet been fully addressed. addressed, in particular those that align with our policies and programs for economic recovery and sustainable development.
‘“Let me assure you that this administration is fully aware that Nigeria’s survival lies in agriculture and in having a viable domestic manufacturing sector.
” I must emphasize here that when I say Agriculture, I am also referring to agro-allied activities which are the value-added component in the value chain.
” A strong manufacturing sector creates more jobs and wealth for our people.
“It will usher in lasting economic prosperity because we will produce what we consume as a nation and generate foreign exchange by exporting surpluses and substituting imports.”‘ he said.
In her speech, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum pledged that the ministry would continue to work with MAN in the areas of politics, trade and environment creation to facilitate business growth in Nigeria.
MAN is in business to create a climate of opinion in this country so that manufacturers can operate efficiently and profitably for the benefit of all,” she said.
For his part, the president of MAN said that the advocacy visit was largely motivated by two things: namely, to thank the president for all the support given to the manufacturing sector since he took office in 2015, and to seek the urgent support of the federal government. for the manufacturing sector to overcome the constraining constraints of competitive manufacturing in Nigeria.
Regarding the challenges facing the sector, Ahmed said the association has formulated corrective measures for these challenges in the Master Plan for the Accelerated Manufacturing Development in Nigeria, which would be formally presented to the President in the first quarter of 2022. .
He did, however, point out some challenges that could be addressed immediately in order to improve the manufacturing environment.
They include: inadequate supply of foreign currency, inadequate power supply, limited access to long-term funds, sponsorship of Nigerian-made products and local content development, impending tax rate increases, among others .
Ahmed also took the opportunity to officially present the association’s new logo and annual report to President Buhari.


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For some reason (we’re not entirely sure why either), insurance aggregator firm Comparethemarket.com.au has compared the sizes and calorie content of some of the world’s most popular fast foods from country to country (check out the full results in the infographic below).
The results revealed that a Canadian KFC Original Recipe Burger is 35 grams larger than its Australian counterpart, and packs in 122 more calories!
Interestingly, even foods that shared similar sizes with one another still varied in their caloric content. A Krispy Kreme original glazed donut from Australia weighs in at 52 grams per serving size, as does its Singapore counterpart.
The opposite was true when we compared Hungry Jacks/Burger King Whoppers. Japan and Australia share very similar sized (only a 2 gram difference between them). However, the calorie split between them is huge: 750 calories in Japan, opposed to 693 in Australia.
Perhaps most fascinating is what we found out about a beverage many of us consider to be reasonably healthy: Boost Juice. The good news is that – comparative to other countries, Australia doesn’t overdo it with the calories. While we have the largest serving size for an original size All Berry Bang, the UK still tops the list for calories: 392 kCal, versus 349 for an Aussie one.
Check out the full results here…
By Suzanne Mitchell, Senior Director of Marketing at GoDaddy Australia As 2021 dawns in Australia, it does so with greater stability and hope for businesses and individuals than since the pandemic intensified locally last March. The Covid-induced digital transformation boom has created, in its wake, a hyper-individualised world whereby audiences have more control over what, […]
To celebrate brands going “above and beyond to act with purpose”, Mumpower has announced its first-ever consumer choice awards. The ‘Vote on Purpose’ Australian Business Award 2021 aims to crown Australia’s favourite purpose-driven company, with Mumpower now calling on both corporations and Mum shoppers to nominate a value-led company or a specific brand campaign that […]
Sports fans will have to pay $10 a month to sign up for Stan Sport when it launches later this year, according to reports. The Nine-owned Sydney Morning Herald, is today reporting that Stan (also owned by Nine) will offer Stan Sport as a supplementary service, meaning fans must also have a subscription to Stan’s […]
Global creative platform Shutterstock has launched the 10th anniversary edition of its annual Creative Trends Report, highlighting the trends that will inspire creative expression and ingenuity in 2021. Announcing the report, Shutterstock creative director Flo Lau said that, after the year that was, the company was encouraged by the “positivity, originality, and resilience displayed by […]
Outgoing and twice impeached President Donald Trump released a pre-recorded farewell as he departed Washington. But many of the US’ major networks didn’t show it. Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter in the wake of his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on 6 January. His personal account on YouTube has also been suspended […]
New data from Facebook shows that an initiative aimed at supporting local news publishers is showing early signs of success. Australian and New Zealand publishers participating in the Facebook Journalism Project’s Reader Revenue Accelerator in 2019 and through 2020 secured more than 24,000 new paying subscribers and more than 160,000 new loyal readers (whether through […]


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The Covid-19 crisis disrupted international trade and left many producers of clothing without buyers. In Ethiopia, the drops in local and global demand put high pressure on enterprises of any size in the sector as several orders from China, the United States and Europe were cancelled on short notice. An Ethiopian textile company now found a new sales avenue for its re-usable face masks and t-shirts through leverist.de.
When lockdowns froze business operations around the world, companies based in Hawassa Industrial Park, Ethiopia, were hit hard. The eco-park is operated as a green industrial zone for apparel and textile that recycles about 90% of its water usage and is powered by renewable energy. Many of the companies in the park were forced to reduce their production and operational costs, including labour costs, when orders from China, the US and Europe dropped immensely due to the pandemic.
In order to support local businesses in the companies in the eco-park during the crisis, project managers at “Invest for Jobs” operated by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) collected demands of firms for buyers and uploaded them on the matchmaking platform leverist.de: “We’re using leverist.de to tell companies across the world about the business opportunities in Ethiopia”, reports Valeska Grob who works for GIZ´s project “Invest for Jobs”.
The mentioned business opportunity from Ethiopia on leverist.de
One of the published business opportunities refers to the textile company Nasa Garment, which was looking to sell re-usable face masks and t-shirts. Nasa Garment is the only company that was founded by local Ethiopian investors in the Hawassa Industrial Park and has become the first Ethiopian company to export its products to Canada. Though it only took up operations in 2019, the company already employs a workforce of 480 people, 98% of which are women.
“Within two days of publication of the business opportunity, we received the first match. An e-commerce company was interested in selling the products via their online platform Curatez”, states Eman Amanuel from GIZ. “We have linked the two companies and only ten days after the business opportunity had been published on leverist.de, Nasa Garment had registered their products on Curatez.” “Now we are waiting for response from customers”, confirms Raghav Pattar, CEO at Nasa Garment.
Nasa Garment’s Products on Curatez’ e-commerce platform. Copyright: Curatez, 2020
Curatez founder Mohamed Orikat is pleased about the match with Nasa Garment: “In response to the current situation, we collaborated to post the face masks manufactured by Nasa Garment on our platform Medellas which features COVID-19-related products. Buyers can now contact Nasa Garment directly via our e-commerce website.”
Nasa Garment’s Products on Curatez’ e-commerce platform Medellas, Copyright: Curatez, 2020
As both mentioned companies continue to work closely together, Valeska Grob from GIZ is thinking of the next connections to be made:
“We’re also looking for buyers and distributors of textile and leather goods from Ethiopian fashion designers and companies.We saw that the matching process via leverist.de is quick and efficient. We hope that more companies will get in touch through leverist.de and help us to get international trade going again.”
Invest for Jobs is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) KfW Development Bank (KfW) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is helping to preserve jobs and secure investments in multiple African countries.
Nasa Garment is an Ethiopian textile start-up operating from Hawassa Industrial Park that produces t-shirts and face masks.
Curatez is a Dubai based e-commerce start-up that provides a marketplace to quickly and easily buy unused garments and textiles raw material.
Medellas is a Dubai based marketplace for medical and hygiene related products.


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AT&T Customers Under Cybersecurity Threat Due to Data Leak
AT&T, a renowned telecommunications company, is currently embroiled in a cybersecurity crisis. A significant data leak has occurred during the process of resetting passcodes, putting the privacy and security of its customers at stake. The issue has raised serious questions about the efficiency of the company’s cybersecurity measures.
While resetting passcodes is a common security measure adopted by users, it has unfortunately led to a data leak in this case, exposing AT&T customers to potential risks. The consequences of such a data breach can be severe, including the possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that this incident could have far-reaching implications if not addressed promptly. It is crucial for AT&T to take immediate action to mitigate the damage and restore the trust of its users. The incident also serves as a stark reminder for other companies to be vigilant about their cybersecurity measures.
AT&T’s data leak underscores the growing concerns about cybersecurity and privacy in the digital age. As more and more people rely on digital platforms for various services, the security of personal information becomes increasingly critical. In light of this, AT&T is urged to strengthen its cybersecurity measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
For more updates on this developing story and other technology-related news, you can visit Tech News Empire.
In the meantime, AT&T customers are advised to be alert and monitor their accounts closely for any suspicious activities. They should also consider changing their passcodes and enabling additional security features to safeguard their accounts.
The AT&T data leak serves as a timely reminder that cybersecurity is not a matter to be taken lightly. It is a shared responsibility that requires constant vigilance and proactive measures. As users, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to protect our digital assets.
In conclusion, this incident reinforces the importance of strong cybersecurity measures and the need for companies like AT&T to prioritize the protection of their customers’ data. The incident should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders in the digital sphere about the inherent risks associated with digital platforms and the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures.


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Monthly fees rather than annual updates will fill Apple’s coffers in the years to come
Apple used to update products as and when something new and exciting was developed. Such events would be a surprise, rather than being expected to happen at regular intervals. But in the wake of the iPhone’s stellar success, industry demands reshaped Apple, resulting in its most popular product being reinvented – or at least massively updated – on an annual basis, like clockwork.
But as the excitement of new iPhones wears thin, and sales start to plateau, Apple needs new ways to add to its already gargantuan cash pile. It seems the company believes the solution is services.
Apple’s history with services has been spotty, but of late it’s mostly come good regarding quality and reliability. And in recent weeks, we’ve heard Apple Music (unlimited music streaming for a monthly fee), and iCloud (online storage and syncing for your data and photos) will soon be joined by a paid Apple News subscription service, the Netflix-like Apple TV+, and gaming service Apple Arcade.
However, this isn’t the only kind of monthly service Apple offers. Given how expensive iPhones are, the company a while back hit on the iPhone Upgrade Program. This spreads the cost of an iPhone over a number of months (24 in the USA), but unlike most loans comes with no interest attached.
Proponents will point to a major benefit being that anyone in the iPhone Upgrade Program can upgrade their phone every year. That said, you don’t get to sell on the old phone yourself, because you hand it back before getting your new one. So short of you buying out the contract and ending it, this is closer in nature to iPhone rental than ownership.
It doesn’t take a genius to see where this is all heading. At some point, Tim Cook will reveal something like iPhone+. This won’t actually be a plus-sized iPhone (we already have one of those), but a kind of all-in-one services bundle from Apple.
You’ll get a current iPhone, as much iCloud storage as you can eat (within reasonable limits), and access to all of Apple’s media services. In return, Apple will suck money from your bank account every month, like a pristine, minimal, aluminum vacuum cleaner designed by Jony Ive.
This sounds almost dystopian and devious – and yet brilliant. Priced right, it could be ideal for existing Apple users and newcomers alike who’d splash out for these things individually, and therefore may appreciate a simple, efficient, more affordable, all-in-one bundle.
For Apple, though, it’s perhaps the biggest boon, replacing a dying business model where individuals make massive one-off payments into something long-term, reliable, and sustainable.


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TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH is pleased to confirm the final details of the rear-wheel-drive GT86 CS-R3 rally car, which will make its competitive debut this year.
The CS-R3 prototype was launched last August and since then has completed an extensive test programme to optimise design and define the final specification of the kit which will be delivered to private competitors and teams.
Detailed development has generated improved performance on both gravel and tarmac, while reliability and durability have been prioritised in order to deliver a car which allows cost-effective competition throughout the season and beyond.
The CS-R3 has already proved immensely popular thanks to its rear-wheel drive powertrain, with 1,998cc, 238PS boxer engine and six-speed sequential transmission which combine to produce a spectacular driving experience.
The first cars will be delivered to customers in May, later than originally forecast to allow improvements highlighted during testing to be implemented. As a consequence TMG has extended its introductory discount. The CS-R3 kit, in either tarmac or gravel specification, costs €79,000 (excluding VAT) for orders made before 24 April 2015, representing a €5,000 discount on the standard retail price of €84,000 (excluding VAT).
The CS-R3 kit includes GT86 body shell, powertrain and all mechanical components required to build the car.
Homologation to FIA R3 regulations will be certified at the beginning of July, after which all CS-R3 cars will be eligible for national and international rallies, up to and including the World Rally Championship.
Fans will be able to see up to 10 CS-R3 cars in competition for the first time at the Rally Niedersachsen near Hanover on 4 July, the first round of the new HJS TMG CS-R3 Trophy.
The first competitors have already signed up to the Trophy, which offers over €5,000 of prize money for each of the seven rounds plus other benefits, and will run for at least the next three seasons.
Nico Ehlert, TMG Principal Engineer Customer Motorsport: “This is a significant milestone in the GT86 CS-R3 story which brings us one step closer to the car’s competitive debut. We have put a huge amount of effort into our testing and development programme in order to deliver a fast, reliable and spectacular car for drivers and fans alike. As always, there are a number of challenges with a new-car development; in this case we had quite some work to adjust our rear-wheel-drive car to regulations which were written with front-wheel cars in mind. It is extremely important to TMG that our cars live up to our customers’ high expectation so we have taken a little more time than originally predicted to complete the homologation process. This means we now have a car which, I believe, will exceed the expectations of our customers and keep the fans entertained.”


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London Heathrow Airport has unveiled a new giant floral installation of a world map in Terminal 5 (T5) this week to celebrate a new season of fragrance and the release of the airport’s new global fragrance report.
Florist Larry Walshe created the 11 x 18ft living artwork using 2,000 fresh flower stems and studded the map using amber stones and sandalwood.
The airport’s new report highlights both purchasing trends of passengers traveling through London Heathrow, and wider fragrance behaviors from across the world. This is also represented in the installation, which offers unique insight into the four key fragrance notes of the new autumn/winter season with woody, fresh, oriental and floral tones. Each country in the map also depicts the fresh scents that feature in the most beloved fragrances of different nations.
The map includes roses, which hit the right note for floral-loving Brits and lavender and orange blossom, which tantalize the senses in the USA and Mexico. Fresh scents including mint and mandarin feature as favorites in India, while spicier, oriental scents such as cinnamon and ginger are preferred by those in the UAE. The most popular scents across the globe were revealed to be jasmine (28%), lavender (27%), rose (24%), vanilla (20%), and sandalwood (19%).
Chris Annetts, retail and service proposition director, Heathrow, said, “September is a really exciting month for us when it comes to fragrance. Heathrow is home to around 3,405 fragrances across 104 brands. We have both exclusives and new season fragrances including a new floral exclusive Tom Ford Vert Boheme, as well as a new season fresh CK One Gold.
“We wanted to celebrate our amazing collection by bringing the scents to life and help our passengers better understand the fragrance notes they enjoy the most. Larry’s floral artwork is a fantastic way for people to explore new fragrances as well as enjoying their favorites when they fly with us.”
London Heathrow sells more than 2.6 million bottles of perfume at London Heathrow every year, which equates to an average of five bottles every minute.