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Dr. Sanjay Gupta (Vice Chancellor, World University of Design) has to say as he wishes something more promising in the education sector especially concerning “Design” as an important and upcoming sphere of influence.
A WISE-CHANCELLOR’S WISH
Union Budget 2021-22 is the most anticipated event that every sector has their eyes on. While the pandemic staggered the economic growth of the country in the year 2020, it taught lessons in its own unique way – the biggest take home being the need to be self-reliant. To achieve self-reliance the upcoming budget needs to invest more in make-in-India as also Design-in-India besides ensuring that both gets supported by a renewed emphasis on education, vocational training and infrastructures of universities.
The past one year has highlighted the value of digitization and remote work environment. Schools and colleges have been no exception. It thus makes it evident that there will be high expectations from the government to provide a strengthened internet groundwork and an even tougher data protection as more and more educational institutes will look at the medium to reach out to students, to teach and to help students get past their curriculum; thereby requiring students’ information to be critically guarded.
At the same time, as a Design oriented institution, World University of Design hopes to see improved grants from the government in the field of education especially design education. Design assists innovation – the most powerful engine of economic growth, the future of a new-age India. The notion of “Atmanirbharta” or self-reliance would totally lie on the shoulders of the youth who would need to be equipped with not just better educational 4.0 but also with design thinking to enable innovation across diversified sectors & products. Design is an important as well as much sought out aspect in the current scenario owing to the shifting consumer trends from mere functionality to aesthetics and user-friendliness of products. It is natural at the moment to expect more measures to be taken in the upcoming fiscal in the domains of innovation, research and technology – all of them benefitting the basic infrastructure of an autonomous nation not depending upon imports from vigorously growing manufacturing giants like China and smaller ones like Vietnam, Myanmar etc.
At WUD we also believe that whilst causing a major alteration in way of life in 2020 the pandemic brought the focus squarely on digitization in a game changing way. Businesses transformed, moved to e-platforms and in so doing changed consumer behavior altogether. In the post pandemic era, many businesses are expected to thrive on virtual platforms making returns on investment much larger, customers will continue receiving merchandise on their doorstep making their lives convenient while buying the best in quality and variety from a centralized global market. This said, the situation would need a dramatically good number of creative thinkers working on online apps compatible with various OS and robust customer service and logistics systems to provide top class services – leading to a flux in the need of D-School graduates. The era, if well tapped could be seen as an opportunity to take India a notch above other developing nations, by making use of fresh innovative minds to invent something revolutionary; next by generating employment for the executing team members, marketing team ending into a longer and comprehensive chain supplying to the end consumer.
As a University that is home to over 700 students and 40 resident faculty members, World University of Design seeks information in the union budget announcement about a safe, well networked and efficient vaccination programme for students. It is a necessity to provide Covid19 vaccine to pupils across the country so that physical classes could be restored. While distant learning has been a great way of teaching all along the past one year and as an institute, WUD never ceased its proceedings in teaching its students, it is mandatory for students of a Design Institute to practically be present, learn while doing, from each other, and be exposed to new ideas and techniques.
We are certain that the Narendra Modi government will do justice to its own motto and strengthen the connection between its ideals and the strengthening of the nation via its students.
– by Prof. Sanjay Gupta, PhD (Vice Chancellor, World University of Design)


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That’s great, but what is vivo? vivo is a manufacturer of smartphones of Chinese origin, “brother” of OPPO, Realme, and OnePlus since it is owned by the huge conglomerate BBK Electronics. It was founded in 2009 and for several quarters it has been in the top five for shipments and sales of smartphones worldwide, only below OPPO.
The analysis firm Canalys counts the shipments of vivo smartphones in the first quarter of 2021 at 36 million units, equivalent to 10% of the world market share, which in turn represents an annual growth of 48%, higher than that of Apple, but still below that achieved by OPPO and Xiaomi, according to the firm.
A new competitor from China arrives in the country: vivo brings its smartphones to Mexico to compete in the already vast national market. The huge company has announced the official start of operations in our country, preparing its official arrival next month.
vivo announces that their official entry to Mexico will be on July 15th, the date on which they will officially begin their sale in the country, but without any more details, such as the models they will bring or the points of sale, revealed for now. Diego Altúzar, Country Manager of vivo México, mentions that our country is an important step for the expansion of the company in Latin America.
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We all know the U.S. economy is entering a jobless recovery, which is really a sanitized way of saying that if you’re unemployed you can expect more of the same. We clearly need a jobs creation strategy, and fast.
So where will the jobs come from? If history is a guide, the answer is entrepreneurs. According to David Gray, director of the Workforce and Family program at the New America Foundation, entrepreneurs and small businesses account for 75 percent of all new jobs. Gray moderated a terrific program yesterday that looked at what needs to happen to pave the way for new opportunities for America’s entrepreneurs.
My key takeaways:
2. Litan cited a study of Fortune 500 firms that found that one-half of them were formed during a recession or a bear market.
3. Don’t equate entrepreneurship with venture capital. Litan said that only 16 percent of the fastest growing companies were financed by venture capital.
4. Health care is a major barrier to entrepreneurship because people can’t leave their jobs.
5. Paul Glastris, editor-in-chief of the Washington Monthly, said that America needs to put “an entrepreneurship lens” around many of the policies being discussed.
5. We need to invest in broadband, health information technology, and a smart grid. Glastris said investment in these platforms is key to the ability of the U.S. to create cutting-edge, high-wage jobs.
6. Think U.S. broadband is fast? Australia’s broadband system is 4x faster; France’s is 9x faster, and Japan’s is 21x faster.
7. So what might these platforms look like? Mariah Blake, an editor at the Washington Monthly, talked about the need to turn the electric grid into a vibrant, interactive network.
8. Consider our grid today: There are no tools to manage the flow of electricity or to diagnose problems.
9. A smart grid would allow consumers and companies to manage their electricity usage on a micro-level. Blake said that this could spur innovation in dozens of industries. Why? Because consumers will have access to information about their usage, and entrepreneurs will be open to creating all kinds of software and services to help people use energy more efficiently.
10. Blake compared the smart grid to the iPhone Store. Apple owns the store, but it’s open in a way that allows for phenomenal innovation.
My final takeaway came via a question from a participant who said that entrepreneurs typically create things you never thought you needed. But here we know what we need. Litan suggested that we had the broad outline, the platform, but we still can’t see the applications.
That’s where entrepreneurs come in.
Photo by Kevin Dooley (Flickr).


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Archive : 2 December 2014 year
Smartphone battery recharges in 30 seconds22:41
An Israeli company has developed a battery technology that can charge a mobile phone in just 30 seconds and couold charge an electric car in minutes.
Created by researchers from Tel-Aviv based technology firm StoreDot, the battery can store a much higher charge more quickly, in effect acting like a sponge to soak up power and retain it.
The innovation is based around the creation of 'nanodots' – artificial peptide molecules about 2.1nm in diameter that the company synthesises and releases into the battery to rapidly increase its absorption and retention of power.
While the current prototype is far too bulky for a mobile phone, the company believes that by 2016 it will be ready to market a slim battery that can absorb and deliver a day's power for a smartphone in just 30 seconds.
It could also be used, it says, to charge a car battery in just two to three minutes.
So far, the company has raised $48million from two rounds of funding in order to make the technology a reality.
Cambridge Consultants opens £6m extension22:38
British Engineering Excellence Awards headline sponsor Cambridge Consultants has opened a £6million wireless facility, designed to help it to keep pace with its rapid growth. The company has grown by 25% in 2014, taking its global workforce to 450.
The new facility is called the Auton Building, in recognition of Dr Paul Auton, who was Cambridge Consultants's CEO from 1983 to 1998. It will house 120 engineers focused on developing wireless communication technology and contains a mix of open plan office space and engineering facilities.
Roof based antennas can transmit and receive terrestrial and satellite wireless signals and feed them – with minimal loss – directly to engineers' desks. The building also features a dedicated optics lab, with Kevlar reinforced laser safety curtains, to support the development of next generation sensors. Meanwhile, work has started on a three storey extension to the Auton Building.
"I set a growth agenda with the aim of doubling the size of Cambridge Consultants by the end of 2016," said Alan Richardson, CEO of Cambridge Consultants, pictured left with Dr Paul Aulton. "Two years into that, we have grown substantially and successfully."
Qt expands partner programme22:35
Six designers and suppliers of embedded chipsets have joined the Qt Partner Program. The partners will be cooperating with Qt to facilitate the creation of new solutions for the embedded device market.
According to Qt, the new partners – ARM, Boundary Devices, Freescale, Silica, Texas Instruments and Toradex – will make a significant contribution to the development of embedded devices, including connected devices for the IoT.
"The addition of such prominent members of the embedded device ecosystem to the Qt Partner Program will enable developers of embedded devices to bring devices with innovative and modern interfaces to market faster than ever before," claimed Juhapekka Niemi, Qt's VP for sales and marketing.
Qt is a cross platform application and user interface development framework for desktop, embedded and mobile operating systems. Based on C++, Qt is used for developing software applications with a GUI and for non GUI applications with features such as file handling, database access and network support.
Smartwatch made entirely from e-paper22:32
Using a company called Fashion Entertainments as a cover, Sony has developed a smartwatch created entirely from e-paper – the display technology used in some e-readers.
With 24 selectable patterns, the watch is said to change its appearance as the user moves their wrist, from being blank to showing what seems to be a conventional dial and hands.
Called the FES Watch, the design is currently being crowdfunded on the Japanese site Makuake.com; apparently to gauge consumer interest. Fashion Entertainments was looking for ¥2million, but the project has already received ¥2.8m. Those backing the project are being told their FES Watch will be delivered in May 2015.
Fashion Entertainment is said to also be working on a range of e-ink based devices, including bow ties.
EU semi sales continue to rise22:29
European semiconductor sales showed signs of 'encouraging' growth in October, the European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA) has said.
Sales were up 5.2% from the previous year, reaching $3.2billion. In addition, combined sales from January to October were up 1.5% compared to September and up 9.6% compared to October last year.
The main drivers of growth were the microprocessor market and the memory market, with MOS MPU, DRAMS and SRAM performing particularly well compared to September.
Steady growth was also observed in the area of application specific devices, especially for semiconductor devices designed to be used in communication and in-car entertainment applications.
Cypress, Spansion to merge in $4bn deal22:26
Cypress and Spansion have signed a definitive agreement to merge in an all stock transaction said to be worth $4billion.
"This merger represents the combination of two smart, profitable, passionately entrepreneurial companies that are number one in their respective memory markets and have successfully diversified into embedded processing," said TJ Rodgers, pictured, Cypress' president and CEO, who will lead the merged organisation. "Our combined company will be a leading provider of embedded MCUs and specialised memories."
Post merger, the company will generate more than $2bn, but it is also expected to find savings of more than $135million a year, which could mean fewer staff.
"Bringing together these high performing organisations creates operating efficiencies and economies of scale, and will deliver maximum value for our shareholders, new opportunities for employees and an improved experience for our customers," said Spansion CEO John Kispert. "The new company is well positioned to deliver best of breed solutions and execute on our long term vision of adding value through embedded system on chip solutions."
Source: www.newelectronics.co.ukPrevious day All news of month Next day
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Canada’s Auto Parts Sector Losing Global Share Despite Rebound
Despite a recent rebound in the auto industry, Canada’s auto parts manufacturers have fallen from the ranks of global top 10 exporters because they failed to diversify their markets, an economist said on Wednesday.
Canada’s auto parts sector is losing global market share because it has not found a way to tap into the rapid growth in low-cost geographies, Scotiabank economist Carlos Gomes said in a report. “The inability to make inroads in the fast-growing markets of Asia and Latin America is undermining Canada’s position as a major auto parts producer,” Gomes said.
Until 2007, Canada was the world’s sixth-largest auto parts exporter, but was overtaken by Spain, Korea and China during the economic downturn, the report said. Last year, Canada lost its top 10 exporter spot to the Czech Republic. The United States takes 57% of all parts shipped from Canadian plants, but the U.S. share of global vehicle assemblies has slipped to 10% from about 25% in the mid-1990s, the report said. Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012


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The Nordic Diet
There’s a new kid in town, or rather, there’s a new diet in town, and it might give the Mediterranean diet a run for its money. The Mediterranean diet has long been the darling of nutrition experts as a proven way to prevent chronic diseases. Heavy on olive oil, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and fish, the diet most recently has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and dying compared with a typical low-fat diet. However, in the Nordic regions like Denmark and Sweden, the Med diet may be hard.
Olive oil is hard to find. While obesity rates in Nordic countries are much lower than in the US, there are still plenty of people at risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases who could use some dietary help. A group of nutrition researchers in Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway set out to design a healthy “Nordic” diet around locally produced food items, like herring, canola oil, and blueberry. The study was randomized and lasted 18 to 24 weeks in 2009 and 2010, with 96 people in the healthy diet group and 70 in the control group.
The healthy Nordic diet group ate mostly berries like currants, bilberries and strawberries, canola oil, whole grains, root vegetables and three fish meals such as salmon and mackerel per week, and avoided sugar. The rest of the time, they could eat vegetarian, poultry or game, but no red meat. The researchers provided them with some of the key ingredients for their meals. The control group, on the other hand, ate butter instead of canola, fewer berries and vegetables, and had no restrictions on red meat, white bread or sugar intake.
With the healthy Nordic diet, bad cholesterol/good cholesterol ratio improved significantly, as did one marker for inflammation. In the long run, the change in the inflammation marker could result in a 20 to 40 percent reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes for people on the healthy diet. While the new Nordic diet helps overweight people drop pounds, the diet places a special emphasis on seasonal and local foods. So will the new diet be competing with the Mediterranean diet in far-flung countries seeking to emulate svelte Europeans? Since it contains many local produced food items, it might not be easy to consume by people outside Nordic countries.


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HARBIN, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China's land ports of Manzhouli and Suifenhe on the China-Russia border have seen over 2,200 China-Europe freight trains in the first half of this year, an increase of more than 40 percent year-on-year, according to the China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd.
So far, the two land ports in Heilongjiang Province have witnessed the passage of over 10,000 China-Europe freight trains since the operation started in 2013, according to the China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd.
The imported and exported goods mainly include daily necessities, electrical products, and industrial machinery.
So far, the Manzhouli and Suifenhe ports have over 50 China-Europe freight train routes that reach more than 10 European countries.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service


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UPC hires 400 contracted sales reps
TV, internet and telephone service provider UPC Magyarország on Friday said it recently hired 400 customer service representatives who earlier worked on contract. UPC Magyarország employs about 1,300 people at present. Several hundred more work for the company on contract. UPC is Hungary's biggest pay-TV player with 26.6% market share, according to data from the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH). It is runner-up among broadband internet companies with 21.9% market share.
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New business filings are poised to set record in 2018
Ohio’s economy suffered through the last decade, as the period known as the Great Recession took hold of the assets and investments of working-class Americans. The rate of foreclosures on homes and layoffs in different industries left many Buckeyes less able to maintain their independence. But those dark times are in the past, and the economy is taking off in new ways. Although many old businesses and investments never recovered, signs of new businesses are looking up in Ohio
. In addition, Buckeyes have seen more than three years of reduced costs for business formations, which has saved people in the state more than $8 million since the change. November 2018 saw 9,035 new entities file with Ohio’s Secretary of State to do business in the state, which is 477 more than November 2017. That brought the year’s total to 116,410 new businesses, which is 7,683 more than the eleven-month period in 2017. Convenience has also made the process easier as well as cheaper for founders of new businesses in Ohio. Four out of five new businesses were started online through the government’s service launched in 2013. All necessary filings for business formation are now online for Ohioans. When it comes to starting a business with the legal form to survive and thrive in the future, there is no substitute for the professional advice of a lawyer. An attorney can help founders of businesses decide the proper legal form to protect officers from liability
and properly share responsibilities and privileges. Legal representation can protect businesses from several threats that would endanger managers’ and workers’ careers.


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Scientists in Japan have discovered a large deposit of minerals that are essential for the manufacturing of electronic products such as tablet computers, flat-screen TVs and smartphones. The discovery was made on the floor of the Pacific Ocean near to Hawaii by a team led by the University of Tokyo‘s professor of earth science Yasuhiro Kato.
There have been recent concerns over the decreasing levels of this ‘rare earth’ mineral. However, following this discovery it is thought that known deposits of this mineral have expanded by around a thousand times.
“The deposits have a heavy concentration of rare earths. Just one sq km (0.4 sq mile) of deposits will be able to provide one-fifth of the current global annual consumption,” commented Professor Yasuhiro Kato.
Currently China produces around 97% of the global supply of crucial metals which are used in products such as the Apple iPad. In December it announced that it was cutting exports of the materials which instantly led to concerns over a shortage or increased prices for products that used them. At the time of the announcements Sony commented that the decision was a hindrance to free trade.
The metals are also used for the manufacturing of products such as high-tech electronics, magnets, batteries, LED valves and hybrid cars. Extracting the minerals from the ocean floor is a relatively simple. “Sea mud can be brought up to ships and we can extract rare earths right there using simple acid leaching. Using diluted acid, the process is fast, and within a few hours we can extract 80-90% of rare earths from the mud,” commented Professor Kato.


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Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates
Follow the latest updates of the outbreak on our timeline.
Restaurant chains such as Starbucks and McDonald’s have reportedly shut down stores in China’s Hubei Province as the deadly coronavirus outbreak spreads rapidly.
Starbucks has stated that it has closed all of its stores in Hubei Province, a decision prompted by health concerns for its customers and employees.
This move comes after McDonald’s also reportedly closed stores in five cities in the province.
Furthermore, Disney announced that it will shut down its mega theme park Shanghai Disney Resort in China as a preventive measure.
China has also closed down thousands of cinemas amid the outbreak of the deadly disease.
As the coronavirus outbreak intensifies, various other entertainment spots and tourist attractions are being shut down, including the bird’s nest stadium in Beijing, the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, the Yinshan Pagoda Forest and portions of the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, reported Forbes.
Approximately 60 million people live in the central province of Hubei, with Wuhan being home to 11 million.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the coronavirus cases has increased to 80, with nearly 2,744 cases confirmed in China.
Neighbouring countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have also reported coronavirus cases. Five cases of the virus have also been reported in the US.


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last month's sale of its US headquarters for $1.1 billion, Sony entered the Osaki building and its premises into a trust, then sold the trust's beneficiary rights to Nippon Building Fund inc. and an unnamed "Japanese institutional investor" in a 60/40 split.
Sony stated the sale was part of the company's reorganization of assets to "strengthen its corporate structure." Then again, the ¥41 billion (around $4.4 billion) raised in operating income by the sale and how it'll help Sony turn an operating profit this fiscal year helps too. The company wants to bring an end to four successive years of losses, including last fiscal year's loss of around $820 million, not to mention the humiliation of Fitch Ratings cutting the company's credit rating to junk status.
While the sale represents another major shift for the company in a year of nothing but, Sony and other Sony Group businesses are to remain in the City Osaki building for five further years under a separate lease agreement.


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[Video] Galaxy Unpacked 2018
(Unpacked event streaming starts from 29:00)
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2018 has officially concluded. Samsung’s most jam-packed Unpacked event yet revealed a number of exciting additions to the Galaxy family, including the Galaxy Note9, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Home.
Those who missed the big launch event can click the video above to view a replay of the showcase in its entirety. And to learn more about Samsung’s latest flagship and the other innovations that were unveiled at the event, be sure to check out Samsung U.S. Newsroom’s comprehensive coverage.
*IE 11 or older version may not support the live stream playback. For the better viewing experience on mobile device, please access from latest version of Chrome or YouTube app.


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In Moscow has begun work the third all-Russian forum of the light industry of Ministry of industry and trade. On Thursday, November 24, the correspondent "reports Tapes.ru"
At the event, industry experts discussed the current state of the Russian light industry and assessed the prospects of its development. In addition, experts and business representatives summed up the results of the year. Annually in the national forum of the light industry of Ministry of industry and trade attended by representatives of government agencies and enterprises of legadima, as well as industry experts and journalists.
22 November was it is known, the volume of counterfeit goods in Russia in some sectors reaches almost a third of the total market. On this forum "Anticounterfeit" held in Yerevan said the Minister of industry and trade of Russia Denis Manturov.
In early October, the Ministry of industry and trade has estimated losses of Russia from the import of products of legadima 1.1 percent of GDP per year. Deputy Minister of industry and trade Viktor Evtukhov emphasized that imports of Russian products can be replaced. Thus, according to the calculations of the Ministry, the implementation of this strategy, we need to focus on production of linen, wool, polyester and viscose.
Due to a power outage in the Crimea and the black sea fleet moved to the backup power supply. Earlier the Minister of fuel and energy of the Republic of Vadim Belik reported that all four leg of the power bridge in the Kuban — Crimea is disabled due to operation of emergency control automatics.
Employees of Sheremetevsky customs have intercepted a shipment award and five other items with Nazi symbols, which tried to send from Russia to New Zealand. According to the preliminary opinion of the representative of the Ministry of culture, these items of cultural value. The sender threatened by criminal liability.
The security service of Ukraine for three years denied entry to Russian singer Mitya Fomin. This was reported by press Secretary of the Minister Elena Gilanskaya. "Indeed, he is banned entry to Ukraine for three years," she said. On 3 July the actor during the festival in Lviv has said that it considers Crimea as Russian territory.


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The new S2000's powertrain is slowly coming into focus.
Honda engineers must be jealous of Toyota's impending sports car revival. How else do you explain this new report from Car and Driver about a revived S2000? According to the outlet's anonymous source, a new S2000 is set to debut in the fall of 2018. This jives with what another anonymous source-or perhaps it was the same one-told Car and Driver last year. The idea is for Honda to celebrate its 70th birthday with something special. How does a two-seater with a 320+ horsepower engine sound?
The engine won't be the same one featured in the all-new Civic Type R. "Sure, the Type R's 2.0-liter turbo is a great engine, but by 2018, that would be old news. We need to take things forward. As a celebratory model, the sports car must be special, so it must have a new powertrain and a unique chassis," the snitch said. Car and Driver, citing Japanese magazine Holiday Auto, said that the automaker is looking to Mitsubishi for inspiration on its new engine. Yes, Mitsubishi. The plan is to craft a two-stage boost system that is electronically aided, think an electric supercharger and a normal turbocharger (among other components). That setup will power a 2.0-liter inline-four which will be mated an eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle.
Like the original S2000, the new model will not be cheap, with a sticker price that could approach $50,000. A debut is said to take place at either the 2018 Paris Motor Show or the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Is it OK to start imagining a world where Mazda sells a new RX, Toyota lots are filled with Supras and Honda will let Americans buy either a Civic Type R or S2000?


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The Myanmar Ministry of Commerce has announced that it would allow foreign firms currently partnering with Myanmar companies [ as joint ventures] to perform trading, in preparation for the full implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). In a directive issued on November 11th, these firms will be allowed to do trading as well as the previously sanctioned service industries.
An official from the ministry said that," it is no longer suitable to deny them[ foreign firms ] trading rights. We will eventually ease off the restrictions but will start first with those areas in which domestic traders cannot cope well. The list of tradable commodities include: fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and hospital equipment. Dr Maung Aung, an advisor to the Ministry said that," since hospital equipment are so expensive, only foreign firms have the necessary capital and what's being done now is illegal trade so that we would like to legalize it. He continued that,"pesticide usage is quite low domestically and the prices are also high; we would like to see a more competitive market with lower prices and more consumption.
Chair of the Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone, U Myat Thin Aung, who is also trading in medical products under the AA Medical Product company name told us that it [ opening markets] is inevitable with the imminent arrival of the AEC. Current traders must accept the situation which could lead to consumers having a wider choice with more reasonable pricing. Even though it might not be favorable for them, they have to compete in the competition which has begun.
The Ministry further stated that the policy changes in the Agricultural and Healthcare sectors are the forerunners and will shortly be followed by other sectors. However, the deregulation will affect only imports; exports will be confined to those producers with high quality products and factories situated in SEZ's.
Dr Maung Maung Lay, a medical product importer, said that this change could allow the import of hospital equipment costing over millions of USD and would improve trade.
Those foreign firms applying for a trade permit must follow the same procedure as domestic companies and trade volume will have to be strictly in line with officially declared foreign exchange.


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In October 2021, you'll get four new titles as part of the Xbox Games with Gold program.
Xbox is the brand Microsoft has established for its game console. The brand also represents the device the company is set to put on every living room to play games, streaming services, and use the Xbox Live service. The first console was introduced on November 15, 2001, which the company simply called Xbox. Then on November 22, 2005, Microsoft released its second console generation, the Xbox 360. The successor is the Xbox One, which was introduced on November 22, 2013.
The company has introduced the Xbox One S, a new slimmer version of the Xbox One with support for 4K video and up to 2TB of storage. The console is set to release on August 31, 2016, and pricing starts at $299.
Along with the Xbox One S, at the E3 2016 game conference, Microsoft also announced the Xbox One X, a brand new more powerful console with 4K gaming support, rendering at 60Hz, 6 teraflops of GPU power, and more. Xbox One X is available starting November 7, 2017.
Xbox has now grown significantly and it’s no longer tight to the game console. Since November 12, 2015, the game console has been upgraded to Windows 10 bringing the experience closer together to PC and phones with the Xbox app for Windows 10 and the SmartGlass app available in different mobile platforms.
All related Xbox content, news, how-to guides, and more can be found here.
September 2021 brings four new titles as part of the Xbox Games with Gold program for Gold and Game Pass members.
Xbox consoles to get xCloud support to stream games before downloading before the end of the year.
You can now preorder the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Limited Edition Bundle at the Microsoft Store for $549.99.
The Xbox stereo headset is a great alternative to the more expensive wireless variant.
You can now play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles through the Xbox app on Windows 10 (and Windows 11), and here's how to get started.
Microsoft delivers a first public preview of the Xbox Cloud Gaming on Windows 10 through its Xbox app.
Gold and Game Pass members are getting four new titles as part of the Xbox Games with Gold program in August 2021.
In July 2021, Gold and Game Pass members are getting four new titles as part of the Xbox Games with Gold program.
This holiday season, you will be able to own an Xbox Mini Fridge shaped like an Xbox Series X console.


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THQ and JAKKS Pacific have sent word that the latest game in the SmackDown! franchise, WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW is now available exclusively for the PlayStation 2.
"The SmackDown! franchise is the mostly highly regarded wrestling series of all time," stated Philip Holt, Senior Vice President of Product Development, THQ. "We know SmackDown! fans have been waiting a long time for the ability to battle it out online, now they finally can go head to head with fellow wrestling fans from near and far."
WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW features a number of enhancements to the series; including online play, the addition of superstar voice over and several new gameplay mechanics.


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Siempo wants to redefine our relationship to our phones
The company also unveiled an updated version of the 9.7 inch iPad
Is it time to reexamine your relationship with technology?
Even nutritionists are falling short on this vital skill
A new survey finds that 8 in 10 Americans are constantly attached to their phones
Happiness might just be a flash away
Did you know you’re a “nomophobe”?
New research confirms that your partner hates it when you can’t put your damn phone away. Here’s how to break the habit
Eighty-nine percent of people have this happen to them. Here’s what’s behind those phantom vibrations
We surveyed the 2016 Mobile World Congress for the top consumer devices—and one stunning, pro-level bonus pick
Don’t go at it alone—get help from your phone


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January 16 2012: External storage solutions leader Western has launched in India, the next generation of its WD TV Liv streaming media player --WD TV Live -- featuring some intuitive new user interfaces. They promise to deliver the latest hit movies, TV shows, music and the best of Internet content from directly to your TV in Full-HD 1080p resolution. The newstreaming media player easily connects to the Internet wirelessly or through anEthernet connection, with an 802.11n wireless connectivity.
In addition to premium Internet content, WD TV Live allows users to easily enjoy personal media such as photos, video and music on their home entertainmentsystems by supporting a wide range of file formats for streaming content fromany connected USB drive, digital camcorder or camera, network drive such as the My Book Live personal cloud storage, and any networked PC orMac computer in the home.
“By marrying advanced features of the new wireless WD TV Live with quality contentfrom service providers, we are excited to deliver on that commitment,’’ says Khalid Wani, WD’s Sales Director – branded business for India, Middle East, andAfrica. The new WD TV Live streaming media player is available in India for Rs. 7,900 with a 1 year on-site limited warranty.


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In the latest news about how to rank well on Google as a business, it has come to light that reviews are a prominent ranking factor when it comes to local search. This has been revealed by an annual study that Local SEO Guide has conducted into local SEO ranking factors. The study
shows that reviews can help businesses to feature well in Google listings even when their link profiles are low in quality.
Local SEO Guide’s research looked at over 200 factors spanning a range of 100,000 local businesses to uncover the similarities in those that ranked well using Google’s local pack. Even businesses that had less than favourable link profiles showed a high correlation between their organic ranking factors and local ranking factors. Businesses that ranked strongly in organic searches also rank well in Google’s local pack. On the other hand, businesses can also rank well in local packs when they don’t have any of the typically traditional SEO ranking factors, such as strong links and even a website!
The study also uncovered that plenty of good reviews on a Google My Business page can help businesses to rank well as part of local packs. Google may use reviews as a ranking factor a little like crowdsourcing for ranking, allowing genuine customer opinions to be heard. Most noteworthy is that the number of reviews isn’t as significant as the rating quality. Moreover, Google My Business pages with reviews mentioning certain keywords, ideally mentioning a city name too, showed higher Google local pack rankings. In these reviews, using a ranking keyword for a business as well as mentioning a ranking city name are strong indicators of good Google My Business results.
Of course, links still matter, but the study shows that websites without high-quality links don’t appear to have ranking issues in local search. The interesting fact from the data gathered is that websites that rank well tend to have links that are both low in quality and authority. In summary, businesses can rank in local searches even if they don’t have great links. However, websites with good link profiles still figure strongly in search results.
The study also appears to show that Google is still rewarding businesses who use optimised anchor text in terms of keywords and city names. Therefore, the message is that companies shouldn’t neglect their websites, even though, according to the study, small businesses tend to have poorer websites. Actually, some don’t even have a website at all!
Publishing a website is critical to organic search ranking, which means businesses stand a greater chance of ranking in local packs too. The conclusion of the study is that owning a website is a sound investment for a small business, just like any other business.
Finally, the key messages from the study are:
1: An optimised website is important.
2: Organic search rankings correlate to local pack rankings.
3: Good reviews on a Google My Business page are very useful in ranking.


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A section of matatu operators have staged a threat to withdraw membership from the Matatu Owners Association over what they term as the association’s collision
Those that have withdrawn their membership include the Matatu Welfare Association, Matatu Travellers Vehicles Association, Mount Kenya Association, Association of Bus Operators Kenya and Association of Matatu Operators.
According to Calvin Nyaure, Chairman of the Association of Motor Vehicle Transporters states that they are withdrawing their membership from the association over claims that it is being run by cartels.
Nyaure claims that since the crackdown of Public Service Vehicles, their 14-seater and 33-seater vehicles are being forced out of the roads by the government without their involvement.
They are asking the government to give them a relevant reason as to why they are denying them access to operate their vehicles in a smooth way, especially due to the fact that they have already complied with the Michuki Rule.


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What you need to know
- Google is rolling out four new Meet features to customers globally.
- Meet now offers an expanded tiled layout, similar to Zoom.
- Google Meet has also gained "present a Chrome tab," low-light mode, and noise cancellation features.
Last week, Google added a couple of new features to Meet, including Gmail integration. The company has now announced that it is adding four more features to Meet, all of which were highly requested by users. All four features will begin rolling out to customers around the world starting today.
Google Meet now offers a grid layout, allowing web users to see up to 16 participants at once. Until now, grid layouts in Meet only allowed users to see four people at a time. Sharing high-quality video with audio content with other participants in meetings is also now possible, thanks to the "present a Chrome tab" feature. Instead of having to present their window or entire screen, users will now be able to present just a Chrome tab to their remote viewers.
Another feature that is aimed at improving the video conferencing experience for users is the new Low-light mode. It uses Google AI to automatically make adjustments so that users can be more visible to other participants in poor lighting conditions. The feature is now rolling out to mobile users, but is expected to become available for web users as well in the near future.
Meet has also gained the ability to filter out background distractions, thanks to the new AI-powered noise cancellation feature. Google says the feature can intelligently suppress background noise such as keystrokes or your dog barking. The feature is slated to roll out to G Suite Enterprise and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers on the web in the coming weeks. It will later be available for mobile users too.
Unlocked Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is now receiving the September security patch
The latest September 2020 Android security patch is now rolling out to unlocked Galaxy Note 20 Ultra phones in the U.S. Along with the September 2020 patch, the update also brings improved camera performance and a few other enhancements.
Everything we know (so far) about the Google Pixel 5
We're still months out from Google unveiling the Pixel 5, but that doesn't mean it's too early to speculate what it might offer. Here's everything we know so far!
The ultimate guide to customizing your Android phone
Theming on an Android device is more than just setting a wallpaper and calling it a day. Take a look at some of the widgets, icons, and other elements that go into making your Android your own.
Spice up your smartphone or tablet with the best icon packs for Android
Being able to customize your device is fantastic as it helps to make your device even more of "your own". With the power of Android, you can use third-party launchers to add custom icon themes and these are just some of our favorites.


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The Guangzhou-headquartered XPeng announced that it delivered 9,578 units vehicles in August, representing a 33% increase year-over-year and a decrease of 16.88% from July.
Year to date, the EV maker delivered 90,085 units, representing a 96% increase year-over-year. In August, the deliveries included 5,745 units P7s, 2,678 units P5 sedans and 1,155 units G3i/ G3 SUVs.
For the third quarter of 2022, the EV maker expects to deliver between 29,000 and 31,000, down from the 34,422 vehicles delivered in the second quarter, although representing a year-over-year increase of 13.0% to 20.8%.
Last week, the company announced its second quarter financial results reporting total revenue of RMB7,436.3 million, a 97.7% increase year-over-year and a quarterly gross margin of 10.9%, down from 11.9% year-over-year.
Recently, the company unveiled their new S4 superchargers capable of delivering 200km of charge in less than 5 minutes to the new model, XPeng G9. Last week, the company unveiled that it received 22,819 pre-orders in the first 24 hours for the upcoming model.
The superchargers will allow the drivers to take full advantage of the 800V Silicon Carbide (SiC) platform at the 1,000 charging stations already built across China, XPeng said during the Supercharging Media Day.


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From building your credit score to choosing the best credit card, CNET's experts are there every step of the way.
Two tech titans are elbowing their way into financial services. A look at how they stack up.
Apple will reportedly introduce an interest-free payment plan "in the coming weeks." The company already offers an Apple Card installment plan for the iPhone.
Are you believing credit scoring myths? Here's the breakdown of what is real and what isn't.
A survey shows that 47% of adults are now carrying a credit card balance.
Are you looking for a travel credit card, a card that's going to give you cash back, or maybe both?


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German online baby store windeln.de has acquired its Spanish competitor Bebitus, which gives it access to the Spanish, French and Portuguese markets. Despite the acquisition, Bebitus will continue to use its own name.
Double in turnover expected
Windeln is already active in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with plans to open online stores in Spain, Italy and Belgium. It also acquired Czech Feedo early last month, which in turn gave it access to the Polish, Czech and Slovakian markets.
Bebitus, founded in Spain in 2011, expanded into France in 2013 and added Portugal to that list in 2014. Last year's turnover reached seven million euro, a number it expects to double this year. Windeln paid 5 million euro for the acquisition and depending on its performance over the next few years, that sum may increase.


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Specialities closes in Old Town Square
Footwear and collectibles shop Specialities will close its Old Town Square store at the end of the year.
"It's time," said Skip Clarke, who has owned the store with his wife, Cindy, for 11 1/2 years. Retail is a demanding business, open seven days a week, 52 weeks a year with few holidays, he said. "We're not as young as we used to be and we have plenty to do beside this."
The store, which specializes in Crocs, first opened in Old Town Square next door to its current location and quickly outgrew the space. Specialities moved to 1 Old Town Square within about 90 days when previous tenant The Eyes Have It relocated.
"Crocs were really hot back then," Skip Clarke said. "They're coming back now" with new materials and designs, he said. "There is such a varied selection now they can compete with anyone. People think of them as the old classics that you use in the garden, but they come in and are pretty surprised."
CLOSURES: Galvanize to close Fort Collins campus
The store already has a new tenant, Harms Sound Labs, which plans to move from East Mulberry Street.
The Clarkes plan to take the winter off, traveling to visit friends throughout the country, before deciding what to do next. Skip Clarke, who will soon turn 70, says he will concentrate on listing much of his music and sport collectibles on eBay. "It will be a challenge just going through the garage to see what to put on eBay."
Cindy Clarke said she isn't sure what's next; she may return to retail. "I've been doing retail for a long time; it's an easy transition that way."
The Clarkes have been running the story mostly by themselves for years, meaning they haven't had a vacation together "in about 15 years," she said. "We're ready. We've kind of been thinking about it for a long time, but things just came together."


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Rock the Riverfront kicks off their 31 day event
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- St. Patrick’s Day 2023 marks the opening day of Rock the Riverfront put on by River City company.
For the second year in a row, the free of charge festival is taking over downtown Chattanooga with live music, family activities, art vendors and more.
Opening day was rainy and cold, therefore welcoming only 15 vendors out of a typical 20 to 40.
Last year the event caught the attention of many with their massive see-saws. This year, they are trying out a new and unique art installation called “Los Trompos,” which look like large spinning tops.
The theme of the first weekend focused on creative’s and culture, highlighting South and Central America. The second weekend is “get up and move” themed, so there will be free fitness and dance classes.
This event is not only enjoyable for community members to join in on, but it is also beneficial for all of Chattanooga’s locally owned businesses as they saw $1.5 million dollars in economic impact last year.
This event will take place in downtown Chattanooga over the next 31 days, but the vendors, food trucks and live music will only be at the event Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
You can learn more about the event on their website here.


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Amazon.com Inc. is hiring for its fulfillment centers in Shepherdsville.
The online retail giant is adding more than 500 full-time jobs at the Bullitt County distribution center, according to a news release.
In addition to regular pay, employees at the center are eligible immediately for health insurance, a 401(k) plan, company stock awards and bonuses. Amazon also pays up to 95 percent of college tuition for employees taking courses in in-demand fields, the release stated. Candidates can apply here.
According to a Bloomberg report earlier this month, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) spent $13.9 billion on distribution centers from 2010 to the middle of 2013. The report also stated that Amazon has come under fire from labor unions and others regarding employee treatment.


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Before, the foreign direct investment proposals were approved by the Foreign Investment Promotions Board, which is now abolished and now it is approved by the commerce and industry ministry.
Currently, the government has allowed 100% FDI in the food processing sector which means any foreign company can open its wholly owned subsidiary and retail food products produced or manufactured in the country.
The government had received proposals worth USD 695 million in the retail of food products from three giants – Amazon, Grofers, and BigBasket.
The government has approved Amazon’s USD 500 million proposals for retailing of food products online in India, while Grofers and BigBasket are already into online grocery space.
Amazon will be opening its wholly owned subsidiary in India to stock food products and sell it online.


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The Kenai Peninsula has one of the fastest growing agricultural industries in the state.
Whether measuring expansion through rising direct to consumer sales, acreage acquirements or crop variety, local farmers are making major strides in the sector.
“If it wasn’t before, the western Kenai Peninsula is rapidly becoming an agricultural center,” said Heidi Chay, district manager for the Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District. “The Kenai Peninsula has outpaced the state as a whole.”
Chay said while the peninsula accounts for a small portion of Alaska’s producing farmland, 30 percent of the state’s peony farms and 34 percent of farms selling food director to consumers are located in the region.
The number of farms grew by 65 percent from 2002 to 2012, according to the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development Distrist. A farm is anything that makes more than $1,000 in annual sales off of argricultural products, according to the economic development district.
Flowers are the Kenai Peninsula’s most valuable crop, followed by hay, Chay said. Peonies and vegetables are the fastest-growing sectors, she said.
Chay cited the most recent data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture, which shows nursery, greenhouse and flower sales were valued at more than $1 million, followed by hay, livestock and vegetables that year.
“All indicators point to continued growth in production since 2012, with more high tunnels and new peony farms coming on-line each year, along with new value-added products like wine, jam, jelly and preserved vegetables,” Chay said.
Growers are selling their food at Farmers markets, through CSA subscriptions, or Community Supported Agriculture, to local restaurants and stores and soon through an Online Food Hub developed by various collaborating producers and organizations.
“Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District has surveyed farmers market customers and producers, so we know, for instance, that shoppers at the Tuesday farmers market at the Food Bank increased nearly 20 percent from 2014 to 2015,” Chay said. “The majority of market farmers we surveyed about the 2015 season had increased sales and were making plans to further expand their businesses.”
At the Central Kenai Peninsula Farmers Market, the area’s oldest, where Chay spent time polling sellers and buyers last summer, several farmers reported record sales, she said. Ridgeway Farms in Soldotna reported record-breaking CSAs and grew more than 14,500 pounds of vegetables.
USDA Alaska Director Danny Consenstein said the Kenai Peninsula is also beginning to sell a number of value-added products, which are raw crops turned into items like jams or wine.
The consumer base is growing as well, Consenstein said. More and more people are choosing to buy locally. If there is more demand then farmers can continue to grow their operations because the revenue they will need to expand will be there, he said.
One of the biggest challenges to farming in Alaska is the lack of existing infrastructure, Consenstein said. Anything agriculture related must be shipped in from Outside, which can be pricey, he said.
Consenstein said in regards to agriculture Alaska is somewhat of a young industry. There are many small farms and few centralized locations to sell product so it is taking work to develop a steady, reliable market.
“People are really kind of pioneering agriculture here and every situation is unique,” Casey Matney, who holds the Horticulture Agent position with the Kenai Peninsula’s University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.
Farmers face many unique challenges, and have much to adapt to in order to be successful in the state, Matney said.
Growers have a lot to overcome including cold soils that need a lot of build up before the land is arable, short seasons and a rough climate, Matney said. Farmers have to evolve practices to what works well. They utilize high tunnels, greenhouses, hydroponic set ups, and have looked toward other similar climates such as those in Europe or Canada to select their crops from. Some locals have even mastered growing fruit trees. In the future, as the global warming trends continue, growers will have to adapt even more in terms of finding more ways to irrigate their farms, he said.
“And so everything is just kind of growing,” Matney said.


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Celesio Mckesson Business Combination Agreement
McKesson and Celesio will join together to form a global healthcare provider with experience in providing solutions for pharmacies, manufacturers and patients. The combined company will be one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors and suppliers of logistics and health services and is expected to improve supply chain efficiency and improve global supplies. It also states that its global distribution and logistics capabilities will bring new values and services to manufacturing partners and will offer a wide range of innovative business technologies and services. McKesson also entered into a commercial combination agreement with Celesio, which outlines the key parameters that facilitate the combination of the two companies and has been approved by McKesson`s Board of Directors and Celesio`s Supervisory Board. Celesio`s Board of Directors and Supervisory Board welcome the takeover bid and the members of the Board of Directors intend to accept the offer to repurchase all of the Celesio shares they held. McKesson Corporation, currently ranked fifth in the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare and information technology company dedicated to improving health care. On January 23, 2014, McKesson announced the purchase of Celesio (now McKesson Europe). Transaction structureIn the terms of a share purchase agreement between McKesson and Franz Haniel – Co. GmbH (“Haniel”), Celesio`s majority shareholder, McKesson has authorized the acquisition of Haniel`s interest in Celesio, which currently accounts for 50.01% of the company`s total outstanding shares. The share purchase agreement was approved by McKesson`s Board of Directors and Haniel`s Supervisory Board. About McKesson CorporationMcKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th out of the FORTUNE 500, a healthcare provider and information technology company is dedicated to improving health care activity.
McKesson works with cost providers, hospitals, medical practices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and other health care providers to build healthier organizations to better care for patients in all areas.


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Defying Rules Amazon Employees Protest Company’s Climate Failures
Over 300 Amazon workers publicly criticize the company for not taking sufficient action on the climate crisis, despite their jobs being at risk for speaking out.
357 employees signed an online protest, organized by an advocacy group founded by Amazon workers called Amazon Employees For Climate Justice.
It comes after Amazon threatened to fire two employees for speaking out against its climate failures, claiming they violated the policy.
“It’s our moral responsibility to speak up, and the changes to the communications policy are censoring us from exercising that responsibility”, an employee said.
Workers see Amazon’s hypocrisy as the company has already pledged to use only renewable energy sources in the future and become net-zero carbon by 2040. But it continues to work with and improve the businesses of oil and gas companies.
“The science on climate change is clear,” writes Amelia Graham-McCann, a senior business analyst at the company. “It is unconscionable for Amazon to continue helping the oil and gas industry extract fossil fuels while trying to silence employees who speak out.”
“I want Amazon to continue its vision to be Earth’s most customer-centric company,” writes Melissa Reeder, a senior UX designer. “By ending our contracts with oil and gas companies, we can show the world we put people over profits and be a leader against climate change.
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These are the top 5 iPhone mechanical malfunctions
Mobile Rhino is an app that allows Apple users to get insurance for their iOS mobile devices. And that means they get to deal with all of the mechanical malfunctions that are not covered by the warranty.
Developed by Lake St. Louis specialty insurance provider Stuckey and Co., Mobile Rhino has been gathering data on the mechanical malfunctions its users see most often with the iPhone.
“iPhones are no doubt impressive devices, but they’re not without flaws,” said Dwight Stuckey, creator of Mobile Rhino, in a statement. “Whether induced by an accident or revealed over time, these top five malfunctions can cause a great amount of frustration when a user just wants their phone to be fully functional.”
We spoke with Stuckey in December, when he was launching the service. Here are the top five iPhone malfunctions he's been seeing since then, based on issues found with the hundreds of devices Mobile Rhino users send in on a daily basis.
1. Broken digitizer - The digitizer, or sensor on the iPhone screen that detects touch, is responsible for iPhone functions such as answering phone calls, pressing on-screen buttons, opening apps and swiping/tapping. Unresponsive touches to the screen are likely caused by a broken digitizer, which encompasses a very thin, fragile cable on the inside of your phone and the touch sensors on the screen. The digitizer can break easily from a drop or introduction to liquid.
2. Home button - According to Mobile Rhino, a broken home button can be caused by overuse or lodged substances that are blocking the button from being properly depressed.
3. Wifi - The Wifi connection, one of the core elements that makes the iPhone a smartphone, can experience several malfunctions, including trouble connecting to Wifi networks or issues syncing iTunes to the Wifi network. Though often thought to be an issue with the Wifi network itself, repeat occurrences are likely the result of a problem with the iPhone.
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Who’s paid and who’s not? The practice of exploiting celebs for the purposes of adding publicity value and cache to a commercial promotion has turned into a fine art. (It falls into the same category as doling out valuable goodie bags at paparazzi-laden events like the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys.)
Louis Vuitton, the “LV” in LVMH, the world’s preeminent purveyor of luxury goods, held a doozie in Paris recently that was chronicled in today’s New York Times. What was no more than a store opening, albeit the largest Louis Vuitton store in the world, drew A-listers like Thurman, Stone, Hayek, Deneuve, Ryder. (Well, maybe not Ryder.)
For the layperson reading the glossies, it’s less apparent that these media magnets cut deals to be paid in clothes, handbags, jewelry, champagne and/or cash. Even Paris Hilton boasted that she commands $300K to just show up. William Morris, CAA and ICM all have booming practices specializing in this brand of PR payola.
As Times scribe Eric Wilson reports: “No expense was spared to promote the opening of this latest temple of luxury… The number floating around the store among guests that night for the cost of the two-year renovation and the two-day opening festivities topped $50 million.”
I wonder how much of that went to the bold-named faces who attended?


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Ola and OnePlus have entered into a first-of-its-kind partnership in India giving users an opportunity to buy latest smartphone OnePlus X, on-demand, straight from the Ola app. This is the first ever instance in India where consumers can purchase a smartphone without an invite for a day and have it delivered at their doorsteps within 15 minutes of placing the order.
The partnership will go live on the Ola mobile app only on December 8, 2015, across seven cities in India including Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Anyone wishing to buy a OnePlus X can open their Ola app and request a phone, just like they would book a cab, by clicking on the 'ONEPLUSX' category icon that will be available on the app between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
Once the request is received, an Ola cab will arrive at the customer's location; along with a representative from OnePlus, with the smartphone. Customers will get a choice of paying for their OnePlus X handsets through cash (Cash On Delivery) or credit/debit cards.
"We are thrilled to announce this partnership and take great pride in bringing this exclusive access to all Ola users and it is a testament to the on-demand nature of the mobility solutions that the Ola platform offers and takes user engagement to an all-new level," said Sudarshan Gangrade, vice president, marketing at Ola.
Photo Credit: Indiatimes


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Following the release of the original iPhone in 2007 and the subsequent launch of Android, many people with work-issued phones spent years asking for their employers to switch away from BlackBerry smartphones to more modern devices. Finally, as Apple and Google increased their focus on security and BlackBerry hit dire straights a few years ago, workers began getting what that wanted and bring your own device (BYOD) policies became more common.
More recently, however, an interesting trend is being observed: Workers want their BlackBerry’s back.
CIO’s Tom Kaneshige reports on an interesting phenomenon that we’ve heard rumblings of in the past. At companies where employees were permitted to ditch their work-issued BlackBerry phones and bring their own iPhones and Android handsets, they’re now begging their IT departments to move back to BlackBerry.
Why? It turns out there are a few reasons.
For one thing, there are privacy concerns. When workers use their own iOS and Android devices, IT departments gain access to all of their private data in addition to any corporate apps that might be on the devices. It’s never a good thing when you have to hand over a smartphone packed full of naked selfies so that IT can fix an issue with email not syncing properly.
Beyond that, IT professionals Kaneshige spoke with say they are having some serious problems with mobile device management (MDM) software, and the related on-device apps often cause issues like battery drain and device bogging.
A vulnerability in the BlackBerry Protect software built into Z10 smart phones could allow hackers to gain access to the passwords of some devices, according to a security advisory issued by BlackBerry
By taking advantage of “weak permissions” malicious applications will be able to:
- Gain the device password if a remote password reset command had been issued through the BlackBerry Web site
- Intercept and prevent the phone from acting on BlackBerry Protect commands, such as remote wipe
BlackBerry said the issue is with the BlackBerry Protect software and not the Z10’s operating system.
“The most severe potential impact of this vulnerability requires a BlackBerry Z10 smart phone user to install a specially crafted malicious app, enable BlackBerry Protect and reset the device password through BlackBerry Protect,” the advisory said.
With the device password and physical access to the phone, an attacker can:
• Access the functionality of the smartphone (including the BlackBerry Hub, apps, data, and the phone) by unlocking the smartphone.
• Unlock the work perimeter on a BlackBerry Z10 smartphone that has BlackBerry Balance technology enabled if the work perimeter password is the same as the device password.
• Access the smartphone over a USB tether with either BlackBerry Link or the computer’s file viewer, allowing access to the smartphone’s personal files, contacts, PIM data, and so on. The attacker could also access work perimeter content on BlackBerry Balance smartphones if the work perimeter is unlocked and access over a USB tether is allowed by a policy that the IT administrator sets.
• Enable development mode after accessing the smartphone over a USB tether, allowing remote access as a low privilege development user.
• Change the current device password, allowing the attacker to deny access to the legitimate user of the smartphone.
• Access any other local and enterprise services for which the legitimate user has used the same password as the smartphone’s password.
An attacker can also gain Wi-Fi access to the phone if the owner enables Wi-Fi storage access on the Z10 and sets a storage access password that is the same as the device password.


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This Summer, Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa is delighted to announce the much-anticipated return of the 'Night Beach' rooftop bar, located on the seventh floor of the hotel.
With the Cannes Film Festival in full swing (14-25 May) and the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix (23-25 May) just around the corner, the chic Riviera hot-spots of Cannes, Nice and Monaco are shimmering under the spotlight and sunshine this summer.
Electric-assisted mountain bikes are now widely available in the mountain resorts of France, enabling even complete beginners (and the lazy!) to enjoy the thrill of riding in the mountains, without the need for thighs like tree trunks!
The 70th Anniversary of D-Day is clearly the biggest event in Normandy during 2014 but beyond this there is plenty going on during 2014. Delve a little further and there are plenty of other reasons for the British interest in this area. Pierre & Vacances has a range of apartments across Normandy that are ideal for visiting this year’s hidden spots and exciting events.
BKWine recently presented its program for the autumn wine and food tours for 2014. BKWine is a world leading tour operator specialised in wine, food and gourmet travel.
With all the talk of Michael Gove looking to charge parents for taking children out of school during term time, it’s time to take action to avoid the peak holiday prices and opt for a different holiday destination this summer.
For anyone wanting to join the film industry’s elite for the 67th Cannes Film Festival this May, a break with Eurocamp offers the ideal way to get in on the action - with seven nights staying at the outdoor holiday specialist’s nearby Cap Esterel holiday village from just £530 per party.
VIP SKI and Hammer Sports have again teamed up to offer a great package for avid cyclists to take on the Morzine Sportive. VIP SKI’s experience in chalet accommodation combines with Hammer Sports’ cycling experts to provide a week to remember tackling the French Alps.
February Half Term is the best time for families to ski with snow conditions at their optimum but often prices demand a premium.
Hike over to Eurocamp Active for a walking holiday in 2014 that's sure to hit the mark when it comes to enjoying freedom on foot.
Everywhere has weird food and cuisine, and we’re picking southern France for no particular reason, but they have their fair share of oddities. After all, it is France.
Make 2014 a year to remember by taking on an unforgettable trekking or cycling challenge with Discover Adventure. Celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, the specialist tour operator is offering even more new, unique and thrill-seeking itineraries than ever before.
With La Plagne’s Olympic bobsleigh track and advisory ice-maintenance team going to Sochi, its Olympic freestyle event facilities insitu and eight Olympic hopefuls, inevitable excitement for the games in 2014 is mounting throughout La Plagne in the French Alps.
Hip Chalets, the luxury ski chalet specialist, is delighted to introduce their newest and exclusive guest property the ski-in / ski-out Chalet de la Gliere.
With 27 million visitors in 2012 and recently named the "Best City To Visit in 2014" by Lonely Planet, Paris, or the "City of Light", is one of the most visited cities in the world.
31 to 45 of 487 for France


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SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington state attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the California-based clothing company LuLaRoe contending the business is a pyramid scheme.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the lawsuit in a prepared statement released Friday, saying thousands of Washington residents have lost money selling clothes for LuLaRoe.
In an email, a LuLaRoe spokesperson said the claims in lawsuit are completely without merit and the company will fight vigorously against them. The spokesperson said the company remains enthusiastic about the strength of the brand and strong consumer demand.
Ferguson says the company tricked consumers into signing up to sell the LuLaRoe products with deceptive claims of high profits and refunds for unsold merchandise. Ferguson says the company misrepresented refund policies in violation of the state Consumer Protection Act.
He says more than 3,500 Washington residents have become “Independent Fashion Consultants” for LuLaRoe since the start of 2014.


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Paul Morrison is showcasing his craft furniture at Madison’s virtual Art Fair on the Square this weekend.
The Oregon resident will be one of over 400 juried artists at the 62nd Madison Museum of Contemporary Art-hosted fair this year -- the event having gone online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It starts Saturday, July 11, and goes through Sunday, July 12 -- the same weekend the in-person affair would have occurred. The public can view the endeavor live at mmoca.org/artfair2020.
Visitors can browse dozens of artists’ virtual booths, enjoy music by local performers, watch videos of memories from past fairs and donate to MMoCA. In addition to Morrison’s furniture, art will include photography, jewelry, paintings and other crafts.
Morrison, owner of The Wood Cycle of Wisconsin, is a returning fair artist who participated in the 2018 and 2019 Art Fair on the Square. He told the Observer last year his furniture “emphasizes live edge designs using urban trees from the Madison landscape.”
He also said his artistry and craftsmanship is a “family heritage.”
“I’m a seventh-generation Wisconsin farmboy, but from my youth I was following my grandfather around as he worked in his shop, seeing and learning,” Morrison said last year. “On the other side of my family, my grandmother was a painter and one of the early Art Fair on the Square exhibitors. For me, it’s an honor to be working with Wisconsin hardwood using skills initially taught by my grandfather.”
The release states MMoCA has helped “thousands of professional artists” like Morrison sell and promote their work, and “that remains a goal of this year’s event.” The fair also supports MMoCA’s free admission policy and other art programs and exhibitions year round, according to the release. It routinely attracts 200,000 visitors and about 500 artists each year to Madison’s Capitol Square, the release states.


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Following a few days of rumor, the news is now official. The Diane von Furstenberg brand announced on its Twitter feed late Wednesday night that fashion executive Sandra Campos will take the reins as its new CEO.
French investor Eurazeo, which has major holdings in Moncler and Desigual, wants more fashion investments after launching Eurazeo Brands, to expand into "European and US brands with international growth potential."
Apparel Holding Corp, controlled by Sun Capital Partners Inc, filed with U.S. regulators on Tuesday to take its Vince luxury apparel company public in an initial public offering valued at up to $200 million.
Vince, owned by St. Louis-based fashion company Kellwood Co, which is controlled by private equity firm Sun Capital, has selected Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Robert W. Baird & Co to lead the IPO, the sources said on M...
First retail steps in Britain for Scotch & Soda – the London office of Cushman & Wakefield announced that it has located two neighboring stores to house the Dutch brand's men's and women's collections this fall.


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RISING rapper Ghostpoet has been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize this year.
The 24-year-old, a former Coventry University student, is shortlisted among 11 other popular and up and coming artists for the 2011 Album of the Year prize.
The MC, whose real name is Obaro Ejimiwe, released his debut single Cash & Carry Me Home in January.
His album Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam was released a month later and received rave reviews from Radio 1 DJs and The Guardian.
Ghostpoet played Coventry’s top music venue The Kasbah in May and also stole the show in the Rhythm Tent at this year’s Godiva Festival.
He also has a busy summer ahead playing festivals around the UK and Europe.
The nominations were announced by presenter Lauren Laverne in London yesterday.
Ghostpoet will battle for the esteemed prize against names including Adele, Katy B and Tinie Tempah.
Early favourites for this year’s prize are former winners PJ Harvey and Elbow, for their albums Let England Shake and Build A Rocket Boys!
Other nominees include Anna Calvi, Metronomy, Everything Everything and James Blake.
Gennaro Castaldo, of retail chain HMV said the effect of inclusion on the shortlist can not be overestimated.
He said: “Because it’s widely viewed as being such a credible award, the Mercury Prize can shine a very bright on the nominees and on new talent in particular.
"The increased exposure in record stores and in the media can have a hugely galvanising effect on demand for your music – both for your CDs and downloads, which can easily more than double or treble overnight and see your chart position surge.”
The overall winner of the 2011 prize will be revealed on Tuesday September 6.


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Celebrations are in order as award-winning online currency exchange company, Travel FX, reaches an incredible milestone of exchanging over a billion pounds. Since its establishment in 2008, Travel FX has assisted more than one million customers in converting their pounds into holiday money for destinations worldwide.
Founded by Graham Tennant and Damian George, Travel FX aimed to disrupt the travel currency market dominated by banks and the Post Office. Offering currency exchange, buy-back services, and international transfers, the company has garnered over 15,000 “excellent” ratings on Trustpilot from its satisfied customers.
The user-friendly system allows holidaymakers to conveniently order currency online, make payments with a debit or credit card, and select their desired date of receipt. Travel FX dispatches the cash through insured Royal Mail Special Delivery on the requested date, ensuring a seamless experience for clients.
Graham Tennant, Managing Director of Travel FX, shared, “When we started this business, we recognized the need for a shake-up in the industry. We aimed to provide better rates and superior service compared to our competitors. Now, with over a million delighted customers and numerous industry accolades, we are proud to have achieved just that.”
“We are saving our customers significant amounts of money. By exchanging their cash with us, they can save a remarkable £25 per £1,000 compared to the Post Office. For buy-back requirements, the savings amount to £80 per £1,000. All it takes is a little planning to book the order before the departure date. Leaving it until the last minute can result in up to 20% higher exchange rates at the airport,” Tennant added.
In celebrating the significant milestone of exchanging the billionth pound, Travel FX extends its gratitude to all its customers to date. The company looks forward to assisting both existing and new customers with their holiday money needs in the upcoming year.
Travel FX offers currency exchange and transfers in 45 different currencies, providing better rates and transparent pricing without hidden charges due to its streamlined operations. Leveraging industry-leading money transfer technology, the company ensures secure transactions and punctual delivery.
A recent Mintel report confirms the continued importance of cash in society and its role in the future of money, allowing individuals to better track their spending. However, for those who prefer card payments, Travel FX is set to launch virtual cards for seamless phone wallet transactions while still maintaining excellent rates.
Responding to customer demand, Travel FX has recently introduced an international transfer service. This same-day or next-day service offers faster and more cost-effective options compared to traditional banks or currency brokers. The company guarantees excellent exchange rates and transparency without hidden fees, mirroring its commitment to providing exceptional service in its currency exchange operations.


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The UK P&I Club has launched a new Consolidated 2023 Edition of its seminal cargo handling guidance ‘Carefully to Carry’, hosting a special reception to mark the event at the Yacht Club of Greece.
First launched in 2018, UK Club’s ‘Carefully to Carry’ provides the definitive guide to safe carriage, loading and storage of cargo. The highly successful 2023 edition has now been updated to reflect recent regulatory changes and best practices in the industry.
‘Carefully to Carry’ covers an exhaustive range of cargo types, including timber, gases, grain, metals, bulk goods, refrigerated goods, liquid bulk cargoes, and packaged cargoes. By utilising this guide, industry professionals can reduce the likelihood of costly cargo damage and preventable incidents.
This edition has been amended to include new content throughout the book, with key updates such as:
• A reorganised Part 2, including a new Chapter 11 on fertilizers and issues related to ammonium nitrate cargoes.
• New subsections on petroleum coke cargoes (7.2), nickel ore cargoes which may liquefy (8.4), and bauxite cargoes which may liquefy (8.5).
• New chapters on hold preparation and cleaning (Chapter 17), soya bean cargoes (Chapter 5), and seed cake cargoes (Chapter 50).
These amendments ensure that the guidance aligns with recent changes to the IMSBC Code and addresses the associated changes with bulk cargo transportation, particularly cargoes with a risk of liquefaction.
The Club celebrated the book launch with an in-person event held end-April at the Yacht Club of Greece. Sean Geraghty, Regional Director of Greece for the Club, Stuart Edmonston, Loss Prevention Director for the Club, and Dimitris Fafalios, Chairman of INTERCARGO discussed the latest updates with a diverse audience that included members of the Club, local brokers, classification societies, flag registries and members of the media.
Stuart Edmonston, Loss Prevention Director for the Club said: “We were thrilled to meet with industry experts and guests to discuss the relaunch of 2023’s ‘Carefully to Carry’ in Greece. The latest book reflects the Club’s commitment to providing the most up-to-date advice and guidance to our members. The success of previous editions underscores the importance of this comprehensive guide in ensuring safe and efficient cargo transportation. We’re confident that the latest release will continue to be an invaluable resource for the industry.”
Dimitrios Fafalios (pictured, right), INTERCARGO Chairman, commented: “Our Association is committed to safety and quality in ship operations with a focus on operational efficiency and the protection of the marine environment. The issue as to whether a cargo is safe or unsafe is crucial to the lives of those at sea and the protection of their vessels.
“This edition represents more than 60 years’ worth of experience from several generations of international cargo experts together with claims and loss prevention specialists at one of the world’s leading P&I clubs. We welcome this revised edition which is a true-one-stop shop for anyone involved in moving cargoes at sea and an initiative we are proud to support.”


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BMW just released teaser images of its upcoming M6 Gran Coupe — a punch-drunk mishmash of power and style that doesn’t quite know what it is.
Assuming BMW takes the predictable path, the car will looks like a much more aggressive version of the 6 Series Gran Coupe and as these images show will come with a muscular front fascia and accented hood. Essentially, the car will look a lot like the M6 Coupe, and will behave in much the same manner as well.
That’s because it will pack the same 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 under the hood rated at 560 hp through a seven speed dual clutch transmission.
BMW promised more details on the car in December, and with U.S. sale already confirmed it seems likely the car will make its official debut during next year’s Detroit Auto Show in January.


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Pew: Mobile device ownership soars in the U.S.
Almost half (44%) of U.S. adults now own a smartphone, according to Pew, up from 35% in May, 2011.
Tablet ownership has also doubled since May, 2011, now standing at 22% of U.S. adults. The Pew survey, conducted in collaboration with The Economist Group among over 9,500 U.S. adults, found that more affordable Android-based tablets drove up the number of tablet users.
Of the 22% who own tablets, over half (52%) own an iPad, However, that figure is down from 81% a year ago while 48% now own an Android-based tablet.
Of those who do not yet own a tablet, 23% plan to get one in the next six months.
Pew’s survey also found that one-third use their mobile devices to view news stories and video clips at least once a week.
The findings have “major implications for how news will be consumed and paid for,” says Pew. Only 20% of the mobile news users surveyed said they paid for an online subscription in the last year.
“Perhaps most pressing for the industry, the survey shows continued resistance to paying for content on mobile devices,” said Pew in a recent press release. “More mobile news users have print-only subscriptions than have digital ones. Just 24% of them are considering exchanging their print subscription for a digital one (though these tend to be younger subscribers, which suggests their numbers will grow).”


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In 2017, the price of cryptocurrencies soared, the crypto space saw more publicity than ever before, and many institutions began to show interest in the new technology. This ‘New Gold Rush’ was most evident in people’s new-found interest in Bitcoin, the digital currency, and Initial Coin Offerings.
Quickly, new – and arguably inexperienced – investors jumped at the opportunity to buy these digital assets. However, soon after in early 2018, the crypto market turned bearish and dropped back down to as low as 15% of its all time high. It appeared the digital gold rush was over.
Nevertheless, even though the public hype had lost steam, many projects continued to develop their blockchain-based ideas. Regardless of the market valuation, these projects still believe the technology has the potential to shape the future.
“The Association plans to raise the number of total members (or partners) to 100, each contributing an investment of at least US$10 million as part of the reserve backing the token.”
As the rush to buy Bitcoin was occurring, the administration at Facebook decided to delve deeper into this novel technology and tapped Morgan Beller to head up their own blockchain division.
In May of 2018, Facebook Messenger’s Vice President, David A. Marcus, was reassigned to work alongside Beller in the new blockchain division. Just over a year later, on June 18th, 2019, Facebook formally announced its intention to launch their own cryptocurrency: Libra.
Now, their blockchain division has over 50 dedicated engineers collaborating, led by David Marcus, Morgan Beller, and Kevin Weil.
Facebook’s new token, Libra, will be overseen by the Libra Association, founded in Geneva, Switzerland. The intention of the token is to serve as a “stable [coin] global cryptocurrency built on a secure network.”
The Association was founded with 28 initial members, all major companies in diverse sectors including payments, telecommunications, blockchain, and numerous others. The Association plans to raise the number of total members (or partners) to 100, each contributing an investment of at least US$10 million as part of the reserve backing the token.
The Libra Reserve would hold these funds to raise trust in their token’s intrinsic value. In September, Facebook announced the reserve basket would be made up of: 50% US dollar, 18% Euro, 14% Japanese yen, 11% Pound sterling, and 7% Singapore dollar.
All payment transactions would be recorded on the Libra Blockchain, allowing for a trusted and easily accessible global currency. However, unlike Bitcoin, Libra would not be decentralized. The Association’s members would be responsible for maintaining the nodes, serving as a central bank for the token.
US regulators and politicians had serious concerns about the cryptocurrency. Maxine Waters, Chairperson of the US House Committee on Financial Services, and Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, both openly stated their concerns about Libra.
Their concerns included the lack of regulation in the crypto space, the potential for money laundering, and the potential risk to the financial stability of countries as the primary reason for requesting a moratorium from Facebook.
Bruno Le Maire, French Finance Minister, also took a negative stance toward the digital currency and stated they would not allow its development in Europe. Further, its asset-backed nature could allow for a more stable digital currency than Bitcoin and Ethereum.
However, Libra could also be used as a tool for collecting and analyzing users’ purchasing data. The company stated they would use a secondary company, Calibra, to manage payments so users’ Facebook profile information would not be linked to their transactions. Yet, they also provide users with a ‘friend finder’ option that would bypass this security measure and link the two sets of data.
“…Venus was to be an ‘independent and autonomous, regional version of Libra”
In August of 2019, Binance announced a plan to initiate their open blockchain project, Venus. The goal of this project is to develop localized ‘stablecoins’ and digital assets around the world. Stablecoins refer to coins pegged to fiat currencies (like the USD, GBP, etc.)
With the launch of their Binance Chain in July of 2017, they assured their chain had already succeeded at creating secure and robust stablecoins that were pegged to Bitcoin (BTCB) and the British Pound (BGBP). Binance will provide full-process technical support, a compliance risk control system, and a multi-dimensional cooperation network. All to build Venus by leveraging its existing infrastructure and regulatory establishments.
In their Chinese statement, Binance went on to encourage governments, corporations, and other technology and cryptocurrency companies to join them in an open alliance. This is part of their initiative to empower developed and developing countries to issue their own new currencies and discuss the infinite possibilities of the digital world together.
Further, they stated Venus was to be an “independent and autonomous, regional version of Libra.” Thus, while Libra aims to be a new global digital currency, Venus’ objective is to aid countries in having a greater financial autonomy.
Though Venus may appear as a direct competitor to Libra, Binance’s CEO Changpeng Zhao stated in a tweet that Venus is not meant to compete with Libra at all, as their motivations are entirely different, but ideally they can coexist.
Similarly, Binance co-founder Yi He addressed the aim of the project in a statement to news website CoinDesk:
“We believe that in the near and long term, stablecoins will progressively replace traditional fiat currencies in countries around the world, and bring a new and balanced standard of the digital economy. We hope to achieve a vision, that is, to reshape the world financial system, allow countries to have more tangible financial services and infrastructures, protect their financial security and increase the economic efficiency of countries.”
Although both projects came out with their proposals at a similar time, they do diverge in their overall objectives. Thus, this competition may not have any clear winners anytime soon. One this is for sure, however, that stablecoins pose an interesting solution for the future of finance.
As is the public intention of Binance’s Changpeng Zhao and Yi He, Venus aims to create numerous digital currencies for countries, upgrading their current fiat systems. Libra, on the other hand, seems to want to create their own currency altogether, to reduce fees and likely become a significant player in the ‘global-currency game.’
It’s precisely for this reason that we’ll likely see significantly less regulatory backlash on Binance’s project. Nevertheless, the future remains unclear and we’ll just have to wait and see.