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The Hush Post: In a first case of theft of the new cryptocurrency in the country, a leading bitcoin exchange firm has lost bitcoins worth Rs 20 crore after most of its wallets were hacked. 440 bitcoins have been stolen.
Senior officers of Delhi Police’s Cyber Cell confirmed the incident and said the firm, identified as Coinsecure, told them about the theft.
The company, which has over two lakh users across the country, told police that they got to know about the theft on Monday while going through all the wallets. A senior security officer found that all the bitcoins that were stored offline had vanished. It was later found that the private keys, the password that is kept by the company and is stored offline, were leaked online.
The company tried to trace the hackers, but found that all the data logs of the affected wallets had been erased, leaving no trails about where the bitcoins were transferred to. The website of the company has since then remained shut. On Thursday night, the company confirmed the hack to their users through a message posted on the website.
“We regret to inform you that our bitcoin funds have been exposed and seem to have been siphoned out to an address that is outside our control,” the company stated.
The company’s founder and CEO Mohit Kalra told a national daily that he suspects an insider’s hand in the IT robbery. Cyber security experts said that the private keys – the password that is kept by the company- are never connected to an online system. But police found that not only were the private keys online, they were kept like that for more than 12 hours.
He further said that even if funds are not recovered, his company was willing to pay from its own pocket to compensate its customers.
Police said that the company’s servers have been seized to ascertain the extent of the system breach. A case was registered under IPC sections and Section 66 of the IT Act.


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Anheuser-Busch brand Ritas, with a strongly loyal bunch of younger, mostly female drinkers, is not shy about putting romance into its marketing mix.
And for the holidays ahead, it’s offering to play its part in a real game of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
It’s offering to pay 20 winners of an Instagram video contest $1,500 each toward a flight to their parents’ home for the holidays, with this hook: They must take along their significant other, whom Mom and Dad have never met (or possible even known of) before.
Winners will also get a case of Cran-Ber-Rita, a newly resurrected flavor in the lineup of the sweet-tasting, potent (8% alcohol content) beverage brand.
Entrants have to go to Ritas’ Instagram page, by the end of Tuesday, Nov. 19, to post a video explaining why they’ll never apologize about their choice of mate. The winners will be announced on Wednesday.
Ritas cites research that says 70% of adults 25-34 are scared to bring their new mate home to meet the parents. And In an ad Ritas produced using actors — but real stories — the dynamics of that first meet with the parents seems painfully real. That includes a gay man whose trip home for the holidays with his boyfriend was also a coming out to his parents.
Ritas is a category Anheuser-Busch helped start with Bud Light Lime-a-Rita. As the brand gained popularity quickly, the company added lots of flavors, and Ritas now stands on its own.
In fact, there’s a growing Beyond Beer Brands division at Anheuser Busch, where Chelsea Phillips is the vice president and enthusiastic cheerleader for the oldest non-beer in the stable.
For Ritas’ “ambitious single, 21-29 year old” female demographic, happ- ending love stories and sticking to your guns is a lure, she tells Marketing Daily. “They’re in a phase of their lives of having fun and that includes drinking and cutting loose. They’re joyful, not apologetic,” Phillips says, nearly slipping in the brand’s #NeverApologize branding message.
The going-home stories in the ad are meant to resonate with women and men who want their parents to accept that new lover in their life — and Ritas is saying that it’s the beverage that’s giving them agency.
Phillips frets about the difficulties of growing what she actually calls a “legacy” brand like Ritas -- the old lady of the flavored malt beverages category after being in existence for all of seven years. Phillips says Ritas will produce 800,000 barrels this year, but it’s an “uphill climb these days, with so many new beverages coming out every year.”
Anheuser-Busch will invest $100 million in the alcoholic drink category in the next year. At the moment, hard seltzers are all the rage. The company already produces Bon & Viv and Natty Light (an offshoot of college-age beer drinkers’ favorite party brew Natural Light beer). Coming in January is the new Bud Light Seltzer in flavors like mango, strawberry, black cherry and lemon-lime.
Still, Ritas rolls along. “Fifty-one percent of the nation has never heard of a hard seltzer, so there’s a lot of runway,” Phillips says, and the same is true of malt beverages. On either end of the country, she says, it’s easier for brands to blast media with marketing -- and Phillips says, people have been conditioned to try new things more than consumers in the middle of the country.

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Luxury carmaker Bentley has opened its first store in a shopping centre, at Westfield London. Located in the luxury quarter, The Village, the new store is surrounded by complementary neighbours including Gucci, Prada and Tiffany’s. The opening is part of a growing trend of car brands opening inside shopping centres with brands such as Tesla, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and Seat all having recently taken space in UK malls.
Rather than a store, this one is called “The Bentley Studio”, offering customers a relaxed yet ultra-modern environment to customise and personalise their car, choosing features such as the leathers, colours or wood panelling. Sleek interiors help create a relaxing and chilled environment within the Bentley Studio
The space is also digitally enabled with The Inspirator app which uses emotional recognition technology and guides users through an immersive film that is shaped, directed and inspired by their facial and emotional reactions – which in turn helps customers specify their car.
Shoppers also have the opportunity to purchase branded goods items from the Bentley Collection and, importantly, take a Bentley for a test drive, choosing between Continental GT, Flying Spur, Bentayga and Mulsanne.
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Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquiere has signed a new contract, delivering a potential boost to luxury goods giant LVMH for …


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'Shifted' is coming, and pretty soon too.
Knuckle Puck have announced a new EP, 'Shifted'!
Here's everything you need to know about it:
1. It's a five-song reworking of songs from 'Shapeshifter', and will be out April 06 via Rise Records.
2. You can get your first taste of it, 'Conduit (Shifted)', here:
Here's the original:
3. The tracklisting is:
03. Nervous Passenger
4. The cover looks like this:
5. You can pre-order it here.
Knuckle Puck have been announced for the final cross-country Vans Warped Tour, and will hit the UK in May for Slam Dunk.
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Digital fitness content provider Wexer has launched its new software development kit (SDK), which allows the virtual fitness content hosted on the Wexer Mobile app to be integrated into existing apps operated by health clubs and studios.
"We know that many operators already have an app and don’t want to start again from scratch and our SDK menu has been launched in recognition of this," Wexer said.
"It’s a cost-effective way of giving club members all the content they want, without them ever having to leave the environment of the club's own app.
"Content creation can be one of the most expensive, time-consuming tasks for operators looking to offer a digital experience – and our SDK has been launched in recognition of this."
Clubs will be able to control the user interface – what the end user sees in terms of design, app navigation and branding – as well as the data created by the app, giving operators control of the front end and the data.
Wexer, meanwhile, will provide the "invisible back end" of the app, by providing and channeling the content from its content management system via its digital platform into the app and the user’s screen.
"In a nutshell, we invest in a constant stream of fresh new programmes – and all the supporting technology – so clubs don’t have to," Wexer said.
"And if clubs want to charge a premium for the new content – and as long as the app has that functionality – that’s fine too. Ultimately, the clubs will be able to control the environment and, to all intents and purposes, it looks and feels like it's their own content."
To find out more about the Wexer SDK, click here.


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“Cacao Fiji” – the exporter of premium cocoa beans, wins Awards at the “2019 International Chocolate Awards”.
It has won a Silver award for 70 percent Dark Dreketi Matasawalevu chocolate, with their partner – Arete at the “Americas International Chocolate Award”.
They also won a Silver award for the 90 percent Dark Chocolate by ‘Armstrong Chocolate’, at the prestigious “London Academy of Chocolate Awards”.
They also won a bronze for the “Fiji Drinking Chocolate” category, at the “Academy of Chocolate Awards” in New York in June.
Company Founder – Arif Khan says, this is a testament to their ability to showcase globally, their premium cocoa beans for fine chocolate.
“Cacao Fiji” is the largest exporter of Fiji origin cocoa beans, and exports to the USA, Canada, France, New Zealand, and Australia.


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Uber has Set Up a Database for Rider Location
Privacy in the modern Digital Age is a concept that is likely to remain complicated for a very long time. Although privacy is meant to be a human right, people give it up freely on a daily basis to make their lives easier, in search of information or just to use social media and other online services. People should consider protecting their privacy and still enjoy the numerous benefits of technological and services advancements in their efforts to improve their lives.
Companies especially those in the technology industry take advantage of the technological and services enhancements very often. For example, these companies might launch new services. Similarly, they may upgrade some important features so that some additional data is needed for full functionality. The companies take advantage of the fact that people have the tendency of following the mainstream, especially when coming to online services and apps. By so doing, people are unable to stay away from some of the greatest and latest upgrades even when their basic privacy needs are at risk.
Uber Changes its Methods of Data Collection
The latest company to take advantage of technology advancements is Uber. The company has changed its methods for data collection through its latest update. Before the update, customers were only asked about their location prior pickups so that the drivers could establish their position. Additionally, location data was not collected during the trip or after the end of the journey. However, things are not the same anymore, and the old practice is scheduled to change. Reports show that the company has begun accessing the background data of the user prior he/she has used Uber, during the trip and about five minutes after the journey. According to the company, it has begun to do so in an effort to improve the services it offers.
Why has Uber taken this step?
People don’t like revealing their private information and the new move by Uber has not been received well. However, Uber explains that people don’t have to panic and the move is aimed at making its services better. For starters, the new move will allow for a richer access to background location information, and this will help ensure that the app responds much faster. For example, the app will now be in a position to propose nearby drivers immediately the user opens it. Most importantly, with the new advancement, it is now easier for drivers to carry-out more precise drop-offs and pick-up points. Currently, Uber drivers have to get in touch with the potential riders by calling them in order to find out their exact location. This has been viewed as a long process and tedious at the same time. In addition to calling their potential riders, drivers have to instantly determine the exact points for drop-offs, which can prove to be a safety risk for the riders and the drivers.
Additionally, Uber is looking forward to using the new update to track the frequency of directly crossing the streets by the riders after drop-offs. According to Uber, crossing the streets directly after drop-offs has for a long time been a safety hazard, and the new update will help rectify the risk. According to their spokesperson, it is not safe for riders to directly cross the street after drop-offs even when they want to quickly arrive at their destination. He added that tracking users after drop-offs will help detect whether drivers drop-off their riders at risky places.
Although the new changes for background location data collection may surprise many, the company started planning for the change late last year. In addition, Uber updated its policy about privacy last summer in order to allow for the collection of background location data and this lead to a backlash from some privacy groups.
Companies that filed complaints against Uber claimed that the new collection of background location data was against the law and a misleading trade practice. However, Uber has cleared the air about any malicious intent and is, in fact, getting the consent of its riders’ prior beginning the collection of their background location data. Additionally, the company has disseminated a link that tries to explain the necessary alterations to help users update their GPS.
In an effort to address the different privacy groups’ concerns, the Office of the Attorney General in New York agreed with Uber back in January that, the user location data should at all times remain encrypted from the phone of the user while in transit. Similarly, user location data should be encrypted between the GPS data stored by Uber and its servers and should be protected using multi-factor authentication.
Nevertheless, some users are still not comfortable with the idea of Uber to track them especially after leaving their drivers’ cars. Uber has advised that riders who are unwilling to share the additional location data should consider turning off location sharing. It is evident that Uber is only trying to improve its services by collecting extra background location data of its riders.


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Bangladesh authorities filed murder charges against 41 people on Monday for their roles in the April 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory complex. The collapse killed more than 1,100 people and injured 2,500 in the worst industrial disaster the country has ever faced.
Rana Plaza's owner, Sohel Rana, his parents and more than a dozen government officials were among those charged for neglecting warnings not to allow workers into the building, which showed cracks in the structure the day before it collapsed.
Investigators said Rana, his staff and the management of the complex's five factories allegedly forced unwilling workers to enter the building, prompting authorities to shift the charges from culpable homicide to murder.
If convicted of murder, the defendants could face the death penalty, the Associated Press reported.
"It was a mass killing," lead investigator Bijoy Krishna Kar told AFP. "All 41 of those charged have a collective responsibility for the tragedy."
In a separate case, the accused will also face charges of violating safety rules in building Rana Plaza because additional floors were added to the original five-story building, which was basically meant for office and shopping malls. Later, illegally built upper floors were transformed into factories.
Rana was arrested days after the disaster occurred, during his attempt to flee to India.
Monday's formal charges are significant due to the fact that garment factory owners often enjoy impunity in Bangladesh because of the industry's power, according to The New York Times.
The building collapse immediately sparked an international movement to reform poor working conditions and increase low wages in the world's second-largest garment industry, through which Bangladesh earns more than $20 billion per year from exports, primarily in the U.S. and Europe.
Initiatives like Fashion Revolution Day continue to call on global brands and retailers, many of which outsource from Bangladesh for its low-cost labor, to increase their transparency and accountability in order to protect the rights — and lives — of workers.


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Kings Island's summer season is coming to an end Labor Day weekend.
The park and Soak City water park are closing for the summer, set to reopen in late September.
To celebrate, the park will be offering food, games and merchandise for only $1. The deal includes blue ice cream, pizza, popcorn and fountain drinks.
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The countdown for iPad Mini 7 has begun
It's been a while since Apple graced us with new iPad releases, but the wait is finally drawing to a close. According to sources, Apple is gearing up to introduce a host of fresh iPad models in the coming months, including the much-anticipated iPad Mini 7 and two brand-new iPad Air models.
Despite rumors of another event for new Macs and iPad models after the iPhone 15 announcement, Apple chose to delay the M3 chip until early next year, signaling that new iPad models will be delayed along with upgraded Macs. Currently, Apple is reportedly working on two iPad Air models and an updated iPad Mini 7.
Let's dive into what we know so far.
The long-awaited iPad Mini 7
There are different rumors about the release of new iPad models. In particular, the company is expected to launch OLED iPad Pro models with M3 chips next year. However, iPad Mini 7 and iPad Air 6 are rumored to be released later this year. Sources close to 9to5mac say that the new iPad Mini 7 could be released in the coming months, and new iPad Air models could also be announced.
Last year, an industry analyst stated that Apple was working to launch the iPad Mini 7 later this year. There is also the possibility that iPad Mini 7 could be announced early next year. It is thought that the new iPad mini model may have the current design but may be equipped with a faster chip. We predict that they will probably use Apple's latest A17 Pro chip to compete with M-series chips for the new iPad Air series.
So when is the iPad Mini 7 release date? Only time will tell.
Two new iPad Air models
Apple is working on two iPad Air models and iPad Mini 7 to be released later this year. It is rumored that Apple wants to expand the iPad Air series and therefore may introduce a new model. It is estimated that this new model may have a larger screen size.
New iPad Air models are expected to be powered by Apple's M2 chip, similar to iPad Pro models. The redesigned iPad Pro models will include the new M3 chip based on TSMC's 3nm process.
The M3 iPad Pro
Not to be overlooked, a new generation of the iPad Pro is on the horizon, equipped with the M3 chip. This new iteration, identified as J717 and J718 for the 11-inch models and J720 and J721 for the larger-sized models, promises improved performance and capabilities.
It is rumored that Apple probably plans to announce iPad Air and iPad Pro models together to maintain the performance difference between the two models. However, there is no official information about the exact positioning of the new models yet.
While these developments are certainly exciting, it's essential to remember that Apple's plans can shift. The tech giant is known for its innovation and could surprise us with even more features and innovations when these new iPads finally make their debut.
Featured image credit: Apple.Advertisement


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It looks like NetflixThe ad-supported tier of is not yielding the numbers the company was expecting. According to five agency executives, the streaming platform is now allowing advertisers to take their money back on ads that haven’t run yet, and the company’s shares are down nearly 10% year-to-date, per digitag.
While Netflix CEO Reed Hastings initially dismissed any chance of the streamer hosting ads, he changed tack when the company reported its first subscriber loss in over a decade last spring. Presumably to combat the loss, the company rolled out an ad-supported tier last month that costs $6.99 per month, as opposed to an ad-free plan that costs $9.99 per month.
However, the new feature seems to have gotten off to a slow start, with the streaming platform only delivering about 80% of its expected ad audience per Digiday in some cases.
“You can’t deliver. You do not have enough stock to deliver. So they’re literally giving the money back,” an agency executive told the outlet.
The company uses a “pay-by-delivery” structure, where advertisers only provide the money for viewers who reach them, while anything not spent is refunded to them at the end of the quarter, Digiday reports. Another agency executive added that advertisers were pushing to get the money back now so they could “spend it during the critical holiday season,” which Netflix agreed to do.
Meanwhile, others hoping viewership will continue to grow have opted to delay their ads until the first quarter of 2023. A third agency executive told Digiday, “There have been different ways they have addressed missing delivery targets and customers want a solution in different ways. Not everyone wants money back at the end of a financial year.”
Well Netflix, it looks like you’ll have to come up with something interesting for this ad-supported plan. Or continue to feel the wrath of falling stocks.
Decider has reached out to Netflix for comment.


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ExCel London 21 March 2018 - Innovations in data centre design, energy-efficiency and sustainability are being showcased at Data Centre World 2018 by engineering services led principal contractor, JCA, which has just delivered one of the UK’s most advanced data centres for its client, Kao Data.
Offering industry-leading flexible configuration and environmental performance credentials, JCA’s design and construction of Kao Data London One followed the innovative principles of the Open Compute Project, one of the first carrier neutral wholesale data centres to ...
A multi-award winning car service centre in Monkspath Business Park, Solihull, is celebrating the success of its newest apprentice in the build-up to National Apprenticeship Week, from 5th March.
Motorserv-UK, opened almost four years ago by Solihull entrepreneur, Kamran Saleem (36), employs 17 staff, one of whom is Connor Fox (19) from Shirley, who was recruited in December as an apprentice technician through Solihull Council’s STEPS programme (Support Towards Employment, Progression and Satisfaction, which helps adults with learning disabilities into work.
Attending Stratford-upon-Avon ...
Leading commercial fit-out contractor, Hertfordshire based JCA, considers how flexibility, staff wellbeing and integration of technology have become major design factors in creating happy and productive office environments.
Workspace design is evolving at a rapid pace, as organisations compete to attract and retain the brightest and best talent at a time when the UK’s skilled labour pool is reducing.
Whereas in the past office design focused on the space itself, interior designers creating the latest workspaces are tasked with developing environments that provide staff ...
The popularity of more sustainable transport among Milton Keynes residents continues to grow according to a local car dealership that’s seen record sales of zero emission electric cars.
Westcroft based franchised dealership, Brayley Renault has reported a year on year increase of 330% in buyers of the 100% electric models, as more consumers see the benefits of owning plug-in vehicles.
The surge in electric cars on the roads of Buckinghamshire reflects the national demand for more environmentally friendly motoring. Figures published by The ...
David Eszenyi, Commercial Director of engine remanufacturing specialist, Ivor Searle provides an insight into the world of automotive remanufacturing and its benefit to the fleet sector.
Remanufacturing is a fundamental part of what’s called the ‘Circular Economy’. This concept champions a range of activities including reuse, sharing, pay-per-use, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling, in order to preserve natural resources, reduce energy usage and avoid landfilling.
Typically, remanufactured engines will each save 55kg in core metal, so it’s a cost-effective alternative to manufacturing brand new, ...
One of the UK’s best performing Honda dealerships, located on Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, was selected to host a special visit from some of Japan’s best Honda car dealers.
Brayley Honda Enfield opened its doors to a group of 25 Japanese sales executives, who each won a place on the four-day trip to the UK by selling the most Honda cars in their dealerships across Japan.
As well as finding out more about the motor industry in the UK, the prize winners toured ...
A car service centre based in Monkspath Business Park, Motorserv-UK Solihull, which opened three years ago, has beaten hundreds of other automotive service and repair businesses across the UK to the title of ‘Garage of the Year’ 2017.
The trophy was awarded to Motorserv-UK at Europe’s largest automotive aftermarket exhibition, Automechanika, which was held at the NEC in Birmingham. The West Midlands workshop, owned by 35 year-old Solihull entrepreneur, Kamran Saleem, was up against 12 other garage finalists but gained the most ...
Hertfordshire based building engineering specialist, JCA, has made a major appointment to its senior management team, as the business develops its portfolio of large scale engineering projects, involving the installation and maintenance of critical infrastructure across the data centre, healthcare, commercial office and science and technology sectors.
Former National Director of Specialist Services for Mitie, Ian Coleman, has joined JCA as Managed Services Division Operations Director. Reporting to JCA’s Chairman, Ian Jackson, Coleman has responsibility for the company’s expanding programme of resident ...
The UK’s leading supplier of reman engine, gearbox, turbo and cylinder heads, Ivor Searle is pleased to announce the addition of a further unit to its range of petrol and diesel remanufactured engines, the Vauxhall A14XER reman engine.
Part of the line-up of Family 0 straight-4 cylinder petrol engines, the 1.4i 16V code Vauxhall A14XER is now available from Ivor Searle’s Cambridgeshire based factory with next day delivery.
The Vauxhall A14XER unit is a Generation IIII ‘Ecoflex’ version of the TwinPort engine, tuned ...


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HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey in a presentation last week at the 2014 Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference discussed several successes and initiatives in its international markets, which included the recent launch of its line of Hershey's Spreads and Lancaster Soft Crèmes in the United States.
The company said it plans to continue expanding in the area of product innovation with Ice Breakers Cool Blasts Chews, which are set to make a debut later this year. Hershey considers the product — a quick-dissolving chew that provides a burst of freshness — a "breakthrough" in the category. It's geared toward consumers who enjoy the experience of chewing gum, but also want a discreet way to freshen their breath.
Hershey, which currently holds a 39% share of the U.S. mint category, said this product will continue to build on it leadership position in the market.


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A crossword-solving computer program triumphed in a competition against humans.
According to Associated Content, Vecna Robotics has built a prototype of the BEAR Robot for the U.S. Army.
Prices for 15" and 20" LCD TV panels stand a good chance to rise in September, according to panel makers.
Taiwanese brands Vizio and Maxent, co-promoting their products with nationwide retail store chains in the US, continue generating growth in sales on the wave of rising demand for 50" PDP (plasma display panel) TVs in the North America market, according to market sources.
In only one year, prices for 37" LCD TVs in North America fell below $1000, the same price level for the 32" segment an year ago, amid fast falling LCD panel prices, according LCD TV makers and industry sources.
Global PDP (plasma display panel) TV shipments rose 30% on quarter and 95% on year to 2.2 million units in the second quarter of 2006, capturing 5% of worldwide TV shipments, up from 4% in the first quarter, according to Displaysearch.
People have tried to reduce or eliminate jetlag ever since the invention of air travel. Some use special protein diets while others blast themselves with "daylight" spectrum lights. Now Airbus, the European jumbo jet maker, has filed for a patent on a jetlag reducing airplane seat.
Life-saving operations on soldiers in combat zones could become possible thanks to a portable robotic surgeon that allows doctors to perform surgery on the battlefield without endangering themselves.
Dell is pulling out of the digital music player business, apparently conceding that it cannot compete with Apple a year after introducing the DJ Ditty MP3 device as an affordable alternative to the Ipod Shuffle.
EDGE enabled handsets have never attracted the same levels of attention that "sexier" technologies such as WCDMA and HSDPA have enjoyed. In fact EDGE can best be described as the Cinderella of the cellular handset world.
Engineers at the University of Southampton have developed technology to double the speed of chips commonly used in mobile devices.
Google's Writely online word processing service is now up and running, providing a new challenge to Microsoft's Office applications dominance.
A computer system that monitors the behaviour of simple creatures for neuroscience experiments could ultimately help scientists develop new drugs, researchers say.
Following a 5.8% increase in the price of 17" monitor panels in the first half of August, surging demand is pushing mainstream panel prices higher in the second half of August, according to WitsView Technology.
The combined shares of 40" and 42" LCD TVs will exceed that for PDP (plasma display panel) TVs in the global 40" to 49" TV market by the fourth quarter of this year.
Computer designers at the University of Rochester (UR) say they've invented the next generation of transistors.
Jon Peddie Research is currently running a survey on "PC usage and desires."
Acer's total volume of notebook orders is estimated to exceed eight million units in 2006, slightly ahead of Toshiba with 7-8 million notebooks, according to sources at Taiwan notebook manufacturers.
Last quarter, global LCD TV shipments reached 9.4 million units, up 28% from 7.4 million units in the first quarter, according to Displaysearch.


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- In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, leading retailers say that organized retail crime networks are becoming even more aggressive.
- To protect the safety of associates working in retail stores and ensure that consumers shopping online are not at risk of buying stolen or counterfeit products, Congress must intervene, says Brian Dodge, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
- Dodge says lawmakers should focus on eliminating the ability of criminals to hide behind anonymous selling accounts on online marketplace platforms.
As the nation navigates the new normal, retailers continue to safely serve our communities across the country. But retailers are confronting an economy that has undergone major shifts during the course of the pandemic, as consumers continue to buy items online in record numbers. This dramatic spike in online shopping makes brick-and-mortar stores even more vulnerable to a problem that has been growing for over a decade: organized retail crime.
Organized retail crime refers to criminal networks that steal merchandise in mass quantities from storefronts and sell those goods online. Retailers have long reported costly problems with organized retail crime, and the Department of Homeland Security recently warned that third-party online marketplaces are facilitating the trafficking of pirated goods. But this year, in the midst of the pandemic, leading retailers say that these networks are becoming even more aggressive, which is consistent with past surges in retail theft during times of economic contractions.
To protect the safety of associates working in retail stores and ensure that consumers shopping online are not at risk of buying stolen or counterfeit products, Congress must intervene. And they should focus on eliminating the ability of criminals to hide behind anonymous selling accounts on online marketplace platforms.
Critical progress was made last week with the introduction of the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM) Act by Representative Jan Schakowsky. Originally introduced in March by Senators Bill Cassidy and Dick Durbin, the INFORM Consumers Act would mandate online marketplaces to verify the identity of high-volume third-party sellers by obtaining their government ID, tax ID, bank account information and contact information.
Big Tech marketplaces, including Amazon, remain fiercely opposed to strong verification and accountability laws that would empower consumers and law enforcement with information and make it harder for unscrupulous sellers and criminals to profit from these illicit transactions.
Reports show that organized retail crime is increasingly pervasive on Amazon. In 2019, a theft ring was busted in Washington state for selling millions of dollars' worth of stolen goods on Amazon's platform over a six-year period. In March, it was reported that more than two-dozen people had been charged with being involved in a crime ring that targeted major retail stores from 2014 to 2019 and sold stolen wares on Amazon.
The dubious claim that scale makes solving this problem too difficult, too complicated or too burdensome is unfounded. Big Tech marketplace platforms employ some of the most sophisticated data scientists and logistics professionals in the world, and it is clear that the knowhow exists to identify and crack down on these illegitimate sales.
Let's face the facts. The real reason for turning a blind eye to this problem undoubtedly lies with the increasing volume of these transactions and the commissions and fees earned every time a stolen, counterfeit or unsafe item is sold on one of these platforms.
Big Tech marketplace platforms have their place in an increasingly diverse and digital economy, connecting legitimate sellers — often small businesses — to a large and growing pool of online shoppers. But their growth should not be a golden ticket for criminal rings targeting legitimate businesses and innocent consumers.
An important next step and show of good faith would be for Big Tech to join leading retailers in supporting the INFORM Consumers Act. Lawmakers should seize the opportunity to ask Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos about his company's role in solving the organized retail crime problem when he appears before the House Judiciary Subcommittee this week.
The last few months have been a difficult time for all Americans. For our part, retailers and their employees have done everything possible to ensure families have had access to everything they have needed to keep their families secure.
Collectively we have invested billions in training, safety and sanitization measures to safeguard our employees, customers and the communities that have counted on us. But this crisis has also underscored problems that require other industries to step up and do their part. In this case, Big Tech needs to step up to the plate.


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With the pandemic making trick or treating an issue this year, an update is coming that might be the safest way to celebrate the season.
On this morning’s Global BC Morning News, Mike shows off some cool news products for gamers, including a new, cheaper console from Xbox.
A host of new releases are coming from Nintendo to celebrate its ubiquitous mascot and everybody’s favourite plumber, Mario
There is a battle brewing between developers and the app stores that Apple and Google both manage. As you may have guessed, it’s over money.
Nintendo has enjoyed an amazing second quarter thanks to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Konami gets in to the Gaming PC space by getting ready launch their Arespear.
Sony has invested $340 million in to Epic games, just after Epic helped Sony with the new tech in the PS5.
EdeavorRX has just been approved to be prescribed to children with ADHD. This marks the first time the FDA ha endorsed the use of a video game as a prescription.
DTS has made the move to sponsor Team Vanish, a smaller Fortnite team for the foreseeable future. This is a first for DTS and is perfect timing as audio becomes a hot topic in the gaming community.
The Sony PlayStation 5 is the talk of the gaming universe this month. It has a lot to offer. Here’s what we’re excited about!
Helm Audio is launching an in line portable amplifier for your headset to bring up to 12db more sound and 6db more bass. Designed to enhance your music listening or gaming experience.
On this week’s Global BC Noon News, we discuss one of the most popular video games right now & some helpful tools to get the most out of it.
Apple Support has published a new video showing how you can easily pair a wireless controller, such as an Xbox One or PS4 bluetooth controller
How to get top bells for your turnips and a bushel full of other apps and tools to help you up your Animal Crossing: New Horizons game
Relive your favourite videogames with this awesome new DIY handheld console from Hardkernel
We’ve got some useful web-based tools to help you enjoy the game even more
We’ll show you how to bring in your own images and graphics into the new Animal Crossing game for the Nintendo Switch
Mike Agerbo discusses the following items to help with dealing with self-isolation, working from home and keeping your tech clean
A highlight of every CES is always a visit to the sprawling Samsung booth. Mike Agerbo shares what we saw this year.
Power Rangers Battle for the Grid pulls from 25 years of history into this new PC fighting game.
This week on Global BC Noon News, John brought on some videogame controllers to help you relive those childhood classics. Starting with the 8BitDo Arcade
Can xbox get out a hit with its latest release in the Gears of War franchise?
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German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reports the EPA has asked VW to produce electric vehicles as its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and to help build a network of EV charging stations in the US.
“Talks with the EPA are ongoing and we are not commenting on the contents and state of the negotiations,” a VW spokesman told Reuters. The EPA declined to comment.
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and others suggested this idea back in December.
As reported by AutoBlog, Musk, along with a coalition of Silicon Valley leaders and environmentalists (executives at the Sierra Club and SolarCity among them) sent a letter to the California Air Resource Board chair Mary Nichols saying VW should be forced to “cure the air, not the cars” by ditching diesel and instead focusing on EVs.


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Doomed high street retailer British Home Stores has slashed thousands of prices in the week since announcing they’ve gone into administration.
Shoppers now have the opportunity to take advantage of a number of offers while the administrators are at work deciding the future of the business.
Currently there are 166 stories across the region with branches in Coventry, Nuneaton, Stratford and Solihull.
Sadly it is estimated that 11,000 BHS workers across the country could lose their jobs.
Among the price reductions are menswear and womenswear, childrens clothing, electrical items, household appliances and outdoor furniture.
We’ve scoured the shelves in the Coventry City Centre store for their best bargains as store bosses discount goods by nearly 60 per cent.
With the weather finally warming up, what better thing to invest in than a picnic basket to take with you on those long days spent in the park or at the beach?
This red polka-dot, half-moon flap wicker picnic basket contains enough cutlery, plates and acrylic glasses for four people. It also contains a bottle opener and salt and pepper pots.
It was on sale for £100. Following the latest discount it would now only cost £49.99.
Whether your kids are growing at an alarming rate or just a bit messy, sometimes it feels as if you have to buy new school uniforms every week.
BHS have dramatically cut the price of uniforms so you can now pick up summer dresses for just £5, blouses and shirts for £4 and a three-pack of polo shirts for £5.25.
It’s nearly that time of year again when we all panic that we haven’t got suitcases, towels or swimming suits for our impending summer holiday. You’d be silly not to take advantage of BHS’s holiday offerings.
The price of beach towels has been slashed in half and thankfully colourful suitcases have a huge 60 per cent off. The cabin sized Revelation by Antler Aubergine Madura suitcase can carry around 34 litres and can easily be spotted on the baggage carousel. It was £100 but now only costs £40.
Have you moved into a new home or is your old kettle on the blink? Then now’s the time to get down to British Home Stores to snatch up one of their home brand tone kettles. The stylish appliances were £50 but have now been reduced to £29.99 and are available in seven colours.
If you’re sick of your bathroom’s colour scheme then now’s the time to redecorate! Dozens of colours are available to buy in the ultimate towel range for rock bottom prices starting from £1.80.
Previously bath sheets cost around £28, but these have now been reduced to just £16.80. There are also massive savings to be had on colourful beach towels which have been reduced by 50 per cent.


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You know it’s pretty bad if a product is pulled the day before it’s supposed to be launched. That’s exactly what Nvidia has done today with their handheld device the Nvidia Shield. A statement from Nvidia reads:
During our final QA process, we discovered a mechanical issue that relates to a 3rd party component. We want every SHIELD to be perfect, so we have elected to shift the launch date to July. We’ll update you as soon as we have an exact date.
This last minute delay will be a blow for Nvidia and pre-order customers who are probably raging all over the Intertubes right now and demanding come sort of compensation. At least Nvidia has identified there is a problem before they shipped. If faulty systems had been pushed into the wild that would have caused even more of a shit storm.
Whether the Shield is any good or a complete waste of $299 remains to be seen, it does seem a rather pointless gaming device to me.


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CRYPTO-The Dawn of Digital Currency
Can a tweet fluctuate the market cap of a commodity by $149 Billion? When Elon Musk changed his Twitter Bio to ‘Bitcoin’, the price of Bitcoin Skyrocketed from $32,000 to $38,000 in just a few hours and its market cap increased from $597 billion to $708 billion. On Dec 20, 2020, he tweeted-One word: Doge This increased the price of Dogecoin by 17% in just one hour. However, later he admitted that tweets about Dogecoin were just a joke. But it forced many to think that if one tweet can increase its value so much, another tweet can wipe out a similar value. This was witnessed when on Feb 20, 2021, he tweeted that the prices of Bitcoin & Ethereum ‘seem high’ and the bitcoin prices fell by $8000 leading to a decrease in the market cap of bitcoin by $149 billion.
To understand in simple terms, a cryptocurrency is a digital currency that can be used as a medium of exchange. Being a virtual currency, it does not exist in physical form and the transactions are secured by cryptography, which makes it next to impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. It is typically not issued by any central authority. Most Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. use decentralized control, based on blockchain technology. Bitcoin is the first decentralized cryptocurrency created by an unknown person or a group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
Bitcoin is one of the most Volatile Commodities in the world. On March 12, 2020, its price was INR 3,65,982 & on Feb 21,2020, its price was 41,71,081. So, in less than one year, the price rose by more than 38 lakhs – that’s a profit of almost 1040%. Fascinating, isn’t it? Let’s see the other side of the coin. If someone had one bitcoin on 21st Feb 2020 and sold it just after 2 days on 23rd Feb, he would have lost approx. Rs. 6,30,000. This shows how much volatile the market is. And it’s just the price of one bitcoin. So, is it possible to understand the pattern of Bitcoin’s market or to predict its value or worth in the future? And the most important question- Is value investing possible in Bitcoin? If we see back at the history of Bitcoins, we will find that it was never created with the purpose of investment. The creator Satoshi Nakamoto created bitcoin to use it as an alternative form of currency. But due to an unusual increase in its value, it is mostly used for investment purposes. In December 2017, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group, one of the largest Future Exchanges in the world, launched Bitcoin Futures. Like a commodity or stock index’s futures contract, investors can also speculate on the future price of Bitcoin with Bitcoin futures.
Investors around the world have different views on Cryptocurrencies. Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Elon Musk, and many other notable investors believe that Cryptocurrency is a miracle in itself since it cannot be duplicated and provides security in transactions. Elon Musk even tweeted a lot in favour of Bitcoins and Dogecoin which pushed their prices to new heights too. According to him, he even bought dogecoin for his son, Lil X. Elon’s electric automaker, Tesla has invested around $1.5 billion in Bitcoins and it has announced its plans to begin accepting the digital form of currency as a payment method for its high-end vehicles soon. In reaction to Tesla’s announcement, the price of Bitcoin soared 15.4% in a day to around $44,500. However, legendary Investor Warren Buffet considers Bitcoin as a non-value-producing asset. Even, India’s big bull, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala publicly called Bitcoin the ‘speculation of the highest order.’ According to him, any currency should be backed by some central authority; whereas in the case of Bitcoin, even the creator is unknown.
Currently, Cryptocurrency is illegal in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Nepal, and Bolivia, and many other countries like China, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Canada, Colombia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan have banned banking transactions involving private Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. China has developed it's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) by the name of DCEP -Digital Currency Electronic Payment that can be used to pay and is accepted as legal tender in China. Even India’s Central Bank, RBI, in 2018, barred banks and other financial institutions in India from facilitating transactions involving cryptocurrencies. However, after a lawsuit was filed by cryptocurrency exchanges, the Supreme Court, in March 2020, removed the ban. But recently the government announced to introduce Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 (Crypto Bill) that will prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India and create a state-backed digital currency issued by RBI. Though Lok Sabha Bulletin says that permission will be given for certain exceptions “to promote the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and its uses.”
Even environmentalists criticize Bitcoin for the amount of electricity consumed in mining it. It is estimated that bitcoin now uses 129.22 terawatt-hours of electricity a year, thus making Bitcoin alone a bigger consumer of electricity than Argentina. A study published in 2018 claims that bitcoin & other cryptocurrencies "could alone produce enough CO2 emissions to push global warming above 2°C within less than three decades.” Recently, much of bitcoin mining is done in China due to the government’s subsidy on electricity. China’s Inner Mongolia is clustered with large coal mines and known for cheap energy. It was a hub for crypto-miners until recently when the region banned new cryptocurrency mining projects and announced it will shut down all such existing projects by April 2021 to curb the amount of energy consumed in Mining Operations.
So, Bitcoin faces oppositions from almost everywhere yet it is one of the few commodities in the world which achieved the milestone of having a market cap of $ 1 Trillion. Though Bitcoin’s Future is uncertain to some extent yet it has successfully brought a revolution in the banking sector of the world economy. Since many tech Giants started accepting Bitcoin as a means of payment and countries have started launching their own cryptocurrency, the future of cryptocurrency seems to be bright.
By Hardik Agarwal


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Just as the bankruptcy of US auto giants set off a chain of reactions, in the civil aviation manufacturing area, the shrinking orders of Boeing and Airbus will probably pose a risk to the whole supply chain.
Fairtheworld.com points out that the financial crisis has cut international transactions and tourism activities sharply, worse still, there’s the impact of H1N1 flu pandemic and recent air crash incidents. Combined, these factors have dragged down the number of travelers and the business of airline companies. Also, the continued hike of aviation oil products is stressing the operational cost of airline companies. Sharp business shrinkage and rising cost have jointly dealt a blow to airline companies, most of which are now losing money. This has forced them to reduce, delay, or cancel plane purchasing plans, throwing the evil to airplane manufacturers.
The International Air Transport Association said early in June that the passenger traffic of international airlines this year will be down 8 percent and the freight volume down 17 percent. About a US$9 billion loss is forecasted for the international airline transportation industry in the year. In addition, figures show that Boeing and Airbus got a lean order amount in the first half of the year. Bar those cancelled orders, the newly-acquired order was 66 units for Airbus and, pitifully, 1 unit for Boeing.
Fairtheworld.com predicts that the global aero manufacturing industry will be affected, and the aero parts makers will produce less as customers order less. It bodes ill for the aero parts manufacturing industry.
Meanwhile the Chinese are lavishing their strong interest and hiked enthusiasm on big planes. It is estimated that at least 50 percent of the planned airplanes by Chinese manufactures will need global sourcing. China is yet to develop capacities to produce large plane engines and avionic devices. This presents a good opportunity to the global aero manufacturing industry. Making early entry into the Chinese market and seizing cooperative opportunities will help buffer the impact of financial crisis on these enterprises and will provide a gateway into the supply chain of a country, which is set to become the third largest airplane manufacturer.
China’s “Big Plane Plan” and its huge helicopter shortfall offer wide market space for global aircraft manufacturers. The “Fair N Fair” 3D Virtual Expo platform, developed by Fairtheworld.com, is providing a connecting platform for these manufactures, linking airplane manufactures, aero parts makers, airline companies, and other airplane purchasers together. Fairtheworld, with its brand-new concept of an “e-commerce matrix” and its strength to integrate industrial chains, will invite global aero manufacturers to share the Chinese cake.


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The United States said on Wednesday that it will donate 200 ventilators to Russia to help Russia cope with the coronavirus pandemic. A week after high-profile shipments in Moscow, the United States changed the table.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the shipment by posting an announcement on Twitter: "The United States is donating 200 U.S.-made ventilators to the Russian people to help fight COVID-19.  "We have provided more than 15,000 ventilators to more than 60 countries / regions and continue to be a global leader in contributing to this pandemic.
The State Department did not immediately respond to questions about whether and when the goods will be shipped to Russia.
The image is strikingly similar to the pictures released by a batch of goods released by Russia to New York on April 1, when New York was the main The epicenter was seeking to establish a closer relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Donald Vladimir Putin) President Donald Trump (19659002) praised the shipment "very good.
praised Russia ’s “high-quality items” when Trump stated that he was “not
but the State Department was in conflict with Russia, saying that the goods were purchased rather than donated, and the equipment itself was later questioned.
Russia recently stopped using it.
The US authorities stated that the Russian-made fan was sent to New York and New Jersey, but as a preventive measure, Russia has sent it back to the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a preventive measure in Russia.
A safety investigation was conducted.
An agency spokesperson said that because the United States does not have this demand, it has never been used.
The U.S. authorities are concerned about the serious shortage of ventilators at the beginning of the ventilator. Crisis, but after production has increased, Trump has been talking to many countries about buying them.
© 2020 AFP


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matter what your choice is – McDonald’s breakfast menu or lactose-free porridge
with granola and peanut butter. Anyway, you can’t ignore the fact that
McDonald’s is a phenomenon in the fast-food universe as well as in the stock
market. And despite the crisis and general situation in the world, the company
has presented financial reports with more impressive numbers than analysts had
expected. So, what’s next? Let’s try to investigate if McDonald’s still has
room for growth.
the beginning of the year, McDonald’s stock has increased by almost 10%. As you
can see in the chart below, the shares have outperformed the S&P 500 and
Dow Jones indices.
could argue that there is not a large gap after a third of a year. That’s why
we prepared one more chart – it shows what has been going on with the same
symbols in the last five years. The picture below looks like a comparison
between a McFlurry and cheap supermarket ice cream. Also, you should know that
there are various factors which might influence the stock price. Some of them
are pretty unpredictable but lots of future market movements can be forecast
using a variety of trading tools. One of them is economic
calendar – it warns you about all upcoming major economic
has dropped its Q1 report suggesting that the company might continue its
positive movement. Earnings per share and revenue results beat analyst
expectations – $2.63 against $2.33 and $5.9 bln against $5.59 bln. Moreover,
net income and sales have grown as well.
McDonald’s raised prices on the menu in the past year and crises around the world are influencing the
amount of spare cash people have. But the last thing might be even positive in
this case. The reason is – doesn’t matter if there’s a crisis or not – people
love cheap eats, and McDonald’s is the place to go for that.
the company reduced various costs recently – a large number of employees were
dismissed, and some offices were closed. This is one more positive factor for
McDonald’s balance between income and expenses. Such optimization gives an
opportunity to spend more money on business development and enlargement of
shouldn’t forget about the Chinese market. After the county eased off the Covid
restrictions, McDonald’s can count on increased profits in the region.
you shouldn’t look at the perspectives of McDonald’s shares only through
rose-colored glasses. Current market conditions present challenges for
businesses. Layoffs and shutting down the offices show that the situation in
the company is far from cloudless. Moreover, you should remember that if the
stock market goes down, MCD will probably do the same.
analysts continue to believe in McDonald’s shares. The consensus forecast is
+9% in the next 12 months. It might not be too impressive, but the forecast
says that the shares may be a good addition to the portfolio. But it’s just a
prediction, and it can be changed in a week or even tomorrow. That’s why before
buying (or selling) these stocks, you need to do your own analysis – only after
that, can you make an informed decision.
This article was written by ForexLive at www.forexlive.com.
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Aston Martin is very well known for their sporty cars, such as the Vantage, as well as their more luxurious GT cars like the old Vanquish S and new DBS Superleggera. Aston Martin also has a very exclusive luxury brand sub-division called Lagonda, however, where only a handful of 120 luxury sedans, namely the Lagonda Taraf, were built. However, it looks like the Lagonda brand will be making more than just 120 cars in the not too distant future.
Aston Martin will be bringing the all-new Lagonda Vision Concept to this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Sitting next to Aston’s DBX, this new SUV/all-terrain concept is set to be the first model that will be produced for the new, relaunched Lagonda name around 2021. This new concept will be surrounded by some good company at the Aston Martin stand at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, namely the DBS Superleggera that will have some unique Q finishes, the new Vantage and the DB11 AMR.
“The ways in which automotive brands reveal new product has changed beyond recognition in recent years, but there’s still something compelling about the unique atmosphere of a great motor show,” said Aston Martin and Lagonda’s CEO Andy Palmer.
“The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept offers explicit clues regarding what will be the first Lagonda model to enter production, and further demonstrates how Lagonda’s zero emission powertrain enables us to create spectacular cars that will radically redefine their sectors of the market. I’m expecting the Aston Martin Lagonda stand to be busier than ever, and very much look forward to seeing the crowd’s reaction first-hand”.
Judging by Palmer’s “zero emission” comments, it seems as if the Lagonda name will offer Aston Martin a platform to experiment with and launch new electric models under the Lagonda name, while leaving Aston Martin to continue producing their lovely V12 and V8 masterpieces, albeit with hybrid assistance in the future.


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Salmon meat is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. And now a natural by-product of the fish is becoming a big hit. Anyone need a fishskin wallet?
By taking salmon skins ordinarily dumped on the ocean floor and turning them into striking leather products, an Alaska company is both helping the environment and turning a profit.
Although the art of tanning fishskins has been practiced by the state’s natives for centuries, a handful of Alaskan entrepreneurs have revived and refined the ancient process. It’s fashion gone environmental.
The Juneau-based Alaskins Leather Co. expects to use more than 700,000 fishskins in its products in 1991. That’s more than 150,000 pounds of the previously unwanted material.
Fishskins cause disposal problems for the fishing and canning industry. Typically, the skins are mulched and dumped onto the ocean floor, said Jerry Garner, president of Alaskins.
Unfortunately, the skins are 50 percent pure protein, composed mostly of scales. This protein does not break down, he said, and ends up on the ocean floor, smothering whatever it lands upon.
“We are allowing for complete utilization of the species,” Garner said. “And we’re proud of that.”
An added benefit for Alaskins is its clean tanning process . Because most of the chemicals used in the tanning are absorbed into the fish skin and only small amounts are used, Garner said their tanning by-products are no more toxic than normal household cleaners.
Four partners started the company in 1987 by tinkering with a tanning process using plastic trash cans and wooden paddles. After 18 months of effort, they created a viable commercial-scale tanning process for fishskins.
They produced samples and discovered they would sell at a local trade convention. The first official batch of products sold out at a Juneau craft show during Christmas, 1987.
By the end of 1988, Alaskins products were in more than 100 Alaska stores, including every J.C. Penney outlet in the state. Sales have doubled every year, Garner said, and 1991 figures are projected to top $900,000.
While the products are only scattered across the lower 48 states, he said the company is contacting national retail chains and looking into export opportunities. Alaskins now produces 26 different items from three fish species — salmon, halibut and sea bass.
Products include wallets, checkbook covers, boots, jewelry and business-card holders. Former President Gerald Ford uses a set of salmon-skin golf club covers, given to him last year by the governor of Alaska. And Alaskins fish leather was used for costumes in Columbia Pictures’ Return to the Blue Lagoon.
Garner couldn’t be happier about his firm’s jump into the green side of the fashion world.
“We’ve had very good success with the product,” he said. “The acceptance for it has been tremendous.”
(Tip/Stat) Reduce your junk mail by writing: Mail Preference Service, Direct Mail Marketing Association, P.O. Box 3861, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-3861. Or call (212) 689-4977.
Source: earth news


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US and Israel-based technology growth investor Battery Ventures has bought a majority stake in Gas Measurement Instruments (GMI), which specialises in gas detection products.
The $400m Scotland-based company distributes portable and fixed products across a network of 50 countries.
“I’ve worked with Battery on an industrial safety theme for more than a year, and it’s gratifying to acquire such a high quality brand as a platform on which to build,” said Adam Markin, former executive in residence at Battery Ventures, who will become GMI’s CEO.
“GMI’s customers look to them as a trusted source, with proven products known for both reliability and innovation, and I am eager to continue serving them. I am excited to join this winning team and look forward to a successful future,” he added.
In March this year, Battery closed its ninth fund on its $750m target, bringing the total committed capital in Battery’s funds to nearly $4bn.
Copyright © 2011 AltAssets


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News from Crimea this Summer speaks volumes for Russia’s internal and outbound travel market, as Crimea travel spots boast touristic gains. The economic tensions applied by western powers over Crimea’s return to Russia have had their effects. One travel operator, Coral Travel, laid it all out for FVW Media recently.
By most accounts, the political crisis has only “shifted” touristic flows, rather than having negatively affected them. Coskun Yurt, Vice Chairman of OTI Holding (ODEON Tourism), and head of its subsidiary, Coral Travel had this to say about the overall impact on tour operators in Russia:
“For the market, we expect a drop of 40% in visitors to European destinations, especially Spain and Greece, and of 10-15% for Egypt. The situation has slightly improved for Turkey and we now expect a fall of only 20%. For our tour operator Coral Travel, however, we predict a fall of only 5-10% in total, because we are strongly expanding domestic tourism within Russia.”
The devaluation of the rouble and the country’s sanction taxed economy, has really impacted tour operators and travel agents, not to mention hoteliers and restaurateurs in Russia. Rather than pressuring ALL the players in this market though, the leverage applied onto Russia will cause a secondary effect that may not have been intended. As smaller players are left high and dry without touristic numbers, this will only mean bigger tourism fish will seek to gobble up the hurting ones. According to Yurt, OTI is expecting to expand on its domestic holidays even farther. Packages to Crimea and the Black Sea are hot items for Russians seeking inexpensive holidays, and some reports already suggest Crimea’s numbers are up. Yurt estimates travel to the region will be up 30% over last year.
Founded in 1994, Coral is but one of three Russian tour operators with over two million customers. According to the tour expert, some 25,000 agencies in Russia will likely be consolidated or acquired in the coming months. His company, besides being a leading tour operator, also has fingers in the travel agency and charter flights pies. OTI has eight hotels too, with five in Turkey including Xanadu Resort (top image), and three more in Egypt. OTI has plans to expand operations into the rest of Eastern Europe, to add to the overall market potential.
OTI-ODEON announced only last month having been listed as one of “The Biggest 500 Companies in Turkey by Forbes. The firm has risen on the list in each of the successive 3 years to a current position of 107th. Earlier this Summer, Coral Travel was named Best Tour Operator In the World by the World Tourism Forum.


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Tech Company CTO Slams Cryptocurrencies as Useless for Society
- Kagan defends the decision to limit graphics cards used for mining, stating AI processing is more worthwhile.
- Nvidia’s focus on AI has made it a leader in the tech industry with a preference for supporting tangible benefits to society.
In a recent talk show with Bloomberg, US chip-maker Nvidia’s CTO, Michael Kagan, has criticized cryptocurrencies for not bringing any useful contribution to society. Instead, Kagan believes that processing power used for artificial intelligence (AI), such as chatbots, is more worthwhile than mining cryptocurrencies.
Kagan defended the company’s decision to limit the use of its graphics cards for mining Ethereum in 2021, stating that the limited value of using processing power for mining cryptocurrencies was not justified. Despite the company being a major provider for mining equipment, he championed the development of AI, particularly the chatbot ChatGPT, which allows everyone to create their machine and program by simply telling it what to do.
Kagan went on to compare cryptocurrencies to high-frequency trading and described the latter as an industry that has led to a lot of business for Mellanox — multinational supplier of computer networking products based on InfiniBand and Ethernet technology — the company he founded before Nvidia acquired it. However, he further stated that he never believed cryptocurrencies would benefit humanity. Instead, they were more like “crazy things” that people buy, and companies sell to them.
Nvidia, originally known for producing powerful graphics cards for PC gamers, now finds its products at the heart of the AI boom. This is because the computationally intensive work of training a new AI system, which can cost millions of billions of dollars, can be done significantly faster on the processors gamers adopted.
As a result, the company has sold tens of thousands of its AI-focused processors, the A100 GPU, to companies such as Microsoft and Amazon for their cloud computing services. Kagan’s comments come as Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, describes the company as the engine behind “the iPhone moment of AI.” He believes that the “generative AI” his firm powers will “reinvent nearly every industry.”
Nvidia’s focus on AI and the development of powerful processors has positioned the company as a leader in the tech industry. However, Kagan’s comments show that the company is unwilling to fully embrace the cryptocurrency community despite the sector’s potential for growth. Instead, the company is more interested in supporting technologies that bring tangible benefits to society, such as AI.


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San Francisco: A media report states that tech giant Google is unlikely to launch a new version of Pixelbook in 2022.
As reported by 9to5 Google, a statement at a recent Qualcomm press event in London indicated that there would be no updates to the original ‘premium’ Pixelbook until 2023.
When asked about a possible 2022 Pixelbook release, Chris Solki, Chromebook retail manager at Google, said, “Nothing is going to launch next year (2022). I don’t know the future.”
The original Pixelbook was launched in 2017 for Chromebooks with high-end internals, but has since been discontinued via the Google Store.
While this is bad news, the introduction of an internally developed Google Tensor chip may offer some hope for a high-end all-Google-powered Chromebook at some point in the line.
Initial sales growth has slowed, but a high-end Pixelbook in 2022 will be a welcome option for those keeping with the original model.
While the Pixelbook Go includes an Intel i7 processor configuration, it includes a touchscreen, but lacks the two-in-one form factor that was found in the 2017 version. The closest to the market right now is the Acer Chromebook Spin 713.
first published:Nov. 13, 2021, 6:37 p.m.


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April 4, 2016
Genval, 4th April, 2016 – Yes, it would, because – strangely enough – this time the industry is asking for more regulation: public health and consumer protection NGOs are united with processed food industry giants on the ban of industrially produced trans fats. Since this is a strange alliance of organisations usually having conflicting (private versus public) interests the issue deserves at least attention.
The issue of transfats in the EU
The regulation of the content of industrially produced trans fats in foods is not regulated at EU level, yet so member states are free to legislate on that area. Only a handful countries – including Hungary – did introduce a legal ban on transfats while others are relying on ‘voluntary’ measures which – at least – do have only limited health benefits at population level.
As the mentioned joint letter highlights: “Most trans fats in our diet originate from foods containing industrially produced trans fats. There’s an important evidence base on the adverse health effects of consuming trans fats, notably by increasing the risk of heart attacks or heart disease. (…) harmonizing EU legislation on the content of industrially produced trans fats in foods by establishing a legal limit would be a proportionate and effective way to further reduce the intake of trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils. “
Everybody in the room is on the same side
As the event ‘Trans fatty acid reduction in foodstuffs – Make it happen in the EU!’ organised today by the Hungarian Permanent representation to the EU demonstrated, all interested stakeholders: the industry, public health NGOs, processed food industry representatives – including SMEs, the World Health Organization (WHO) were united about the evidence base and about the urgent need to act. As the European Commission has come out with a report about trans fats recently, I do not see any reason why legislative action should not follow this.
“Health is a Big Thing and should be a priority for the European Commission.” – Tibor Stelbaczky, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU
Why banning Trans Fats at EU level would be true Better Regulation?
As far as understand, the ‘so-called’ Better Regulation agenda of the Juncker Commission is about to please the industry and member states, to introduce regulation only where it is essential and to focus on ‘big things’ only. Well, as stated before, our health is a big thing. True better regulation should serve the citzens and European consumers and as all stakeholders are united on this, why would the Commission deny regulation when the industry itself is asking for it?
— Zoltán MassayKosubek (@EU_ZMK) April 4, 2016
[embeddoc url=”http://zmk.blogactiv.eu/files/2016/04/Open_Letter_industrially_produced_TFAs_freeEU.pdf” download=”all”]Author : Zoltán Massay-Kosubek


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In July 2017, the G20 Summit brought together representatives from the world’s largest economies. Participants discussed the significant challenges facing the global economy and released the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, which notes that “strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth . . . remains our highest priority.” The declaration advocates a reduction in global income inequality and the development of sustainable supply chains.
What Is Inclusive Growth?
Inclusive, equitable, or sustainable growth is economic growth that raises living standards for everyone and respects the human rights of all communities and all participants in the global economy. According to the declaration, an inclusive economy provides abundant work opportunities that pay a living wage. It also stresses that to be truly inclusive, countries must strive toward social goals like providing ample access to education and fighting discriminatory practices.
How Companies Can Promote Equitable Growth
Supply chains are an area where individual companies can make a significant impact. Companies can answer the declaration’s call to closely scrutinize supply chains and to source materials and products from responsible suppliers. The declaration notes that global supply chains can be engines for “job creation and balanced economic growth.” However, the reverse is also true. There’s no way for companies to know what side their supply chains fall on without careful vetting. Using frameworks like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, companies may want to investigate whether any of their suppliers or contractors are paying insufficient wages, allowing hazardous working conditions, harming the environment, or relying on forced labor. When it comes to supply chains, ignorance is not bliss.
In order to maximize effectiveness in this area, interested businesses can use a two-pronged approach: First, they can integrate sustainable thinking into the culture and second, they can extend that culture to suppliers. According to EY, many leading companies consider suppliers an extension of the business itself. After all, without necessary supplies businesses would not be able to carry out their core functions. Even if a sustainable supplier carries higher short-term costs, these may be recouped in the long term through increased resiliency and decreased chances of adverse action.
Perhaps most importantly, businesses can select suppliers who are transparent and collaborative. Without this element, it is impossible to get ahead of potential problems.
Why Inclusive Growth Is Good for Business
The humanitarian case for equitable growth is self-evident. But inequitable growth is an externality. As such, it may receive insufficient attention from individual firms, though they would be wise to pay attention to this particular externality, since it can quickly come home to roost.
A failure to perform due diligence on compensation practices can lead to lawsuits and bad PR. Companies that don’t investigate their supply chains can end up embroiled in crisis as consumers become increasingly aware of where products come from. One of the best-known examples of this was the so-called McLibel case, in which McDonald’s sued two activists for libel after they distributed a leaflet criticizing many of the corporation’s practices, including its wages and the treatment of animals by its suppliers. After a protracted battle, the court ruled that McDonald’s was indeed responsible for animal cruelty and suppressing wages in the sector. If this wasn’t bad enough, the company also received ardent criticism for the lawsuit itself. The European Court of Human Rights determined that given the disparity in resources, the British government allowed the activists’ freedom of expression to be violated in the suit.
Supply chain management is also a component of business resiliency. To be successful, businesses must anticipate and adapt to wider changes. “Leaders anticipate and focus on megatrends such as political stability and its impacts on the supplier workforce; climate change and its impacts on resource availability and commodity prices; and energy dependency and its impacts on production in order to secure business continuity,” according to a report by EY.
Finally, empowering the global workforce and paying employees fairly may expand the pool of potential consumers, who can then drive demand for a company’s products. Companies that limit themselves to selling to globalization’s current winners may run out of room to grow. In this, the consumer goods sector is especially vulnerable, as their business model relies on a large population with disposable income. As business magnate Edward Filene put it: “Low wages—wages which do not permit the wage-earning population to buy the abundance which they are now able to produce—are as bad for employers as they are for employees.”
How Sustainable Growth Benefits Society
Just as no man is an island, every firm is part of a complex economy influenced by the prosperity (or lack thereof) of its community as a whole. The G20 Leaders’ Declaration posits that if financial leaders are equally invested in everyone’s prosperity, everyone will benefit. For example, the declaration points out that women participate in the labor force at lower rates than men and are paid less on average. This is a loss to everyone, because society as a whole misses out on the contributions women could make to the economy if they had the chance to participate on equal terms. As more people contribute to the global economy, society gains from their participation and the perspectives they bring to the business world.
In the declaration’s own words: “We can achieve more together than by acting alone.”


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During my lifetime there have been some political situations that have seemed to be intractable. There is Palestine and Israel, which never seems anywhere near a solution. Closer to home is the Irish situation, which seemed destined to run indefinitely, until the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed almost exactly 25 years ago.
However, this historic deal is under threat from what appears to be another insoluble problem; Brexit.
One of the most significant effects of Brexit on Ireland involved the Northern Ireland Protocol, an agreement designed to protect the Good Friday Agreement, which formalises a preference for no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Complications arise because the EU requires inspections of goods like meat, fish, milk, and eggs before they enter its market. Practically speaking, because the Republic of Ireland remains part of the EU while Northern Ireland does not, the EU requires a relatively hard border with checkpoints where these official inspections can occur.
To preserve the spirit of the peace agreement, the Protocol ostensibly establishes a way for the inspections to occur without creating a hard border; products like meat, fish, milk, and eggs must receive inspections when they move from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. The checked goods can then move across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
This impacts businesses because of the regulatory compliance and paperwork now required to import certain food products from the UK. The affected products from Great Britain must go through a border control post when they reach Northern Ireland. They need to pass inspection and have the correct certifications and paperwork accompanying them.
The increased difficulty of getting the food products across the border has led to a decreased supply in supermarkets and grocery stores, despite the enactment of three-month and extended grace periods. In the future, companies may continue to experience delays in receiving their orders as products become stalled or turned back at checkpoints.
In short, by forcing a border to be created, Brexit threatens the whole Irish peace settlement. Well done.
Since the 2016 referendum, Brexit has also had significant economic effects on the UK, both before and after the country’s exit from the European Union on January 31, 2020. Here are a few of the major economic impacts of Brexit:
Trade disruption: Brexit has caused disruptions in trade with the EU, which had been the UK’s largest trading partner. This has resulted in increased bureaucracy and higher costs for businesses. The UK government is currently trying to set up trade deals with countries on the other side of the world, which definitely sit well with their ‘net zero’ ambitions.
Economic growth: The uncertainty surrounding Brexit has slowed economic growth in the UK. According to the UK Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), Brexit is expected to reduce the UK’s GDP by 4% over the next 15 years.
Investment: Brexit has led to a decline in foreign investment in the UK. Many companies have relocated their operations to other EU countries to maintain access to the single market.
Currency: The value of the British pound has fluctuated significantly since the Brexit vote. In the immediate aftermath of the referendum, the pound fell to its lowest level in 31 years against the US dollar. It has since recovered somewhat, but remains below pre-referendum levels.
Jobs: Brexit has had a negative impact on job creation in the UK. According to a report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Brexit has cost the UK up to 950,000 jobs.
Social effects: Brexit has had social effects, with a rise in hate crimes reported following the referendum. Additionally, EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU have faced uncertainty and changes in their rights.
Overall, the economic effects of Brexit on the UK have been significant, and the full impact of Brexit on the UK economy is still unfolding.
But it is not just the United Kingdom that has been affected by Brexit.
There is no one uniform opinion among European countries regarding Brexit, as views vary depending on individual political perspectives, economic interests, and cultural factors. However, in general, the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (EU) has been met with a range of reactions from European countries.
Some European countries have expressed disappointment and regret over Brexit, as they see it as a loss for the EU and the idea of European unity. Many leaders in these countries also see Brexit as a negative development for economic and political stability in the region.
Others have taken a more pragmatic approach, acknowledging that Brexit is now a reality and seeking to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements with the UK to maintain trade and other important relationships. Some countries, such as France, have been more vocal about the need for the EU to maintain a tough stance in negotiations with the UK, in order to protect the integrity of the single market and discourage other countries from following the UK’s example.
Overall, while there are certainly variations in opinion among European countries, the general sentiment is that Brexit represents a significant shift in the political and economic landscape of the continent, and one that will have important implications for years to come.
The effects of Brexit are going to be with Europe as long as we live.


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One of the coolest looking and most promising games to come out of E3 2015 is Gigantic. The free-to-play shooter allows heroes to fight side-by-side with their team’s guardian. The beta testing begins this weekend and will also be available weekend afterwards. So, if you missed out this time, you’ll only need to wait less than a week for the next round.
Beta testing is open for Windows 10 and Xbox One platforms. Check out the sign-up site to learn more and be one of the first of thousands to try Gigantic. Remember, go big, go Gigantic.


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Pokémon Unite gets surprise July release date for Switch, with mobile coming later
Cross-platform MOBA is developed by Tencent
Cross-platform MOBA Pokémon Unite will release for Nintendo Switch in July and mobile devices in September, The Pokémon Company has announced.
Pokémon Unite was announced by The Pokémon Company in June 2020 and is a co-operative team battle game being created in collaboration with Tencent.
The game is in development at Tencent’s Timi Studio, which also created Activision’s Call of Duty Mobile, and will release as a free-to-start title for both mobile and Nintendo Switch, with cross-platform play supported.
Thursday’s release date news was accompanied by a new trailer, which can be viewed below.
Pokémon Unite features two teams of five battling for control of a game map, similar to many popular MOBA titles, with players able to level up their Pokémon during matches, unlocking new moves in the process.
According to an earlier video, the game will feature battle passes which can be purchased to unlock different outfits for their monsters. Based on menu screens, it appears that multiple costumes can be unlocked for each Pokémon.
Tencent announced its partnership with The Pokémon Company in July 2019. Its Timi studio is headquartered in Shenzhen, China and has offices in Los Angeles, Chengdu, and Shanghai.
In a statement Timi said Unite would offer “a new twist on team battles, with a focus on the inherent fun of playing with Pokémon, offering battling, capturing and training Pokémon to evolve.”


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The movie industry is a little bit edgy these days. That’s understandable since theaters throughout North America and Europe remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic, which shows no serious signs of abating. Yet the current tension boiling over has existed for years. As movie audiences continue to embrace streaming and direct-to-consumer content, movie studios and exhibitors have sometimes been at odds on how to respond. And if Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s earnings call this week is anything to go by, that tension is only going to heighten.
“We very much believe in the value of the theatrical experience,” Chapek told investors (via Deadline). “But we also believe that either because of changing and evolving consumer dynamics or because of certain situations like COVID, we may have to make some changes to that overall strategy… we’re going to evaluate each of our movies as a case-by-case situation, as we’re doing during this coronavirus situation.”
What Chapek refers to is how Disney is preparing to release Artemis Fowl on Disney+ in June. The film, from director Kenneth Branagh, is a long-gestating project that has already moved once on the release calendar even before the coronavirus pandemic, so it going to Disney+ isn’t necessarily a shock. Meanwhile the studio remains committed at releasing its tentpoles with an eye on Chinese box office in theaters, such as Mulan, which moved from March to July, and Black Widow, which moved from May to November.
Chapek referred to these intended blockbusters as being still slated to capitalize on the “power” of movie theater excitement. While this call to investors stops short of explicitly stating that Disney will further explore Disney+ or VOD options for releases down the road—the already in release Pixar movie, Onward, responded to the COVID-19 crisis by spending a week on VOD and then going to the company’s streaming service—it might imply it, particularly with Chapek’s assertion about the need to respond to “evolving consumer dynamics.”
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell inadvertently set off a public showdown with the largest movie theater chain in North America, AMC Theatres, as well as earned the ire of the National Association of Theatre Owners, when he told the press that Universal Pictures had such success with Trolls World Tour that the studio will explore VOD options and day-and-date releases beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, Chapek’s comments are sure to increase anxiety among theater owners and exhibitors because they implicitly suggest that Disney will need to respond to what they view as a shift in consumer demand. Disney already has a complicated relationship with movie exhibitors, as the studio tends to practice hardball tactics that force theaters to give up a larger portion of box office revenue to the Mouse and reserve additional theater space for Disney’s smaller movies in order to secure their biggest blockbusters. But Disney is the studio, at least for the last decade, that’s consistently released unsinkable billion-dollar grossers moviegoers cannot resist: Marvel Studios, Star Wars, Pixar, and live-action remakes of beloved classics all contributed to Disney posting a record-breaking $13 billion in global box office receipts last year.
So it is incredibly hard to imagine a theater chain threatening Disney with a refusal to license their films in the same way that AMC has to Universal. Also, to be clear, Disney did not overtly say that they’re going to release more VOD films after COVID-19. But Chapek’s comments can easily be construed as that, particularly as the studio appears to be pivoting in 2020 toward building the Disney+ brand as readily as they were releasing new theatrical “events.” Hence why after years of releasing three movies in the span of 12 months, Marvel Studios was planning to release only two in 2020 (which has now been reduced to one by the pandemic) while it focused on producing original limited series events for the streaming service.
Whether feathers ruffled by this call will actually make any additional noise remains to be seen, but you can hear the tension building yet more.


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Nearly half of 25-34 year olds in the UK (44%) use contactless payments in an average month, research from YouGov and payment systems provider ACI Worldwide has revealed. 54% of the same age group are also using mobile banking at least once a month, the survey found.
- Lessons learned from implementing HCE for cloud-based NFC mobile payments — See the webinar now on NFC World
- Cartes Bancaires picks Gemalto to ease member banks’ NFC mobile payments offer
- Alipay comes to more Australian stores
- Australian bank reveals NFC payments sticker use
- Apple Pay adds US and Australian banks


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GREE Electric Appliances Inc., China’s largest air-conditioner maker, may build a U.S. plant to raise its international profile and compete against United Technologies Corp.’s Carrier unit.
Gree, which made the cooling units for some stadiums in this year’s World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa, makes its products in China, Brazil, Pakistan and Vietnam. It’s conducting studies and may set up a factory in the U.S. within three years as sales rise, Gree President Dong Mingzhu said.
"Many Chinese companies are afraid of setting up factories in the U.S.," Dong says. Photographer: Forbes Conrad/Bloomberg
Workers on the production lines at the Gree Electric Appliances factory in Zhuhai. Photographer: Forbes Conrad/Bloomberg
“Many Chinese companies are afraid of setting up factories in the U.S.,” Dong, 56, said in a Nov. 28 interview at the company’s headquarters in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai. “As a company with high-end technology, we think it’s worth exploring if we want to become a global company.”
Former leader Deng Xiaoping’s abandonment of hard-line communism for market reforms in 1978 fueled more than three decades of export-led, 10 percent annual growth that turned China into the world’s largest exporter. Now, Chinese companies are expanding overseas to tap new markets as competition intensifies at home.
“If Gree wishes to continue its growth, they will have to expand into markets outside China,” said Chen Jun, a Beijing- based analyst at research company All View Consulting. “Countries in North America and Europe will generate higher profit when their economies recover from recession.”
Haier Group Corp., the Qingdao, China-based maker of washing machines and refrigerators, set up a factory in South Carolina in 1999. The closely held appliance maker bought 20 percent of New Zealand’s Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Ltd. last year and has said demand in Japan, its third-biggest market, will help sustain earnings expansion.
Gree fell 1.1 percent to 17.78 yuan at the 3 p.m. close in Shenzhen, after earlier gaining as much as 2 percent. The stock has declined 7.8 percent this year, compared with a 13 percent drop for the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index.
GD Midea Holding Co., a Foshan, southern China-based maker of household appliances, has gained 5.4 percent in the same period, while Qingdao Haier Co., a Shanghai-traded unit of Haier Group, advanced 3 percent.
U.S. sales for Gree have risen an average 20 percent over the past five years, Dong said in Zhuhai, a city in Guangdong province, the manufacturing hub that’s adjacent to Hong Kong.
“Demand in the United States has reached a certain level,” said Dong, named among China’s 40 most influential people in 2009 by Businessweek. “Although manufacturing costs are relatively high in the U.S., especially labor costs, we believe there are other favorable factors, such as policy and infrastructure.”
Gree’s sales have expanded for five consecutive quarters, surging 81 percent in the three months ended September, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Sales had declined for three quarters through June 2009.
Overseas sales accounted for 15 percent of total revenue in 2009, compared with 24 percent in the previous year, according to Bloomberg data.
In the U.S., Gree will compete against Carrier, the world’s largest maker of air conditioners with 2009 sales of $11.4 billion. Osaka-based Daikin Industries Ltd., the world’s second- largest air-conditioner maker, got more than 60 percent of its sales last fiscal year from outside Japan, with the Americas region accounting for 11 percent of total revenue.
Gree, which sold shares to the public in Shenzhen in 1996, is the biggest distributor of air conditioners in China with 27.5 percent of the market, according to research by Euromonitor International. It’s followed by GD Midea with 21 percent and Haier with 11.1 percent.
Third-quarter net income surged 73 percent from a year earlier to 1.32 billion yuan ($198 million) at Gree, boosted by government subsidies to consumers and increased exports, the company said Oct. 21. Sales reached 44.2 billion yuan in the first nine months, exceeding the total for 2009.
Fourth-quarter results would be “even better,” said Dong, who joined Gree in 1990 as a sales manager, without elaborating. Sales of central air conditioners, used mainly in commercial and office buildings and which provide wider margins than household models, may account for 50 percent of total sales in three to four years from the current 15 percent, she said.
“I think Gree will see its name shine not just in China, but also globally in five years,” said Dong.
--Michael Wei. Editors: Chua Kong Ho, Frank Longid, Lena Lee.
To contact the Bloomberg News staff on this story: Michael Wei in Beijing at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Singapore-based electric motorcycle manufacturer, Scorpio Electric has just announced the launch and start of pre-order of their first model to hit the market - aptly named the Scorpio Electric X1. The launch event took place virtually on their Facebook page and pre-orders will start on their website at 22nd October 2021, 2359hrs.
Just as its namesake Scorpio refers the the stars, Eurosport Global CEO Mr Melvin Goh also confirms that the name "X1" is also taken from another celestial object in the universe, being "one of the most powerful star in our constellation".
Some details that we know so far:
- License requirement: Class 2B
- Estimated range: 200km
- Estimated top speed: 105km/h
- Lighting system: Full LED
- Powertrain: Electric with Single-Sided Swingarm
- Connectivity: Scorpio App with Smart Connectivity
Price: US$9,800 before taxes, ARF, COE, and other OTR costs (Deposit of US$1,000 required)
- We estimate the OTR price in Singapore to be between S$24,000-S$28,000
Do check back in for more details as Scorpio Electric releases more details, and look forward to our review in the very near future! For the time being, the video from the launch event is included below, so make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy what might just be the future.
Scorpio Electric X1 Launch Event Video:


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Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket celebrates its 9th annual tennis Doubles Tournament 2011
Phuket, Thailand – Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket held its ninth charitable tennis doubles tournament on 17-19 June 2011. This successful event was a social meeting point of colleagues in the hospitality industry, as well as their families, local tennis pros and friends who flew in from Songkha province to participate.
This was the fundraising tournament's ninth year at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. Proceeds from this year's event go towards purchasing essential items, sports equipment and stationery for students affected by recent flooding in neighbouring Krabi province.
"I've been watching some of the matches over the competition's three days and I am very proud of all the players and also our sports and recreation team for organising the event. Everyone played their hearts out, although it's not all about winning; most importantly, I think the participants shared some great moments. I would like to thank our sports and recreation team for making this happen", said Mr Peter Komposch, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.
Mr Komposch presented trophies to the winners at the award ceremony on the final day. The winning team in the general category comprised Mr Chatri Mahudthanadul, a frozen seafoods importer, and his doubles partner Mr Kornkrit Chatwongwiwat, an officer from the Marine Department of Songkha, Thailand. The winners of the hotel category were Mr Venice Sighakarn and Mr Suwit Kuruwong, a local tennis pro from nearby Amanpuri Resort.
Laguna Phuket is Asia’s finest destination resort – a collection of deluxe hotels and villas including Banyan Tree Phuket, Angsana Laguna Phuket, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Laguna Beach Resort, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas, Best Western Allamanda Laguna Phuket, and Laguna Holiday Club Resort - all sharing 1,000 acres of tropical parkland and three kilometres of beach frontage with Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Canal Shopping Village, Banyan Tree Spa, four Angsana Spas, Laguna Wedding Chapel, the Quest team building facility, and Latitude, a unique stand-alone function venue.