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Seven cities competing for the title of European Smart Tourism Capital 2022
BRUSSELS, September 16, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Today the European Commission announced the seven shortlisted cities for the 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism competition (presented in alphabetical order): Bordeaux (France), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dublin (Ireland), Florence (Italy), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Palma (Spain), Valencia (Spain). The finalist cities were selected from a total of 30 entries from 16 countries.
Learn more about each of the pre-selected destinations here.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative, currently funded under the COSME program. It builds on the successful experience of the preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament and implemented by the European Commission in 2019 and 2020. It aims to promote smart tourism in the EU, to foster the development of innovative, sustainable and inclusive tourism, as well as to disseminate and facilitate the exchange of good practices. This EU initiative recognizes the outstanding achievements of cities as tourist destinations in four categories: accessibility, sustainability, digitization as well as cultural heritage and creativity. The competition was open to cities in the EU and third countries participating in the COSME program..
The competition has a proven track record of success. The European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 is the third edition of the competition. Gothenburg and MÃ¡laga have been selected as winners of the 2020 competition of European smart tourism capitals, while Helsinki and Lyonnais won the inaugural competition and jointly held the titles of European Smart Tourism Capitals 2019.
The two winning cities will benefit from communications and branding support throughout 2022. This will include a promotional video, a specially designed hashtag sculpture to be installed in a prominent location, various promotional activities and visibility at EU level.
The winning cities will be rewarded with November 2021.
During the first stage of the competition, a panel of independent experts evaluated the applications. All finalist cities demonstrated excellence in all four competition categories combined.
In a second stage, the representatives of the seven finalist cities will present their candidatures and the program of activities planned for 2022 to the European Jury. The European Jury will meet in the coming weeks and select two cities to become European Smart Tourism Capitals in 2022.
The selection of the most innovative projects, ideas and initiatives, submitted by cities in competitions from previous years, can be found in the Compendium of Best Practices, the essential guide to smart tourism in the EU.
For the latest news on European smart tourism capitals, subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Secretariat of the European Capital of Intelligent Tourism:
Antigoni Avgeropoulou, [emailÂ protected], +49 (0) 30 70 01 86 390
Notes to Editors
1. The European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 competition was open to applications from April 22, 2021 To June 16, 2021. The general conditions are available at https://smarttourismcapital.eu/.
2. Smart tourism responds to new challenges and demands in a rapidly changing industry, including expectations for digital information, products and services; equal opportunities and access for all visitors; sustainable development of the territory; and support for creative industries and local talent.
3. In 2019, among the 35 EU cities that applied, Malaga and Gothenburg stood out and were selected as European Smart Tourism Capitals 2020. In 2018, among 38 EU cities, Helsinki and Lyonnais stood out and were selected European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2019.
 Albania, Armenia, Bosnia herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom. https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/39579
SOURCE European Capital of Intelligent Tourism


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More than 80 RV industry players will fly in to D.C. for Committee Week on June 4 through 8, and push for the RV industry in an RVIA-hosted event known as Advocacy Day.
“What’s so great is that this is the one event where the entire RV industry comes together and speaks to Congress with one voice,” said Monika Geraci, RVIA’s senior manager of strategic policy and communications.
The event has become her “baby.”
While Advocacy Day has been happening for 16 years, Geraci joined five years ago. Under her guidance, the event has grown rapidly in the past two years, jumping from 36 people in 2014 to 95 this year. “It’s partly due to RVIA taking a leadership role in the industry. Two years ago, we reached out to other associations like RVDA and (campground associations) to really make this an industry event,” she said. “We’re really trying to widen the map and level of (congressional) influence.”
A significant reach is already in place. This year, attendees will meet with representatives from 36 states. By including dealers and campground supervisors, RVIA has been able to show Congress the impact of the industry. Next week attendees will show data from over the past 18 months.
Since 2015, according to the “RVs Move America” study, RV production has seen an increase of 15 percent with economic output of $50 billion. This has led to the creation of 290,000 jobs and $16 billion in wages. There’s an estimated total of 23,000 RV-related businesses in the U.S.
“There are a couple things that have come together to make a good perfect storm,” said Geraci. “More focus on federal activity in general whereas traditionally we were focused on the states.”
The biggest impact came at last year’s Advocacy Day when the RVIA showed politicians the original release of the “RVs Move America” study, proving the economic impact of the RV industry. RVIA took the study’s numbers to Congress. “We were able to say, ‘Here is the impact we actually have in your district.’ ”
Having those tools on hand, she said, has “really elevated” Advocacy Day.
The House RV caucus began three years ago, and the Senate RV caucus, two years ago.
“That’s our bench of champions,” said Geraci. “They’re the ones that can drive those industry talking points. A big part of the Advocacy Day visit is to encourage congress members to join the caucuses, and with equal importance thank them for the work they’ve done thus far.”
Members of the RV caucuses work together with their RV constituents, the people who create jobs in their district or state, said Geraci. “It’s a different ball game. … It’s one thing to say it’s a $50 billion industry, it’s another to say (they) can’t even find enough workers because we’re making such great, American jobs. … Here’s what we’re doing for you.”
Figures on a piece of paper don’t speak as loudly as face-to-face interaction.
A large part of Advocacy Day will address a very curious statistic beguiling the industry. While RV shipments have increased from 100,000 in 1980 to 430,00 as of 2016, overnight stays at national parks have nose-dived. Those stays go from 4.5 million in 1980 to 2.5 million (2016). Further investigation shows it’s not truly confounding. Campgrounds are due for some renovation.
RVIA is asking Congress to support a recreation title in all infrastructure bills. President Trump is set to have a substantial infrastructure bill, possibly to the tune of trillions of dollars. RVIA wants to have a recreation title in the bill that supports infrastructure spending on improving federal campgrounds and access to lands – including having broadband support. Many in the RV industry would also like to see barriers to public-private partnerships removed to allow outside investments.
This marks the third year hosting an RV caucus reception to cap off the day. At 5:30 p.m. EDT on Wed. June 7, everyone will meet in the Rayburn House Office foyer for picnic assortment of foods, including a campground-style Rolla Roaster forks thank-you gift. RVIA is still remembered, as one congressman emphatically mentioned, for its “s’more sticks!”

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Ticking all the Black Friday boxes
Written by Jason Tavaria, head of direct, Shutl
“Black Friday” - two words strong enough to strike fear into the hearts and minds of e-commerce departments! Consumer knowledge of Black Friday has continued to grow, indeed our recent survey of 2000 UK consumers showed that nearly 20 percent were planning to take time out to this week to search for those Black Friday bargains. Last year shoppers spent an estimated £810 million in a single day, but the increased traffic on retailers' websites caused many issues with site outages, slow speeds and queuing on holding pages that caused huge frustrations amongst shoppers.
So will the reality this year be very different to last year’s debacle in-store and online? With recent IRMG predictions that spending will exceed last year’s Black Friday estimations to over £1 billion, it’s a day that everyone should be well prepared for. Indeed, detailed reviews of previous peaks alongside current trends should have been carried out and forecasters will have been busy capacity planning so that customer expectations are managed well, but there’s no accounting for the way in which shoppers adapt their spending habits for retail events like Black Friday, so it’s still really important that retailers have every box ticked.
Thankfully retailers are maturing, especially when it comes to managing customer expectations. In addition to making huge investments in resources and technology, this year they’re taking a more pre-emptive approach to setting expectations since they’re all too aware of the consequences of disappointing a customer – not only a lost sale, but potentially a social media crisis and a front page headline. And this year the focus has also been taken off the actual day of Black Friday, with promotions structured across the week instead to ease capacity across the infrastructure.
Communication at the core of success
Take Tesco, for example, they’ve taken a proactive approach and have uploaded a message online warning online shoppers to expect delays to next-day Click and Collect services in the run up to the Black Friday and Christmas peak. Asda has made the move not to participate at all, given the issues they had in store last year and widely communicated that prior to the run up. Wise moves? We think so. Even the biggest multi-channel retailers and pureplays need to set expectations – remember that the landscape is evolving all the time in response to changing shopper needs and habits – it’s no small task to keep up! Being realistic and transparent about potential transactions and delivery issues from the outset is a smart move, indeed an informed customer is also happier customer.
We live in a world where good communication is critical so this year during these peak sales times, having a positive relationship with your carrier network – who can share what capacity there is for the busiest times – is going to be absolutely essential, and might even be a make or break situation for some retailers. Shoppers are increasingly making decisions based on delivery, their experiences during peak times will continue to inform future purchase decisions.
Putting the customer first
Our recent survey highlighted that 77 per cent of shoppers said that they shop online to make better use of their time, not receiving an item because of bad capacity planning is an easy way to give competitors a chance to gain a new customer. Can any retail business afford for that to happen to them? Delivery will continue to become the key differentiator, and offering choice to the customer by putting the customer in charge of when, where and how their parcel is delivered will ensure success for retailers that are striving to maintain revenue in today’s tough competitive environment. Getting delivery right, as we approach the busiest time of the retailers calendar is essential. Meeting the demands of a savvy shopper is increasingly challenging for retailers, but those that get it right in peak times like Black Friday will long be remembered by their customers.
Robust capacity planning, reviewing previous trends and analysing results will allow retailers to be perfectly placed to ensure they take a slice of that £1 billion in shopper spending that’s predicted this year.


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From the data gathered on Monday, Japan’s economy also known as the third-largest economy recovered slowly at the beginning of the year due to the pandemic.
The economy of the country nearly buckled at the start of the year with a new wave of the pandemic hitting hard and coercing the government into enforcing covid restrictions that paced consumption.
Reports from data analysis have it that despite the restrictions enforced which lasted most of the year, Japan has a bounty economic increment of over 0.3% than what was expected in the last 3 months to June.
Japan witnessed lesser pandemic outbreaks compared to many other developed countries, experiencing about 15,400 deaths even amidst not enforcing serious lockdowns; although several places in Japan have had to take Covid restrictions up a notch, barring opening restaurants and so on.
Complaints are reaching from experts that the restrictive measures are not as effective as they used to be with citizens easily flouting covid rules.
Reports have it that consumption was shockingly in its usual pattern amidst pandemic restrictions and with Japan’s economy attaining a sense of growth in the second quarter of 2021.
Japan has been able to ward off recession with appreciation going to the government’s focus on investment.
According to reports, the economy is expected to be under pressure because the country’s spending and production strive in the middle of the problems propelled by the pandemics in the third quarter of the year.
READ ALSO: China spacecraft sends first Mars footage
Japan’s vaccination programme began late and has been much slower, however, compared to other developed countries.
The presence of the Delta variant has made chances of vaccination aiding speedy recovery quite slim.
The distribution of vaccines has picked up the pace with around a third of the whole country being fully vaccinated, promising a better economic rebound in the final part of the year.


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The Facebook smartwatch is said to debut early next year. The social media giant is reportedly already set to launch the first smartwatch and work on the second and third generations. The Facebook smartwatch is tipped to introduce a slew of next generation features on the upcoming smartwatch. The device will have two cameras inside the body along with a detachable display. Facebook will also allow smartwatch users to send messages within the device. Along with the specific health and fitness features, the upcoming smartwatch by Facebook includes interesting features. The Facebook smartwatch will directly compete with the best-selling Apple Watches with smartwatches from big tech brands like Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo and others. Traditional watch makers are also hopping on the smartwatch bandwagon with their latest tech-enabled watches.
facebook smartwatch launch dateThe Facebook smartwatch launch is said to happen early next year, reportedly next summer. The upcoming smartwatch will be available worldwide including India.
Facebook smartwatch features, specs
Talking about Facebook smartwatch features, the company’s upcoming smartwatch will have a display that can be separated from the body. Interestingly, the Facebook smartwatch will also have dual cameras. The camera feature will probably work differently. The detachable part of the wrist can be removed and you will be able to click pictures and videos with it. Facebook is the creator, so you’ll probably be able to share them directly on various Facebook apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp. The front camera of the Facebook smartwatch will support video calling, and there will be a full HD camera at the back for capturing photos and videos. According to a recent report by The Verge, you can detach it from the wrist and the capture detachable functionality on the smartwatch will set it apart from its competitors. According to reports, Facebook is working with other companies where cameras can be attached to things like backpacks while traveling. The Facebook smartwatch can be used in many ways like you would with a smartphone. Now in terms of calling and connectivity, the Facebook smartwatch is expected to offer LTE connectivity on the smartwatch along with generic health and fitness features.
Facebook smartwatch variants, color optionsThe Facebook smartwatch is expected to come in three color options, which could include White, Black and Gold. There could probably be a blue variant as well.
Facebook smartwatch price in India, availabilityThe price of the first generation Facebook smartwatch can start from around $400. The price of Facebook smartwatch in India can start from around Rs 30,000. The availability of the Facebook smartwatch will be confirmed in a few months, which is expected by the summer of 2022.
[Attribution to NBT]


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- The Realme GT 5 could be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.
- The device is expected to feature an OLED display, a 50MP triple-camera setup, and a 16MP selfie camera.
- The smartphone might pack a 4,600mAh battery which could offer 240W fast charging support.
The Realme GT 5 is expected to launch in China soon. Though the company has not revealed the launch date of the device, it now has started teasing several aspects of the handset. The company president Xu Qi in a recent development has now revealed that the upcoming Realme GT 5 will debut with 24GB of RAM. The post by the president mentioned that the device has entered the 24GB memory era which will improve the user experience. Additionally, the brand has revealed a new teaser on Weibo, which confirms that the handset will offer 240W fast charging support.
To recall, the previously introduced Realme GT series devices were launched with up to 16GB of RAM. The upcoming Realme GT 5 will not be first handset to debut with 24GB of RAM, as in the past Redmi and Nubia have introduced the Redmi K60 Ultra and the Red Magic 8S Pro with 24GB of RAM. Additionally, the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro which is launching today will be equipped with 24GB of RAM.
The past leak indicates that the Realme GT 5 will launch in two different battery configurations. One of the Realme GT 5 models is expected to pack a 4,600mAh battery which will support 240W fast charging as confirmed by the company, while the other variant might ship with a 5,000mAh battery, offering 150W fast charging support. Powering the device under the hood, there could be Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The device is expected to feature a 6.74-inch OLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. As for the imaging purpose, the Realme GT 5 is expected to sport a triple-camera setup.
The camera module at the back might include a 50MP primary camera (Sony IMX890) sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. The front of the handset is expected to include a 16MP selfie camera. As of now, Realme has not revealed the launch date of the device. However, considering that the company has started posting teasers related to the device on Weibo, we can expect the brand to launch the Realme GT 5 in China by next month.
Realme GT 5 Specifications (Expected)
- Display: 6.74-inch OLED display, 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate.
- Processor: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC with Adreno 740 GPU.
- RAM And Storage: 24GB RAM, 1TB internal storage.
- Rear-facing camera: 50MP primary camera (Sony IMX890 sensor), 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro sensor.
- Front-facing camera: 16MP.
- Battery: 4,600mAh/5,000mAh, 240W/150W fast charging support.
- Software: Android 13 with Realme UI 4.0


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Altman out in IPG Mediabrands rejig
Interpublic has promoted Andy Jones, the chief executive of UM London, to the new role of chief executive of IPG Mediabrands in the UK and Ireland.
Jones: will lead all IPG media businesses in the UK and Ireland
Further changes will see Alex Altman, the chief executive of Initiative, leave IPG; Anna Watkins, Initiative’s managing director and head of digital, take a wider role at the agency; and Russell Place promoted from chief strategy officer to managing director at UM London.
In his new role, Jones will have responsibility for all of IPG’s media businesses in the UK and Ireland. These include UM, Initiative and the new agency BPN; the barter company Orion; the trading arm Magna Global; the digital companies in Mediabrands Audience Platform; and the outdoor shop Rapport.
The changes mirror IPG’s structure elsewhere and Jim Hytner’s role as the chief executive of IPG Mediabrands G14. Jones said his role was to ensure divisions work together in the "most optimal" way.
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
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Yes, though we're still waiting on an official word from Tecmo. The company is to make an announcement regarding the matter this friday, but until then is standing by its "no comment" response.
While we're only 99.999 percent sure it is delayed, all of the evidence points in that direction; only two weeks away from its scheduled launch, the game has yet to appear in much of the press' doorsteps. Additionally, retailers - who are often the first to get news of such a delay - are now showing the game as shipping on February 10, 2004. And then we have multiple inside sources that have confirmed the delay.
We know there has been a review of the game, but that was more than likely the result of an exclusive review, press lead times, and an unfinished build. So while we won't hear anything from Tecmo until later this week, take it from us: this game won't see the light until next year.


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Bangalore-based lending startup firm MoneyOnClick has raised $2.15 Million (INR 15 Cr) in a seed capital round led by venture capital firms Orios Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital, and 3one4 Capital firm. The startup plans to use the funds to boost its core technology with a machine-learning based credit underwriting and risk assessment platform. The seed capital will also enable the company to hire leadership and operations teams.
The startup Founded in 2018 by ex-LendingKart executives Vishal Chopra and Himanshu Gupta, MoneyOnClick aims to provide unsecured loan facility to the customers.
The startup, which is currently in stealth mode, is using advanced ML/AI based underwriting and in-house technology platform, to provide unsecured personal loans to Tier 2 and Tier 3 customers while keeping very low default rates.
According to the Indian Tech Startup Funding Report 2018, fintech startups raked $1.4 Bn in funding across 121 deals in 2018. DataLabs noted that 2018 saw a sharp decline of 51.66% in the amount invested in fintech startups as compared to 2017, which is an indication of saturation in the Indian fintech sector, where licensing is going to be a decisive factor for investments in startups.
According to the reports Indian retail lending may reach to $ 1.3 Trillion by 2014 and the unsecured loans to $200 Billion. The next generation of fintech startups has been focusing on changing the course of loans in the country by bringing their services to an unused.
Earlier, talking about expectations of fintech market in 2019, Sanjay Swamy the managing partner of Prime Venture Partners told that there are three categories of fintech startups they are marketplace, cooperation with banks, and NBFC model will continue to grow day by day as financial services are very important in India.


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Free screenings are one way CVS Health is supporting women's heart health and its commitment to the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women® movement
WOONSOCKET, R.I., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health, is offering free "Know Your Numbers" heart health screenings at its more than 1,100 locations nationwide on Valentine's Day. Men and women can visit their local MinuteClinic from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 14th and receive a free heart health preventative screening to learn the five key personal health numbers that can help them determine their risk for heart disease total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index.
The free heart health screenings are inspired by CVS Health's new, three-year sponsorship of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement, a national campaign to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women and to empower women to take charge of their heart health. As part of its support for Go Red For Women, CVS Health has pledged to raise a minimum of $10 million over the next three years to support life-saving cardiovascular research and education.
"Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly one in three women in the U.S. each year. It's a daunting statistic and the reason MinuteClinic is pleased to offer these free screenings on Valentine's Day," said Angela Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer at MinuteClinic. "During the screenings, patients will receive vital information about their health and will be counseled on ways to reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke. Most importantly, our providers will be arming them with the tools they need to take charge of their health."
Every MinuteClinic location offers comprehensive health screenings year-round at times that work for patients. Clinics are open seven days a week, including evenings, with no appointment needed. A digital tool accessible via www.minuteclinic.com allows patients to view wait times at all MinuteClinic locations and hold a place in line from the convenience of their smartphone, computer or tablet.
In addition to free heart health screenings, CVS Pharmacy customers can support Go Red For Women by making a $1, $3 or larger donation at the register at 7,900 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide or online at www.cvs.com/content/gored through February 25th. The in-store fundraising campaign is the first of many initiatives to support CVS Health's commitment to helping fight heart disease in women.
For a list of MinuteClinic locations, visit http://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator. No appointment is necessary, and the Valentine's Day screenings will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
MinuteClinic is the retail medical clinic of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. MinuteClinic launched the first retail medical clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 1,100 locations in 33 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to patient demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has provided care through more than 30 million patient visits, with a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to receive four consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.minuteclinic.com.
TBC (for MinuteClinic)


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The regulatory duty on sugar was also reduced to 20% from the existing 30%
The government has removed the 5% customs duty on the import of onion in a bid to increase the supply of the spice in the local market. However, the 5% regulatory duty is still in place.
It also reduced the regulatory duty on sugar to 20% from the existing 30%.
The Internal Resources Division (IRD), under the Ministry of Finance, issued two separate gazette notifications in this regard on Thursday.
Spokesperson of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Sayed A Momen told Dhaka Tribune: “Commerce Ministry requested NBR to remove duty for some products. The decision has been made based on their request.”
The new import tariff will be effective immediately from Thursday. The customs duty for onion will remain suspended till December 31 this year.
“The new regulatory duty for sugar will remain in place till February 28 next year,” Momen added.
The price of onion has almost doubled within a month in local markets.
According to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data, local onion is currently being sold at Tk60-70 per kg, up from Tk42-45 a month ago.
Moreover, imported onion is being sold at Tk56-60 kg, which cost Tk38-40 a month ago.
Meanwhile, the price of sugar has witnessed a 4% increase in a month. TCB data shows that the price of each kg of sugar is currently Tk79-80, which was Tk75-78 a month ago.
Earlier on Monday, the Commerce Ministry sent a letter to the NBR to remove the import duty on onion.


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Former Amazon leader says because of innovation, education, Tyler economy is positioned to boom
by: Cynthia Miranda
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — The Tyler Economic Development Council held an event on Friday with Mike Grella, the former head of economic development for Amazon.
Grella, who met with East Texans to discuss Tyler’s economic outlook, says East Texas is in a position of strength and believes that the economy in the area will boom over the next four years.
“What stuck out to me was the investments that are being made in education and innovation,” Grella told KETK.
He said he was excited to learn that UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College are developing curriculum for in-demand occupations.
Gross says East Texas can become one of the top spots in the nation to do business and that he expects more people will be moving into the area.
He started and led Amazon’s global economic development team in Seattle. Grella spent seven years with the technology company. His team obtained $10 billion of direct capital investment and made 100,000 jobs in more than 24 states and 15 countries.
He has experience in distribution and logistics and information technology.


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Apple Watch irregular heartbeat detection and the ECG app are being credited with helping save the life of a British father of two. A simple notification on the watch led the 30-year-old to seek answers at the hospital.
According to The Sun, doctors were initially skeptical of the Apple Watch reading before confirming Chris Mint’s heart was in Afib using their own machines. The watch warning ultimately led to a corrective heart procedure to avoid a stroke or heart attack.
He said the doctors testing him were surprised at the ECG result and told him that, but for the watch, he could have gone on to suffer a stroke or heart attack.
They referred him to specialists who found two leaking heart valves which will need to be corrected in an operation.
After avoiding a potentially deadly experience with the help of the Apple Watch, the Chris’ wife Tiffany shared the story with Tim Cook, prompting this response from the CEO of Apple:
“I’m glad your husband sought treatment and is fine now. Thanks for sharing his story — it inspires us to keep pushing forward.”
The report describes the 30-year-old as a fitness fanatic, emphasizing how the Apple Watch’s health features can benefit people of all ages and activity levels. ECG is available on Apple Watch Series 4 or later.
- How to take an ECG (electrocardiogram) on Apple Watch [Gallery]
- Alabama woman says ‘no doubt’ Apple Watch atrial fibrillation detection saved her life
- Apple Watch helps EMTs and family locate mountain biker after unexpected fall
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Batman: Arkham Origins has a 'launch trailer' it's called the “Personal Mission”. It's very fighty indeed.
According to the blurb, "The launch trailer sets the tone for visceral combat, an expansive Gotham City and action-packed story players can expect to see as they suit up as the young hero known as Batman to take on Black Mask and eight deadly assassins." Enjoy!
Game is available on PlayStation3, Xbox 360 from Friday, Oct. 25th, with the Wii Uand Windows PC (boxed) available from Friday Nov. 8th.


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Net Worth: $1.23 billion, down 7.7 percent
LAST YEAR: $1.29 billion
RESIDENCE: Los Angeles
SOURCE OF WEALTH: Software
THE MONEY: No disclosed holdings outside of El Segundo software firm National Center for Crisis and Continuity Coordination (NC4). While firm doesn’t disclose financials, results for similar companies not as lucrative as prior year. However, Chernick’s other holdings likely grew.
THE BUZZ: Has been active in crowdfunding space, launched El Segundo firm NextGeneration Crowdfunding in fall. Platform serves as educational resource for consumers and startups navigating Securities and Exchange Commission rules. NextGeneration also hosts crowdfunding conferences. Chernick told Business Journal he started venture to help startups get discovered by potential business partners and financial backers. Tech veteran also made $5.5 million investment in StartEngine this year. Started Candle Corp. in 1976 out of Marina del Rey apartment. Sold business in 2004 to IBM for $641 million. Later founded NC4, maker of situational awareness and threat-detection software used by law enforcement agencies and military. He and wife, Joyce, keep low profile but have continued to focus philanthropic work on conservative causes, education-focused nonprofits, and pro-Israel groups.
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Internet major Google is learnt to have agreed to following the RBI's local data storage norm for payment services but wants time until December to comply with.
Google's search engine remains entrenched as the internet's main gateway, and its digital advertising business is on pace to generate about USD 110 billion in revenue this year.
Digitization and automation is the way forward for internal audit profession and the need of the hour is to re-skill and keep pace with digital transformation, the survey said.
Although there would be full exemption from permits for alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles will remain out of the purview of the decision.
Airtel Payments Bank has tied up with Empays to enable its savings account holders to withdraw cash using just their mobile phone through card-less cash tech.
India is now the world’s fastest growing major economy, and per capita incomes have been climbing steadily
When a user logs into the Google Station app, they will get to see an ad. That is how we are monetising, said Google's Caesar Sengupta.
Digital currency, backed by an asset such as gold or fiat is known as stable coin –– whose value is not as volatile as cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or ethereum.
Such a policy has turned into a basic need in a world where banking is increasingly turning digital, but it is not yet owned by all banks.
The payments market remains a chaotic field where the rules are hazy on what players can offer. And users often switch between apps.
After rolling back cashback incentives for all users to popularise its marque UPI-based app, the IT ministry feels that incentives through merchants could drive the usage higher.
RBI has formed this new unit even as it has more than once issued a warning on trading in cryptocurrencies.
This would allow the exchange, part of the OneGram Group of companies, to host trades of digital assets as well as stocks and commodities.
Government said it will speed up the development of a long-term supervision mechanism for internet finance, adding that risks in internet lending are controllable overall.
A successful business transformation exercise is not just limited to technological transformation, but goes well beyond and extends to transforming the underlying process, people and skill sets, risk and control environment, says Himanish Chaudhuri.
Government plans to amend the Information Technology Act to make it mandatory for police officers of the rank of deputy superintendent of police and above to investigate cyber crimes for better scrutiny of allegations.
Justice BN Srikrishna committee proposed India’s Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018 to the Centre, with an aim to create a comprehensive framework for data protection— suggesting companies to adopt certain practices to collect, process and store consumers’ data.


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Significant growth of e-commerce in Europe
Learn about the significant growth of e-commerce in Europe with information from Direct Link. Nova Global shares information about
Direct Link today:
Direct Link conducts annual research on e-commerce development, keeping you informed of market trends and delivery opportunities around the world. Despite supply issues during the pandemic, China is still the leading country for online purchases from abroad, followed by the United Kingdom and the United States. With 216 million consumers shopping online, e-commerce is on the rise with average monthly sales of 161 euros per person.
The impressive growth of e-commerce in Europe presents a tremendous opportunity. Stay tuned for more news!


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Q. I read your story about OLED TV prices not likely to come down much. But I just saw that Vizio is going to have an OLED TV. Doesn’t Vizio have lower prices than other TV makers? So, wouldn’t that mean OLED TV will start costing less? — Hank, Reno, Nevada.
Hank, you’re right. Vizio, which has focused on selling LED sets, has announced at the Consumer Electronics Show that it will launch a 55-inch and 65-inch OLED TV in 2020. The company will join Sony and LG in selling OLED TVs, regarded as offering the best picture on the market.
Vizio did not reveal pricing for the two OLED models, nor when they will go on sale. (Spring is likely.) But many OLED fans, and some journalists, are already speculating it could mean that an OLED set will be available for under $1,000 for the first time.
(The ‘cheapest’ OLED to date has been LG’s 55-inch unit, which can be purchased now for around $1,200 if you’re okay with buying an earlier model. Comparably-sized 55-inch TVs from companies such as Samsung and TCL go for half that price.)
Vizio has a well-earned reputation for offering cheaper TV alternatives while maintaining name-brand quality. So the early thinking is that Vizio will do the same with OLEDs.
However, before you get too excited, Vizio has not revealed yet how its OLED sets will be manufactured. The odds, however, are that it will need to purchase the OLED panels from LG, which has provided the same service for Sony. That will likely keep overall manufacturing costs high, which will make it more difficult for Vizio to trim the price tag.
In addition, the OLED TV has a reputation as being the best TV in the world so Vizio knows it can keep prices relatively high and still sell a lot of sets.
Bottom line: I think you’ll see Vizio introduce a sub-$1,000 55-inch OLED TV in 2020, but don’t expect it to be much under $1,000. $999 would be a good bet, and that would still be $300-$500 less than what LG asks for a new 55-inch OLED.
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at firstname.lastname@example.org. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann


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CO restaurant, a King Street restaurant that serves a modern take on traditional Southeast Asian cuisine, will celebrate eight years in business by offering the entirety of their new sushi program at $8 for the day. The $8 rolls will be available all day (11 am to 10 pm) on Thursday, June 11th.
Since CO first opened its doors in downtown Charleston in April of 2012, the anniversary celebration was originally scheduled for this April, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Highlights from the sushi menu include signature rolls such as:
- Lemon Roll (pictured at right) – salmon, lemon, surimi salad, avocado and a lemon aioli
- Kung Fu Crunch – salmon, avocado, cream cheese, topped with spicy tuna, scallions, unagi sauce, spicy aioli and tempura flakes
- Firecracker – tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, yamagobo, scallions, topped with spicy tuna, sriracha, spicy aioli and masago.
To receive the special pricing, customers must dine-in. The deal will not be eligible for take-out orders and is limited to one per person.
CO’s Executive Chef Masanori Shiraishi leads the culinary team, drawing inspiration from generations-old family dishes and popular dishes throughout Southeast Asia.
CO was founded in 2012 by Greg Bauer in Charleston. The restaurant group also has locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, and Savannah.
Inaugural CF Bites Event to Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Press Release Help make CF stand for Cure Found by attending a Halloween themed party filled with dancing and spirits...


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Netflix gets into video game streaming - this could be huge
Netflix has revealed more about its gaming plans...
Netflix has revealed more about its gaming plans - and it's set to change the way we use the site forever.
Netflix already provides a variety of games on its site, but these are strictly for use on mobile and the service acts like an app store, as you have to download the games before you play them.
While Netflix allows you to do this in a rather slick way, there was always an obvious next step: the movie and show streaming service could and should get into streaming games.
This is indeed its plans, with Netflix revealing that it is to trial game streaming in both Canada and the UK.
"We are rolling out a limited beta test to a small number of members in Canada and the UK on select TVs starting today, and on PCs and Macs through Netflix.com on supported browsers in the next few weeks," it said in a statement.
There will be two games available during this testing phase. They are: Oxenfree (an adventure game) and Molehew’s Mining Adventure (a gem-mining arcade game).
If you are going to play the games on the TV, then you will be able to do so by the phone app controller that broke cover just last week. Those who are playing the games on PC and Mac will need to go through Netflix.com and can play with a keyboard and mouse.
While this is a small test initially, the repercussions are massive. This brings Netflix gaming away from them mobile an on to many more devices, including: Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and Walmart ONN.
It's been two years since Netflix revealed it was getting into mobile gaming. In that time it has added more and more titles. This is different, though. If successful this will give its subscribers full-fat games to stream, as well as the TV and movie options it already has.
With the streaming world currently battling subscribers this could well be what Netflix needs to give it a USP.
We would bet that other streamers are looking into this, however. Disney Plus is currently going through some big changes, snipping away titles and figuring out how to make money from its service.
Interestingly, before Disney Plus arrived in the UK, there was the app DisneyLife. DisneyLife offered old movies and shows, e-books, music and... you've guessed it, games. Could this be a way for it to increase its user base?
We're sure it will be looking at this latest Netflix test with interest...
- These are the best Apple Arcade games you should be playing.


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Ford has revealed their all new 2014 variant Transit van Transit Connect in Amsterdam. For will produce the new Transit van their plant in Kansas City, Missouri together with the F-150 pickup, Transit will also be offered in European markets by the end of the 2013.
Ford plans on offering their new Transit commercial van in a choice of options best suited to customers in a particular region. European customers will be offered a choice of front, rear or all wheel drive versions while Transit is being fitted with a 2.2 liter Duratorq TDCi diesel inline-four engine. US markets will however receive the Transit only with a rear wheel drive with a 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 engine.
Ford Transit and Transit Connect is the first step being taken by Ford to upgrade their van lineup in Europe which they plan on launching by the end of 2013. These two models will be seen with class leading features and capabilities which have been engineered at Ford’s Centre of Excellence for Commercial Vehicles in Europe.
The vehicles will be 25% enhanced where fuel economy is concerned as compared to the Ford E Series. Both these models will be offered in a choice of roof heights and wheelbases with better load carrying facilities. Transit and Transit Connect will be available both in long and short wheelbase versions with innovative features which will add to dependability and practicality.
For more information, scroll down.
New Ford Tourneo Connect[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIBKxXBCd7k[/youtube]
Auto News Release
Ford Reveals All-New Global Transit and Transit Connect Commercial Vehicles at ‘Go Further’ Event
• Ford unveils its new generation of Transit commercial vehicles, developed on all-new global platforms for sale in Europe, North America and other worldwide markets
• Tough, functional and professional, the all-new Ford Transit brings a new level of capability and versatility to the medium commercial van market; it replaces the heavier two-tonne Transit in Europe and worldwide markets, and replaces the E-Series in North America
• Stylish all-new Ford Transit Connect delivers outstanding performance across load carrying ability, dependability and fuel economy, for a best-in-class cost of ownership package
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 6, 2012 – Ford today revealed a new generation of world-class Transit commercial vehicles at its “Go Further” event.
Developed under its “One Ford” global product strategy in Europe, the Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect models will be sold in Europe, North America and other worldwide markets, with product ranges tailored to the needs of customers in each region.
“These new products will carry more, work harder, last longer, and cost our customers less to operate – just as Ford Transits have done for 47 years,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The unprecedented launch of two all-new Transit models will extend Ford’s leadership in serving commercial vehicle customers around the world.”
The introduction of the new generation Transit and Transit Connect models is a major step in Ford’s commitment to completely redesign its entire commercial vehicle line-up for Europe by the end of 2013.
Using the latest global platforms, the two models highlight Ford’s new approach to delivering the next generation of class-leading commercial vehicles to meet the needs of customers in all worldwide markets.
The new range builds on almost 50 years of experience in creating market-leading commercial vans and was engineered at Ford’s Centre of Excellence for commercial vehicles in Europe; applying global product development resources.
The all-new Ford Transit replaces the heavier two-tonne Transit derivatives in Europe and other worldwide markets, and will eventually replace the popular Ford E-Series range in North America. Tough, functional and professional, new Transit brings new levels of capability and versatility to the medium commercial van market.
Offering a comprehensive range of body styles and derivatives, with multiple wheelbases, roof heights and new chassis cowl versions, all-new and more capable Transit is tailored to the needs of key worldwide markets.
For Europe, a full range of Transit bodystyles and derivatives, offering front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, will be powered by the latest 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel.
In North America, customers can choose from several engines, including the proven 3.5-litre EcoBoost or a powerful diesel option; each features rear-wheel drive and at least 25 percent better fuel economy than a comparable E-Series. Multiple roof heights and wheelbases will be available. North American Transit vans will be manufactured in Kansas City, alongside the Ford F-150.
The stylish all-new Ford Transit Connect will deliver new standards for the sub-one-tonne segment for load-carrying ability, cost of ownership and dependability.
Available in a choice of short and long wheelbase versions, the new Transit Connect will offer European and North American customers the most flexible and functional loadbox in the segment, with a host of innovative features to enhance everyday productivity.
Transit Connect features the latest low-CO2 powertrain technologies to deliver best-in-class fuel economy in all of its target markets. In Europe, the engine line-up will include highly-efficient downsized diesel and petrol engines, while the U.S. market will benefit from a tailored range of gasoline powertrains.
The new model has a stylish cockpit with car-like design and craftsmanship, and offers the latest Ford interior technologies and driver assistance features.
The Ford Transit brand has established a legendary reputation for toughness and dependability, and the new global Transit products have been engineered to extend that tradition. Both the all-new Transit and all-new Transit Connect have been subjected to Ford’s ultra-stringent commercial vehicle testing and durability standards, covering millions of miles of arduous testing in laboratories, at proving grounds and on customer fleets.
“Our new global Ford Transit products will be totally fit for purpose,” said Samardzich. “These are the strongest, most capable and most efficient commercial vans we have ever built – this is the start of a new chapter in the Transit success story.”
In Europe, deliveries of the all-new Transit and Transit Connect are due to start by the end of 2013.
The two new global models join the Transit Custom in Ford’s renewed commercial vehicle line-up for Europe. Targeting the one-tonne market, the all-new Transit Custom is now on sale across European markets. It will not be introduced in North America but will be launched in other selected other global markets later.


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The Food and Drug Administration’s decision last month to expand its calorie-posting rule to most food outlets is getting some strong pushback. In particular, the Food Marketing Institute says it should not be applied to supermarkets, which have thousands of different items.
“Grocery stores already provide an abundance of nutritional information well beyond calories and have done so for decades,” says FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “They should not be pulled into a menu labeling law and regulation designed for a different industry.”
Sarasin says 95 percent of food items in a typical grocery store already carry Nutrition Facts labels, which include calories.


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Even if the MWC 2011 didn’t even started (only tomorrow), announcements are taking place. Additionally, LG presented the most awaited products, the LG Optimus 3D, Optimus Black and the Optimus 2X along with the Optimus Pad (Android 3.0 Honeycomb).
Every device has its own right to boast, for instance the LG Optimus 3D being the first stereoscopic video recording (3D), multi-channel and 3D display smartphone, Optimus Black featuring the brightest screen and the first 2MP front-facing camera, Optimus 2X sporting the first Dual-Core CPU for smartphones and the LG Optimus Pad for being the first 3D video recording and 3D Display capable tablet.
As we already know the Optimus 2X’s and Black’s specifications, we’re going describe only the Optimus Pad aka. LG G-Slate and the Optimus 3D gadgets.
LG Optimus 3D:
- CPU: 1GHz Dual Core TI OMAP4
- Camera: Dual lens, 3D video recording
- Display: 4.3 inch WVGA, 3D (no glasses)
- Connectivity: DLNA, HDMI
- OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread or Android 2.4 Ice Cream
- Memory: multi-channel (Dual), dual memory
LG Optimus Pad:
- CPU: 1GHz Dual Core Nvidia Tegra 2
- Camera: Dual lenses, 3D video recording
- OS: Android 3.0 Honeycomb
- Display: 8.9 inch, 15:9 aspect ratio, 1080p decoding, 1280 x 768 pixels resolution
Hands-On videos and further specifications info are on its way!


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Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale.
On Tuesday, global superstar #aloeblacc joins #infiniti to uncover the brand's newest star during a unique performance from the iconic Belasco Theater in #losangeles, produced by Live Nation #entertainment. The outstanding performance features Blacc's unmistakable sound and hits including "The Man," "My Way," and more, along with "virtual drop-ins" from #infiniti Chairman #peymankargar, Senior Vice President for Global Design #alfonsoalbaisa, and General Manager of #infiniti Product Strategy and Planning #ericrigaux from Japan.
Watch INFINITI's global reveal here beginning at 5:55 p.m. PST / 8:55 p.m. EST Nov. 17.
© Copyright 2020


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'The Disney Afternoon Collection' Is Reviving Six Classic NES Games
Mar 16, 2017, 00:08
For anyone of the NES generation, this will be a welcome addition to the collection.
The Disney Afternoon Collection is sure to make every retro gamer exceedingly happy. You'd think that games originally released for a Nintendo console would, you know, come to the new Nintendo console right?
DuckTales is an iconic platforming adventure in which players help Scrooge McDuck fill his feathery pockets with vast riches from across the world.
Heads up, nostalgia-havers. Today Capcom announced the Disney Afternoon Collection, a PS4, Xbox One and PC-bound bundle of six classic NES games.
TaleSpin - Take to the skies as Baloo the bear navigates his plane through exotic and unsafe locations in this side-scrolling shoot-em-up. The beautifully restored classic games feature crisp 1080p support and include all-new modes which can be enjoyed by first-time players and long-time fans. Each game will have a Boss Rush mode, allowing players to battle all of the game's bosses consecutively. It will release on April 18th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC with a price tag of $19.99 / £15.99/ €19.99. The rewind feature does not work in time attack mode.
The Disney Afternoon Collection will also feature offline play, allowing you to play either by yourself or with another player just like the original NES days. Boss Rush lets you tackle a lineup of bosses one after another, while Time Attack lets you compete for the fastest time completing a level. Lastly, there will be an in-game Disney Museum that contains concept art, advertisements, character art, and music in their original glory.
German newspaper Bild reported that two suspect has been taken into custody and that two other suspects were on the loose. Several people have been wounded after a man armed with axe went on a rampage in Dusseldorf train station in Germany.
PSG, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return of midfielders Adrien Rabiot, Angel Di Maria and Thiago Motta following injuries. They had the flawless start when Suarez's effort just went over the line after just three minutes.
The movie is already touching $80 million on the United States box office and has garnered good reviews from the critics as well. Logan reunites Hugh Jackman with The Wolverine director James Mangold and also stars Hugh Jackman , Boyd Holbrook, Richard E.
This change was a long overdue as the sugary beverages were affecting heath by triggering obesity- and diabetes-related problems. IBWA CEO Joe Doss said consumers are switching to bottled water for a number of reasons, including health and convenience.
Under the plea agreement VW agreed to widespread reforms and new independent checks by an independent monitor. One executive is in custody and awaiting trial and another pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate.
He had been arguably Liverpool's least effective player but helped fashion the equaliser and would go on to lay on Can's victor . Liverpool , with Philippe Coutinho particularly poor, scarcely resembled the all-conquering force of earlier this season.
Jose Mourinho, however will resist hitting the Swede in the pocket if his man is now brought up on a charge and found guilty. Moments later the duo leapt to meet a cross at the back post and Ibrahimovic's right elbow caught Mings on the cheek.
The lender will propose a dividend in May of 0.19 euros per share and is recombining its investment banking and trading units. Deutsche Bank fell 1.3 percent to close at 19.14 euros in Frankfurt on Friday, and shares traded in the USA continued to drop.
The Miami Dolphins have added veteran linebacker Lawrence Timmons , as is being reported by multiple sources. He'll turn 31 soon, which isn't ideal, but Miami needed a nasty linebacker or two and fast.
The last time China reported a trade deficit was in February 2014 when the imports exceeded exports by US$31.5 billion. Total foreign trade reached 1.71 trillion yuan (nearly 250 billion USA dollars), up 21.9 percent year on year.
The Galaxy S8 might not be as fast as the iPhone 7
On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy S7 give more vibrant shots as it enhances the brightness and tones down the darker spots. Launch Date Samsung has officially announced their Unpacked event for March 29 in NY where they will unveil the Galaxy S8.


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Romelu Lukaku's agent says he is "ashamed" by Corriere dello Sport's 'Black Friday' headline in Thursday's edition of the newspaper, adding that the player himself is unhappy about it. The Italian.. WorldNews - Published
Black Friday sales have pushed buy now, pay later darling Afterpay to a fresh sales record, as monthly transactions cracked the $1b mark for the first time in November. Brisbane Times - Published Also reported by •Sydney Morning Herald •The Age
When these Burlington employees from Blaine, Minnesota, caught two women allegedly shoplifting, they ran to the door to stop them. The confrontation turned painful once the suspects sprayed a Mace-like..
How many shopping days left… until we never want to see the inside of a mall again? Boy, do those Black Friday sales get tiring after a bit. You just want to get your stuff so the whole ordeal can be..
Credit: America's Funniest Home Videos Duration: 03:21Published
The tide may have turned for struggling Australian retailers with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Here are 2 ASX shares that stand to benefit from the breaking of the retail drought.
The post.. Motley Fool - Published
The Afterpay Limited (ASX:APT) share price is rocketing higher after providing an impressive sales update for November, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday...
The post Afterpay share price rockets higher.. Motley Fool - Published
The best cheap laptops right now are the Black Friday specials! Click over to our special story on the best deals you’ll find this week.
When you’re looking for a good, cheap laptop, knowledge.. PC World - Published
The retail sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been stronger than expected, Kogan.Com Ltd (ASX:KGN) was one to benefit.
The post Black Friday and Cyber Monday break retail sales records.. Motley Fool - Published
Black Friday sales at one of Australia's biggest online retailers surged more than 80% this year, as shoppers turned out in force despite tepid consumer confidence. Brisbane Times - Published Also reported by •Sydney Morning Herald •The Age
Five years ago few Australian shoppers had any idea about Black Friday. Now it has become one of the biggest shopping events of the year. Brisbane Times - Published Also reported by •Sydney Morning Herald •The Age
It's Black Friday. It may be an American retail phenomenon but it reaches Australia's online shoppers. It's a good time to reflect on the impact on workers. Brisbane Times - Published Also reported by •Sydney Morning Herald •The Age
Elisabeth Borne, the country's ecological transition minister, warned against "frenzied consumerism" linked to the sales weekend and its negative impact on the environment. Sydney Morning Herald - Published Also reported by •The Age •Brisbane Times
Much like pop singer P!nk or The Bachelor, Black Friday sales are a rare American import Australians have embraced with open arms. But retailers are wary. Brisbane Times - Published Also reported by •Sydney Morning Herald •The Age
November has taken over from December as the busiest month for retailers as shoppers embrace the many new online promotions starting at next week's Black Friday and Cyber events Brisbane Times - Published Also reported by •Sydney Morning Herald •The Age


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During the first panel of this year’s FISD conference, market data executives urged attendees to think about what the market data world could learn from the music industry to help tackle some of the data and technological complexities facing the industry.
Before Spotify took off around five years ago, musicians and record labels who owned the intellectual property were faced with huge challenges, caused by a shift in way people were consuming music. Piracy was rife across the internet, leading to millions of dollars in lost revenues. Streaming sites such as Spotify, which give subscribers unlimited access to a catalogue of music, have reinvented the way we view intellectual property. Panelists on Monday agreed that music streaming platforms have to a degree broken the separation between the record providers and the consumer, giving them the ability to control content, and consume what they want, when they want it. With market data users wanting to consume data in this way, and with providers and aggregators constantly on the lookout for new pricing models, mirroring a model like Spotify could bridge the gap between the two.
One vice president of market data at a buy-side firm described the hope for Spotify-type model as an “I have a dream” topic, but said they hope the industry will be able to create a marketplace where all available data is available and easy to access from one place—or “a world where we don’t have to have individual connections to individual suppliers to access every data-byte that we need.” The marketplace would enable consumers to “access the elements of data that are actually required, and pay for what is used, no more, in an efficient and streamlined way,” the VP said.
A global head of market data at a bank said the “attractive thing about looking at the characteristics of Spotify is the ability for end-consumers to be able to curate what they want, how they want, and when…. It’s not about reducing the value of data to just a commodity; this is more about access. There is a shared responsibility—not only from a provider perspective, but I would hold all the consumers responsible for better articulating what our requirements are… there needs to be a collaborative relationship,” they said.
A head of market data for EMEA at a bank urged data vendors to also think about the positives of this model over the three-day WFIC event. “Data vendors are always concerned about realizing the full value of their data. This approach is not about devaluing data, but about making information easier to get to, and using technology to achieve efficiency,” the bank exec said.
Attendees will be able to contribute their support or thoughts on ‘the dream’ during roundtables on Tuesday. Vendors and exchanges will debate the subject during panels on Wednesday.
Click here to return to our WFIC hub for all the latest stories from the event
Jesse Lund talks about real uses for DLT in the capital markets, lessons learned while rolling out IBM's blockchain platform, and what’s ahead for 2018, and into 2019.Subscribe to Weekly Wrap emails


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Korea National Park Service and Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, in collaboration with the Embassy of Georgia to the Republic of Korea will host a photo exhibition from June 7 to June 21, at KNPS Gallery head office in Wonju city. The exhibition will display around hundred landscapes from national parks of Georgia and Korea.
According to the statement of the Georgian Foreign Ministry, this event will provide an opportunity for the people from each country to learn about beautiful nature scenery and also introduce national park’s value to become carbon-neutral society.
Georgia is a country about 2/3 of Korea‘s land area located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia in South Caucasus, Eastern Europe, characterized with excellent natural scenery and high mountains which has more than 10 peaks over 4.000 meters.
Korea’s National Parks photo exhibition will be opened simultaneously in Georgia at Algeti National Park’s visitors’ center.
KNPS will exhibit National Park Photography contest award winning photos, which will introduce four seasons of Korea.
Georgian side will exhibit eight representative national parks scenery, including Kazbegi national park, well known from the Greek mythology and a popular destination among Korean tourists. The exhibition opening ceremony will take place on June 7 with participation of the Chairman of KNPS, Mr. Hyung-kun Song, Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Ms. Nino Tandilashvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Alexander Khvtisiashvili and Ambassador of Georgia, Mr. Otar Berdzenishvili. Georgian wine tasting will be held after as a part of the ceremony. The event is being organized through continuous exchange and cooperation between Embassy of Georgia and KNPS. Future cooperation issues between two countries respective agencies also include signing of MOU, experience and knowledge sharing. Through aforementioned cooperation, KNPS follows Korean government’s policy and deepens cooperation with Georgia which is selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kora as a New Northern Policy country.
Visa introduces ‘Visa Secure’ – a new program for frictionless payments and improved online experience
Visa Secure uses EMV® 3-D Secure specification to provide customers with a better eCommerce experience and support merchants to reduce cart abandonment
Tbilisi, April 21, 2020 – Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), the world leader in digital payments, introduced Visa Secure (previously known as Verified by Visa), an updated program to help make online payments more secure. Available across the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) region, including Georgia, Visa Secure provides rules and policies merchants and issuing banks have to follow to authenticate eCommerce transactions and verify cardholder identity before a transaction can be authorized.
Visa Secure uses the latest EMV 3-D Secure (3DS) specification, which is the new industry-wide messaging protocol designed to promote frictionless consumer authentication. It enables consumers to verify their identity with their issuing bank or other entity (issuer) when making card-not-present (CNP) eCommerce/online payments. The additional security layer helps prevent unauthorized CNP transactions and helps protect merchants from exposure to CNP fraud.
Visa Secure has been designed to provide increased fraud protection, minimize cardholder friction, and increase the completion of sales, leading to a better experience for all parties involved. For merchants, Visa Secure delivers greater fraud prevention by sharing up to ten times more data with issuers for better risk analysis and advanced decision making. This helps both merchants and issuers detect and avoid fraud more effectively. Consumers can also benefit from a smoother and consistent user experience across multiple payment channels, including mobile web, in-app and digital wallet payments, without any compromise in security.
Cristina Doros, Visa country manager for the Caucasus region: “Visa has been helping online merchants and issuers identify potentially fraudulent transactions with 3DS for nearly 20 years. eCommerce in Georgia is growing rapidly. Consumers expect always-on connectivity with mobile devices and rely on retailers to provide payment experience both secure and frictionless. That is where the new Visa Secureprogram comes into effect. Visa Secure offers significant enhancements in eCommerce fraud detection capabilities for issuers and merchants and can reduce friction for cardholders at checkout.”
About Visa Inc.
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/about-visa, www.visasoutheasteurope.com, https://www.facebook.com/VisaGeorgiaGE
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has said that NATO is considering deploying some 4,000 troops on a rotating basis to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank, according to Polish Radio.
Carter said a final decision was to be made at a July NATO summit in Warsaw, Polish Radio reported. His comments confirm an earlier report in the Wall Street Journal. The paper quoted Western officials as saying that the US will probably supply two battalions, while another two will be provided by Germany and Britain respectively. The troops are to be stationed on a rotational basis in the Baltic countries and probably in Poland, according to Polish radio. Carter was speaking to journalists aboard a flight from Washington to Stuttgart, Germany. The Wall Street Journal quoted Robert Work, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, as saying said that the “buildup was a response to more Russian activity around the Baltics – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – where tensions have been rising.” US media reported that the plan to send 4,000 troops to the Baltic states and Poland is separate from an earlier plan to deploy a 4,200-strong American armoured brigade to Eastern Europe.


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Advanced fraud protection for Apple Card owners is now available as part of the iOS 15 update, which automatically rotates the card's three-digit security code every now and then.
Christian ZibregWriting words that feed news cycles around the world. I help keep Apple blogs rolling and the Internet safe. No mouse buttons were harmed during my writing.
Apple's Hide My Mail feature along with the ability to use custom email domain with iCloud Mail are now both available, ready to be configured via the iCloud.com website.
Apple TV+ has shared a new trailer for “The Problem With Jon Stewart,” an upcoming topical news show focused on current affairs, which reveals previously unknown details.
Apple TV+ will add “The Tragedy of Macbeth” to its offering early next year, with the film making its theatrical debut first before streaming on Apple's video platform.
After launching iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 and other related software updates, Apple has now brought design tweaks to its iCloud Mail app on the web.
Following months of testing, Apple's iOS 15 software is now available to the general public. The update brings several major new features as well as a bunch of under-the-hood improvements. Here are some of the best fifteen iOS 15 features that you should try.
With iOS 15, HomePod gets several new features like creating a stereo pair from two HomePod minis, controlling media playback on your Apple TV with Siri on your HomePod and much more. Here's everything new, enhanced and improved in HomePod Software version 15.
If you plan on installing iOS 15 when it releases publicly, you may want to temporarily turn off the new iCloud Private Relay feature because it's currently in beta and Apple says that people using it may experience various website issues.
Support for the Find My network feature for the AirPods Pro earbuds and AirPods Max over-ear headphones is delayed and won't launch alongside iOS 15 today, Apple has confirmed.
When unveiling the iPhone 13 lineup, executives who appeared in Apple's pre-taped presentation broadcast on September 14 spent air time highlighting headline new features like Cinematic Mode, the improved rear cameras and a 120HZ display. In this video, we're going to tell you about a few hidden features of iPhone 13 that Apple didn't talk about.
Apple has eliminated the outer plastic wrap from iPhone 13 boxes as part of a broader packaging redesign, which the company hopes will help it avoid 600 metric tons of plastic.
Apple's refreshed its phone and tablet offerings with the September 14 unveiling of the new iPhone 13, sixth-generation iPad mini and ninth-generation iPad. The gadgets are shipping soon so read this if you're about to pre-order an iPhone 13 or one of the new iPad models.


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More than 50 percent of households in the U.S. own a digital television, according to preliminary report results released Friday by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
The organization, known for its annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, predicted that digital television manufacturers will post an 11 percent growth totaling more than $25 billion for 2007. For 2008, the group expects 32 million more television units to ship, with 79 percent of those televisions being HDTVs.
CEA plans to release the full findings of its state-of-the-television-industry report at a presentation given by CEA analyst Steve Koenig on January 5. The 2008 International CES is scheduled to take place January 7-10.


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How To Fix Packet Loss in League of Legends in 2023
Open beta for Gigantic rolls out for Xbox One and Windows 10 on December 8


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Damco, the global freight forwarding and logistics unit of A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, agreed to acquire Pacific Network Global Logistics, a forwarder with primary operations in Australia and China. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Copenhagen-based Damco, which had revenue of US$2.8 billion in 2011, said it has been looking to strengthen its overall presence in Australia in key PacNet segments such as the retail and lifestyle sectors. The deal also will bolster Damco’s China-to-Australia air freight business, it said.
Australia-based PacNet had revenue of US$180 million in its most recent fiscal year.


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Xbox announces the 'Adaptive Controller': designed for gamers with limited mobility
Xbox has just unveiled a brand new type of controller for gaming on its Xbox One family of consoles and Windows 10. It is a first-of-its-kind device as an affordable, easy-to-set-up, and readily available Xbox Wireless Controller designed for gamers with limited mobility.
Designed and constructed from user research through new partnerships (including The AbleGamers Charity, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, SpecialEffect, Warfighter Engaged, Craig Hospital, and many community members) that aim to make gaming more accessible, this new controller benefits gamers with limited mobility who may experience difficulty gaming with traditional controllers.
SpecialEffect’s Founder and CEO, Dr Mick Donegan, said: “This has been a milestone collaboration for us. Our experience in helping people with complex physical disabilities to access video games has enabled us to provide not only very relevant advice about features and design, but also direct feedback from a user-centred perspective. Microsoft have a product here that has the potential to help many people globally to enjoy the magic of video games.”
In the UK, Microsoft has been working with Muscular Dystrophy UK to promote the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information for Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “Microsoft’s new Xbox Adaptive Controller will make a real difference to disabled people, particularly those with a muscle-wasting condition whose movements will become increasingly limited over time. We know from our own research that video games are important to many disabled people. It allows them to socialise and compete with others on an equal basis, which has a positive effect on their wellbeing. Despite this, more than one in three young, disabled gamers told us they feel excluded due to a lack of accessibility. By working in partnership with Microsoft, we hope that today marks the first step towards a more inclusive video gaming culture.”
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is just one example of Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility and Inclusive Design and Microsoft’s mission statement to “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
You can read more about the new Adaptive Controller here. Irish availability and pricing is to be confirmed but we’ll be sure to update this article once it is. Let us know what you think of this new controller and what it means for gamers with disabilities in the comments below.


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Nokia joined the mocking game in late 2012 with release of Nokia Lumia 920 ad which highlighted the colorful range of Nokia Lumia series against Black and White range of Apple iPhones. The game then continued with Nokia releasing another wedding party ad where it mocked both Apple and Samsung.
(The Nokia Lumia 920 ad)
Adding one more to this series, Nokia has launched yet another advertisement of Nokia Lumia 1020 where its massive 41MP camera takes a tease on Apple and Samsung fanboys citing their not so good cameras.
The new Lumia 1020 ad starts in school function where kids are performing a play and parents fighting to take their best shot. The ad shows people with Apple and Samsung mobiles unable to take a clear shot, hence fighting and rushing towards the stage in order to take the best shot. While fighting, there are a few instances of parent mocking each other’s Samsung and Apple phones despite of the fact that none of them are able to take great shots.
In all this mess, the ad shows a couple sitting calmly at the end of hall, clicking pictures with 41MP snapper of his Nokia Lumia 1020. He assures his female companion “With Nokia Lumia 1020, we get the best seats”.
At the end, Nokia gives a simple message to Apple and Samsung fans, “Don’t fight. Switch.”.
While the video is fun to watch, it simple passes a message to existing Apple, Samsung users to consider Lumia as their next device. There’s a strong niche of consumers who prefer great camera over a better operating system. With Windows Phone OS getting more and more apps with passing time, we can’t consider it a week contender against Android and iOS.
We recently saw Amit at Labnol praising Windows Phone OS citing its fresh and user friendly UI. The recent smart phone industry report also suggests this OS registering the maximum growth y-o-y. Seems the Nokia-Microsoft chemistry is working now.
Enjoy the video and let us know what do you think about it via comments.


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Huawei reveals HarmonyOS, its potential Android replacement after technology ban
Chinese networking giant Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. today officially revealed its new mobile operating system, HarmonyOS, known in China as HongmengOS.
The announcement by Richard Yu, the company’s division chief executive, follows months of problems for the Chinese company after U.S. lawmakers targeted the company with a ban on its technology. U.S. companies such as Android mobile operating software provider Google LLC reportedly have begun to withdraw support for Huawei’s products.
In May, the U.S. placed Huawei on a blacklist, known as the Entity List, which restricts some U.S. companies from selling products to the Chinese company. That led Google to its decision to withdraw, but days later a reprieve came down that allowed Google to continue to work with Huawei for 90 days.
News of the ban led the Huawei to announce that it had its own OS in the works for products and internet of things “smart” devices. According to the Chinese company, if it cannot use Android in its devices, it would be ready to switch to an OS, which it claimed would be 60 percent faster than Google’s OS.
“If we cannot use it [Android] in the future, we can immediately switch to HarmonyOS,” Yu said during the Huawei Developer’s Conference today. The objective of HarmonyOS is to provide a cross-device platform that can run on anything Android or Windows Mobile would support.
The OS is open-source software, which means other technology makers could adapt it to run on their own devices. It also means that Huawei could reach out to a large audience of developers who could begin making apps to run on its devices immediately. That could give the OS the traction it needs to enter into the market where Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS already dominate.
“A modularized HarmonyOS can be nested to adapt flexibly to any device to create a seamless cross-device experience,” the company said via a statement on Twitter. “Developed via the distributed capability kit, it builds the foundation of a shared developer ecosystem.”
Yu said the company intends to keep Android for smartphones, but if the company cannot continue to use the OS, it can swiftly switch completely over to HarmonyOS instead. “We will prioritize Android for smartphones, but if we can’t use Android, we will be able to install HarmonyOS quickly,” Yu said.
HarmonyOS will become generally available for developers later this year for smart screen devices, according to Yu. This means that it would start appearing in the company’s software would appear in TVs, smart watches and in-vehicle infotainment systems first. According to the company, the OS will first appear only for products destined for Chinese audiences.
In the next three years, the company said it would officially bring the OS to its prominent line of smartphones. Such a smartphone could appear much earlier, however. Huawei is reportedly working on a low-cost smartphone running on HarmonyOS for release later this year — probably in preparation for the reinstatement of the technology ban by the U.S.
“I think Huawei is undercommunicating the work it will take to make this successful,” Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told SiliconANGLE. “Most every Android app writes to specific Android application interfaces, so any code that touches cameras, fingerprint readers, augmented reality cameras, microphones, proximity sensors and even privacy and security standards must be altered. Huawei can likely get Chinese developers to make these changes, but it’s highly unlikely that any other developers will.”
Huawei has already begun to feel the squeeze from the ban, leading the company to lay off more than 600 employees from its research and development arm in the U.S.
Other companies such as Qualcomm Technologies Inc. have seen losses as a result of the ban. Qualcomm joined Intel Corp., Broadcom Inc. and Xilinx Inc. in reportedly lobbying the U.S. government to lift the ban on the company’s technology.
Although it’s not clear where the technology ban will lead going forward, it’s apparent that HarmonyOS will be appearing in Huawei products in the coming years. The depth of its penetration into the company’s products, however, will be determined by its access to Android and Windows mobile OS going forward.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr
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Apprentice winner Mark Wright on plans to ‘revolutionise’ SEO
Apprentice star Mark Wright says that SEO is not just about ranking first on Google, as he speaks on his plans to develop a new SEO product.
Winner of series 10 of The Apprentice, Wright impressed Lord Sugar with a pitch on his plans for building a new digital marketing agency.
Speaking to Econsultancy yesterday (1 April) Wright said that his company is looking to make results more tangible for its clients.
“I think for far too long people have gone into a business and said, ‘Give me £300 and I’ll make you number one on Google.’ This is the wrong attitude.
“Search is evolving to the point that getting to number one on Google isn’t a target, you need to help businesses understand why having a good website is important, why creating good social media and content is important and also about having good quality links into their website.
“It’s a full strategy, not so much a product. We call it a product because we’re a business and that’s how we finance things, it’s through product, but SEO is a strategy based around good content and representing your business in an online space as well as possible,” he adds.
When speaking on how he can help the negative perception of the SEO industry, Wright added: “You’re never going to have all happy customers, because at the end of the day what we do is a form of advertising, and you’re never going to have 100% client satisfaction even though we do our utmost.
“The main problem with the SEO industry at the moment is negative SEO and people with powerful skillsets going to the other side and harming businesses.
“It’s something I’m seeing more and more, and where SEO used to be about improving keywords and getting sites up on search rankings, it’s now about doing that while also protecting businesses from the negative side of SEO,” he added.
The bottom line, as the guy points out, is that getting a good ranking is about creating good content – most people know that by now and I’m struggling to see what’s on offer here. There’s not much in the way of
detail around what’s going to be doing the ‘revolutionizing’ so I’m
waiting with baited breath.


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Grows sales by 13.3 per cent
By Theodore Opara
MERCEDES-Benz has continued its successful streak of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. The renowned luxury car maker started the third quarter with a new sales record of 181,791 vehicles sold in July. This now adds up to a total global sale of 1,326,065 vehicles worldwide – a percentage growth of 13.3 per cent compared to 2016.
“With growth in unit sales of eleven percent in July, Mercedes-Benz started the third quarter with a new sales record. Additional demand will be stimulated by the new S-Class Saloon, which we started delivering to our customers in Europe in July.
The Mercedes-Benz flagship has set another milestone along the way to autonomous driving with a new driver-assistance package,” stated Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.
The countries with the most new car registrations for the month of July included Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Taiwan and Canada. Europe continued to be the biggest sales region for Mercedes-Benz, with a total of 76,153 cars sold in July (+10.4 per cent). In the first seven months of this year, 560,273 units were delivered to customers in Europe (+9.1 per cent).
More than a third of the cars sold in Europe in July went to customers in Germany (26,679 units, +8.7 per cent). Other major European sales markets also significantly surpassed their unit sales of July last year: France (+10.1 per cent), Italy (+8.0 per cent), Spain (+18.0 per cent), Belgium (+17.7 per cent) and Switzerland (+11.8 per cent).
In the Asia-Pacific region, a new sales high was set for the month of July with 70,266 Mercedes-Benz automobiles sold (+22.7 per cent). In the first seven months of the year, 508,976 vehicles with the three-pointed star were delivered to customers (+26.1 per cent). In addition to China, where 48,588 units were sold in July (+31.8 per cent), the region’s success was supported also by new records in the markets South Korea (+41.0 per cent) and India (+20.9 per cent).
In the NAFTA region, more vehicles with the star were sold than ever before in the first seven months of a year (224,106 units, +0.6 per cent). A total of 187,869 Mercedes-Benz cars were delivered to customers in the USA since the beginning of the year. New unit-sales records were set for the first seven months in Canada (+11.8 per cent) and Mexico (+28.0 per cent).
The model with the highest growth in sales was the E-Class Saloon and Estate, its 64.6 per cent increase made a major contribution to the success of Mercedes-Benz in July. Total sales of those two models added up to 28.693 units worldwide, more than ever before in a July. The biggest sales market for the E-Class is China, where the long-wheelbase version of the E-Class Saloon is especially popular. Unit sales of Mercedes-Benz SUVs increased last month by 14.6 per cent to a new high of 64,521 units. The GLA and GLC were particularly successful with new sales records. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 450,000 SUVs with the star have been delivered to customers all over the world (+13.6 per cent).
Demand was very strong in July also for the coupés, convertibles and roadsters, which are grouped together at Mercedes-Benz under the heading of dream cars. They achieved growth of 18.2 per cent to sales of more than 14,000 units. In the first seven months of the year, over 100,000 dream cars were sold (+29.5 per cent). The new E-Class Coupé is extremely popular in the first months following its market launch; more units of this model were handed over to customers than ever before in a July.
“This is yet another significant milestone by Mercedes-Benz. For all of us at Weststar, we are proud to a part of this success story. As Authorized General Distributors of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, we aim to remain relentless in our efforts to deliver the best sales and aftersales services at our premises and all our authorized dealerships nationwide.” – Mirko Plath, MD/CEO, Weststar Associates Limited.


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Heritage Auctions’ latest sale netted $8.3 million, with many records set along the way. Impressive prices were set by some unusual suspects, including a 1984 Topps USFL issue of Reggie White, PSA 10, selling for $10,755. More results here.
Muhammad Ali, game-used bat, and unprecedented sports card offerings anchor largest Heritage Sports auction in history. Highlights include a Cassius Clay robe, more than 30 Sets on the PSA Set Registry, the No. 3-ranked 1914 Cracker Jack set and “Pistol Pete” Maravich game-worn New Orleans Jazz jersey.
Heritage Auctions isn’t just growing its auction business categories, but its office space as well. The auction company announces plans to expand its New York City offices.
Phantom Punch gloves, Ruth bat, Mantle jersey, Jeffrey Maier glove, Koufax jersey among big-ticket items that push Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night Auction total past $9.8 million.
The gloves worn by Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston in the 1965 ‘Phantom Punch’ bout sold for $965,000 during Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night sale in New York City.
Heritage Auctions is presenting the Herb Brooks Collection in the company’s Platinum Night Auction, which concludes with a live event Feb. 21. Brooks’ items include his presentation ring for the 1980 “Miracle” and artifacts from throughout his career.
Heritage Auctions is ready to wow the sports memorabilia once again with its Platinum night Auction, held in New York City Feb 21-22. With fresh-to-the-market material including the gloves Ali and Liston wore in the “Phantom Punch” fight to a Joe Jackson signed photos and athlete collections, the auction will rewrite the record books.
The Kindler Collection of rare football jerseys collection shows strength in fall catalog auction, totaling $450,000 for Heritage Auctions, as part of its $7.15 million sale.
Nearly 3,400 lots are now open for bidding in one of the largest auctions in Heritage history. Bidding ends Nov. 6-8 and features game-used football jerseys from the John Kindler Collection, more from the Black Swamp Find and artifacts from the 1980 Miracle On Ice U.S. Hockey Team.
Sam Snead’s tournament used driver, part of more than 100 victories for the legend, leads the offerings of Heritage Auctions’ Sept. 25-26 sale, along with the Bob Burkett Collection of Early Golf Memorabilia featuring the only Bobby Jones’ trophy in private hands, from the 1916 Cherokee Country Club Invitational.


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Ubisoft's latest and greatest battle royale title Hyper Scape has officially released a new cinematic trailer and launched into open beta on PC as part of today's Ubisoft Forward event. If you're not familiar, Hyper Scape differs from other battle royale titles by including various abilities called Hacks that players can grab in addition to weapons in addition to the fact that the map decays rather than simply having a circle close in -- and players can win by grabbing a crown at the end rather than knocking everyone else out as well. In a crowded field, Hyper Scape genuinely stands apart.
"We've built something really unique and fresh by streamlining the experience to focus on fun and intensity. We're really excited to let players have a try at it right away and we can't wait to hear what they think of it," said Graeme Jennings, Senior Producer on Hyper Scape at Ubisoft Montreal, when the game was first revealed. "But this is just the start. Hyper Scape is a universe that is built to grow, and our players will see the beginnings of that even during our technical test."
Part of what makes Hyper Scape particularly unique is that a Twitch extension allows viewers to impact the game as it is happening by voting on different events like low gravity or infinite ammo. It seems reasonable to assume that this sort of integration will only continue into further phases of the title.
"What makes Twitch so unique is the real-time engagement between our streamers and their fans. While traditionally this kind of interaction has been about commenting on gameplay, Hyper Scape transports viewers into the game themselves, to serve as active participants," said Sharmeen Browarek Chapp, VP of community product at Twitch, as part of the same original announcement. "The fact that fans can now directly impact what's happening in the game creates an entirely new experience. We're thrilled to partner with Ubisoft on this and cannot wait to show our communities what else we have in store for them!"
Hyper Scape, Ubisoft's newest battle royale title, was recently revealed and launched a surprise technical test on PC via Twitch. It is officially in open beta as of today. You can check out all of our previous coverage of the title right here.
What do you think about Hyper Scape so far? Have you had a chance to play during the technical test? Let us know in the comments, or hit me up directly on Twitter at @rollinbishop to talk all things gaming!


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Bitcoin hits new all time highs, will this rally continue in November?
Since the beginning of 2021, bitcoin has remained the undisputed top crypto-asset on the market cap chart with its total price range in October being "$23,205 larger in USD value."
Bitcoin's value last month has been more than the crypto's entire price range from genesis to December 2020!
After the last exciting weeks, bitcoin has now consolidated between its new high of $68,493 and a weekly low of about $60,493, at press time. As another month begins and predictions begin to flood the market, let’s recap the events that got us to these price peaks, in the first place.
Bitcoin closed October on a strong note because of several factors that increased the crypto's value. Like El Salvador’s decision to "buy the dip:" The Central American nation recently acquired 420 BTC for nearly $25 million, and on the back of this event, the price of bitcoin increased by 4% in 24 hours, at the time.
The launch of a ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF that launched last month coincided with new highs and primed bitcoin for a price appreciation. October was also the month of reassurances from US regulators, who said that the US government has no intention to ban the crypto-asset.
With year-end holidays around the corner, November has historically been a month of impressive price action in the crypto economy. It will be interesting to watch whether bitcoin will continue towards uncharted territories in this 11th month, making November one to remember again.
Recently, the pseudo-anonymous crypto analyst Plan B made a bold prediction for BTC prices and estimated that the price of bitcoin in November could go as high as $98,000. So far, PlanB has been almost right about the crypto’s prices earlier in August and September, seen in the tweet below.
But does this mean that long-term hodlers can prepare to harvest returns? Bitcoin's high prices may spell good news and validate the crypto's existence, but a possibility that this trend could reverse, even temporarily, can't be disregarded. For years, bitcoin has reached highs only to fall to a range that was higher than earlier bitcoin cycles. This is one reason why Bitcoin critics have long contended that the crypto-asset moves in a bubble-like fashion. Nevertheless, November 2021 could see a short-term drop in bitcoin price, before it launches to a new high again.
In conclusion, after an exciting four weeks in October, and an impressive beginning this month, November does look promising. In the event of a temporary correction, bitcoin investors can take advantage of any price drops as good buying opportunities.
Looking to expand your crypto portfolio, or invest in crypto for the very first time? Visit BitOasis – the largest and most trusted cryptocurrency platform in the MENA region, offering 20+ cryptocurrencies to choose from.