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MOSCOW, 20 Oct – PRIME. Softline, which has divided its business into Russian and international divisions, announced the rebranding of the latter – it will start operating under the NOVENTIQ brand from October 20, the cybersecurity company reports.
The Ministry of Digital Development launched a marketplace for Russian software
The fact that the Softline group of companies, registered in Cyprus, plans to divide the business into two independent companies – Softline Russia and Softline Global became known in July. According to the company, this intention was dictated by the situation in which the group’s business in Russia and abroad has become significantly different in terms of operational priorities and market strategies.
Three months later, the company announced that it had closed the deal to separate the business into Russian and international, the former Russian division became the property of founder Igor Borovikov.
“Softline… from today begins trading under the new NOVENTIQ brand… The rebranding marks the beginning of a new era for this rapidly growing company… Russian business will now operate independently of NOVENTIQ,” the message says.
It is specified that the company will continue to develop as one of the big partners of Microsoft and strengthen relationships with leading technology providers in the IT industry.
Softline was founded in 1993 and provides technological services in the field of digital transformation, cloud technologies and information security. The group is represented in more than 60 countries around the world.


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The security of smartphones and tablets running Android is under scrutiny again, after it emerged that Google is no longer providing patches for some exploits in early versions of the software.
The latest debate focuses on exploits found by researchers in the WebView technology that renders web pages on smartphones and tablets running versions up to and including Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean”.
The Metasploit blog revealed the change in policy, based on exploits submitted to Google by security researchers Rafay Baloch and Joe Vennix, who have been prodding at Android software looking for vulnerabilities.
It quotes feedback from Google’s Android security team on exploits in the WebView component, which was replaced in 2013 when the company launched Android 4.4 “KitKat”.
“If the affected version is before 4.4, we generally do not develop the patches ourselves, but welcome patches with the report for consideration,” explained an email from the security team, published by Metasploit.
“Other than notifying OEMs, we will not be able to take action on any report that is affecting versions before 4.4 that are not accompanied with a patch.”
The onus is on researchers to supply their own patches, or for OEMs – smartphone and tablet manufacturers – to patch the exploits and push new software to owners of their devices.
Why is this controversial? Because a lot of Android devices being used in 2015 are still running older versions of the software, according to Google’s developer dashboard. 60.9% of them, in fact.
Breaking that down: 46% are running Jelly Bean; 6.7% its predecessor Ice Cream Sandwich; 7.8% the version before that, Gingerbread; and 0.4% are running Android 2.2 Froyo, which was released in 2010.
Metasploit suggested that if security researchers continue to look for vulnerabilities in older Android software and publish details of their findings, cybercriminals could take advantage.
“Open source security researchers routinely publish vulnerability details and working exploits with the expectation that this kind of public discussion and disclosure can get both vendors and users to take notice of techniques employed by bad guys,” explained the site.
“By ‘burning’ these vulnerabilities, users come to expect that vendors will step up and provide reasonable defenses. Unfortunately, when the upstream vendor is unwilling to patch, even in the face of public disclosure, regular users remain permanently vulnerable.”
Google is still providing security patches for other elements of Android software, including versions before KitKat.
But the policy for exploits of those older versions’ WebView component risks leaving owners of old devices with a stark choice: update the software (if that’s possible), buy a new device, or risk being less secure.
With Google announcing in June 2014 that there were more than one billion active Android users, there could be upwards of 600 million people facing that choice – if they’re even aware that the issue exists.

domain: news


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Although the causes of obesity are complex, previous research has found strong links between increases in advertising for fast foods and rates of childhood overweight and obesity. Regularly consuming high calorie food and drinks increase the risk of becoming overweight or obese. An obese child, according to the researchers, is more likely to remain obese into adulthood, putting them at a risk of cancer.
For the study, the researchers went on to survey a national sample of 3,348 young people aged 11 to 19 years to further examine the link between marketing and high-calorie foods. On an average, young people watched 21 hours of television a week with adverts, with just over half of this time viewed on streaming platforms. However, obese participants watched significantly more television, that is around 26 hours.
Moreover, young people reported eating almost 30 HFSS food items every week, but only 16 portions of fruits and vegetables. Overall, the results showed that the more junk food ads young people watched, the HFSS foods they were eating. All participants were able to recall a favourite HFSS television advert and were particularly influenced by adverts that were fun, targeted, age-appropriate or catchy.
The researchers concluded, the food industry wouldn't pump hundreds of millions into advertising their products by creating catchy adverts if it didn't get people to eat more. With today's teens spending more time in front of screens that any other activity apart from sleeping, curbing exposure to junk food ads on streaming platforms as well as tele vision will be key to helping teens make healthy diet choices and reducing obesity rates.


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The Royal Suite at Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor has been voted ‘Australia’s Leading Hotel Suite’ at the 2015 World Travel Awards.
The Royal Suite is a reflection of Victorian elegance, with the spacious apartment featuring a dining room, drawing room, guest powder room, master bedroom and a marble bathroom with a deep claw-foot bath.
The World Travel Awards are presented across three tiers: country, regional and world. As the Australia’s Leading Hotel Suite the Royal Suite is now in contention for the regional awards, where if it wins it will compete for the world award. In the past the world round has been won by iconic international hotel including Raffles, Peninsula, the Ritz, Waldorf Astoria, and the Plaza.
Director of The Hotel Windsor, Adi Halim, is delighted to see the hotel celebrated and awarded by its peers at the World Travel Awards.
“We are honoured to have been presented this award and see it as testament to the team at the hotel who make every guest’s visit exceptional.
“To have received this recognition on the eve of our planned closure for renovations in June 2016 is truly wonderful and something we will to aspire to again in the future,” says Mr Halim.
The 2015 Asia and Australasia Gala Ceremony will be held at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Honk Kong in October.


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Pinnacle Auto Appraisers' Blog
Keeping the auto appraising industry up to date with important auto industry and appraiser information.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 4Matic starts at $34,225, and you can now built it online with the recently lauched configurator.
For those who have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA, pricing information has finally been revealed. As shown on the recently launched online configurator, the compact crossover with all-wheel drive starts at $34,225, including destination. The front-drive GLA250, which arrives later, will start at $32,225.


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The National Toy Hall of Fame has a new class.
Matchbox cars, Magic: The Gathering, and the coloring book have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The honorees were chosen from a field of a dozen nominees, including Care Bears, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Jenga, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony, the Nerf blaster, the game of Risk, the smartphone, and the top.
The 2019 inductees were revealed this morning at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
“Matchbox Cars revolutionized the toy car industry after their introduction, and the name ‘Matchbox’ has become synonymous with miniature cars. It’s only fitting that they join the Toy Hall of Fame to sit in the winner’s circle alongside Hot Wheels, the other titan of the field,” says Chief Curator Christopher Bensch.
“Magic: The Gathering changed the landscape of collectible card gaming with its introduction more than 25 years ago, and it’s become a part of pop culture — leading to book series, electronic games, and even a series on Netflix. The fact that it continues to maintain popularity is a testament to its revolutionary gameplay and constant evolution, making it engaging for beginners and experts alike,” says Curator Shannon Symonds.
“People have expressed their creativity by adding color to shapes and images for much more than 100 years, and coloring books have provided educational and calming benefits to children and adults for more than a century,” says Curator Nic Ricketts.
Photos courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, NY


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NFT profile pictures have become increasingly popular since their rollout on the social media platform Twitter in January. Now Radio Caca is seeking to drive the sector forward with NFT banners displayed on the profile pages of NFT users.
The proof of the NFT banner concept will be Radio Caca’s ‘NFT Jacuzzi,’ a collection of jacuzzi-related NFTs created in cooperation with world-famous rapper French Montana.
While Radio Caca is seeking to inject a sense of fun into its first NFT collection of banners, the company and its CEO Jeff Watney see a more serious side to the idea and what it might accomplish in the longer term.
“NFT banners open the door to a fresh wave of creativity in the industry,” said Watney on 31 March.
“Profile pictures are a great way to signal your interest in NFTs, but there’s a limit to what you can do or express with an image that’s only 400 by 400 pixels. With a larger image size, NFT banners offer greater opportunity for individual expression, increasing the diversity of artists and artworks that can make an impact on profile pages across social media sites.”
The first site to implement NFT banners will be OpenPFP, the newly launched NFT marketplace from Radio Caca. The company has big ambitions for the marketplace and predicts it will exceed trading volumes of $10 billion within the first 12 months of launch. If those predictions prove correct, OpenPFP will establish itself as a top-three marketplace.
NFTs and the metaverse
Radio Caca plans to further leverage the interconnectedness of its ecosystem by allowing NFT Jacuzzi holders to deposit their NFT into the Radio Caca 3D Metaverse. Each NFT will entitle its holder to a virtual 3D jacuzzi in the metaverse, so their virtual self can live out their virtual life like a rap superstar.
“Our partnership with French allows us to do some really fun things as a company; our NFT Jacuzzi collection is just another example of that,” said Watney.
“We see social cachet as one of the big value drivers for NFTs in the metaverse, and what better way to flex than with your own NFT jacuzzi?”
After that, all Radio Caca users will need is some NFT champagne to go with that NFT jacuzzi so they can drink bubbles in bubbles.
French Montana’s Jacuzzi NFT farming program participants can visit the Radio Caca official NFT marketplace: https://market.radiocaca.com/ to claim French Montana’s Jacuzzi NFT for free.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any service.
The post Move Over NFT Profile Pictures, The NFT Banner Image Has Arrived appeared first on NullTX.
Source: null tx


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New research suggests a poor diet can wreak havoc on more than a man’s pants size.
Guys, you’ve heard the standard advice for protecting your swimmers: Don’t wear tight undies. Keep your laptop far from, well, your lap. Stop smoking ASAP. But there may be an even easier way to shield your sperm — watch what you eat. “We’ve noticed that fertility has been decreasing over the past several decades. And guys want advice to improve upon matters,” said Dr. Ryan Terlecki, director of the Men’s Health Clinic for the Wake Forest University Department of Urology. “Most guys have never even heard that anything in their diet could impact sperm count.”
But the truth is, an emerging body of research suggests that the foods you pile on your plate may play a role in the number of sperm you have (count), whether they’re normally shaped (morphology), and how well they move (motility).
How that does that play out in the bedroom? “Sperm count is, of course, important, because if it’s not there, you’re not going to [biologically] father a kid,” said Dr. Paul Turek, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology. “And I think sperm motility is more important than sperm count.” Although morphology is less firmly linked to fertility, it has been shown in a number of studies to influence reproductive success, said Audrey Gaskins, who researches nutrition and fertility at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Although the research is still new, one thing is clear: The foods that may pose a threat to male fertility are many of the same dietary culprits behind things such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. That means you’d be smart to avoid them, regardless of whether you plan to make a baby any time soon.The following foods might get in the way of fatherhood:
Sure, meat is considered the ultimate man food — but if you eat the wrong kind, your sperm could be compromised. In a 2014 Harvard study, men who consumed the most processed meat — hamburgers, hot dogs, salami, bologna, bacon — had 23 percent fewer normal sperm than guys who ate it sparingly. In another 2014 study, published in the journal Epidemiology, the same researchers found that eating processed meat was associated with lower sperm count.
Interestingly, saturated fat intake — which has previously been blamed for poor sperm quality — wasn’t the nutritional connection. “We didn’t find a link with unprocessed red meat, so it seems to be something that happens in the processing that is detrimental to sperm quality,” Gaskins told Yahoo Health.
One possibility: Processed meats tend to house more hormonal residues than other meats, which could have potential reproductive consequences. “In the U.S., we allow more hormones to be administered to our cattle [than in the European Union],” she said. “So this is definitely one possible p> “Dark meat fish have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids,” which have been previously shown to boost healthy sperm, said Gaskins. The extra dose of vitamin D in dark-meat fish may also be a factor.
Whole milk may leave you with a fraction of the healthy sperm you should have. Young guys who eat at least two servings of full-fat dairy — especially cheese and whole milk — per day tend to have fewer motile sperm, according to a 2013 study in Human Reproduction. Don’t blame the cows, though: Pesticides and other chemical contaminants in the environment, which are attracted to the fat in dairy, may be what leads to subpar sperm, the scientists say.
Eat this instead: You don’t have to ditch dairy altogether. Just switch your focus to the low-fat kind: Men who consume a couple servings of low-fat dairy — especially 1% or 2% milk — per day have 33 percent higher sperm counts and more motile sperm than those who eat little or no low-fat dairy, a 2014 study in Fertility and Sterility found.
One explanation: Low-fat milk may boost levels of insulin growth factor-1, a hormone thought to aid the cells that help produce sperm, the scientists say. “It’s not always the sperm themselves [that are affected],” said Terlecki. “Sometimes, it’s the supporting cells — those that create testosterone to nurture sperm development, and cells that guide the sperm toward maturation. We see those cells affected a lot, in terms of compounds that come from the diet.”
That fresh spinach may come with a side of pesticides — and your sperm could be the first casualty: In a study presented at the 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting, which took place this week, men who consumed the most pesticide residues through produce had 64 percent fewer normal sperm and 70 percent fewer motile sperm than guys who took in the least.
Pesticides may throw your hormonal balance out of whack, which can interfere with your body’s production of sperm, said Gaskins. “We’re concerned about low chronic exposure, day after day at a low dose,” she said. “Our body slowly becomes unable to deal with these low-level impacts over time. This slowly leads to destruction.”
Eat this instead: We’d never suggest you eliminate produce from your diet — but you may want to consider shelling out the cash for organic fruits and vegetables, especially when it comes to these pesticide-laden picks: apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines (imported), cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. A 2014 Environmental Working Group study showed that these 10 fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide load.
You booze, you lose — sperm, that is. Drinking alcohol may have a negative impact on sperm concentration and motility, according to a 2012 Brazilian study of men seeking fertility treatments. Why? Downing copious amounts of alcohol may lead to total-body oxidative stress, which is a key cause of male infertility, the researchers say. But one drink probably isn’t a problem: “In moderation, alcohol intake seems to have no effect on semen quality,” Gaskins said. However, as a new Danish study found, modest but habitual alcohol intake — slightly less than a bottle of wine per week — may compromise sperm quality.
Drink this instead: An occasional beer probably won’t do your body any harm, but if you’re constantly sipping on something (besides water), make it pomegranate juice. In a Turkish study, male rats given pomegranate juice on a daily basis experienced a boost in sperm count and motility. The purple juice is a rich source of antioxidants, like vitamin C, and although this was an animal study, past research has linked a high intake of antioxidants in men to better semen quality. “Men who eat a healthier diet with higher antioxidants — particularly from natural foods, as opposed to supplements — tend to have higher motility,” noted Gaskins.
Here’s yet another reason to kick the can: In a new study of 189 healthy young men, published in Human Reproduction, regularly drinking sugar-sweetened drinks — slightly more than a serving per day — was linked to poorer sperm motility. (Interestingly, this connection was strongest among lean men.) Sipping on sugary beverages — soda, sports drinks, sweet tea — boosts your odds of insulin resistance, which in turn leads to oxidative stress than can damage your sperm, the scientists say.
Eat this instead: If you need a shot of sugar, make it the kind found in fruit — not soda. In the Brazilian study, fruit was positively related to sperm quality, although, keep in mind, you should go organic whenever possible (or give your fruit a good scrubbing before eating it).


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The British reputation for poor oral hygiene may be exaggerated. But ask residents of England why they have such troubled teeth, and you’ll get a range of answers. In a recent survey by marketing research company Mintel, 46% of British adults believe that nonalcoholic drinks like tea, coffee, soda, and juice have a negative impact on the appearance of their teeth, while only 24% attribute bad smiles to poor dental hygiene. Food, aging, tobacco, and grinding also are suspected culprits.
“Perhaps encouragingly, just a quarter of Brits attribute a decline in the appearance of their teeth to poor dental hygiene,” said Jack Duckett, senior consumer lifestyles analyst at Mintel. “However, the high proportion of consumers that cite dietary factors as having a negative impact on their teeth is a testament to ongoing diet issues in the United Kingdom (UK), particularly with regard to high sugar consumption.”
In the past 12 months, 47% of respondents said they suffered from plaque buildup, 45% from staining or yellowing, 35% from bleeding gums, 31% from pain from a broken or abscessed tooth or other causes, 31% from cavities, and 26% from bad breath. Consumers age 16 to 34 years old are most likely to have suffered from these oral care concerns during the past year.
“With young adults typically among the biggest consumers of processed sugars, and more likely to agree that poor dental hygiene has negatively impacted the appearance of their teeth, it follows that the young are also more likely to indicate that they experience oral hygiene concerns, such as staining, bad breath, cavities, and tooth pain,” said Duckett.
According to the survey, 70% of adults used a manual toothbrush within the past year, while 44% used powered toothbrushes. In fact, manual brush usage declined from 72% to 70%, while powered brush usage grew from 41% to 44% in the past year. However, the percentage of adults who floss fell from 43% in 2015 to 40% in 2016, with 34% of men and 46% of women flossing in the past 3 months.
Overall, growth in the UK oral care market has slowed down, with sales rising 1.6% to £1.06 billion (about $1.4 billion USD) in 2015. Mouthwash sales declined by 1% to £190 million (about $251.7 million USD). Dental accessories—including whitening products, fresh breath dental gum, scrapers, breath strips and other fresheners, floss and tape, interdental sticks and brushes, and disclosing tablets—rose 6.1% to reach £123 million (about $162.9 million USD).
“Value sales growth in the UK oral care market has been increasingly undermined by falling sales in the mouthwash segment in recent years, as well as a decline in new product launches. However, the overarching market has been boosted by strong sales of dental accessories and denture products, which have enjoyed strong value and volume sales growth as they benefit from the aging population,” Duckett said.
Meanwhile, 80% of British parents take their children to routine dental appointments, while 20% only take their children when needed or are unsure about the frequency of visits. Also, 81% of parents with children 12 years old and younger consider good oral care habits to be just as important for babies as for older children and adults, and 80% say they keep a close eye on their children’s daily oral hygiene.
Additionally, 45% of parents with children 12 years old and younger believe their children only need to brush their teeth as part of their oral care routine, while 49% believe children should use multiple products, including dental floss or mouthwash.
“The vast majority of parents agree that baby teeth need as much attention as permanent ones. However, for a significant portion of parents, this excludes flossing and mouthwashing,” Duckett said. “Brands must, therefore, find new ways of educating patients about the importance or regular flossing for their children.”


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As the cryptocurrency industry is relatively fresh, there is the possibility for cryptocurrency startups to tap into market markets wherever there exists a high demand. One niche certainly is the financial sector. While cryptocurrencies have already begun to replace a lot of aspects of the conventional banking program, many people still use fiat funds to transact and exchange. A crypto international can take benefit of this lack of regulation to enter the market with lower barriers to connection and larger growth prices.
The Dydx cryptocurrency exchange is one case in point. It allows traders to get and sell cryptocurrency in an international market. It includes already highly processed more ventures than Coinbase, the most popular cryptocurrency exchange inside the U. Beds. As of the completed of 2017, Dydx acquired processed more than $18 billion dollars in deals. The cryptocurrency exchange is on the right track to pull in $75 million in earnings this year and is on track to hit $125 , 000, 000 by the end from the year, as per to its executives. In addition to generating revenue, Dydx is projected to produce $81 , 000, 000 in net profit designed for 2019.
Whilst Coinbase has been the leading cryptocurrency exchange in the world, there is still a great deal of area for new traders. While Coinbase processes $15 billion in transactions daily, rival exchange Binance processes $90 billion in transactions daily. www.technoprobiz.com/how-do-you-decide-on-a-cryptocurrency-startup/ Moreover to Coinbase, other startup companies are looking at the ongoing future of crypto.


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Samsung has some exclusive Fortnite accessories made just for Galaxy owners and it’ll be unveiling them on October 30. The company has tapped popular streamer Ninja and a couple others to debut the new accessory kit, that taking place during an exclusive livestream featuring actor Nora Lum, contest winner Hector Diaz, and artist Travis Scott.
Samsung teased the new Galaxy accessory kit for Fortnite players this week, but it hasn’t given the public a look at the items yet. The honor will go to Tyler Blevins, who is popularly known by his streaming name Ninja, during a livestream scheduled for October 30.
The exclusive accessories are designed for the Galaxy Tab S4 and the Galaxy Note 9 devices; the kit will be available starting on November 1. Samsung says the kit will come with a glider, back bling, and a harvesting tool.
This isn’t Samsung’s first exclusive for Fortnite fans. The company previously launched an exclusive in-game Galaxy skin, which led to a bit of controversy after players used retail store demo handsets to log into their account and claim the item. The game is available to download for free on Android now.


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What We Know So Far About the Low-Cost iPhone
Apple is indeed after diversifying its iPhone offering with a cheaper version of its flagship handset. Both the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have confirmed Digitimes’ earlier report citing anonymous supply chain sources.
Apple has been considering introducing a low-cost iPhone since 2009 as a way to increase its market share and widen its customer base.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s sources, the Apple team designed a low-cost iPhone before the launch of the iPhone 4, featuring a less expensive body. A possible solution for a low-cost iPhone would be a shell made of polycarbonate plastic, and other parts remaining unchanged or recycled from previous iPhone models.
Apple already has some experience working with plastic cases – just consider the iPhone 3 or 3GS ,but we bet on their use of new materials instead of the plastic used with the aforementioned models.
The low-cost iPhone is expected to retail at between $99 and $149, according to Bloomberg’s sources.
Next, there is Apple’s position in the global smartphone market. Let’s face it, the company did a very good job retaining about 15% of worldwide smartphone shipments (IDC data covering the third quarter of 2012), but Samsung is poised to distance itself from Apple this year, with a projected 35% growth.
Apple tried to grab the lower-end market by cutting the prices of older models after the launch of the iPhone 5, so there are currently three generations of iPhone available in the Apple Store: the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4 at reduced prices respectively.
Selling a cheaper iPhone would mean a strategy shift for Apple, as the iPhone has been Apple’s main revenue driver, accounting for 48% of the company’s revenue in the quarter ending in September. With a less expensive iPhone comes the risk of lower profits, but it could compensate Apple by attracting new iPhone owners who decided not to purchase the high-end device.
Image courtesy of Ars Technica.
Written by Istvan Fekete, edited by Michael DeLisi.


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As Mayor de Blasio prepares to release his preliminary budget for the coming year, we're asking him to ensure every family has access to the foods that help support a balanced diet and a healthier life.
hero_image_alt_text===An image of vegetables.
Eating healthy and being physically active help prevent diabetes and heart disease. But without access to healthy food, a nutritious diet and good health is out of reach.
We're advocating for these key programs in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget:
- $15 million to expand the Health Bucks program so that more New Yorkers can afford fresh fruits and vegetables;
- $10 million to create a Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to help local grocers to open, expand, and improve grocery stores in neighborhoods that need food and jobs the most; and
- $3 million to expand healthy corner store initiatives so that existing corner stores can offer healthier food options to their customers.


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Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota signed legislation into law Tuesday that includes provisions permitting registered medical cannabis patients who are 21 or older to access medical cannabis flower.
A bicameral conference committee approved the policy change as part of a broader omnibus bill related to healthcare earlier this month. House and Senate lawmakers then approved the report on the last day of the 2021 legislative session.
The measure also allows patients to obtain medical cannabis via curbside pickup, increases the number of patients a single caregiver may serve from one to six, and allows the commissioner to remove existing qualifying conditions from the designated list if they receive a petition to do so.
The new law will take effect once regulations are established. Regulators have until March 1, 2022 to do so. Minnesota is one of only a handful of medical cannabis access states that prohibits patients from accessing flower products.
The Minnesota House of Representatives approved a stand-alone piece of legislation to legalize adult use marijuana and regulate retail sales earlier this month, which did not receive any further consideration in the Senate.


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The Nvidia event dedicated to the new RTX 4000 graphics cards has also left us with the presentation of the new Nvidia DLSS 3 technology, capable of quadrupling the performance of video games so that they look better than ever. This has left us with a list of the first titles that will make use of it.
Among them is Cyberpunk 2077the work of CD Projekt RED that we can see with a new trailer how it will look like with this technology, but it will also make use of the new Ray Tracing: Overdrive, with which it will reach higher levels of detail and resolution compared to what has been seen so far.
Neon signs, lights from streetlights and vehicles, billboards, shadows, objects, water or even the citizens themselves will be seen with simply amazing realism, with more accurate colors. This is how it will be achieved more precise lighting and more realistic and immersive reflections so that the quality is superior to anything seen in the game today.
All these changes and novelties will be reflected in a few weeks, from the October 12 ° specifically, since that will be the day on which the GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards will go on sale, the only ones that will be compatible with these technologies that take the visual section of video games to another level.


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The saying invest in what you know has been around forever. As a young adult who pays attention to the trends around me, I believe Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) should be in your portfolio for the years to come. Facebook has set itself up for future growth by slowly releasing different monetization strategies at different times. Facebook has the opportunity to increase revenue by making money in new areas that they are currently not taking advantage of. Facebook can add the following seven strategies to make more money. While Facebook is valued very highly at the current date, the future prospects of the company are why many Facebook investors are very excited. I want to be clear in stating that a couple of these monetization efforts may be and are close at hand and the others are speculation of certain efforts I believe that Facebook should eventually seek.
1. Add video ads to Facebook.
I believe that video ads will be on Facebook in the near future. Video ads would help bring the TV ad dollars to Facebook. People are more engaged on the Internet and have the ability to take direct action after watching an ad. On Facebook, you can watch an ad and then directly click on a link if you are intrigued. That immediate action resulting from the ad will be more costly for advertisers. This new form of advertising on Facebook will help grow revenue and growth over the previous year would be humongous being that the current revenue from video ads is $0. COO Sheryl Sandberg answers a question about video ads in the Second Quarter Conference Call stating:
On Video ads, we have a current video ad product, because marketers can embed a video in a page post and we see a lot of marketers using that product and seeing good results as a demand to do more on video on Facebook is there. And we're exploring how we can expand that, but we don't have anything new to announce today.
While there are no video ads in the news feed on Facebook to date, the COO clearly states that they are looking into further utilizing video ad products. Video ads have the opportunity to bring in revenue from the television advertising market budgets.
2. Put ads on Instagram.
This goes without saying. Ads will eventually be on Instagram and Facebook did not spend $1 billion on a company to not monetize the mobile application. Also in the near future, Instagram will be monetized. Facebook will start slow as it has shown with previous products and ease the consumer into the ads. Over time, more and more ads will appear which will be additional revenue growth. Eventually Facebook can also add video ads on Instagram for even more revenue. In the Second Quarter Earnings Call, Mark Zuckerberg specifically addressed advertisements on instagram when he stated the following:
We're building Instagram to be a business, and we expect that over time, we're going to generate a lot of profit from it, probably through advertising.
Zuckerberg's own comments on the Earnings Call show Facebook's desire to eventually monetize Instagram. When the time is right, FB will get an additional revenue stream from Instagram.
3. Add a Freemium model for Facebook.
The more time that goes by, the more Facebook will lock users in and get them addicted to the site. Once users feel like they have no where else to go to get their social fix, they will have nowhere else to go. One main reason for this is because they will have too much content that cannot be easily transferred to another social media site. At that point, Facebook should allow users to pay $4.99 per month to not have to see ads inside the news feed. One idea is for these users to still see the side banner ads but not be forced to see the more intrusive news feed ads. For every 10,000,000 users that Facebook get's to purchase this option, they will make an additional $600 million per year. With $12 billion in revenue for fiscal 2012, this is not a bad way to add an additional untapped revenue stream. This model is similar to the way Pandora (NYSE:P) charges a monthly fee to not be subjected to the intrusive ads on the platform. For a better experience, I believe there will be a very good amount of users that will be willing to pay for a better experience.
4. Add a Freemium model for Instagram.
People love Instagram. When they start to see ads appear in their stream, it is only natural for some users to be outraged. Facebook should allow users to pay $4.99 to keep Instagram as it currently is with no ads. By giving the user the opportunity to use the product ad-free, the user will have a choice of whether to use Instagram without ads, and just having a choice will cause for less outrage among their users. If the user really has a problem with ads appearing in their stream, they can simply pay a miniscule fee each month to remove the ads. This can be implemented a little bit after ads are added to Instagram. This is an untouched revenue steam that Facebook has an opportunity to explore in the future. People are willing to pay and Facebook should be willing to accept their money.
5. Charge a subscription fee to businesses with pages with over 10,000 fans.
This is something that Facebook should implement immediately. Facebook supplies one of the largest audiences, and companies with Facebook Pages are advertising to over a billion members basically for free. There is no reason that companies would not pay a monthly surcharge to be allowed to run their Pages. Nowhere in the world do companies get access to an audience this large for free. Facebook has become an explosive place to release new products, start new advertising campaigns, and spread the word of new sales and programs. Nothing in life is free and companies should not be getting these perks for free. According to EMarketer, about 86% of US companies with over 100 employees will use Facebook for marketing purposes in 2013. Facebook needs to create more of a revenue stream than from paying advertisers. These pages are valuable and should be great income generators from companies that benefit from having a Facebook page. As companies become more and more dependent for advertising through their Facebook pages, the page becomes more valuable to them. I believe that we will hear more about pricing for company pages in a few years, but do not see this taking place in the foreseeable future. This is just and additional opportunity for Facebook to explore another monetization effort.
6. Create an E-Commerce platform on top of Pages.
This idea has the greatest potential for explosive growth. At first, Facebook can allow companies to place products on Facebook and create an easy one-touch pay now option where the consumer can purchase the product. At the beginning, this can be the start of large sales and specific marketing of one product for a sale. Eventually this can expand by allowing stores to run their entire online store through the Facebook e-commerce platform. Facebook could even make the purchases require their own Facebook coins and expand their ecosystem. Facebook could get more information about their users such as credit card numbers and what their users are actually purchasing, thereby making advertising more targeted (and thus more valuable). The goal would be for many internet sales to be secured through the Facebook e-commerce platform.
Facebook has been testing and will soon launch a product in e-commerce called Autofill as reported by AllthingsD. The public release will be this upcoming Monday and this will allow Facebook users to store their credit card information and address affiliated with that card. With it's e-commerce partners, consumers will be able to order products much easier. This has many benefits including better tracking of ad success. Facebook will be able to track the effectiveness of certain ads by being able to track exactly how many people purchased an item directly after seeing an ad. This in turn makes certain ads more expensive and is a positive for Facebook's bottom line. As of this time, there are only a few partners using this program at this time, but with more testing and success, e-commerce can become a great opportunity in the future. I believe there is a great chance for this product to expand in the future and be a great product for both the consumer and the company.
7. Better the search product.
When people want to search, they go to Google (NASDAQ:GOOG). Even if you are on Facebook, you leave Facebook to go to Google to perform a search. One way Facebook can take some market share from Google is add a second search box on the top. The current search bar stretches all the way along the top from left to right. However, adding a second search bar would allow Facebook to easier determine when the user is attempting to search their social community or the entire web. The company has attempted in the past to better their search product by releasing the highly hyped Graph Search earlier this year. As time goes by, they will continue to better the search product as Facebook is able to obtain more information about their users.
Therefore, there are many ways for Facebook to create value for their business. There are many untapped revenue streams that Facebook can look into in the future. The biggest opportunity is becoming the portal for everything on the Internet. With an e-commerce platform, a better search product, social gaming, and the newly "borrowed" hash tags feature, there is no need to go anywhere besides Facebook on the Internet. With it's large community and high user engagement, Facebook has the opportunity to become the go to place for everything Internet. Becoming the go to place for everything internet will allow Facebook's monetization efforts to expand exponentially and Facebook will continue to have explosive growth. The current revenue that Facebook brings in is only the beginning of what its true potential can bring. Let's not forget that Facebook is a young company that has not even been around for 10 years.
With all that in mind, it is important to see that while Facebook has run a long ways to its all time highs of $45.62, it still has a lot of major opportunities to grow its revenue. Facebook is a very expensive stock when it relates to its present revenue, but the possibilities in the future is what makes the stock look so promising.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Additional disclosure: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Before buying or selling any stock you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion or consult a financial advisor. Investing includes risks, including loss of principal. Additionally, much of the future monetization efforts in this article included forward looking ideas with some conjecture. None of the monetization strategies are guaranteed to occur in the future.


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OSHAWA – General Motors informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada today that it would recall more than 1.3 million vehicles in the U.S. (145,700 in Canada) that may experience a sudden loss of electric power steering assist.
GM has confirmed an additional fatality associated with the ignition switch condition involved in the current recall. The 2013 event involved a 2007 model year Chevrolet Cobalt in Quebec, Canada. GM is working cooperatively with Transport Canada and has notified U.S. government authorities. The total number of fatalities associated with the ignition switch recall now stands at 13.
Oshawa, ON (October 28, 2013) — As part of General Motors of Canada’s drive to provide the best possible customer experience, the company is transitioning its service brand to Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Certified Service.
Oshawa, ON (October 25, 2013) — General Motors of Canada welcomes today’s announcement from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) that the Automotive Partnership Canada program will provide more than $2.6 million in support of a four year research project at the University of Waterloo in Sustainable Lightweighting Technologies.
OSHAWA, ON, October 18, 2013 — General Motors of Canada issued the following statement regarding the comprehensive economic and trade agreement reached between Canada and the E.U.:
OSHAWA, ON (October 17, 2013) — General Motors of Canada issued the following statement confirming scheduling actions for Oshawa Assembly.
Oshawa, Ontario (November 5, 2011) - “GM Canada commends British Columbia for its new Clean Transportation Program, which will accelerate consumer adoption of green vehicle technologies like the Chevrolet Volt,” said Kevin W. Williams, president and managing director, General Motors of Canada.
Beijing –General Motors President Dan Ammann gave a "fireside chat" to students at Peking University, one of China's most prestigious educational institutions, on April 19. He was part of the Career Development and Global Leadership Forum sponsored by Peking University and Junior Achievement China.


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Electric vehicles have not just been revolutionising the automotive sector, but it is also reshaping the energy and materials sectors. One of the key components of the smooth running of electric vehicles is the rechargeable battery. So far lithium-ion battery has emerged the main beneficiary from this new trend. Li-ion batteries have been in use for decades in numerous applications such as consumer electronics, aerospace, defence healthcare, and industrial applications. However, its growth has been stepping up since the adoption of electric vehicles and other major disruptors such green energy and the upcoming autonomous vehicle technology.
There is a huge potential for demand growth for lithium-ion batteries in the coming years on the back of disruptive technologies and renewed growth in the existing sectors. Commodity Inside anticipates that the lithium-ion batteries market is set to increase from $25 billion in 2017 to $78 billion in 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% from 2017 to 2028. Meanwhile,the average cost of a lithium-ion battery pack is set to decline from $185/kWh in 2017 to around $80/kWh in 2028.
However, the market can also to be hindered by volatility in battery raw material prices. Lithium prices remained elevated recently followed by a price hike in transition metal- cobalt. Commodity Inside understands that R&D and innovations will indeed help the Li-ion batteries to become more safe and efficient for end users. However, there is also a threat of emergence of alternative battery chemistry which can cannibalise the market.
This article is based on our recently publish report “A Strategic Outlook for the Global Lithium-ion Batteries Market to 2028”.


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A golden chance for mill ticket winners
The three have not yet collected their golden ticket at Stotfold Watermill which will give them the rare opportunity to use the machinery at the mill and make their own flour.
They will also be given a special behind-the-scenes tour of the mill and can dress in a traditional miller’s smock and neckerchief.
Volunteers at the mill are now appealing for the lucky winners to get in touch so they can claim their prize, which will see them using grindstones in the milling process.
Ray Kilby, one of the master millers said: “Grinding flour in a watermill takes real craftsmanship.
“Milling uses all your senses and the winners will learn some of the skills we use.
“You have to listen to the stones because they talk to you – and can grumble as well, if they’re not working at the right speed.”
Last year two winners had the chance to learn the secrets of milling – Todd Mitchell and Lawrence Gibb.
Ray added: “Lawrence now wants to be a miller when he’s older.”
Volunteers at Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve are now preparing for the start of the new season, and the attraction opens again on Sunday.
Visitors can watch the craftsmanship that goes into producing stone-ground flour – and buy the end product at the Kingfisher Gift Shop.
A special exhibition of antique woodworking tools will also be taking place, while a Secrets of Cider Making evening event with tastings is to be held on Friday, March 28.
If you are one of the Golden Ticket winners you can contact the mill at [email protected] or by calling 01462 734541.
Otherwise see www. stotfoldmill.com


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Bob Dylan book shines light on star qualities
- 28 September 2007
A new book will be published next month which looks at the contribution Bob Dylan has made to popular music.
Bob Dylan: The Never Ending Star will give a new insight into singer’s career, put into context using theories of fame.
The book deals with the relationship the musician has with the music industry, as well as his fans, and the role he play in creating new types of music.
The book by Bristol University sociologist Dr Lee Marshall also looks at the singer’s achievements in the 1960s and explains how Dylan dealt with the limitations such acclaim can bring.
Meanwhile, Dylan is using a new internet marketing technique to appeal to young fans.
An email chain letter - which has ‘Bob Dylan has a message for you’ written in the subject line - includes greetings from the musician as well as links to his website and an online purchase form.
One rock critic was confused by the bid to promote Dylan’s upcoming greatest hits collection.
He commented: “If it’s really true that this is the new way to sell records, I wonder why the first one is Bob Dylan instead of Britney Spears.”


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Feb 24, 2016 09:20 AM EST
McDonald's is adapting some new changes to its menus as it partners with Greek yoghurt-maker Chobani. The all-time American favorite restaurant is incorporating yoghurt to its parfaits and smoothies. The new food items will be introduced in Southern California as the fast-food restaurant chain converts to 'modern, progressive burger company'.
McDonald's and Chobani partnership is restricted to a regional test in Los Angeles and San Diego comprising of 800 restaurants, said McDonald's spokeswoman, Lisa McComb. She wrote that, "It's very premature to determine if it may expand."
The transformation in Southern California came up as McDonald's Corp. struggles to raise its image since the decline in sales due to changing tastes and stronger competition. One of the biggest moves made by CEO Steve Easterbrook was the introduction of the all-day breakfast menu that started October which generated positive feedback for the company, as reported by abc NEWS.
According to The San Diego Union Tribune, all of McDonald's 800 Southern California restaurant chains will serve 2 choices of sumptuous breakfast bowls added to its menu. The first breakfast bowl contains a combination of turkey sausage, egg whites and kale while the other breakfast bowl consists of crispy hash browns, scrambled eggs, and chorizo. These new addition to the menu will only be available during morning hours but there is a possibility that they will be included in the all-day menu depending on how customers welcome them.
The Southern California fast food chains will also serve 'Simple Delights Menu' that craves optional servings of apple slices, smoothies and Chobani yoghurt parfait, CNBC reports.
The fruit 'n yoghurt parfaits and McCafé will be incorporated with Chobani Greek non-fat vanilla yoghurt. The smoothies and parfaits will be available starting March 10-12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. McDonald's USA's Southern California marketing director Max Gallegos said that Southern California is the foremost place for introducing new ideas as well as a test market. It also serves as a great image for their customer base.
Now that McDonald's and Chobani are partners in the introduction of new food items, McDonald's is hoping on sales and revenue growth. This is another step on how the fast food chain transform into a 'modern and progressive burger company'.
Journalists love their jobs because they get to interact with people from all sorts of backgrounds and expertises, then turn around and share their knowledge with the world.
As the metaverse takes over more of our digital lives, the commoditization of all aspects of our virtual beings becomes more and more of a reality.
Rustam Gilfanov is a famous IT businessman, a founder of a large IT company, and a partner of the LongeVC Fund.
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general guarantee some amazing profits if invested correctly.
In the currency trading business, many individuals make mistakes. Since most individuals join this profession with too much excitement, they forget about efficient strategies. Instead of controlling their investment and execution process, most individuals make poor choices for trading.
In today's digital world, more and more people are investing in cryptocurrencies. These digital tokens have exploded into popularity over the past few years, and have grown to the point that there are now nearly over 6,000 of them, according to Statista.
Following the pandemic, natural calamities, and major employment shifts, a startling new study on the online news site News Nation shows that 1 in 4 Americans don't have an emergency fund.
Generational wealth is a facet of wealth management that is often misunderstood. Labeled trust fund babies, rich kids, and lucky breaks, those who receive an inheritance from families are rare.
Social media has successfully made it to the mainstream consciousness of over half the global population. DataReportal's latest study shows that over 4.33 billion people worldwide are using some form of social networking site this year. That's why it's no wonder many tech companies are interested in investing or forming the next Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube to capture the hearts and minds of the general population.
Ease of access, freedom to choose in which to invest the money and lines of credit designed according to the needs of consumers, are some of the characteristics that have made consumer credit one of the most important financing products in the world’s market.


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SSP and the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group have agreed a partnership to operate Jamie’s Italian restaurants at airports across France, Germany, Switzerland and Holland. The first two restaurants are scheduled to open at Terminal 2 of Nice Airport in 2017.
Jamie’s Italian has won thousands of fans by creating neighborhood venues, inspired by the traditions of Italy, where people relax, share and enjoy each other’s company. The restaurants are designed to be affordable and accessible, a place where everyone is welcome and feels comfortable. The casual dining experience is based on offering tasty and simple Italian food, using only the best fresh ingredients. All produce used in Jamie’s Italian is reared to higher standards of welfare.
Commenting on the new agreement Kate Swann, CEO of SSP said; “At SSP, we partner with leading brands across a range of categories, and we firmly believe in working with the best in the business. Jamie Oliver’s reputation is outstanding, and we are delighted to be able to bring the hugely successful Jamie’s Italian brand to our clients and customers.”
Simon Blagden, CEO of Jamie’s Italian, commented on the partnership: “We’re delighted to be working with SSP. As F&B operators in the travel sector they are held in very high regard and we have found their team to be an accomplished partner to work with. We believe Jamie’s Italian will appeal to all passenger groups and we’re now looking forward to working towards our first opening in Nice.”
The first Jamie’s Italian opened in the UK in 2008, and the restaurant brand is now loved by diners across the world in countries including Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
For more information click here


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- One of the most dependable parts of "Ted Lasso" is the biscuits Ted takes his boss, Rebecca, every day.
- Apple TV+, which confirmed a third season is coming this spring, shared an official biscuits recipe.
- I made them myself, and they were so delicious that I understand why Rebecca needs them daily.
I made the official 'Ted Lasso' biscuit recipe, and they were a delicious watch-party snack
Ahead of season three this spring, an Insider reporter used Apple TV+'s official "Ted Lasso" biscuits recipe to prepare the perfect watch-party snack.
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA


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Economic development creates opportunities to grow state, local and metro areas, which are essential for economic growth, improved quality of life and community development. Marion articles below.
Fiberglass in-ground pool manufacturer Leisure Pools and Spas North America will establish operations and create 200 new jobs in Marion County, SC.
Efficiency, optimization and speed have always been top priorities in logistics and transportation. Today, as digital transformations are ushering in the next revolution of industry, known as Industry 4.0, these priorities are even more crucial.
The $120 million project will expand the facility’s biofuels production capacity to 150 million gallons per year, and increase production of dried distillers grains to 360,000 tons annually.


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San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida P. Robes particularly cited the “Ingat Angat Bakuna sa Lahat,” a private sector-led COVID-19 vaccination program which has been convincing Filipinos around the country to get themselves inoculated against the disease and achieve herd immunity.
Robes said the Ingat Angat Bakuna sa Lahat is spearheaded by more than 100 top private companies in the country.
“Members of the Ingat Angat Bakuna sa Lahat program include some of the country’s leading brands in retail, fastfood chains, hospitals and other medical establishments, food manufacturing and media outlets, among others,” she said.
“Noting the still pervading hesitancy of many Filipinos in getting COVID-19 vaccines, the group is rolling out an all-media campaign to promote vaccination. The group will use all their stores and outlets to promote vaccination as well as all media platforms to encourage people to get vaccinated,” Robes added.
She hailed the private sector for its valuable contributions to anti-COVID-19 initiatives.
“The role of the private sector has always been crucial in helping the government in its program to address this health crisis and prop up recovery efforts in the economy. They have the experience, resilience, and drive to get the country back on track because their businesses depend on the country’s policies and programs in addressing the challenges at hand,” Robes disclosed.


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How longer can Microsoft attempt to keep the their next generation Xbox ‘720’ console a secret? After a recent exec slip up, it looks like some development kit owners can’t resist making a quick buck when the opportunity arises.
We say a quick buck, but actually a sum in the region of thousands of dollars. It’s no secret that Xbox 720 development kits are already in circulation along with the Sony PS4 we’re guessing, but we were surprised to find out over the weekend that someone had made the bold move in putting their kit up for sale on Ebay.
The kit, now commonly referred to as ‘Durango’, appeared on Ebay and the bid has now ended after 7 days on sale. There didn’t appear to be any guarantee of authenticity, but that didn’t stop 43 bids and a winning bid of $20,000. As you can imagine, this breaks all sorts of confidentiality agreements that Microsoft had in place and we’re willing to bet that they are currently in the process of tracking down the culprit that has decided to cash in on the company’s worst kept secret.
$20,000 is a lot of money and it just goes to show what lengths some consumers will go to, to get an early glimpse of the next generation Xbox. The picture supplied with the listing looks a lot like your bog standard PC desktop, so perhaps it’s not the end of the world for Microsoft since the final console won’t look anything like that.
Once the winning bidder receives his or her Xbox 720 developmental kit, it will be interesting to see if a multitude of leaks then follow. Or perhaps Microsoft may intercept the sending beforehand and make sure this doesn’t happen – resulting in a loss of $20,000 for nothing.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you shocked that someone would pay up to $20,000 for the Xbox 720 dev kit or not?
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Eating tilapia may be risky for people with inflammatory conditions such as heart disease, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
The researchers reported this past week that farm-raised tilapia the fifth most popular fish consumed in the United States has a combination of fatty acids, making it "a potentially dangerous food source for some patients with heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other allergic and auto-immune diseases that are particularly vulnerable to an 'exaggerated inflammatory response,"' the researchers said.
"Cardiologists are telling their patients to go home and eat fish, and if the patients are poor, they're eating tilapia. And that could translate into a dangerous situation," said Dr. Floyd "Ski" Chilton, a professor of physiology and pharmacology and the director of the Wake Forest Center for Botanical Lipids.
Inflammation is known to cause damage to blood vessels, the heart, lung and joint tissues, skin and the digestive tract.
The report is being published this month in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
It comes at a time when tilapia, which has a mild, less-oily taste, has shown the biggest gains in popularity among seafood.
"This trend is expected to continue as consumption is projected to increase from 1.5 million tons in 2003 to 2.5 million tons by 2010," the researchers wrote.
Chilton said that consumers should still eat at least two servings of fish a week, but focus more on salmon, mackerel, albacore tuna and shrimp for better omega-3 benefits. He also recommended taking fish-oil supplements.
"All fish are not created equal when it comes to their nutritional benefit," said John Balbus, the chief health scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund.
Tilapia is raised on farms in China and South America, as well as in Eastern North Carolina and Florida. It also has been linked to health concerns regarding high PCB and mercury levels, although the researchers said that "those concerns have been overblown in the media."
He said that it could take years and more studies before the Food and Drug Administration issues a formal warning.
Sean McKeon, the president of N.C. Fisheries Association Inc., said that the agency has no official position regarding farm-raised fish.
"However, we do see some fundamental problems with the system embracing and promoting farm-raised fish, especially imported species that are, in many cases, unencumbered by any FDA-type food regulations," McKeon said.
"The other major problem for our industry is that many consumers will not be able to differentiate between the researchers' warnings about farm-raised fish and wild-caught seafood harvested by our fishermen," he said. "Locally caught seafood harvested in U.S. waters is perfectly safe, and people should be eating more, not less of it," he said.
The research was financed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, and by an NIH Molecular Medicine training grant.


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SINGAPORE — Copper prices rose on Tuesday, after hitting a three-year low in the previous session, on signs of improving demand in top consumer China as factories slowly come back online following a drop in coronavirus cases in the mainland.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 0.8% to $5,580 a tonne by 0257 GMT, after falling on Monday as global markets plunged on an oil price crash and as the coronavirus spread rapidly outside China.
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The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) rose 1.1% to 44,040 yuan ($6,341.89) a tonne, rebounding from a 40-month low hit in the previous session.
“In China, the semis fabricator industry is improving slowly as the outbreak is controlled,” said analyst He Tianyu at CRU Group. Copper semi fabricators process the metal into products such as wire-rod or tubes for use in downstream sectors.
The utilization rate of the industry, one of the biggest consumers of copper, has picked up to 60% from 40%-50% a week ago, as more people return to work, the analyst said.


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TTA Press have announced their own new line of novellas that will be launched very soon. TTA have taken this decision to try and promote high quality stories that were too long to fit into Black Static or Interzone but still deserved celebrating in their own right.
The initial novellas will be written by authors with close links to TTA Press. The debut novella in the series is Eyepennies by Mike O’Driscoll, which will be followed very swiftly by Spin from Nina Allan. The third title in the series will be Cold Turkey by Carole Johnstone.
Andy Cox from TTA Press said “TTA Novellas are a natural extension of what we already do, and such an obvious development I can’t believe it’s taken me nearly twenty years to get around to it!”
The novellas will be available to buy as single issues or as part of a subscription service. TTA will announce more details and further titles throughout the year.


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Lenovo took a headfirst leap into the mobile market Monday by launching its LePhone. With this entrance into the market, Lenovo expects to expand heavily into the mobile Internet services arena and within five years generate 10 percent to 20 percent of its total revenue strictly from mobile sales. That's quite a goal for a new player in the market, but they've definitely started on the right path by choosing the world's largest cell phone market for the first in what looks to be the first in a series of many phones.
We've pictured it before, and Phil seems to have his doubts about the keyboard, but when was the last time you saw an optional keyboard? I like it. Anyone anxious to see this hit U.S. shores? Let us know in the comments! [PhoneArena]


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OFT on Reckitt's case over heartburn drug accusations
Household goods giant Reckitt Benckiser was accused today of abusing its dominant position in the supply of heartburn medicines to the NHS.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) alleges that Reckitt sought to restrict competition to its Gaviscon treatment by offering family doctors only a more expensive version of the product when they searched prescribing software.
Doctors use software to search for well-branded products and then provide patients with an 'open' prescription that lists its generic name.
The OFT said Reckitt deliberately delisted a sister product just before cheaper generic rivals joined the list
This allows pharmacies to choose whether to dispense the brand or a cheaper rival, at considerable cost savings to the NHS.
In a statement of objections, the OFT said Reckitt deliberately delisted a sister product just before cheaper generic rivals joined the list.
The timing of this meant that an NHS doctor searching for Gaviscon would instead bring up its Gaviscon Advance Liquid - a patent protected version that did not have an 'open' prescription which would have allowed generic rivals to be shown to GPs, according to the OFT.
Simon Williams, senior director for goods at the OFT, said: 'This case raises significant and complex competition issues relating to the supply of prescription drugs to the NHS.'
The OFT said it would wait for a response from Reckitt before giving a final verdict on whether it believes competition law has been broken.
If found guilty, Reckitt could face a potential fine of up to 10% of its worldwide turnover, which stood at £7.75billion in 2009.
But Reckitt said it believes it 'competes fairly and within the letter and spirit of the law in all of our operations'.
The group added: 'Gaviscon Advance is a second generation product, superior to Gaviscon Original.
'Gaviscon Advance was launched to provide patients with effective and long-lasting relief from heartburn and indigestion.
'Reckitt Benckiser will now review the OFT statement and respond accordingly.'
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Geelong’s Food Relief Centre will receive more than $700,000 to boost its services to help meet a growing demand for food support across the Geelong regional community.
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan today joined Member for Geelong Christine Couzens to announce the funding as part of the government’s regional and community food relief programs.
The Geelong Food Relief Centre received $70,000 for a purpose-built refrigerated food transport van to guarantee delivery of fresh food throughout rural Geelong, including the Surf Coast and the Colac Otway shires.
Working in partnership with Deakin University, the Centre aims to streamline delivery of emergency food relief into isolated townships, boost cost effectiveness and improve service convenience. The centre provides support for around 48,000 people and 60 regional food agencies.
Under the Building Regional Food Relief Networks program, a further $368,750 has been invested to expand and improve existing services while $300,000 has been put towards the fit-out of the new Geelong Emergency Food Distribution Hub.
The Building Regional Food Relief Networks is a $3.5 million partnership with Foodbank Victoria to increase capacity of food distribution to those in need in regional areas by sourcing food from regional producers and providing the appropriate storage and distribution.
The Geelong Food Relief Centre is one of five regional food distribution hubs which also includes Albury-Wodonga Foodshare, Warrnambool and District Foodshare, Bendigo Foodshare and Mildura Foodshare.
Since the start of the pandemic the state government has invested more than $25 million to support people when and where they need food. This is additional to the $3.6 million the Government provides to Foodbank Victoria every year which provides 140,000 Victorians with food every month.
Geelong Food Relief Centre: geelongfoodrelief.org
Source: A state government media release


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Russia’s antitrust regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), has fined Apple $12 million over complaints it unfairly cracked down on third-party parental control apps, the regulator has announced. The FAS started its investigation after receiving a complaint from Kaspersky Lab in March 2019, which claimed Apple had forced it to limit the functionality of its Safe Kids app shortly after Apple added the Screen Time feature to iOS 12.
The fine comes in the same week that EU regulators are expected to issue charges of their own against Apple. These come in response to a complaint from Spotify in March 2019 about the 30 percent cut Apple takes for in-app purchases, which it said gives Apple’s own services an unfair advantage. As well…
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Author: Jon Porter


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Optanon Now Integrated with Google Tag Manager
We are pleased to announce that we have this week published a new release of Optanon that enables Google Tag Manager users to set up their tags to respond to visitor preferences expressed via Optanon.
Google Tag Manager is a free Google product that enables web masters to centrally control the use of third party tags or scripts on their site. It comes with the ability to determine the conditions under which specific scripts are inserted, or not.
It is these sorts of scripts that are often responsible for the setting of many common types of cookies, including analytics and ad-serving cookies.
The latest release of Optanon now makes data available to Google Tag Manager to tell it what categories of cookies a visitor has given their consent to. By adding a few simple rules to Google Tag Manager, Optanon customers can now ensure that cookie setting scripts are only put into their pages, when consent has been given.
Google Tag Manager users looking for a solution to enable consent -based setting of cookie-tags will find the new release of Optanon easier to work with than ever.
Similarly, many Optanon customers can now consider adopting Google Tag Manager, in the knowledge that their investment in setting up Optanon will not be lost, and in many cases it will make it easier to make changes to their use to script tags going forward.
If you would like to find out more, please get in touch.
January 13, 2017
Future of EU Cookie Compliance Webinar: ...
GDPR and now the proposed E-Privacy Regulation mean a stricter regime for cookie compliance, web governance and use of online tracking technologies. Join p...View Article →
December 14, 2016
Draft EU ePrivacy Regulation Leaked...
A draft of the proposed legislation to replace the outdated EU ePrivacy Directive was leaked on the Politico.eu (PDF) website this week. The proposal is fo...View Article →
November 3, 2016
GDPR Compliance Means Cookie Notices Mus...
Are you one of those people that ticked the cookie law box ages ago and not thought about it since? Well the game has changed and now is the time to re-vis...View Article →


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“Influenced heavily by Sonata’s attractive exterior design, the all-new Accent sports a sloping roofline that provides it a more dynamic and sportier look. It features similar rounded coupe-like greenhouse and rising crease up the sides. Overall, the new Accent looks a lot better than the current model.
Initially, the 2011 Accent / Verna will only be available as a four-door sedan, but as these latest shots suggest, Hyundai also plans to introduce a hatchback version later in the year. One of the 5-door Accent prototypes has recently been caught in China while undergoing pre-production tests.”


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General Motors‘ defense unit said Tuesday it has been selected by the U.S. Army to provide a battery-powered electric vehicle for “analysis and demonstration.”
GM Defense said it will leverage the GMC Hummer EV to meet the Army’s requirement of a “light to heavy duty battery electric vehicle to support reduced reliance on fossil fuels both in the operational and garrison environments.”
The 1,000-hp Hummer EV uses the Ultium platform and can obtain enough charge in 12 minutes to travel up to 100 miles. The vehicle has 329 miles of driving range and can go from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds, GM Defense said.
GM spokesperson Sonia Taylor wrote in an email to Automotive News that the military would purchase one Hummer. She said GM Defense is fully aligned with GM’s goal to be fully electric by 2035 and is well positioned to aid the Army’s transition to EVs.
“With an ability to leverage GM’s portfolio of commercial battery electric technology and $35 billion investments in electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle technology, we believe we are an ideal partner to help our defense and government customers transition to a more electric, autonomous and connected future,” Taylor wrote.
The Army did not respond to Automotive News‘ request for comment in time for publication.


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- ECB hawks support the euro
- UK retail sales drop sharply
- Dollar moves remain muted
- ECB President Christine Lagarde came out with a positive tone yesterday. Lagarde commented that there are more positive news flows coming out of the eurozone, suggesting that the eurozone may suffer only a small contraction. Whilst she commented that inflation was way too high, she did not refer to the pace of future rate hikes. In the afternoon we saw some weakness in the EUR with GBPEUR hitting one-month highs, but the move was not sustained.
- Governor Bailey was on the wires as well, suggesting UK inflation was on track to fall sharply this year. The drop in energy prices will contribute to the fall in inflation, but he did say that a strong job market remains an upside risk to inflation. Bailey also says he sees a long, but shallow recession for the UK. GBP saw the most gains versus ZAR (1.33%), NZD (1%), and AUD (0.8%).
- USD moves were once again muted, with little direction taken on USD pairs. Fed Collins spoke in the afternoon, backing calls for a slower pace of hikes by the Fed. Weekly jobless claims data supported the notion of a strong US jobs markets, with the number of people filing for jobless claims coming in lower than expected. Later in the evening, Fed members Brainard and Williams continued their case for the Fed to keep rates higher for longer.
* Daily move - against G10 rates at 17:00pm, 19.01.23
** Indicative rates - interbank rates at 17:00pm, 19.01.23
EUR – ECB President Christine Lagarde and ECB Elderson
USD – Fed Harker and Waller
GBP has weakened early doors after UK retail sales fell more than expected – a decline of 1% in December. Strip out fuel sales and the drop was -1.1%. The data is a massive signal of the impact of inflation eroding the spending powers of the public. As this week’s inflation figures have shown, food inflation continues to rise and this contributed to the fall in sales. GDP in December will likely take a hit on this, and adds to concerns over the economy.
German producer price inflation this morning came in higher than expected at -0.4% versus -1.2% in December, giving the EUR some demand this morning as well. The hawkish pushback by ECB members on the report from earlier this week, stating the ECB may well be considering slowing the pace of hikes, has supported the EUR into the latter half of the week. Christine Lagarde will be speaking later today, but no major comments are expected.
Market moves will more than likely continue rangebound within respective highs and lows for this week in the absence of any major data flows today.
Chart of the day
The drop in retail sales adds to growing concerns of the UK economy. We saw a rebound in GDP in November, but this sharp fall in retail sales will likely lead to a decline in growth in December. Rising food prices had a big impact on peoples spending power given affordability concerns.
Gains in GBP are likely to be halted should growth concerns continue, or should economic growth come in lower than anticipated going forward.
Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.
Have a great day.


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RE:MOBILE, a not-for-profit mobile phone recycling scheme which is managed by the TCF, has raised over $25,000 for charity partner, Sustainable Coastlines, for the phones donated from October 2018 to September 2019.
“We are thrilled to be RE:MOBILE’s charity partner. The support of RE:MOBILE and the TCF is absolutely phenomenal,” said Steph Vercoe, Strategic Partnerships Director at Sustainable Coastlines.
“RE:MOBILE has now donated over $111,000 to Sustainable Coastlines since we came on board as its charity partner in 2016. This has allowed us to plant over 11,000 trees around waterways in order to improve water quality.”
The New Zealand telecommunications industry is strongly committed to responsible management of e-waste. RE:MOBILE enables consumers to easily recycle unwanted mobile phones, which they can drop off at any 2degrees, Spark or Vodafone retail stores.
“The environmental benefits of mobile phone recycling are amplified by our relationship with Sustainable Coastlines,” said Geoff Thorn, TCF CEO.
“The work that Sustainable Coastlines does to protect New Zealand’s waterways is crucial and we are pleased that we can contribute to this through the money raised by RE:MOBILE.”
Learn more about RE:MOBILE and find out how to recycle your mobile phone here.
TCF CEO Geoff Thorn presents a fern to Steph Vercoe from Sustainable Coastlines as a symbol of the money raised by RE:MOBILE


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Van Buren native Kyle Putman will have the first Fort Smith location of Marco’s Pizza open in time for Halloween, one of the busiest nights of the year for the Italian-style pizza chain. The latest pizza provider to open in the city will be located at 2505 Market Trace and will open Oct. 29.
The menu will feature a mix of classic pizzas and specialty pizzas like the White Cheezy, Deluxe and All Meat, along with a variety of salads with croutons made daily. Pizzas start around $17 for a large. Marco’s is also the first national pizza delivery brand to offer Specialty Pizza Bowls – a crustless pie made to meet consumer’s ever-changing dietary preferences, a news release said. Specialty pizza bowls start at about $8 a bowl, which is about two servings.
Coming from a finance background, Putman was introduced to Marco’s in 2018. After trying Marco’s pizza for the first time, he knew he wanted to open one in the Fort Smith area.
“I was on the search for the best pizza place to open for myself, and after seeing Marco’s was named as America’s Most Loved Pizza, I had to try it for myself,” said Putman. “I loved the authentic, Italian taste of Marco’s Pizza – it was better than anything I’ve had.”
The pizza will only be available through carryout or delivery, with delivery only available to locations about eight minutes from the storefront to ensure the pizza will be hot when delivered, he said. Ordering will be available online and through the Marco’s Pizza app.
“We’ll be serving the Fianna Hills area with this store. But there will be a few third-party options available to people — Waitr, DoorDash and UberEats,” he said.
Though there are dine-in Marco’s Pizza locations, Putman opted for the carry out and delivery only in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The market for pizza has changed and delivery and carry-out are the most popular options. And when COVID hit, it just made more sense to go with the model,” he said. “We think it’s the most sustainable.”
In total, the new business will employ 30, 15 part-time and 15 full-time, he said. And extra precautions are being taken to make sure employees and customers are safe during the pandemic. Putman invested around $500,000 for the pizza place. The completely renovated location is in a strip mall adjacent to the Harps Grocery store off Jenny Lind.
“We basically started from scratch and completely renovated the entire unit,” he said.
Petree Construction of Fort Smith was the contractor used for the remodel, Putman said, noting that as a native of the area, he understands the importance of keeping business as local as possible. If all go wells, he hopes to open two more in the Fort Smith area.
Putman said Fort Smith pizza lovers will recognize the difference with Marco’s Pizza and it will soon become their favorite. That difference is due to the freshness of the product, he said. All dough is made fresh at the store. It is mixed, allowed to rise overnight and made into the pizza crust the following day. They only use fresh, never frozen cheese and produce, and all vegetables are freshly cut daily. All sauce is also made fresh, he said.
There will be contact-free delivery, curbside carryout and extra cleaning/sanitizing measures in place. Employees are required to wear masks and gloves throughout their shifts and health checks are done daily.
“We have an app that employees can use to self-screen before each shift. It asks health-related questions. Their temperature will be taken before each shift,” Putman said.
Marco’s Pizza started in Ohio. The founder, Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco, grew up making pizzas with his father after they immigrated to the United States from Sulmona, Italy. He created Marco’s Pizza to capture the Italian spirit and flavors of his youth, the news release said.
“Opening a new store every three and a half days on average, Marco’s Pizza is committed to continued growth and increasing its presence internationally by late 2020,” the release said.


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INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS are warning that the loss of fiscal incentives under a proposed tax reform bill could worsen employment conditions, which are already under pressure due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Business groups last year said that the then-current version of the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) could likely result in 700,000 lost jobs. The bill proposes to reduce corporate income tax while rationalizing tax incentives.
The loss of tax incentives, coupled with the slowdown caused by the pandemic, will drive unemployment numbers higher, the groups said in a virtual news conference Monday.
“The numbers I gave are pre-COVID,” Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) President Danilo C. Lachica said.
“As far as the electronics industry is concerned, it may have got worse. In fact, you know, certain government agencies don’t believe that this is real but already I’ve seen the start — the tip of the iceberg. There are two companies that have announced their shut down.”
The electronics industry recently upgraded its 2020 growth projection to a contraction of 5%, from the earlier forecast of a 15% decline, after demand for industrial, consumer, mobility, and medical electronics spiked. The industry expects 7% growth next year, “assuming favorable CREATE outcome.”
John Forbes, senior adviser to the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM), said the lockdown had caused some companies to shift production to their other sites in Southeast Asia.
Philippine Ecozones Association (PHILEA) President Felix Francisco Zaldarriaga said the industry is seeing workforce reductions even without an outright locator exodus.
“It really doesn’t make any sense (to tamper) with the one ingredient that’s keeping these guys here,” he said.
Mr. Lachica added that investors could stay during a transition period included in the bill.
“But what happens after? If our incentives are not going to be competitive with our neighbors, it’s open season. But the danger is, even during the transition period… there’s no guarantee that expansions (involving) new technologies and new businesses will come. That’s the risk,” he said.
The industry groups agreed that they prefer one of the options proposed by Senator Ralph G. Recto, which would distinguish export enterprises from domestic companies. After an income tax holiday period, a Special Corporate Income Tax based on gross income earned will remain in perpetuity for export enterprises under this proposal.
“We believe Senator Recto’s proposal for grandfathering incentives will ensure that existing investors will continue to invest in the country in the long term,” they said in a statement.
A study commissioned by the Labor department indicates that CREATE will increase jobs and reduce poverty by improving foreign direct investment and reducing the prices of consumer goods.
The industry groups represented in the news conference include SEIPI, PHILEA, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, AMCHAM, the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. — Jenina P. Ibañez