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"As Easy As Sending Message": Zuckerberg As WhatsApp Pay Starts In India
Facebook Inc., which was struggling for years to win a permit to operate its WhatsApp payments service in India, finally got approval for the roll-out, marking a breakthrough year for the tech giant that also saw it partnering billionaire Mukesh Ambani to expand in the world's biggest open technology market.
WhatsApp pay can go live using the homegrown, multibank Unified Payments Interface, its operator, the National Payments Corporation of India, said in a statement Thursday. The US social media giant can gradually expand its UPI base starting with as many as 20 million users. Facebook has been testing WhatsApp payments in India since early 2018.
The approval is the latest milestone for the billionaire Mark Zuckerberg-helmed firm that plowed $5.7 billion by agreeing to buy a 9.99 per cent stake in Mr Ambani's digital services unit, Jio Platforms Ltd., in April. Mr Ambani's unit has attracted more than $20 billion from investors including Intel Corp. and Google, as global tech giants doubled down in partnering Asia's richest man and the most influential business leader in India.
"Now you can easily send money to your friends and family, just as easily as sending a message. There's no fee and it's supported by more than 140 banks," Mr Zuckerberg said in a video post. He added that it was available in 10 Indian regional language versions of WhatsApp.
Facebook has been open about its ambition to build a large commerce business in India with WhatsApp messaging at the center. India's payments market is crowded with domestic pioneer Paytm, Google Pay, Walmart Inc.'s PhonePe, Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon Pay and dozens of other startups but WhatsApp's enormous user base of more than 400 million gives it a unique advantage in a market slated to grow to $1 trillion by 2023.
"Starting today, people across India will be able to send money through WhatsApp," the company said in a November 6 blog post on its website. "We're excited to join India's campaign to increase the ease and use of digital payments, which is helping expand financial inclusion in India."
Unlike some other rivals, WhatsApp will be able to add customers for its payments service quickly because of the ubiquity of its messaging app. Almost every other mobile Internet user is a WhatsApp user. India is Facebook and WhatsApp's largest market, at a time when the American firm is looking for areas to add new users as more lucrative markets like the U.S. and Europe become saturated.
Meanwhile, Mr Ambani has honed in on technology and e-commerce as pillars of expansion for his listed Reliance Industries Ltd. -- that in turn controls the digital and retail units -- in a pivot away from the energy business he inherited in 2002. Mr Ambani is helming this transformation at Reliance that makes Facebook and WhatsApp integral to its future plans, especially as the tycoon looks to take on Amazon and Walmart Inc.-owned Flipkart in e-commerce.
Facebook's WhatsApp payment rollout was in the works long before the tie up with Mr Ambani. The service, which had been in a test mode with a million users for nearly three years, was said to be close to receiving the green light for its payments service in February.
Still, Indian regulators have blocked some of Facebook's previous business efforts in India, including a program that offered free internet access to a limited number of websites.
WhatsApp has added commerce features in recent years, including product catalogs and shops, so that small businesses can promote and sell goods directly through the app. Payments is a key part of enabling those transactions. The company is also hoping to use these product catalogs as a jumping off point to bring small businesses to other Facebook services, like advertising and customer service tools.
The National Payments Corporation of India has imposed a 30% volume cap on all third party payment providers on its payments platform, to avoid any single entity from monopolizing the market. Existing payment operators have two years from January 1 to comply with this limit, the government body said in a separate statement Thursday.
Facebook executives foresee WhatsApp serving as a one-stop-shop for Indian small businesses, who can sell goods and interact with customers on a service that hundreds of millions of people in the country already use. They hope to replicate that plan in other markets, like Brazil, though efforts to bring payments there have also faced regulatory challenges.
"In the long run, we believe the combination of WhatsApp and UPI's unique architecture can help local organizations address some of the key challenges of our time, including increasing rural participation in the digital economy and delivering financial services to those who have never had access before," the company said in a statement.


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Clik Elite™ Looking for Ugly Mugs at Outdoor Retailer
Clik Elite™ wants you to get ugly. The new company designs performance packs for adventure photographers, and to kick off their inaugural Outdoor Retailer show, they are holding the First Annual Ugly Mug Photo Contest. Booth 38221.
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St. George, UT, July 16, 2009,– Clik Elite™ wants you to get ugly. The new company designs performance packs for adventure photographers, and to kick off their inaugural Outdoor Retailer show, they are holding the First Annual Ugly Mug Photo Contest.
Contestants will make – or just be born with – a funny face (see photo), Clik™ will photograph it, and the image will be posted at their booth, in their blog, on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr – anywhere that will make the ugly mugs as public as possible. And yes, there will be prizes. “Good natured embarrassment, that is a core goal,” says Clik Elite’s™ Gheen Hillman. We want to have a good time, let people get silly, document it, then put it out for the world to see.”
There will be daily winners on the first three days of the show, and after Outdoor Retailer closes the Clik Elite™ Team will sequester themselves in a secure location to determine Ugliest In Show. This will be announced on the Clik Elite™ website, outdoor industry news services, and on a whole bunch of social media outlets. The owner of this most Ugly Mug will receive the grand prize – a Clik Elite™ Nature 35 pack.
OR attendees can get involved at the Clik™ booth – it’s 38221 in the back of the big building – or watch for the roving photographers. Then keep an eye on clikelite.com, Facebook, and Twitter to see how ugly folks can get at Outdoor Retailer.
About Clik Elite:
Based in Utah’s rugged canyon country, Clik Elite was founded in 2008 by a team of outdoor industry professionals. They make a complete line of innovative performance packs for adventure photographers that are the culmination of 25 years of experience designing and building packs for adventure racers, emergency medics, outdoor extremists, and photographers. See the line and learn more at:www.clikelite.com

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Elegance meets versatility at Pegasus’ new Fusion restaurant
Imagine enjoying a top-class meal from almost any popular cuisine while dining at an elegant yet spacious restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Well, more than 250 people, at any given time, can do so with the establishment of the new Fusion restaurant at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Kingston, Georgetown.
This restaurant is the latest addition to the Pegasus brand. It cost an estimated US$2 million- excluding the building costs, of course, and it occupies nearly 15,000 square feet of the massive twin buildings at Kingston foreshore.
Like the name suggests, the restaurant promises a unique mix of flavours from all across the globe, Robert Badal, the owner of the Pegasus Hotel, said.
“With a space like this, we really want to have cuisine for our people who haven’t travelled or even those who have frequented restaurants all over the world.
“The concept of fusion is a concept of spices all over the world,” Badal said.
Importantly, he also explained that this concept is meant to reflect Guyana’s own fusion of people- being the land of six people and all.
But there is more.
There is, of course, a well-stocked bar, which the owner boasts can produce any cocktail desires. New technology has been infused into the kitchen to reduce cooking time.
Essentially, Badal believes the space can be used for any celebration and there are spaces for private, more intimate gatherings. Versatile is how he describes this new venture.
Altogether, it is a set-up that rivals any internationally-recognised restaurant. That said, would this restaurant cater to any ordinary person just as much as it caters to the white-collar crowd?
Well, Badal believes it will.
“If you want an experience like this, it won’t come cheap but we have successfully made it affordable,” he posited.
This restaurant is set for opening on Thursday, days ahead of the start of the Cricket Carnival excitement here in Guyana. In the first instance, it will be open five days weekly- from Wednesday to Sunday.
It is expected to meet the growing demand for hospitality services in Guyana.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation in the United States slowed last month in a sign that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes are continuing to cool the consumer price spikes that have bedeviled consumers for the past two years.
Tuesday’s report from the Labor Department showed that prices either fell or rose only slowly across a broad range of goods and services, including gas, new and used cars, hotel rooms and housing. Overall inflation was unchanged from September to October, down from the 0.4% jump the previous month. Compared with 12 months ago, consumer prices rose 3.2% in October, down from the 3.7% rise in September and the smallest year-over-year increase since June.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core prices also weakened unexpectedly. They rose just 0.2% from September to October, slightly below the pace of the previous two months. Economists closely track core prices, which are thought to provide a good sign of inflation’s future path. Measured year over year, core prices rose 4% in October, down from 4.1% in September.
October’s milder-than-expected price figures could make it less likely that the Fed will impose another interest rate hike. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, are considering whether their benchmark rate is high enough to quell inflation or if they need to impose another rate hike in coming months.
Powell had said last week that Fed officials were “not confident” that rates had gotten sufficiently high to tame inflation. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate 11 times in the past year and a half, to about 5.4%, the highest level in 22 years.
But the Fed has raised its key rate just once since May. Since its last meeting on Nov. 1, a government report showed that hiring cooled in October compared with September.
The central bank’s rate hikes have increased the costs of mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and many forms of business borrowing, part of a concerted drive to slow growth and cool inflation pressures. The Fed is trying to achieve a “soft landing” — raising borrowing costs just enough to curb inflation without tipping the economy into a deep recession.
The rate increases have had some impact: Year-over-year inflation has dropped from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022, the highest level in four decades, to 3.7% in September.
Prices first accelerated in 2021 as consumers stepped up spending amid a fading pandemic. Much greater demand ran headlong into snarled supply chains, which led retailers and other companies to quickly jack up prices. Inflation has since eased as supply chains have improved and higher borrowing rates have weakened some industries, notably housing.
But in his remarks last week, Powell said that further reductions in inflation might require a cooldown in spending in addition to further improvements in supply networks — a distinction that potentially points to further hikes.
Economists are keeping a close eye on several inflation metrics, including the cost of rent and housing, health insurance and services such as dining out, entertainment and travel. Starting with Tuesday’s price report, the government is altering how it calculates health insurance costs, and the changes are expected to result in higher overall inflation rates in the coming months.
Many economists say a key reason why most Americans hold a gloomy view of the economy despite very low unemployment and steady hiring is that the costs of things they buy regularly — milk, meat, bread and other groceries — remain so much higher than they were three years ago. Many of these items are still growing more expensive, though more gradually.


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Dominaria has been legal on Magic Online for a week now, and it’s having a big impact on Standard. Today I’m going to go over what new cards are excelling and how they’re impacting demand for other cards.
One of the very best cards in Dominaria is History of Benalia, which has revitalized white aggressive decks but is also an important piece of a new White-Blue Historic Flash deck, which uses it alongside Raff Capashen, Ship's Mage and other instant-speed cards. It resembles the White-Blue Flash deck from the days of Smuggler's Copter, and it’s having a big impact on the metagame and the market.
The breakout mythic of Dominaria so far is Lyra Dawnbringer, which is another card being used in nearly every archetype that can cast it. It’s a key part of the White-Blue Flash deck and is used in more traditional White-Blue Control decks as well. It’s also seeing play in aggressive white decks, including Mardu Vehicles and White-Red and White-Black Midrange decks, and it's part of a White-Green aggro deck, some which use it alongside Mox Amber. It pre-sold for around $15, and is now at $17 and heading towards $20 or higher, but even with so much playability, I don’t think it can maintain a higher price for long.
Another part of the White-Blue Flash deck is Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, and it’s used in White-Blue and three-color control decks. It also pre-sold for around $15 and is heading towards $20, but it’s rarely a four-of and limited in its use, so I see it falling.
A card from the Flash deck that I could see making big gains is Settle the Wreckage, which online has moved from under 3 tix a couple weeks ago to over 9 tix. White-Blue Flash looks to be a real deck, and White-Blue Control is also having a comeback, so I don’t see why the paper price of Settle the Wreckage couldn’t spike towards the price of a staple like Vraska's Contempt. Hitting $14 is a long way to go from $6, but $10 seems realistic if online popularity transfers over to paper.
Another huge online gainer this week is Aethersphere Harvester, which is up to nearly 10 tix from under 5 last week. It has always been a Standard staple, but it’s seeing more play than ever as the format becomes more aggressive, and it’s used in essentially every creature deck. It’s also a beneficiary of Karn, Scion of Urza and is being used alongside it in high numbers in Black-Red Vehicles, which was one of the top decks before Dominaria and looks cemented in its position now. Aethersphere Harvester’s paper price has been falling and is down to $2 from a high of $3, which makes sense since it rotates later this year, but I could see the price seeing a brief turnaround or at least stabilizing.
One of the best ways to take advantage of the rise of White-Blue is Irrigated Farmland, a true staple of the deck and of any White-Blue deck that will be in Standard for over a year to come. It has seen a massive rise this week, up to over 5 tix from under 2, but the paper price has sagged down to $3 from a high of $5. Unlike Aethersphere Harvester, it doesn’t rotate out this year, so there’s really no reason for the price to be falling, so I see it as a great bargain with a high potential payoff compared to the downside.
Another card riding the wave of white cards in Dominaria is Gideon of the Trials, up from just over 5 tix last week to over 9 now. It has uses in all sorts of Standard decks, from aggro to control, and it sees Modern play as well, so it’s the sort of card that should maintain value even as it rotates out of the format next year. Its price bottomed out above $9 in February and has climbed to $11, and I see it heading back to $15 and potentially towards its previous high of $20.
Scavenger Grounds is one of Standard’s true staples and is accessible to all colors of decks. Its price has grown steadily since it was printed and has recently accelerated to its all-time high around $4.50. The online price has rocketed even higher to over 9 tix, and I see the paper price on the same trajectory towards $10 as long as God-Pharaoh's Gift remains in the top-tier of the metagame – and I expect it to for the duration of its run in Standard.
A card to watch is Tendershoot Dryad, which is being used in a Black-Green Saproling deck that has earned multiple 5-0 trophies in leagues. The deck looks like the real deal, which is huge for the price of a card that previously hasn’t been competitive, and could bring its price from a dollar to a few of them
Rowdy Crew was used as a four-of in a Mono-Red God-Pharaoh's Gift deck that 5-0ed a league, the beneficiary of the printing of Goblin Chainwhirler, Siege-Gang Commander and Skirk Prospector. Rowdy Crew is perfect fit in the deck, which could take market share from the popular Blue-Red version, and its especially interesting financially because it’s a mythic rare that hasn’t been used competitively, so the potential is tremendous if the deck becomes popularized. Combat Celebrant went from being practically a bulk Mythic to double-digits overnight, and Rowdy Crew could have a similar trajectory. Online it’s up to over a ticket from under half, and the paper price is under a dollar, so there’s a ton of upside.


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TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX – Get a rating) saw its price target raised by Cowen stock research analysts from $72.00 to $77.00 in a research note released Thursday, Fly reports. The brokerage currently has an “outperform” rating on shares of the clothing and home fashion retailer. Cowen’s price target indicates upside potential of 15.96% from the current stock price.
TJX has been the subject of several other reports. Gordon Haskett downgraded shares of TJX Companies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $67.00 to $60.00 in a report Thursday, July 28 . Robert W. Baird raised his price target on TJX Companies stock from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. TheStreet downgraded shares of TJX Companies from a “b” rating to a “c+” rating in a Wednesday, May 18 research note. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered its price target on shares of TJX Companies from $81.00 to $76.00 in a Monday, May 16 research note. To finish, StockNews.com downgraded shares of TJX Companies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a Thursday, July 28 research note. Six research analysts gave the stock a hold rating and thirteen gave the company a buy rating. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $75.85.
Stock Performance of TJX Companies
Shares of TJX Stock opened at $66.40 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $60.70 and its 200-day moving average is $62.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt ratio of 0.53. TJX Companies has a 52-week low of $53.69 and a 52-week high of $77.35. The company has a market capitalization of $77.80 billion, a price-earnings ratio of 23.71, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.92.
TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX – Get a rating) last released its quarterly results on Wednesday, August 17. The home apparel and fashion retailer reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.69 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.02. TJX Companies had a net margin of 6.77% and a return on equity of 61.19%. The company posted revenue of $11.84 billion for the quarter, versus analyst estimates of $12.05 billion. In the same period a year earlier, the company earned earnings per share of $0.79. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% year over year. On average, sell-side analysts expect TJX companies to post 3.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Insiders place their bets
In other TJX Companies news, EVP Richard Sherr sold 46,997 shares of the company in a transaction dated Friday, June 3. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.25, for a total value of $2,925,563.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 104,127 shares of the company, valued at $6,481,905.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, available at this hyperlink. Insiders hold 0.19% of the company’s shares.
Institutional entries and exits
A number of large investors have recently changed their holdings in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,149,160 shares of the clothing and home fashion retailer worth $87,244,000 after buying 6,862 additional shares last quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $240,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the fourth quarter at a value of approximately $286,000. Pinnacle Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the fourth quarter for a value of approximately $282,000. Finally, PAX Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $303,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.45% of the company’s shares.
Company Profile TJX Companies
The TJX Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a low-cost home fashion and apparel retailer. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada and TJX International. The company sells family clothing, including shoes and accessories; home fashion items, such as home staples, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, home products, decorative accessories, table tops and kitchen utensils, as well as expanded departments for pets, children and gourmet foods; jewelry and accessories; and other goods.
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Christchurch’s central business district has undergone a significant rejuvenation over the last year. Six years on from the devastating earthquakes, many of the new developments put in place to replace the city’s retail real estate are now complete, tempting retailers with a wide selection of stylish, central new premises.
Figures from a year ago indicate around 16,500 people are expected to occupy office space within Christchurch’s CBD by 2021. These workers will also be shoppers, driving retail growth in developments like the Cashel development with the BNZ Centre, ANZ Centre and The Crossing. New stores have been opening since September, with further growth expected across 2017.
Frontline Retail South Island agency delegate Chantelle Waite says the new Christchurch is full of buzz and consumer confidence. International brands like H&M are also starting to arrive in Christchurch, creating further excitement.
She reports that the market in Christchurch is candidate-rich, except for executive roles, where there’s a demand for homegrown leaders. The Christchurch retail job market differs from Wellington and Auckland’s in that Christchurch has few opportunities for staff to grow into head office roles, Waite says, so area managers are being outsourced rather than promoted internally.
Christchurch’s local culture is distinct and is best served by local leaders, Waite says: “They’ve been through a lot together.”
Queenstown’s retail industry is booming. A number of big-box retailers have opened in the area following the development of shopping complexes outside the main township, keeping residents spending locally rather than going elsewhere.
Waite says Queenstown retailers are finding it challenging to find quality staff because of the town’s transient, tourismdriven workforce and high cost of living. Queenstown’s salary brackets don’t align with the cost of living in the city, and while established local retail staff are secure in their roles, experienced retailers aren’t interested in relocating from other centres for a lower salary.
“It’s a challenging situation for both employers and candidates,” says Waite.
Retail salary figures for the South Island in 2017 run from $32,000 for a salesperson to $80,000 for a store manager with turnover of $15m plus. The average salary across all nonexecutive roles in the South Island is around $50,000.
She looks forward to seeing Christchurch continue its rapid growth rate, with The Hub in Hornby continue to expand and further CBD developments due to open later in 2017. With an influx in job vacancies, retailers seeking to hire will need to act quickly when presented with a strong candidate.
For full copy of the Frontline Retail Salary Guide please visit: www.frontlineretail.co.nz


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Samsung Electronics has unveiled a third generation of its NFC controller offering at Mobile World Congress. The new chip is the first NFC controller to use the company’s 45nm embedded flash technology, designed to enable easy firmware updates and low power consumption. The solution is now being sampled and will enter mass production in the second quarter of 2014.
- Chevrolet and Shell let drivers pay for fuel and access offers from their vehicles
- US supermarket chain Meijer to launch mobile self-checkout service
- Charity to roll out contactless donation screens following successful three week pilot
- Google’s mobile payments app has now been installed 100m times
- JCB to pilot biometric payment cards in Japan


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Samsung informed some users of U.S of a data breach where personal information was stolen such as name, contact and demographic details, date of birth, and product registration details, hacked in a data breach that happened in July. The tech company stated in the blog that details pertaining to each pertinent client may differ.
Samsung users in the US had their data compromised in the incident that happened in July of this year. In an email, the business disclosed that data had been taken from some of Samsung’s American systems by an unauthorised third party.
“In late July 2022, an unauthorized third party acquired information from some of Samsung’s U.S. systems. On or around August 4, 2022, we determined through our investigation that personal information of certain customers was affected. We have taken actions in order to secure the affected systems, and have engaged a leading outside cybersecurity firm and are coordinating with law enforcement,” the company’s FAQ page states. Samsung, however, ensured that the data breach did not impact Social Security numbers or credit and debit card numbers.
“We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our customers. We have engaged leading cybersecurity experts and are coordinating with law enforcement and will continue to work diligently to develop and implement immediate and longer-term next steps to further enhance the security across our systems,” Samsung said about strengthening the privacy and security of users.


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The high-end housing project in Hengqin marketed as ‘Sea of Dreams’ is to be the first of its kind to see the completion of a shopping centre in the housing complex by summer next year, although further clarification on the imports and exports taxation benefit policy is still the issue to be resolved for the shop leasing process, Business Daily has learnt.
Land Master Group, a property management and consultancy service established in Hong Kong operating here and in Zhuhai says that the company is now looking for tenants to run the 100 or so shop spaces in the ‘Sea of Dreams’ shopping centre, a three-storey complex occupying some 130,000 square feet (about 12,077 square metres) to be completed by August 2016.
Ms. Lao Wen Sie, operation executive of Land Master Group, told us that some international chain restaurant operators and personal health and beauty retailers expressed interest in the shopping centre about half a year ago. Land Master Group is the exclusive shop leasing agent for ‘Sea of Dreams’, which launches the official shop leasing programme from today.
“These retailers, who have different divisions responsible for handling the south China market, and for Hong Kong and Macau, cannot come up with a fixed [shop lease] plan yet,” Ms. Lao explained.
“Hengqin was planned as part of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone not long ago, and for that the taxation benefits terms for exports from Hong Kong and Macau are still not clear with this new positioning of Hengqin Island,” she said, noting that the clarification on the taxation benefits policy is key for the chain retailers to decide which division should be responsible for handling their branches in the Hengqin shopping centre.
The Guangdong Free Trade Zone, inaugurated on April 21, is strategically positioned by the Chinese authorities to further relax the capital or investment requirements for Hong Kong and Macau service providers setting up business in the zone.
The Free Trade Zone comprises Nansha New Area, Qianhai and Shekou in Shenzhen, as well as Hengqin in Zhuhai.
While pending detailed policy explanation on taxation terms, Ms. Lao said that her company would like to see Macau firms occupy about one-third of the shop spaces to be leased. The shop spaces are to be leased at 150 yuan to 200 yuan per square metre.
The ‘Sea of Dreams’housing project, comprising 16 residential towers and 21 villas, supports some 1,800 units, with as many as 70 per cent of its buyers from Macau, Ms. Lao said. The project, built by state-run developer Huarong Real Estate Co. Ltd., first promoted off-plan sales in 2013.
The occupation permit for the housing complex is expected to be approved by the end of August, 2015, Business Daily learnt.
‘Sea of Dreams’ is located about 500 metres from the Macau-Hengqin border; to the housing site’s southeast side is the University of Macau’s Hengqin campus and to the north Shizhimen Business District.
Macau-licensed car entry announced soon
Director of the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area, Mr. Niu Jing, told media yesterday that the measures allowing Macau-licensed vehicles to travel freely in neighbouring Hengqin Island will be announced before August. The consideration of Hengqin’s capacity to handle the huge number of Macau-licensed vehicles is a “complex” issue to overcome when mulling the measures, Mr. Niu said.
The island’s governor also noted that the Hengqin Government has received about 10 complaints about the illegal acceptance of deposits for unfinished commercial property sites. The Hengqin Government has already ordered the developers to return the deposits to clients, Mr. Niu said.


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The Centre also announced the sale of ‘6.10% Government Security, 2031’ for a notified amount of Rs 14,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using a uniform price method; and sale of ‘6.76% Government Security 2061’ for a notified amount of Rs 9,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using multiple price method. According to an official release, GoI will have the option to retain an additional subscription up to Rs 6,000 crore against the above security/ securities.
The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on September 17. “Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of the Securities will be allotted to eligible individuals and institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities,” the release said.
As per the release, both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on September 17. “The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 am and 11.00 am and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 am and 11.30 am,” it stated.
The result of the auctions will be announced on September 17, and payment by successful bidders will be on September 20. “The Securities will be eligible for ‘When Issued’ trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI/2018-19/25 dated July 24, 2018 as amended from time to time,” added the Ministry.


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Spirits giant Diageo intends to build a US$130 million distillery in Kentucky which will produce ‘a variety’ of different whiskeys under one roof.
Diageo’s proposal for the site, to be located in the city of Lebanon, KY, includes a still house, dry house and warehousing space, and is designed to help the UK-based multinational grow its stake in Bourbon and American whiskey.
Barry Becton, senior director of federal affairs at Diageo North America, said: ‘Bourbon and American whiskey are vibrant and growing categories, and we are excited to expand Diageo’s footprint in Kentucky to support our ambitions in this space.’
The new site will add to the portfolio of distilleries Diageo already owns in the state: Stitzel-Weller in Louisville, home of the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience, and Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville.
Construction of the distillery is expected to take three years and create 30 new full-time jobs once the site is complete.
Kentucky governor Matt Bevin said: ‘This latest investment by Diageo is indicative of continued growth for the company and within our Bourbon and spirits industry.
‘We are proud to further our relationship with Diageo, and of the job growth associated with these announcements.’
Diageo’s increased commitment to American whiskey comes on the heels of its renewed investment in Scotch, as the company is spending £35m to bring closed distilleries Port Ellen and Brora back into production and £150m to upgrade its Scotch whisky tourism facilities.


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The biggest drinks firm you've never heard of: Chinese giant Kweichow Moutai more valuable than Diageo
Kweichow Moutai may not be a household name in the UK, but it has crept above the maker of Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff to become the world's most valuable alcoholic drinks company.
The Chinese giant was worth as much as £57.6billion in recent trading on the stock market in Shanghai, while London-listed Diageo was valued at £57.3billion.
That makes Kweichow Moutai the biggest drinks firm in the world, despite almost all of its sales coming from China, while Diageo has scores of brands which sell across the world.
Drink it in: Kweichow Moutai was worth as much as £57.6billion in recent trading on the stock
Kweichow Moutai is best known for making the baijiu, a spirit with an alcohol content of between 40 per cent and 60 per cent.
Sales of baijiu have been soaring over the last year as the Chinese upgrade to premium brands.
First made 5,000 years ago, it has become China's national drink, and is seen as important in developing diplomatic and business relationships.
Shares in Kweichow Moutai have soared more than 59 per cent in the past year, helping it catch up with Diageo whose shares are up just over 20 per cent during the same period.
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2024 Wellness Insights Unveiled: Vital Health Innovations
In 2024, the wellness industry is witnessing a transformative surge – a shift towards sustainability and ethics. As global awareness of environmental issues and social responsibility grows, consumers and companies alike are prioritizing eco-friendly and ethically produced wellness products. This article delves into this significant trend, exploring its implications for the future of health and wellness.
The Growing Demand for Eco-Friendly Wellness Products
The call for sustainability in the wellness sector has never been louder. In an era marked by environmental concerns, consumers are increasingly seeking products that align with their values of conservation and responsibility. From biodegradable packaging to sustainably sourced ingredients, the focus is on reducing the ecological footprint. Brands that adopt these practices not only cater to a growing market demand but also contribute positively to the planet's health.
Ethical Practices in Product Creation
Ethics in wellness goes beyond environmental responsibility. It encompasses fair labour practices, animal welfare, and community support. Consumers are more informed and are choosing brands that transparently communicate their ethical practices. This shift is not just a preference but a strong statement against exploitation and inequality in the production process.
Impact on Consumer Choices and Brand Loyalty
This surge towards sustainable and ethical products is significantly impacting consumer choices. A brand's commitment to these values is becoming a decisive factor for many buyers. As a result, brands that demonstrate genuine responsibility are witnessing increased loyalty and trust from their customers.
Challenges and Opportunities
Transitioning to sustainable and ethical practices is not without its challenges. It often involves revamping supply chains, sourcing alternative materials, and possibly higher production costs. However, these challenges present opportunities for innovation and can lead to the discovery of more efficient, sustainable ways of operating.
Conclusion: The surge in sustainable and ethical wellness products is more than a trend – it's a movement towards a more conscientious and responsible approach to health and wellness. As we continue into 2024 and beyond, this shift is likely to grow, guiding the wellness industry towards a future that values not just individual health, but the health of our planet and society.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or professional advice. The views expressed are the author's own and should not be taken as an endorsement of any product or practice. Always consult a professional for specific advice related to your health or wellness.


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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – A new survey shows that millennials plan to spend more money on Valentine’s Day than other generations.
The millennial age group, between ages 24 and 39, plan to spend $208 on food, entertainment, and gifts. The survey says those outside of that age group will only spend about $150 on average.
The survey says millennials cite newer relationships and social media as reasons for spending plans.
The National Retail Federation says adults in the U.S. are forecast to spend more than 27 billion dollars.
(This story was originally published on Feb. 10, 2020)


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Specifications of the MSI GeForce graphic card, RTX 3090 Ti SUPRIM X, have been leaked on Twitter. The flagship graphic card is alleged to have 1900MHz boost clock, a default TDP of 480W, while requiring a power supply of a minimum of 1000W. The upgraded RTX 3090 model is expected to be 30W higher than the original one.
The leaked features of the upgraded version include a high-end custom cooling solution that will let the card boost as high as 1900 MHz in Extreme Mode which requires MSI Control Center software. Moreover, the card will be the first NVIDIA graphics card to have a memory of about 21 Gbps memory. An interesting feature is that this model, despite being powered by a single 16-pin connector, will be powered by triple 8-pin power connectors. The reason for this choice of MSI is still unclear to us.
The RTX 3090 Ti was supposed to be launched initially on January 27th, but we are not sure if this is actually happening. Rumor has it that there are some issues with the production process.
It's horrible pic.twitter.com/RLktG7MELQ
— Алексей (@wxnod) January 13, 2022


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Since the pandemic took hold in March 2020, border closures and stay-at-home orders have brought economic disaster to much of the travel industry.
By this November, although some countries remained sealed to tourists – from Australia, Bhutan and China to Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and Vietnam – borders were reopening, testing requirements easing and an end to Covid restrictions seemed in sight. Then Omicron swept in. Overturning plans and creating havoc all over again, the ultra-infectious new strain of the coronavirus has brought yet another round of curfews, lockdowns and travel bans in its wake.
So what might 2022 hold for one of the world’s biggest industries? We’re all probably eager for a holiday, but the new year is not getting off to a promising start. Major airlines have had to ground fleets as they seek mergers, and even holiday giants such as Germany’s Tui have had to lay off staff as bookings have shrivelled.
Smaller operators continue to struggle
In the UK, bookings platform Hoo says not even the global boom in staycations has saved the hotel industry from a 73 per cent decrease in occupancy compared with 2019. And small holiday companies everywhere – the kind with owners who know all their employees and suppliers, from airport greeters to camel-ride guides – have had an especially bleak time.
“For the last 22 months, I, my wife, sister and all our employees have been desperately worried about our jobs, our livelihoods and our futures,” says the owner of a family business organising activity holidays in Scandinavia who has asked to remain anonymous. “Every single day, it has been like waking from a bad dream only to find ourselves in a nightmare.”
Some of the changes the travel industry has had to make, as staff shrink and costs have to be cut, were inevitable, he says. “The end of the era of ridiculous turn-down services, for example. I am more worried for the industry’s current collective mental health. I know good people who are broken, good people who have given up, and others who are slowly crumbling under the weight of it all. The pressure has been relentless.”
‘Hope for the best but prepare for the worst’
Hope for the best but prepare for the worst has always been the travel industry’s unofficial motto. After all, these are the people who, at the best of times, routinely have to see, soothe and retain their guests through anything from cancelled flights and flooded rooms to crocodile attacks. Those companies that are surviving – just – have done so by nimbly adapting to what The Economist calls “our new era of predictable unpredictability”.
Navigating through so many changes, cancellations, refunds, postponements, 100 per cent flexibility had to become our new norm
Lisa Fitzell, managing director, Elegant Resorts
“The way we operate changed completely when the pandemic hit in 2020,” says Lisa Fitzell, managing director of UK tour operator Elegant Resorts. “Navigating through so many changes, cancellations, refunds, postponements, 100 per cent flexibility had to become our new norm. We introduced low deposits, rightful refunds, delayed balance payments. How we operated internally changed, all to be able to pivot and adapt to the ever-changing new rules and trends.”
Book today, fly tomorrow
Notable among these new trends is a desire to travel at short notice, with “a book today, fly tomorrow” approach increasingly common when holidays are feasible; a desire for remote, peaceful destinations rather than anywhere with crowds; and for group bookings. “Whether extended families or a bunch of friends, we’ve seen a real uptick in reunions and groups of 14 or more,” says Oliver Bell of Oliver’s Travels in London.
At luxury travel operator Carrier, managing director Mark Duguid is finding that his wealthy clients are keen on bigger, better, longer holidays. “Demand for secluded accommodation in sensational landscapes far from city centres is greater than ever – wilderness lodges, remote chalets, luxury house-boats, boutique hotels that are off the beaten track,” he says.
Original Travel, another operator in the UK, has responded to a similar desire among its clients to end “throwaway trips” with a Travel Less, Travel Better collection of philanthropically oriented “slow travel” holidays.
The rise of ‘slow travel’
Jonny Bealby, founder of Wild Frontiers in the UK, says the main change he’s seen is around ethical and sustainable tourism. “Clients now are looking to get the maximum holiday out of the minimum air travel. They’re asking for trips such as our walking with bears tour in Slovakia that give back to local communities through homestays, local drivers and local guides.”
And if people do commit to a long-haul flight, they want to make the most of it, says Jeremy Clubb of South American specialist Rainforest Cruises. “We’ve witnessed a huge increase in the average price spend on experiences – 180 per cent, in fact. Is that due to people having more disposable income from not going on vacation for the last 22 months? Or are they splashing out because they feel they deserve it after a challenging period? Who can say? But people are certainly embracing bucket lists.”
Even the best-planned trip can go horribly awry, of course, and travellers are becoming more risk-averse. “We’re meeting many new clients who’ve never used a tour operator before and who have realised the benefits of an experienced navigator,” says Tom Marchant of luxury travel company Black Tomato.
True Traveller’s Covid-friendly insurance has also benefitted from this shift, says managing director Tim Riley. “People are really taking the time to read their policies now.”
In search of wellness
Unsurprisingly, wellness holidays have enjoyed robust bookings. Spa resorts in the Maldives, such as the Joali and the two Four Seasons properties, have remained open for much of the pandemic. And from The Queen of Retreats’ hideaways to mainland Greece’s Euphoria Retreat, which launched its Feel Alive Again programme to help guests “negotiate the post pandemic world with fresh energy and vigour”, small, tranquil spas have survived by providing a true refuge for those desperate to escape the stresses of lockdown.
Yacht charter companies have proven to be the pandemic’s great survivors, however. “Demand has increased dramatically,“ says Nicholas Dean of charter and management company Ocean Independence. “It’s the wholly exclusive element – the ultimate bubble. Clients have their own crew, their own chef and no need to go ashore. Nothing else is even remotely similar for those wanting to travel in safety.”
“We’ve seen a much bigger demand for superyachts, especially for multigenerational family groups,” agrees Dora Vulic of Sail Croatia. “There’s also more awareness around environmental initiatives and our newest fleet reflects that. Solar panels, water purifiers, hybrid-electric engines and much less plastic on board are now commonplace.”
The pandemic has been a major catalyst in the digitisation of travel services, with documentation, room access and proof of vaccine status all moving to our phones. Lynn Hood, chief operating officer of Focus Hotels, points to an increase in simplification, especially with hotels’ food and beverage offerings, and a move away from cash payments.
Yet it’s changing attitudes that may prove the most directional in 2022.
The small things in life
“I think people are more considerate than before the pandemic,” says Sean Moriarty, general manager of Hotel Quinta do Lago in the Algarve. “It’s made everyone appreciate the small things in life. People care more about the planet.”
A philosophical Ted Wake of Kirker Holidays elaborates: “We have all become much more aware of what an extraordinary privilege it is to be able to glide effortlessly from A to B. And in the future, we will perhaps elect to ration ourselves, treat ourselves to more authentic experiences, take slow travel seriously. Frivolous indulgence belongs to another era.”
Perhaps the last word, however, deserves to go to Raki Phillips, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development: “Even before the pandemic there was an epochal shift in tourist aspirations, a growing ennui with the homogenisation of travel, the creeping sameness of every destination – and a desire to escape the resort mindset.
“Covid only accelerated that change. I think it’s important for destinations now to really embrace the qualities that define them. That’s the key to sustainable, transformational travel.”
Updated: December 25th 2021, 4:39 AM


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The company is spending a further $55 million to convert the upper levels of the Gowings building, at the corner of George and Market Streets, and the adjacent State Theatre building, into a hotel.
While submissions to the City of Sydney do not name a tenant for the space, it is expected that the lower level will be occupied by British retailer Top Shop, which will open its first Australian store in the space which was, until recently, occupied by Supre.
Top Shop will be the latest in a string of international retailers to establish a presence despite trying economic conditions, with Forever 21 poised to open in Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping centre and Abercrombie & Fitch and H&M looking to open in Australia in the coming year. Japanese retailer Uniqlo is also planning to open here.
Spanish fashion juggernaut Zara looked at the Gowings building space before settling on its high-profile space at Westfield’s new CBD mall.
Amalgamated Holdings bought the Gowings building in 2006 for $68 million, after the department store closed. It has owned the State Theatre premises since it opened in 1929.
The luxury hotel now under construction will include 196 rooms, a restaurant, bar and day spa. Plans for the retail renovation include the installation of a new awning and several new escalators within the space.
The Australian Financial Review


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As we move into the last day of September, a number of sweeping changes start hitting around the nation. Fall is a season of change, most especially when it comes to the temperature. A new season means new PR nightmares will soon unfold.
Unfortunately, Massachusetts is already in the midst of its own PR nightmare that kicked in recently. It has to do with one of the most popular products out on the market. This was a nightmare that started so suddenly and is still sending shock waves everywhere.
Ladies and gentlemen… all vaping products are TEMPORARILY BANNED in Massachusetts. This includes tobacco, THC, and CBD vape oil. The news comes after a string of mysterious illnesses, even deaths, from vape use. Vaping products are set to be banned for four months. The ban is expected to be lifted on January 25th.
This PR nightmare poses serious problems for the state of Massachusetts. For one thing, this ban will push customers into the illicit market. People who routinely vape won’t stop vaping just because it is banned. With vape products now being illegal, audiences will turn to the black market to get the desired product they are looking for.
And then there’s the places themselves that provide the vaping products for their customers. These specialty businesses were raking in thousands (even MILLIONS!) in finances for selling vaping products every day. Vaporizers, e-juice, batteries, chargers, and other accessories have been provided for audiences into the vaping culture.
Only less than a week since the vaping ban started and businesses are already fighting back. Employers know that this ban will ruin their business. If nothing is done, their business will soon be smoked out.
The vaping ban is already hurting both audiences and businesses here in Massachusetts. What’s even more shocking is that cannabis is being thrown into the mix as THC is one of the common elements being discussed in vaping. It couldn’t come at a worse time, what with the holidays quickly approaching over the next few months. Looks like the young men and women of America won’t be getting their vaping presents this year.
Only way to go shopping for vape products in Massachusetts is through the black market.


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It seems like a new scams emerges almost every day in Singapore, especially those linked to banks.
The dust had barely settled on the OCBC bank scam earlier this year when DBS Bank reported an SMS phishing scam targeting its customers.
A month after that, POSB customers have again been targeted by a scam, this time over email.
It tells recipients to click on a link to take a survey, but the email isn’t legitimate, the bank warned.
DBS alerted the public about the latest scam in a Facebook post on Friday (25 Feb), warning of a phishing email.
The email contains a clickable link to a “POSB-PAssion Rewards 2022!” survey, and promises a possible cash reward upon completion of this “survey”.
This is not a legitimate email from POSB, the bank said.
The phishing email, which was seen by MS News, was from a sender named “PAssion POSB”, probably aiming to make recipients think it had something to do with the PAssion Card.
It also had the vague subject “Congratulations! Customer Satisfaction Survey”.
However, one telltale sign that all is not right was that the email address of the sender had nothing to do with DBS/POSB.
Instead, it had the “.jp” domain assigned to Japanese websites.
While the content of the email even had the PAssion Card logo, it was riddled with grammatical errors – another sign that it’s dubious.
The email said the recipient had been “selected” as 1 of 500 “lucky customer” to take part in a survey.
To entice victims, it also indicated that they’ll get $110 after taking the “survey”.
In a further advisory on its website, DBS said those who click on the link will be directed to a website that looks kinda like a legit survey.
However, the website address won’t be a valid DBS/POSB one.
If that doesn’t set off alarm bells in your head, this surely should: The site will proceed to ask for personal details like date of birth, mobile number and credit card number, including expiration date and CVV.
Do not, we repeat, do not provide this info.
If you do it, the next page will then ask for an SMS One-Time Password (OTP), according to DBS. This is disguised as a way to send the customer a “reward” in the form of 3,000 air miles or $110.
“The scammer will exploit the stolen information to conduct unauthorised card transactions,” DBS said.
Thus, customers who’ve provided their personal info, including card details, to the website should contact the bank immediately.
They can call its anti-fraud hotline at 1800-339-6963, which operates 24/7.
DBS stated that they and POSB, which they operate, will not send customers emails/SMSes with clickable links, as per the new security measures rolled out in Jan.
Knowing this, customers should go directly to the bank’s website to verify any banking-related requests or offers.
Also, DBS and Government officials will never ask for info such as card details, CVV, OTPs, or Digital Token approvals.
Customers should thus not disclose such info to unverified sources, and avoid calling phone numbers, clicking links or scanning QR codes in unsolicited emails, SMS, or messaging apps.
With the recent spate of scams wiping out millions from hundreds of unsuspecting victims, it’s important to keep updated over the latest scams in town.
Thus, be sure to also teach friends and family, especially those who’re not digitally savvy, of ways to protect themselves.
While we can always count upon law enforcement to have our back, the public also needs to play their part by staying alert and not falling for scams in the first place.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at email@example.com.
Featured images adapted from Google Maps and DBS.
He broke his fast only two hours before iftar.
RON95 is heavily subsidised in Malaysia and is only for Malaysians.
The woman also questioned the staff's work pass.
90% of Singapore employees responsible for engineering and product development were affected.
Father of the xiao long bao.
Get one for yourself and one for a friend – or two for yourself, we…


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Microsoft just announced windows 11 today during an online event. We all have heard a lot about windows 11 in past couple of weeks, and now it’s finally official.
These are the main things that Microsoft announced during the Windows Online event
- Windows 11
- Xbox features that are coming to windows 11
- Microsoft Teams App is integrated with Windows 11
- Now you can download Android apps into your PC using Amazon Appstore
Microsoft just announced Windows 11,
If you’re a Windows 10 user, you can upgrade to Windows for free. Microsoft said this in a blog post after the Windows event. If your pc can run Windows 10 then your PC is ready for windows 11.
New Windows 11 will have a whole new user interface, start menu, completely redesigned Windows store, and many more features. This new Windows 11 is so many glossy surfaces, and also there are rounded corners everywhere throughout the whole Windows 11 Operating System. You can go watch the Windows event recorded live on YouTube.
You can’t download windows 11 right now it’s arriving later this year, “Windows 11 isn’t here yet, but will be coming later this year.” Microsoft said on their website. There’s no official release date for Windows 11 yet.
These are the Minimum Requirements to install Windows 11 on your PC
|Processor||1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)|
|Memory||4 GB RAM|
|Storage||64 GB or larger storage device|
|System firmware||UEFI, Secure Boot capable|
|TPM||Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0|
|Graphics card||DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x|
|Display||>9” with HD Resolution (720p)|
|Internet connection||Microsoft account and internet connectivity required for setup for Windows 11 Home|
Now you can download Android apps in to your PC via Amazon App Store.
With New Windows 11 you can now finally able to run Android Apps natively on your PC. So, you don’t need an emulator to run Android Apps on your PC no more. You can now download Android Apps from the New Windows Store which is include with the Windows 11.
Microsoft using Amazon’s Appstore to bring Android Apps to Windows 11. These android app will be available directly form the New Windows store and it’s powered by Intel bridge Technology. You can also pin these new Android apps to your new start menu alongside the traditional Windows Apps.
Microsoft Teams app will be deeply intergraded with Windows 11. Teams app will get a special place on the start menu, and it’ll be more integrated thought-out the whole Windows 11 OS.
Windows 11 will get more Xbox features
Windows 11 will get an automatic HDR feature, this feature will automatically adjust lighting and colors in a game to make the game is more vivid. This will require supported games and specific equipment.
They also announced Direct Storage, which will help large game worlds to be loaded faster using fast Hard drives.
All of these features previously available on the latest Xbox consoles.


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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, rocket sales have become the second largest arms export in the US. And a handful of US companies dominate production.
As with aircraft, missile sales are based on international alliances and treaties. And those sales can become hot button issues, like a recent proposal to sell Boeing’s Harpoon missiles to Taiwan or a failed offer to sell the Raytheon-made Patriot missile system to Turkey.
As defense technology advances, cheaper alternatives such as smaller guided missiles and loitering ammunition could change the dynamics of the battlefield.
“We have entered a kind of new rocket age,” said Tom Karako, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Check out the video above to find out how the US missile business works, how much money it makes for American defense companies, and what happens to the future of the industry.
Comments are closed.


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Five former employees of a Taiwanese nanotechnology firm have been charged with violating trade secrets laws by stealing technology and taking it to China, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
The accused are three former employees of Hsin Fang Nano Technology, including a production section chief surnamed Yu and a plant manager surnamed Chen, along with two other business associates.
"The estimated financial loss to our company is about NT$2.6 billion ($81.43 million)," the firm's chairman, Chang Jenhung, said.
"We urge the government to crack down on intellectual property theft against Taiwanese businesses," he added.
Hsin Fang manufactures grinding mill machines that produce ultrafine nanopowders for use in various products, such as consumer electronics, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, antiradiation coating and military weapons, among other industrial applications.
Company officials said their nanopowder grinding mill, which uses a "dry cryonanonization grinding system," received awards at a Tokyo exhibit in 2012, as well as featuring in several industry fairs in Taiwan and other countries.
The investigation began in 2014, following reports that Chen, Yu and other former employees, backed by business associates, had started a new company, 'Unicat Nano Advanced Materials & Devices Technology Co,' in the Taiwanese county of Yunlin.
The company was later moved to the Chinese city of Chongqing.
Chang said that this was not an isolated case, and denounced the "great amount of industrial espionage" occurring in Taiwan, where many Taiwanese cooperate with the Chinese to illegally transfer technology to China.
"The government must do something about it, because intellectual property theft will do grave damage to Taiwan's technology industries," Chang said.


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London’s low-emission zone will go live on 8 April 2019, London mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed. After this date, HGVs not meeting Euro-6 emission standards will have to pay £100 per day to operate in the affected area while non-Euro-6 vans and other smaller vehicles will pay £12.50. The fees are in addition to the existing congestion charge, but will replace the T-Charge that came into effect last month. Khan originally announced the start date in March this year, ahead […]
Sadiq Khan’s transport plan for London “totally fails” to consider freight operators and their customers and shows a “fundamental ignorance” of how logistics and supply chains work, the RHA has said.
Current traffic management policy is seriously flawed, adding to congestion, encouraging dangerous driving, increasing fuel consumption and emissions, and costing vehicle operators and tax payers a fortune, a new report from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has suggested.
Trade associations have welcomed London Councils’ decision not to introduce mandatory fitting of sideguards and class V and VI close-proximity mirrors aspart of its London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS).


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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) have produced 21 new videos designed to promote Korea to a wide range of international tourists. The marketing campaign introduces the country’s unique experiences from the perspective of foreigners by posing viewers with the question, ‘Korea asks you, have you ever…?’
Focusing on digital media and keeping in line with trends of global tourism and of individual travellers in Korea, the adverts were created with diverse experiences and broad audiences in mind. Eight members of EXO, one of the world’s biggest K-Pop groups and the 2018 honorary ambassadors for Korean tourism, introduce various experiences that can be enjoyed in Korea through six themes: history and tradition, Korean daily life, adventure, trend, healing, and Hallyu (Korean Wave).
In addition to high-profile ‘peace tourism’ experiences on the Korean peninsula including visits to the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) and Imjingak Resort, the campaign also features everyday and arts-related experiences such as night markets, spas, museums, concerts, and more. Additionally, various local tourist attractions like Boryeong Mud Festival, Suncheonman Bay mudflats, the Tongyeong Luge Experience, and Jeju’s famous haenyeo (female divers) are also introduced.
KTO explained the aims of the campaign: ‘Recently, the Korean Wave has spread from K-Pop and K-Dramas to other cultural aspects and everyday life in Korea. Through K-Pop stars EXO, these ads will capture the eyes of consumers around the world with Korean daily life and cultural experiences. By using digital media, we will promote Korea’s charms that can’t be experienced anywhere else in the world and take the lead in attracting individual tourists.’
The new campaign began on the 6th of August with the release of the first teaser advert, and will continue until the end of the year via television and various digital channels including Youtube and Facebook. All videos can be viewed at the official KTO Youtube channel (www.youtube.com/imagineyourkorea).


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Portsmouth street food business and social enterprise Need Street Food has been selected from 3,000 applicants to be part of the line-up at the southern heat of the 2019 British Street Food Awards — and they’re seeking the support of their city to reach the finals.
Taking place this bank holiday weekend in Gunwharf Quays, the event will see visitors voting for their favourite dishes from Saturday 25th to Monday 27th May. The three-day food festival will also feature a fully-stocked bar and music from Wave 105.
Need Street Food will be cooking their signature French Dip Rolls during the long weekend — sous-vide brisket rolls served with gravy dips. Every one sold will fund shipments of life-saving food to children and mothers in need overseas.
“Being selected to take part in the British Street Food Awards is truly a dream come true,” Need Street Food founder Pete Hunt said. “We can’t thank our loyal customers enough for helping us get here. We hope that, with their help, we can make it through to the finals and put Portsmouth on the street food map.
Plus, bringing our charity mission to the regional finals and being in with a chance to share it with everyone the national finals in London is a tremendous honour.”
Traders at the event will have small boxes on their stalls, where visitors will be invited to place the voting tickets they’re given when they arrive at the British Street Food Awards.
“Trading in Portsmouth at the outset of summer is always awesome,” Pete added. “We see so many familiar faces, and hundreds of families and groups of friends sharing food with one another, and really, that’s what street food is all about.”
The 2019 British Street Food Awards supported by Hellmann’s runs from 11:00am ’til 6:00pm daily between Saturday 25th May and Monday 27th May. Entry is free.


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Unity Software announced on Monday that it will cut its workforce by 25 percent, or about 1,800 jobs, marking one of the first major tech industry layoffs this year. The company stated that the cuts are necessary to restructure and refocus on its core business for long-term and profitable growth. Last week, Xerox also announced plans to lay off 15 percent of its global staff in an effort to shift its focus to services rather than photocopiers.
These layoffs could signal a tough year ahead for the tech industry, which faced significant layoffs last year due to challenging economic conditions. While the situation has improved for many tech companies, most have yet to regain their pre-pandemic sales momentum. Unity has made job cuts in the past, including 265 in November, and the company said that the decision was not taken lightly and that it is committed to helping affected employees.
The San Francisco-based company’s software powers the video games of over two million developers. Last fall, Unity faced backlash from game developers globally over changes to its pricing structure, which were eventually scaled back after complaints. The former CEO resigned after the controversy.


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What to expect from 2023 GMC Canyon? The pickup truck had a complete redesigned project happening in 2015. It had marked its launch as the second generation of Canyon lineup. Since the 2015’s project, nothing much has happened to the truck. Sure, it gets some mild updates and refresh work from time to time, but there has never been anything complete (or full) redesign work. It’s a good thing that the company has decided that they are going to give a full redesign work for the 2023 model, and the project seems to have started.
What Is Happening Next?
There have been several spy photos on the net, showing the highly-possible 2023 GMC Canyon to undergo a testing stage. The truck was shown with camouflaged outfit. Despite the camo, there are several obvious signs that can give you ideas of what the truck will look like. Based on the photos, it’s pretty obvious that the GMC has undergone serious offroad upgrades. It’s likely that there would be the offroad AT4X variant that is designed to compete against Ranger Tremor (from Ford) and Tacoma TRD Pro (from Toyota).
Design Expectation for the New Canyon
On the spy photos, the truck is heavily covered, but there are several clues about the upcoming model and design. For instance, it seems that the Canyon undergoes upgraded suspension, sharing similarities with Chevrolet Colorado Z2R.
Although rumor has it that the Canyon has its AT4 trims, the upgrade on the offroad elements go beyond that, so it’s not the typical or the usual AT4 design. This is probably why the new Canyon for the offroad setting is referred to as the AT4X because the manufacturer has taken it to the new (extreme) level.
From the look of it, it seems that the AT4 Canyon has (disguised) DSSV shocks. The stance is pretty high too. It provides insight and hit that lift kit (factory installed type) would be available. It comes matching with the all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler of 17 inch wheels. It’s said that the 2023 model Canyon would be constructed on the body on frame midsize 31XX-3 platform, which is GM’s enhanced GMT-31XX version. The platform is believed to have better quality for both offroad and onroad condition.
Although the Canyon will remain boxy, it should be more pronounced and confident. There would be LED lights with wider fender flares and intricate door design. People say that some of the styling are similar to the prototypes of GMC Sierra HD 2023 model, so if you are curious about the exterior look, you know the inspiration.
(Possible) Power and Performance
What about the engine arrangement? It’s possible that the new 2023 GMC Canyon would be coming with LB3 inline-four unit with 2.7 liter capacity, able to churn 310 hp and 348 Nm of torque. Unfortunately, it’s likely that there won’t be any diesel option. Not to mention that the hybrid power may be absent from the line too. In short, the company hasn’t said anything about the availability of diesel engine as well as hybrid powertrain.
Price and Release Date
There is no information about the price as well as the release date. But considering that 2021 Canyon starts from around $26,800, we should expect similar price range. The overall price tag shouldn’t be too far from it. As the trim goes up, it’s possible that the price will hike up too. And what about the price tag for the AT4X? That information hasn’t been released on revealed up until now.
On the safer side, let’s wait for the manufacturer to finally provide official announcement about this new line. Hopefully, the 2023 GMC Canyon would be as good as expected – or promised.


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Lenovo's ThinkShield secures devices throughout lifecycle
Lenovo has introduced a new security solution for enterprise which it says secures devices throughout their entire lifecycle.
Lenovo, NetApp team up to accelerate digital transformation
A global, multibillion-dollar partnership will see the tech giants work together to create technology that will help customers modernise legacy IT.
Veeam, Lenovo team up on intelligent data management
The partnership enables customers to purchase Veeam's hyper-availability solutions directly from Lenovo and its resellers.
Facebook admits data sharing with Chinese companies
Facebook has data sharing partnerships with at least four Chinese firms, including Huawei, which has been scrutinised by US intelligence agencies.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- EBay Inc. shares fell more than 5% to mark a fresh 52-week low Thursday, while other Net stocks were mixed, after the company announced management changes that will include the departure this fall of Jeff Jordan, the president of its PayPal unit.
The executive shake-up came as analysts from Citigroup and CIBC World Markets cut their price targets on the online marketplace operator.
Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney lowered his price target on eBay's stock to $40 from $51, citing concerns over competition to its PayPal secured payment product. Mahaney kept his rating at buy, but trimmed his long-term earnings growth rate estimate to 20% from 22%.
"Based on a proprietary product analysis of Google Checkout, we have concluded that Checkout is a greater challenge to PayPal's long-term growth than is widely recognized," Mahaney said.
Meanwhile, CIBC World Markets analyst Paul Keung cut his 12- to 18-month price target on eBay to $35 from $45, and lowered his 2007 earnings estimate to $1.22 a share from $1.34, citing concerns over increasing competition and slowing growth in the U.S. and Germany.
In reaction, FBR analyst Shawn Milne, who rates eBay outperform, wrote that fortunately eBay has a "deep bench," although the timing of the news could not be worse, given the current challenges at eBay and the recent entrance into the payment business by Google.
Shares of Time Warner Inc. TWX were off 0.9% at $16.98. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company's AOL unit is considering offering its entire menu of services free to its high speed Internet subscribers. See Wall Street Journal article (subscription required). A Time Warner spokesman declined to comment on the report.
In an update on domestic search data trends, Google's market share in May increased to 44.1% from 43.1% in April, according to comScore. The market share gains came mainly at the expense of AOL and Ask.com while MSN and Yahoo held steady, according to Bear Stearns.
That comScore data comes on the heels of a report from market research firm Outsell, which pegged click fraud as a $1.3 billion problem that threatens the business model of search engines like Google and Yahoo. Outsell found that 27% of advertisers have slowed or stopped their pay-per-click advertising because of suspected click fraud.
Other Net stocks on the move included Digitas Inc. DTAS, which saw its shares fall 6.8% to $10.41 after seeing intraday lows of $9.14. Investment bank WR Hambrecht cut its rating on the company to hold from buy, citing concerns over the potential loss of American Express as a customer.
"Our recent channel checks have confirmed that American Express is seeking ideas from competitive agencies for its commercial card advertising and marketing business currently held by Digitas," said Analyst Denise Garcia in a note to clients. The analyst said that while it's not certain that Digitas will lose the business, the news could still "weigh heavily" on the stock, given that American Express business represented 26% of Digitas revenue over the last year.
Making new lows, Vonage Holdings Corp.
In commentary, MarketWatch explores the possibility of NewsCorp. spinning off MySpace. See Net Sense.


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A company linked to Rolex SA recently acquired a building located in Geneva's most expensive shopping street, which houses competitor Omega's flagship boutique. The purchase came amid fierce competition among major Swiss watch brands to acquire high-quality real estate.
Marconi Investment SA invested 120 million Swiss francs (equivalent to 133 million dollars) to purchase the building on Rue du Rhone, as reported in a filing with the Geneva land registry.
According to what was reported by the local newspaper Tribune de Geneve, among the tenants of the building is the largest boutique of the Omega brand, owned by the Swatch AG Group. Following this transaction, Omega will now have to pay a significant monthly rent to its main competitor, Rolex. Furthermore, Rolex will have an influence on the maintenance and management of the building. In certain circumstances, the new owner will be able to more easily terminate the existing lease, as reported by the Tribune de Genève.
Finally, confirming its continuously developing presence, Rolex announced in August the acquisition of the Swiss luxury watch retailer Bucherer AG and its 100 boutiques around the world. Bucherer sells several Swatch Group brands in some of its stores, including Longines, Tissot and Omega.
This real estate transaction highlights the intense competition between watch brands, both for winning customers and acquiring strategic store locations.


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For the first half of 2021, “Filter” is currently the best-selling song on Amazon Music!
Read on to find out more.
(Photo: Twitter: @bts_twt)
BTS Jimin’s “Filter” Is Best Selling Song on Amazon Music in 2021
BTS Jimin’s solo song “Filter” shows why it’s South Korea’s signature solo song by proving its popularity as the top-selling song on Amazon Music, one of the biggest e-commerce platforms in the USA.
Jimin’s “Filter” was ranked first in Amazon Music’s best-selling digital music in its international section on May 9. On May 10, it also became the best-selling digital music in its Songs section at number one.
(Photo: Star News)
BTS Jimin’s “Filter” as a bestseller in the International and Songs sections
“Filter” maintained its # 1 ranking since the first half of last year on Amazon Music, and continued to maintain its # 1 position until the end of the year. Additionally, “Filter” maintains its position until the New Year by becoming the current top-selling song of 2021 on Amazon Music, effective May 10th.
“Filter” received a high score of 188 points in Amazon Music’s overall rating, showing a difference of 125 points from second place, which has 63 points, is the solo song by fellow artist Jungkook, “Euphoria “, making” Filter “the highest score among solo songs.
In addition, in the fourth row is another solo song by Jungkook, “My Time”.
(Photo: Star News)
Amazon Music’s best-selling songs in 2021 so far
In other news, “Filter” was ranked first on Spotify’s “K-Pop 2020 Year-End Closing” and reached another milestone by surpassing 150 million streams.
Jimin topped 500 million streams with all of his solo songs on Spotify combined, including “Filter.” With Jimin’s enormous power and influence in the global music market, many are anticipating his future solo songs.
Youtuber DT Parker gets Jimin tattoo
American youtuber and ARMY certified, DT Parker, known for posting reaction videos on his channel – especially from BTS, proved his love for BTS’s mochi, Jimin, by getting a half sleeve tattoo of the singer-dancer on his forearm!
– DT Parker (@dt_parker) May 6, 2021
On May 6, DT Parker revealed on his social media accounts that “A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this new tattoo”, showing off his Jimin tattoo, inspired by BTS’s “Blood Sweat & Tears” music video, a clock, and Jimin’s star sign symbol, Libra.
(Photo: Twitter: @dt_parker)
DT Parker’s Jimin Inspired Tattoo
DT Parker had expressed that his favorite BTS member is Jimin in a previous video, and that he has become his staunch fan because of his stage presence and charm. Additionally, in December of last year, he opened a reaction channel dedicated exclusively to Jimin, showing his sincere support for the BTS member.
Watch his video where he talks about tattooing:
For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.
KpopStarz is the owner of this article.
Written by Robyn Joan


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BetMGM Casino is continuing to try and find new and innovative ways to entertain its players. This week, BetMGM and MGM Resorts International announced the launching of MGM Riches.
A custom slot experience, MGM Riches is a game that can be played both online and at MGM Resorts retail casinos around the United States. That includes BetMGM Michigan Casino and MGM Grand Detroit.
It’s another perk from the leading Michigan online casino.
$100 Freeplay On Sign Up
100% Deposit Match up to $1,000
Use Bonus Code: 100PLAYBONUS
Two MGM Riches games available at BetMGM Michigan
MGM Riches was developed in collaboration with Everi Holdings, Inc.
The game is a multi-denomination, multi-level progressive slot that offers two themes. The two themes are MGM Riches Triple Ruby and MGM Riches 5x Sapphire.
MGM says gameplay is consistent for both games whether in-person at a MGM Resort, or using the BetMGM online casino app.
“MGM Riches is designed to engage and entertain our slot customers wherever they choose to play,” said Mike Gatten, MGM Resorts International’s Senior Vice President of Slot Strategy, in a press release. “With guest experience at the core of what we do, we created this custom game for our loyal slot customers who enjoy playing their favorite games and earning rewards even when they’re not at one of our properties.”
Earn BetMGM and MGM Rewards Tier Credits at its Michigan online casino
As part of the omnichannel games, MGM Rewards and BetMGM Rewards loyalty members can earn Tier Credits with each spin. That applies to the retail casino and online casino game.
As players earn credits across both channels, tier-based benefits are unlocked for future redemption at MGM Resorts’ domestic destinations.
“The launch of MGM Riches directly connects BetMGM’s leading online casino offerings to MGM Resorts iconic destinations,” said Angus Nisbet, BetMGM’s Vice President of Gaming. “We are thrilled to offer this first-of-its kind slot and to continue to bring innovative content to our players.”
Players also have the opportunity to qualify for multiple member-only experiences. Included in those experiences are:
- Exclusive concerts
- Exclusive sporting events
- Gaming tournaments
- The Holiday Gift Shoppe
BetMGM Rewards points can be transferred to MGM Rewards points. Those can be redeemed for complimentary dining, entertainment, hotel stays and more at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. That includes the MGM Grand Detroit.
Screenshots from BetMGM Michigan


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A drone operator in Australia underestimated the power of an angry roo.
A new all-cotton hydrophobic shirt from Threadsmiths runs a liquid gauntlet full of coffee, tea, soy sauce and wine.
The famous Horsehead Nebula has been literally seen in an entirely different light, as NASA's Spitzer captures it in infrared.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says that Mini Plus Brewing Systems could cause harm during normal use.
The 5TB and 6TB WD Red hard drives are designed for home NAS servers, while a new WD Red Pro drive, available in 2TB, 3TB and 4TB, is for serious business.
An appeals court decides that in Florida, private companies that operate red-light cameras have no right to send out tickets.
A new Indiegogo campaign promises that you'll be able to do everything from starting the coffee maker to ordering pizza with the click of one big button.
Mars Curiosity makes an amazing discovery, organic matter on the Red Planet that makes up the building blocks of life.
In one of the best song covers we have ever heard, period, a YouTube superstar performs Nena's 1983 single "99 Luftballons" using nothing but red balloons.
Celebrities have turned out in droves for the Apple press event in California today where the company has announced the iPhone 6 and a wearable device called simply "Apple Watch".


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Motorola De-Googling Android Phones for China
In apparent reaction to Google's threatened pull-out from China, Motorola has announced plans to replace Google services on its Android phones for China. Search will be provided by Google rival Baidu, and Motorola is developing its own app store for Android applications. Google's threat to pull out from China caused alarm for Motorola investors, since China is a vital market for Motorola handsets, and the company has based its new smartphone lineup on Google's Android software. The move highlights the flexibility and openness of the Android platform.
Vital's Moto Mod Takes A Complete Health Picture
Jan 9, 2018
Lenovo and Vital USA today announced the Vital Moto Mod, a modular attachment for the Moto Z line of smartphones that can measure a range of health stats. Vital USA says the Vital Modo Mod can monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, non-contact body temperature, and blood pressure.
Microsoft Overhauls Skype, Adds Highlight Reels
Jun 1, 2017
Microsoft has totally re-envisioned its Skype messaging application and, in the process, made it more like Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. To start, Skype offers more personalization.
Pebble Expands Its Wearables' Features with Fresh Firmware
May 10, 2016
Pebble today improved its smartwatch platform with more health and fitness features. The expanded toolset is being made available through a firmware update for the Pebble Time-series watches as well as the accompanying Pebble app for Android and iOS smartphones.
Android O to Feature Picture-In-Picture and Improved Security
May 17, 2017
Google today provided more details about the next version of Android at its I/O developer conference. One of the biggest additions to the platform is picture-in-picture for mobile phones.
Searching Google for Events Will Now Generate Personal Recommendations
Jul 26, 2018
Google today updated its main search tool with a new emphasis on helping people locate nearby events. Moving forward, generic searches for things like "events near me" will result in a list of events from a variety of sources, as well as vital details about those events.
The power of open source!
A better idea
But quite honestly China needs to go. Nuke the crap out of the government and put in something that allows for easier monetization of the Chinese.
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣


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Opposition politicians in the UK have accused Royal Mail of cutting post box collections purely to make itself more attractive for potential buyers.
Labour Party MP and shadow postal affairs minister Ian Murray obtained figures through a Freedom of Information request, showing that 6,453 post box collections were lost in the year up to the beginning of March.
The figures showed that overall over the 12 months, 9,689 collections were cut, while 3,236 collections were added. Collection times were brought forward to earlier in the day for 10,006 post boxes, while they were extended for 5,719 post boxes.
The company collects from about 115,000 post boxes across the UK.
Murray, who passed the information on to the Daily Telegraph, said he believed the numbers revealed a “significant reduction” in the level of Royal Mail service.
“They are trying to fatten up the coffers to make it sellable. collections are being reduced while prices are increasing,” he said.
“It is important that levels of service offered by the Royal Mail are safeguarded in order that businesses and individuals can count on a minimum level of service.”
The MP for Edinburgh south criticised Royal Mail for not publishing its post box collection figures, and called on the postal service to reveal its figures for past years.
Royal Mail said changing the frequency and times of its collections was a way to save money in response to customer demand levels.
Mail volumes have fallen by 25% over the last five years at Royal Mail.
“This is sensible ongoing business management which simply reflects changing mail volumes in specific locations,” said Royal Mail spokesman Heulyn Gwyn Davies.
National watchdog Consumer Focus said it would be discussing the issue with Royal Mail. Its postal policy director Robert Hammond said ending or changing collection times at some post boxes was “understandable” in the light of rapidly declining mail volumes, but he said customers should be made aware of the changes.
Source: Post&Parcel/UK media


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“Spam, spam, spam .. Lovely Spam! Wonderful Spam!”
This is a verse sung by a group of Vikings in a classic 1970 Monty Python sketch about Spam, a much-maligned and somewhat mysterious meat product that has historically been associated with tight budgets.
A quick check of the internet Thursday showed that a 12-ounce can of Spam, which consists of p0rk and ham, is widely available for less than $3. It can be found at Walmart for $2.92 and at Target for $2.99.
However, a retired, older couple living on a fixed income in New Hampshire this week was charged $4.39 for a 12-ounce can of Spam by their local supermarket, which is about 50% more than the price online.
The couple ordered groceries through a delivery service because they are afraid to leave their home due to their age and preexisting conditions, which make them particularly susceptible to COVID-19. Spam was one of many grocery items they purchased at a cost that they said was considerably higher than last month. They said they were also charged about $40 in fees associated with the delivery of the groceries.
Price gouging is particularly devastating to older people on a fixed income who cannot do comparison shopping. Public health officials advise seniors not to even leave their homes due to their increased risk of severe complications and death from COVID-19.
Are food prices going up? The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which claims to monitor retail food prices, failed to return two emails and a phone call on Thursday.
Thirty-three state Attorneys General sent letters last month to Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Facebook and Craigslist criticizing their failure to crack down on price gouging for high-demand products during the pandemic. They cited a bottle of hand sanitizer priced at $20 and a $30 pricetag for six rolls of toilet paper.
According to The Hill, the Attorneys General demanded the companies create policies that look at prices historically to detect surges, set up a portal to report pricing complaints and monitor and respond to spiking prices.
An Amazon spokesperson said “there is no place for price gouging on Amazon.” She said Amazon “actively monitors our store and removes offers that violate our policies.” She said Amazon is working with state attorneys general to identify sellers who spike prices in their respective states.
Amazon has removed more than a half a million listings for price gouging and has suspended the accounts of more than 3,900 sellers. Amazon also has instituted manual audits to detect sellers who evade Amazon’s automated systems to take advantage of customers.
State laws ban price gouging during a state of emergency. These laws prohibit sellers from charging an exorbitant or excessive price in connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity.
When does a price hike become price gouging? That varies depending on the state and a variety of other factors, including whether the supplier increased the price charged to the retailer.
Under California law, during a state of emergency, it is illegal for a person to sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, housing, transportation, or gasoline for a price that is more than ten percent greater than the price normally charged by that person for those products or services.


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According to the report Inpia , according to this report, the agenda of the Export Commission was: reviewing the nine-month export statistics of the plastics industry, presenting a support package for the plastics industry for Export, Afghan Plast Exhibition, Midst Exhibition Report.
Also, the approvals of the forty-third meeting of the Export Commission of the National Association of Plastic Industries were:
1- Regarding the presence of the French Association in the International Conference on Masterbatch and Compound, it was decided that if the members have any suggestions for attending and meeting with this group for technology transfer, they should contact the office of the Association.
2- It was decided that the export statistics of the plastics industry in the first nine months of 1995, presented by Ms. Kamousi, be sent to the members of the Export Commission and posted on the association’s website.
3- The report of the midest exhibition was presented by Mr. Jalalipour and it was decided that next year, in order to transfer technology, the association and the members of the commission will pay special attention to this exhibition.
4- Regarding the political support package prepared by the association, Mr. Jalalipour provided explanations and it was decided that this package will be sent to the members of the Export Commission after being presented at the board meeting and their opinion will be received in this regard.
5. Regarding Mr. Mir Heydari’s objection regarding the timely return of 9% value-added items of export products, it was decided that Mr. Mirheidari should first send a letter to the Association in this regard, and then a letter from the Association to Mr. Mawdudi to investigate this issue. .
The participants in the meeting were: Saeed Turkman, Ali Lashgari, Bijan Saharnaz, Seyed Hassan Mirheidari, Behnaz Kamousi, Masoud Jamali, Zand Karimi, Beikzadeh, Omid Faraji, Mehrdad Jalalipour, Kamal Kaveh, Seyed Mehdi Hosseini Nik, Maryam Esmaili, Hashemizadeh, Hashemifard, Negin Asghari, Amoukhteh, Mahallati, Farzaneh, Alirezaei.


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Apple has been sued by US patent company DSS Technology Management for infringing two patents relating to the use of wireless peripheral devices, parent company Document Security Systems said Wednesday.
A court in California has ruled against Samsung Electronics' attempt to stay the proceedings in a patent dispute with Apple, agreeing with Apple that the procedure for reexamination of its patent could take years, and there was no certainty the resul...
A Samsung Electronics patent the company has declared essential to the implementation of 3G mobile standards is likely to be invalid, the Regional Court of Mannheim in Germany said Friday.
A jury has ordered Samsung to pay US$290 million to Apple for infringement of several of its patents in multiple Samsung smartphones and tablets.
Apple says a request by Samsung to halt a damages retrial, in which the jury is currently deliberating, "crossed the bounds of reason."
A U.S. House of Representatives committee has approved legislation aimed at making it more difficult for so-called patent trolls to use infringement lawsuits against other businesses.
Canadian wireless modem maker Sierra Wireless has filed complaints with the European Commission (EC) and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claiming that Nokia is behaving unfairly in patent licensing.
Apple has contested Samsung Electronics' plea for a stay in the damages retrial currently in a federal court in California, stating that the reexamination proceedings by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of an important patent in the lawsuit "are ...
Waiting for a jury verdict at the Apple-Samsung trial is both tedious and tense, so it doesn't take much to bring lawyers and reporters scurrying to the courtroom.
For the past five days, eight jurors, one judge and a handful of reporters in a California courtroom have listened to a couple of dozen lawyers argue over hundreds of millions of dollars that Samsung might owe to Apple for infringing its patents.
Samsung requested a mistrial be declared in its trial with Apple over remarks made by an attorney working for Apple in the final moments of closing arguments in the case on Tuesday.
A California jury will begin deliberating on how much money Samsung should pay to Apple for the infringement of several patents in multiple models of Samsung smartphones. Apple wants just under $US380 million, but Samsung is arguing it shouldn't pay ...
Experts hired by Apple and Samsung explained and justified their differing damages claims to a California jury Monday as the latest battle between the two smartphone giants moves closer to a conclusion.
Apple's global marketing chief told a California courtroom on Friday that Apple had a tougher time selling the iPhone after Samsung launched its own smartphones with a similar design.
How much value do you put on certain features in the cellphone you buy? Most consumers probably don't assign a dollar value to specific items, but the detailed calculations handset manufacturers make were at the heart of arguments Thursday as Apple a...
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