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In a briefing to detail the impact of generative AI in the workplace, and the research conducted by BCG X where they surveyed more…
Fight Thanos with the Avengers’ weapons in ‘Fornite Endgame’ limited-time mode
On Thursday, Epic Games finally revealed the Avengers: Endgame and Fortnite crossover event it teased earlier this week.
“Thanos and his Chitauri are invading the Fortnite Battle Royale island searching for the six Infinity Stones,” the company explained on its blog.
Players will have to fight Thanos using items from Avengers, including Thor’s axe, Captain America’s shield and Hawkeye’s bow.
There will also be rewards in the form of the Avengers Quinjet, sprays and banners, for those who complete challenges.
Additionally, players can buy one of two new Marvel Outfit sets featuring items and clothing from Black Widow.
“The second Outfit set arrives early next week,” the company noted.
The Endgame crossover will be a limited-time mode in Fortnite.
Feature image: screenshot, Fortnite via YouTube


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Last year, Brian Krebs detailed the operations of an identity theft service called SSNDOB, which had offered all sorts of information needed to steal identities. Now, Symantec claims to have uncovered the identity of the man running the service.
The alleged operator of SSNDOB is a 24-year-old named Armand Arturovich Ayakimyan from Abkhazia, a disputed territory located between Russia and Georgia.
Armand, who is said to have moved to the Russian city of Sochi in 2010, has had some real jobs. He worked at a photo studio, as a sales manager at a cosmetics firm, and last year, he appeared to be working at a Russian church.
At one point, he had plans to create some legitimate websites, like an online dating service and a real estate website, but his plans didn’t materialize.
Until 2007, he took part in fraud schemes that abused the financial information of Australian citizens. In 2007, he signed up on a cybercrime forum and started learning about stealing information online. Towards the end of 2007, he was already selling stolen information on hacker forums.
The next year, he started using remote access Trojans to take over the computers of UK and US citizens. In 2009, he teamed up with at least three other people using the online monikers “Tojava,” “JoTalbot” and “DarkMessiah.” The four, and possibly others, formed the cybercrime group dubbed by Symantec “Cyclosa.”
Their first major target was a large FTP site that gave them access to the websites of several travel agencies. After breaching the server, they offered to sell a database of tens of thousands of expired Russian passports, FTP space, and “rights” to the compromised server.
Shortly after that, Armand and Tojava decided to start an online identity theft store and they registered the domain for SSNDOB (the name of the service stems from “Social Security number / date of birth”). Interestingly, the first domain was registered with Armand’s real name and phone number.
In the meantime, they continued to enhance the attack capabilities of the Cyclosa gang. They attacked a number of companies from which they stole personal data. Symantec says the list of targets includes a US credit union, a Georgian government agency, and a US bank. From most of the hacked organizations, they stole data, which they used to fuel their ID theft service.
After Brian Krebs exposed the activities of SSNDOB, Armand deleted his profile on the VK social network, but his gang’s activities continued. Check out Symantec’s infographic detailing Armand’s cybercrime journey.

domain: news


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Digital marketing agency XM Asia Pacific has launched a Behavioural Sciences practice. It leverages the agency’s existing Consumer Experience lab, which was launched in 2012.
The lab utilises technologies such as Tobii eye-tracking, along with heuristic techniques and usability metrics, to pinpoint how Asian consumers view, absorb and use information they see on websites, digital ads and traditional media.
The Behavioural Sciences practice will now also incorporate qualitative and quantitative insights. This will be coupled with self-learning big data algorithms that allow XM’s team to put the behaviours they observe in the digital space in the context of consumers’ attitudes and motivations.
“At XM, we believe in bringing brands and consumers closer together in mutually beneficial relationships. We do this by helping brands to understand what consumers are doing online, and to build meaningful experiences that make consumers’ lives better – driving positive feedback and loyalty which is much more valuable and sustainable in the long-run,” Paul Soon (pictured), CEO of XM Asia Pacific said.


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SapientNitro Strengthens Creative Team to Capitalize on Opportunities of Expanding Market.
SapientNitro announced two senior appointments that further the agency’s position in India.
SapientNitro Unveils Global LYCRA® MOVES YOU™ Consumer Advertising Campaign
SapientNitro today announced that it has created a global consumer advertising campaign for LYCRA®
SapientNitro Singapore Remodels Strategy Team To Reflect Changing Client Needs
The new trio will bring a superior combination of skills to the strategic division
SapientNitro Bolsters Client Service Team With Two Key Appointments
SapientNitro's continued commitment to strengthening their client service team in China.
Sapient Global Markets Supports EMIR Collateral and Valuation Reporting Through CMRS Enhancements
Single system for collating collateral and valuation data
Sapient Global Markets Survey Rates DZ Bank As Best German Retail Structured Products Issuer for 2014
Banks provide more product information through online portals
Sapient Global Markets and OpenLink extend strategic alliance to enhance joint project delivery
Closer collaboration creates a single delivery methodology


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Badili Africa, the Nairobi-based buy-back platform for old phones is running a Pay Week Sale from 3rd February to 9th February. The sale promises to be a shopping extravaganza, offering customers a wide range of smartphones at unbeatable prices. There is a diverse range of smartphone brands such as Samsung, Apple and Oppo. The highlight of the sale is the Redmi 8A, which can be purchased for as low as KES 6,850.
|Samsung Galaxy S8+
Badili Africa is offering exclusive discounts to its customers, which include:
- KES 500 discount on phones priced under KES 10,000 using the discount code BAD500
- KES 1000 discount on phones priced between KES 10K – 20K using the discount code BAD1000
- KES 1500 discount on phones priced between KES 20K – 30K using the discount code BAD1500
Customers can conveniently shop from the comfort of their homes by visiting the Badili Africa website. For those who prefer to pick it up, you can do so at their exclusive stores located at Ambience Mall, Ring Road, Westlands and Riara Road, Opposite Junction Mall.
Don’t miss out on the chance to grab the latest smartphones at unbeatable prices during Badili Africa’s Pay Week Sale.


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Dubai, UAE, November 14, 2018: World Tolerance Summit 2018 formally opened today with an impressive turnout of local and international delegations at Armani Hotel in Dubai. The summit was formally opened by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and the Chairman of the Higher Committee of the International Institute for Tolerance. The two-day summit is an initiative of IIT, which is a part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. Several government officials were also in attendance in support of UAE’s first-ever summit on tolerance which is in conjunction with UNESCO’s International Day of Tolerance.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, graced the day of the summit, which is being held ......read more
Abu Dhabi, 14 November 2018: His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, visited Manarat Al Saadiyat to view the artistic creations of Abdullah Lutfi, the talented Emirati artist and Special Olympics UAE athlete. The showcase was held by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Art. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the World Games 2019 booth and was shown a canvas painting being created live at the booth by Abdullah, which explores the links between the Special Olympics movement and the UAE. Abu Dhabi Art, an annual art fair organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism, partnered with the LOC to promote Special Olympics in the run up to the ......read more
12 November 2018, Dubai, UAE: The International Institute for Tolerance is set to hold the first-ever World Tolerance Summit on November 15-16, 2018 in Dubai. WTS will be held in conjunction with UNESCO’s International Day for Tolerance.
WTS is UAE’s effort to attract global leaders and promote peace and tolerance in diversity across the world. As a melting pot for over 200 nationalities, UAE seeks to lead the region in the promotion of peaceful coexistence and a tolerant society. This is also in line with the government’s vision when it announced the creation of ministerial posts for Happiness, Tolerance, and The Future.
Current UAE Minister of Tolerance and chairman of the Board of Trustees, His Highness Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, once stated that, “Tolerance is not simply enduring the ......read more
Golden era of HR technology being held back by old, ineffective systems - experts
Dubai, UAE 12 November 2018: HE Abdulla Ali Bin Zayed Al-Falasi, Director General for the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) today officially inaugurated the 15th edition of the HR Summit and Expo, the region’s largest gathering of human resources experts.
HE Abdulla Al-Falasi said, “The UAE is dedicated to the development of human beings within organisations which is why government agencies have taken steps to develop and implement courses and training programmes to the highest of standards.
“The human element is a cornerstone of societal development and the UAE is keen to provide opportunities that advance HR management. This is a crucial aspect as we enter into the fourth industrial ......read more
Dubai, November 1, 2018: The Korean Happiness Festival – the biggest and one-of-its-kind Korean event held in the UAE, was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi today by H.E Mr. Yeonjean Yoon, Deputy Head of Mission – Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UAE in a gala opening ceremony.
Organized by the Korean National Tourism Organization [KNTO] Dubai office and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of Korea, at the Rotana Beach Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the Festival showcases everything about Korea – be its vibrancy, rich cultural heritage, touristic attractions or its medical attributes.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Manjin Kim, Acting Executive Vice President of the Korea International Tourism Division, a large number of UAE nationals, Arab visitors as well as ......read more
Winning healthy chocolate bar, probiotic biscuit, roasted cookies and chili jelly bean will be on display in exclusive yummex Middle East Gallery throughout the show
Victory at Middle East’s leading sweets and snacks event secures winning quartet a pathway to global exposure at ISM Cologne 2019
Dubai, UAE, October 31, 2018: Participation in yummex Middle East proved particularly sweet for four exhibitors from Brazil, Bulgaria, India and Pakistan who now get to showcase their groundbreaking products in full view of the regional industry’s leading players, decision makers and buyers at the exclusive yummex Middle East Gallery for the remainder of the show.
With award entries from South America to South Asia and beyond, the winning quartet beat off strong international competition to secure awards ......read more
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 25 October 2018: Asmak, a leading seafood company in MENA, participates at this year’s Seafex Middle East event from October 30th to November 1st to unveil a new range of premium products and solidified Food Service solutions.
As an exhibitor at the largest professional seafood expo in the region, Asmak will showcase a variety of products that will be displayed throughout its interactive stand. This latter will be entertained by a live chef who will delight the appetite of the clientele with new recipes and live demonstrations showcasing the freshness of Asmak’s products.
“We look forward to get creative with Asmak’s products live and to share delicious recipes with the anticipated remarkable attendance at Seafex. We are all excited to see Asmak’s stand ......read more
Players raise awareness on breast cancer by wearing pink wrist bands
Dubai. UAE – 20 October, 2018: A few days separate us from the Dubai Fitness Challenge 2018, the initiative launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, which aims to attract 1 million participants this year. In support of the initiative, The Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group (FERG), a consortium of businesses engaged in the foreign exchange and remittance industry organized ‘Soccer Fest 2018’, a first of its kind football tournament featuring teams from 16 exchange houses in the UAE.
The tournament, which aimed to encourage employees of exchange houses to take on the Dubai Fitness Challenge 2018 and prepare them physically for it, ......read more
HHC adds junior category for the race
Dubai, UAE, October 18, 2018: The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) announced the 4th edition of the National Day Camel Marathon, organized by the Center in cooperation with Dubai Camel Racing Club, will take place on 8 February 2019.
The change in the schedule from December to February was made to coincide with H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Pure-Bred Arabian Camels Races Festival.
HCC also took into consideration giving the riders and their camels more adequate time to prepare for the very competitive and one-of-its-kind heritage marathon.
Ms. Souad Ibrahim Darwish, Director of Championships at HHC, said: “Camel racing season begins in October and we have taken into consideration the requirements of the participants to give ......read more
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and ambassador of peace, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s self development programs have reached an estimated 370 million people worldwide
6,000 participants expected for the two-day meditation masterclass being held for the first time in the Middle East
Several humanitarian projects and service initiatives implemented by Art of Living Foundation and IAHV in the Middle East
15th October 2018; Dubai, UAE: Internationally acclaimed humanitarian leader, ambassador of peace and founder of Art of Living Foundation (AOL) and Interna-tional Association for Human Values (IAHV), Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will visit Dubai to impart a unique two-day meditation masterclass. Announced today by Mr. Vipul, Consul General of India, ‘Unveiling Infinity’ will be held on 16th and ......read more
Daily chances to win an INFINITI QX50 and AED 150,000 in cash, weekly prizes of AED 100,000 for five winners (AED 20,000 each) and a Mega Grand cash prize of AED 500,000 for one winner
Get a chance to win one of seven Nissan models at the Nissan Grand Raffle
Mega raffle promotions start on 15 October at ENOC and EPPCO stations, Zoom stores, Metro stations, and many other locations across the city
Dubai, UAE, 14 October 2018: With the 24th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) promising to provide unforgettable shopping experiences, the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) announced that the DSF Mega Raffles promotions – the INFINITI Mega Raffle and the Nissan Grand Raffle - will begin on 15 October ......read more
Middle East’s travel and tourism leaders come together to discuss untapped opportunities and key challenges facing the industry today
Dubai, UAE, October 14, 2018: Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) showcase, hosted their inaugural Advisory Board Meeting at the Address Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, bringing together travel and tourism leaders to discuss the untapped opportunities and key challenges facing the industry.
ATM’s Advisory Board was set up to provide counsel on industry themes, challenges, growth opportunities and future strategies in the Middle East travel and tourism sector - as well as to help facilitate current business and marketing plans.
Board attendees included Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operational Officer, Etihad Airways; ......read more
Workshop aimed at enhancing life skills and critical thinking of brownies, aged 7-11 years
Shaikha Al Shamsi: Six powers build leadership in personality
Sharjah, October 11, 2018: In conjunction with the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG) organised a workshop to inspire the organisation’s young members to recognize their talent and believe in their capabilities. Themed ‘Unleash Your Powers’, the activity highlighted the importance of shaping young minds by involving them in creative projects that will help them realise their potential and explore areas of interest.
The event reaffirmed SGG’s belief in the goals of the International Day of the Girl Child to promote girls’ rights, education opportunities, healthcare and saftey, ......read more
Abu Dhabi, 10, October 2018 : The Mall at World Trade Center (The Mall at WTCAD) the mixed-use urban centre located in the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi, is bringing the community together to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with a month of traditional Indian entertainment and spectacular gold giveaways, every day from 11th October – 10th November.
Bringing back the popular Spend &Win competition, anyone who spends AED 200 at The Mall at WTCAD will be entered into a draw to win 10 grams of gold daily, What’s more, to get everyone into the celebratory mood, there will also be themed dancing and entertainment, encouraging families and friends to mark this special festive occasion by spending quality time together.
Commenting, Yasser Al Marzouqi, General Manager of The Mall at WTCAD Abu ......read more
Ramona Smith, a 31-year-old high-school teacher from Houston, who outlasted more than 30,000 other speakers from around the globe in a six-month long ‘Olympics of Oratory’.
Dubai, UAE, October 10, 2018: Ramona Smith, a 31-year-old high-school teacher from Houston, who became the World Champion of Public Speaking (WCPS) 2018, will address the UAE Toastmasters community to inspire the members with her brilliant story of Toastmasters journey.
Smith was named the 2018 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking in August this year, from more than 30,000 other speakers from around the globe in a six-month long competition, which is also known as the ‘Olympics of Oratory’. Smith and nine other finalists delivered speeches to a crowd of 2,000 in Chicago during the world’s ......read more
934 children’s activities curated over the 11-day event
Sharjah, 10 October, 2018: Running from October 31st to November 10th, 2018, the 37th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will offer a blend of cultural, educational and entertainment activities. The fair will curate 934 children’s activities, with 44 guests from 12 countries, namely; the UAE, Japan, Belarus, Ukraine, Kuwait, UK, Jordan, Syria, Italy, Australia, Singapore, and Lebanon.
The audience will enjoy a selection of children’s theatrical performances, plays, and shows that are inspired by fairytales and classics that appeals to all. The event will also curate a series of workshops and engaging sessions conducted by a host of artists and designers.
Children’s plays include ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and the ......read more
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Her Excellency addressed students at the start of the two-day event
The second edition of the Majlis will involve over 300 interactive sessions over October 8 and 9
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 9 October 2018: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the second edition of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations opened today with an address from Her Excellency Shamma bint Sohail Al Mazrouei. Al Mazrouei, the UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs, addressed attendees at the Abu Dhabi National Education Centre (ADNEC) to kick-off two days of future-focused activities.
More than 300 interactive ......read more
New Inspiration Zone to provide key regional speakers with platform to address evolving travel trends in the Middle East & North Africa as well as an update about
Expo 2020’s sustainability plans
Dubai, UAE, October 08, 2018: With Expo 2020 on the horizon and the Middle East representing high growth potential for the travel industry, WTM London 2018 which takes place on 5-7 November and is placing a spotlight on the region with a host of key speakers lined up for the show’s new regionally-focused Inspiration Zones.
As Dubai gears up for Expo 2020, one of the first sessions in Middle East & North Africa Zone, ‘Expo 2020 Taking Responsibility for Environmental Impacts – Water and Energy’ will take place Monday 5th November, with Gillian Hamburger, Senior Vice President ......read more
October 4, 2018: As businesses in Saudi Arabia work towards supporting the country’s Saudi Vision 2030, Ashridge Executive Education is organizing an insightful programme for leaders to explore new leadership styles that will help them to achieve higher growth for their companies.
To be held from 14 to 18 October 2018, in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the programme can also be customized for individual companies and held at their Saudi offices.
“Our Management Development programme encourages Saudi managers to develop skills that will enable them to take on new responsibilities, improve their leadership style and motivate their team. Understanding your own style is very important. Equally important is the ability to understand others and adapt your approach in order to influence, motivate and get the best out ......read more
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 4 October 2018: Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) will be back for its 24th edition from 26 December 2018 to 26 January 2019, attracting shoppers from all over the world featuring exciting events, promotions and opportunities for enjoyable shopping experiences, coupled with fun and entertainment for all families.
Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), DSF will kick off with innovative initiatives and memorable experiences built around the three pillars of the festival – shopping, winning and entertainment.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) said: “As Dubai gears up to host yet another successful edition of Dubai Shopping Festival, ......read more
Dubai, UAE, October 02, 2018: German conglomerate Siemens and Scientechnic, the flagship company of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG), celebrated 45 years of exclusive partnership in Dubai and the Northern Emirates at a gala event held at the Armani Ballroom on September 26. The gathering included ESAG shareholders, key team members along with a number of customers and clients, all of whom have played a pivotal role in their joint history.
Over four decades ago, H.E Easa Saleh Al Gurg, KCVO, CBE signed an exclusive agreement with Siemens AG to distribute power engineering products and services to a growing city. In a short period, this relationship grew to include the entire range of Siemens’ electrical industry portfolio of products. Today, teams from Siemens and Scientechnic work together towards shaping the ......read more
Union Coop is organizing a ‘meet n’ greet’ tour with veteran cricket legends ‘Mr. Wasim Akram’ and ‘Mr. Mohammad Azharuddin’ on September 27th 2018, Thursday, as a part of consumer happiness initiative
Dubai, UAE, September 26, 2018: Retail Pioneer ‘Union Coop’ is organizing a unique ‘meet n’ greet’ tour for their consumers in their ‘Etihad Mall’ and ‘Al Barsha’ Mall, Dubai respectively. Veteran cricket legends ‘Mr. Wasim Akram’ and ‘Mr. Mohammad Azharuddin’ Shall Welcome their fans during the visit and attending a press conference, wherein they will be answering press questions.
The event will be held on September 27th 2018, Thursday at Etihad Mall (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm), Meet n’ Greet ......read more
Dubai, UAE: 24 September 2018: Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) hosted its inaugural Dubai China Conference on 19 and 20 September at Atlantis, The Palm. The two-day event, which welcomed over 900 attendees, featured integrated workshops and informative guest speakers offering valuable insights from both Chinese and local industry experts. With panel discussions strongly attended throughout the event, guests were invited to deep dive into Dubai’s China Readiness Strategy plus engage with presentations led by industry partners.
Breakout periods were also built into the two-day schedule to allow industry players to share knowledge during networking opportunities alongside partners such as Huawei, Ctrip and Tencent. There was also a series of engaging workshops hosted by ......read more
Dubai, September 24, 2018: The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) will have a unique pavilion featuring smart technology showcasing its various championships at the upcoming Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) 2018, in line with the celebration of the Year of Zayed.
ADIHEX, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Dhafra, will run from September 25-29 this year at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (Adnec) Halls 12-5.
HHC’s pavilion, which carries the theme ‘Year of Zayed’, is designed to reflect the wisdom of the UAE’s Founding Father and aimed at connecting his legacy to the younger generation
“Our pavilion connects the past with the present via smart technology to deliver ......read more
The region’s largest creative festival returns this year from 12-17 November 2018
The free-to-attend programme will comprise of more than 230 events throughout Dubai Design District (d3) and across the city
With +120 institutions participating, the 2018 edition will see a 20% growth since last year’s event
Dubai, UAE, 18 September 2018: Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3) and supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Dubai Design Week will be returning for its fourth edition from 12-17 November, 2018.
Taking place at locations across the city, this year’s programme will be the most comprehensive to date, with ......read more
UAE, October 18, 2018 - The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park) successfully took part at GITEX Technology Week 2018 as part of the entities featured in the Sharjah Government Platform. Their presence at this year’s show falls in line with the vision and wise guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler ......read more
Under the patronage of His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, Dawood Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al Hajiri, Director General, Dubai Municipality and HE Thomas Kufen, the Lord Mayor of the city of Essen, led today’s (Monday, October 1, 2018) inauguration of the 13th Edition of Middle East’s leading ......read more
Abu Dhabi, 25 September 2018/ADNEC/ ADNEC has always been keen to provide the required support and infrastructure to ensure the success of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) since its first edition in 2003. The company has coordinated with several private and public sector entities over the last 15 years to ensure the best outcome for the exhibition, while ......read more
September 18, 2018 – Abu Dhabi, UAE: Yas Island, the UAE’s premier leisure and entertainment destination, is set to light up its skies in celebration of the Saudi national day with a special fireworks show on Sunday September 23 at Yas Marina.
Kicking off at 8:00 pm, the dazzling display will feature a selection of green hued fireworks in homage to the Saudi Arabian flag. The ......read more
Trek will take place on January 16 – 25, 2019
Dubai, 15 September 2018: The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) has announced that registration for the 5th edition of the annual Camel Trek, which will take place from January 16 – 25, 2019, is now open.
“The trek which is open to all nationalities will cover a total distance of around 500km, traversing ......read more
United Arab Emirates, September 11, 2018: The Supreme Organising Committee is going full steam on the inaugural UAE Tour race date after a meeting at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) on Sunday.
The UAE Tour was established after the merger of the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Dubai Tour following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Dubai Sports ......read more
From 14 to 18 October visitors of GITEX Technology Week 2018 will witness the largest participation of Russian IT companies that was ever organized outside Russia. Over 40 Russian leading IT companies will present their solutions related to every sector of the show.
Continuous growth of Russian participation at GITEX is the product of Russian government incentive program and ambitions of ......read more
- Mobile photo exhibition of Sheikh Zayed jointly organized by the Department of Abu Dhabi Customs and the National Archive
9 September 2018, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Airports and the Department of Abu Dhabi Customs, in collaboration with the National Archive, are hosting a mobile photo exhibition of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The ......read more
du Tough Mudder and du Mini Mudder return to UAE from 7-8 December 2018 with more obstacles than ever before
In partnership with Official Training Partner, The Warehouse Gym, du Tough Mudder launch a five-day competition giveaway for five annual gym memberships when tickets are purchased
Line-up of epic signature obstacles revealed including ‘Everest 2.0’, ‘Electroshock ......read more
Retail Pioneer ‘Union Coop’ Celebrates Emirati Women’s Day under the slogan ‘Women on the Course of Zayed’
Dubai, UAE, August 29, 2018: ‘Union Coop’ celebrates the fourth annual Emirati Women's Day as a tribute to their accomplishments and hard work that they have carried out in promoting the development of this great nation across many ......read more
Two days of workshops designed to educate and participants in real estate and enhance their experiences
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 August 2018: Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the educational arm of Dubai Land Department (DLD), announced the launch of the ‘Harvard Happy Cities’ programme, which will be held for two full days on 11th and 12th November at the ......read more
Number of shoppers who frequent physical stores has grown consistently for the fourth year in a row indicating that brick-and-mortar stores can thrive in today’s digital era
Dubai, UAE, August 27, 2018: While the global e-commerce market continues to grow, today’s consumers still like to visit brick-and-mortar stores regularly and retailers must rethink their business model ......read more
15 Drivers from the UAE and China will drive 15,000 kilometers along the New Silk to Xi’an, capital of China’s Shanxi Province and starting point of the ancient Silk Road.
Team of 1% Drive Master UAE to China will participant the first ever China Travellers Festival in China (city to be confirmed), in cooperation of Emirates Travellers Festival, which is under the patronage ......read more
Sharjah, UAE, 18 August 2018: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry will launch the 2nd edition of the “Grand Summer Discounts” Campaign on Sunday. The campaign, which is organized by the chamber as part of the Sharjah Summer Promotions 2018, will take place during August 19-21.
The Mega event, which will include the participation of all the shopping ......read more
Best shopping deals on all Fashion Products
Dubai, UAE, 13th August, 2018: The Concept BIG Brands Carnival – Eid SHOPPING FIESTA, UAE’s largest fashion and beauty event is set to launch its five-days shopping fiesta for the 60th time. The platform invites UAE’s residents and tourists to visit and avail of discounts up to a staggering 75 percent across an array of ......read more
Abu Dhabi, August 08, 2018: Preparations for the largest editions of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) 2019, the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2019 and the International Defence Conference are underway, as the Higher Organising Committee met to review arrangements in the run-up to these much-awaited events in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Organised by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions ......read more
Dubai, UAE, August 08, 2018: Dubai Sports Council’s video on last week’s World’s Ultimate Strongman press conference has become an online rage, crossing the million mark within days of posting on social media platform Instagram.
The press conference to announce World’s Ultimate Strongman at Beasts in the Middle East, which will take place at Bab Al Shams Arena ......read more
Three-day event extravaganza will feature the best of India from spectacular performances by Bollywood heavyweights to live cooking workshops
Abu Dhabi, UAE – August 07, 2018: As part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season (ADSS), visitors and residents are invited to celebrate India’s Independence Day with Sparkles of India. Taking place from August 16th to 18th from 6pm - ......read more
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) will host the International Council of Nurses’ first Regional Conference at its Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from September 25th to 27th 2018. This important Conference will be co-hosted with the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA) and in collaboration with the SEHA International Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health conference. This ......read more
Two weeks since its launch, the Sharjah Summer Festival continues to attract visitors who flock to participating malls and other venues that offer huge discounts and a wide range of entertainment and fun activities. Participating malls, including the Mega Mall, Sahara Center and Zero 6 Center, are successfully engaging a large number of visitors of all age groups from Sharjah and beyond, ......read more
Dubai, UAE, July 22, 2018: Smart Stores Expo, the region's leading retail industry trade event, is pleased to announce its partnership with the ENOC Group.
Now in its second edition, Smart Stores Expo is scheduled to take place on September 4 – 6 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event is devoted to showcasing the latest trends, ......read more
‘SGI Dubai 2019’ will be held from January 13th to 15th at the DWTC
Dubai, UAE, July 16, 2018: International Expo Consults (IEC) part of Falak Holding, stated that global technology leader Epson has confirmed its presence at SGI Dubai 2019. Focussing on showcasing the latest offerings in signage, fabrics and fine art printing, Epson plans to consolidate and grow their current ......read more
Renowned Italian leather goods brand offers from 45% to 60%
Dubai, UAE, July 11, 2018: Cromia, the renowned leather goods brand from Italy, offers amazing discounts for DSS 2018 with 45% to 60% discount on selected handbags and accessories.
Look trendier with chic leather and unique colors of Cromia’s 2018 Spring Summer Collection that suit your stylistic ......read more
A common thread around the theme of Lights
A Vision to be shared about Climate Change & Inclusion Initiatives
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; June 28, 2018 - Expo 2020 Dubai will be held between October 20th, 2020 and April 10th, 2021 under the theme "Connecting minds, creating the future", divided into three sub-themes: Mobility, Sustainability and ......read more
With 6 Infiniti Q50 and Countless Sales Offers, You Can’t Possibly Ask for More!
Dubai, UAE, June 27, 2018: Al Ghurair Centre, the GCC’s first shopping centre, takes part in another season of Dubai’s highly anticipated summer shopping extravaganza, Dubai Summer Surprises 2018, organized by Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG) in association with Dubai Festivals and ......read more


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Must stay with Insider program to get activated releases.
Microsoft has changed tack after it indicated last week that millions of participants in its Windows Insider program could obtain a licensed and activated copy of its upcoming Windows 10 operating system for free.
The company’s general manager for the operating system group, Gabe Aul, has now apologised for the confusion caused by his initial blog post and scotched the notion that triallists would get a genuine Windows 10 copy simply by taking part in Windows Insider.
He made it clear that Windows 10 had to be installed on “Genuine Windows” devices – requiring either an OEM or retail Windows 10 licence, or an upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.1.
If not installed on a Genune Windows device, Windows 10 will go into what Microsoft calls a non-genuine state, and display a watermark, encouraging the user to obtain a licence.
Aul said if users opt out of the Windows Insider program, they will be subject to the same upgrade offer as those who possess a valid Windows 7 or 8.1 licence.
If they install the final release of Windows 10 when it lands on July 30 Australian time, it must be done over a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8.1.
“This is not a path to attain a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista systems,” Aul wrote.
Should Windows Insider participants agree to stay within the program, they will continue to receive pre-release software activated with pre-release keys, Aul said.
The pre-release builds will expire as new software appears, and Aul said Microsoft will provide ISO disc images for recovery purposes if significant problems strike.
By Juha Saarinen
Published in: http://www.itnews.com.au/News/405615,microsoft-backtracks-on-free-windows-10-for-early-testers.aspx


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The $100,000 iPhone!
Did you ever think the Apple’s iPhone would sell for a whopping $100,000? Has the consumerism gone nuts? Not really. At a ‘Keep a child Alive auction,’ an anonymous bidder pledged a sum of $100,000 for an iPhone. This one is not studded with crystals or any blingy material like we saw with the Jesus phone. So, what’s so unique about this $100,000 iPhone? Well, it’s the first iPhone sold from the Apple Soho store in New York. Brought by film director Spike Lee, it comes with two Jawbone headsets, a couple of US flights, a specially recorded celebrity voicemail message. The coolest fact is that it will be presented by Alicia Keys at the VIP Black Ball. The proceedings will go to the charity Keep a Child Alive to subsidize drugs for kids dying from AIDS in Africa.


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The multi-million pound redevelopment of Felling Shopping Centre, in Gateshead, by Caddick Developments and Helmsley Group is now complete.
Located on Crowhall Lane, the regeneration is now fully complete with ASDA opening it’s doors to join Subway, Boots, Card Factory, Greggs and a local taxi operator who are now all trading on the development.
Caddick Development’s sister company Caddick Construction was responsible for the design and build. Andrew Murray, Managing Director at Caddick Construction, commented “Our team was on site for 15 months, and I’m pleased to confirm the development was completed on time and importantly on budget. We’re really pleased with the finished scheme particularly as it enabled us to demonstrate our vast knowledge and skill in the successful delivery of retail projects”.
Myles Hartley, Managing Director at Caddick Developments, added “The strength of experience in our joint venture team together with the experience of Caddick Construction provides a clear indication of the design and build quality at Felling Shopping Centre. We are hugely excited to have fully completed the development and to see our aspirations for the scheme come to life”.
John Reeves, Chairman of Helmsley Group said “This scheme has been long in the making, there have been many obstacles to overcome in order to get this development progressed and it is great to see the culmination of four years of hard work finally come together with stores opening.”
“We are grateful to Gateshead Council for their assistance in bringing this scheme to fruition, they have worked with us to ensure a successful scheme has been delivered and along with our development partners, Caddick Developments, we are excited to see the impact on Felling High Street that this re-development has the potential to facilitate.”
Commercial Property Monthly
Volume 34, Issue No 2, 2016


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2018 Volvo S80 Changes
The car manufacturer Volvo, which is one of the manufacturers whose cars are one of the safest on the market, but also very modern and attractive inside and out. Also engines of the cars of this manufacturers are very dependable, which affects that this company is on top on the market. It will soon appear on the market a new model of the manufacturer and it will be the new 2018 Volvo S80.
2018 Volvo S80 Design and Changes
The exterior design of the new 2018 Volvo S80 will be a very stylish and attractive. According to rumors, the new car will get a new aluminum chassis, which will have a significant impact on improving the efficiency of the engine. The front part of the model will be updated and beautiful. The front fascia will be made of chromium and will be very impressive, while the front bumper will be equipped with fog lamps and air intake. Headlights and rear lights of this new car will be updated with new modern LED bulbs. When it comes to wheels, there will find new 17-inch alloy wheels with standard equipment package.
Inside, the new 2018 Volvo S80 will be a very elegant and well equipped with modern technologies such as the 7-inch touch screen, navigation system, rearview camera, parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, blind spot monitoring, traction control, cruise control, collision warning, dual zone climate control, air bags and more. The seats of this cars will be made from the finest leather and will have heaters, so the comfort will be at the highest level. Also, depending on the trim wheel of this new model will be coated with the finest leather and highly superior in quality wood, and will have a large number of functions.
2018 Volvo S80 Specs
Under the hood of the new 2018 Volvo S80 will be offered 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that will be able to pull out about 240 horsepower and will have a torque of 350 Nm. Drive this car will be a front-wheel drive and will be equipped with 8-speed automatic transmission. It is assumed that the average consumption of this model will be around 29-30 mpg.
2018 Volvo S80 Price and Availability
It is expected that the new 2018 Volvo S80 will cost about $ 43,500 for a basic package, and on the market should appear in March of 2018. According to rumors, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 and will be the main competitor of this new modern sedan.


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The circularity of second-hand shopping
As we all already know, the fast fashion industry is incredibly harmful in terms of the extensive CO2 emissions and water usage that goes into the manufacturing processes. Cheaply made pieces that flood the market are essentially meant to be thrown away. This results in bleak statistics such as 12.8 million tons of clothing that end up in landfills every year in the US alone.
But what can we do to stop this, or at least slow down the process?
In the past month, at Scarlet Destiny, we have talked about all the practices that can make the Fashion Industry more circular, and their pros and cons. It’s now time to think and talk about the one really sustainable way of slowing down the constant waste cycle of this industry: the resale market.
The recent exponential market growth of resale culture may be a feasible solution to putting a cap on fast fashion’s devastating carbon footprint. The fashion resale economy is thriving at a rapid rate fuelled by changing consumer attitudes to embrace the importance of sustainability and helping the environment, and it is set to become a bigger market than luxury by the end of 2022. The demographic leading this change in purchasing habits are millennials and Gen Z, with a 45 percent growth in buying second-hand in the past two years. This means that there is no longer a stigma around thrifting being only for those in a lower socioeconomic class. Rather, thrifting is embraced with open arms by all as people associate it with buying ‘vintage’, ‘authentic’, and ‘unique’ pieces.
Secondhand shopping cuts down on fast fashion demands and decreases the amount of clothes that end up in landfills every year. In the past five years, the number of shoppers who prefer to buy from environmentally friendly brands has increased from 57 to 72 percent. Through this, retailers and brands are realising that resale culture is the future, as the demand for ethical and sustainable options continues to grow. In fact, quite a lot of companies have set up a secondhand marketplace where consumers can sell and buy their favourite brand’s pieces, without the carbon emissions associated with production processes.
Worn Wear from Patagonia is probably the most widely known repair and resale program. Customers can trade in their used Patagonia branded gear and apparel for store credit to be inspected, cleaned & repaired, and resold.
As part of Mara Hoffman’s sustainability commitments, the designer has a marketplace dedicated to buying and selling pre-owned Mara Hoffman garments. Customers can resell their pre-owned garments that were purchased directly from marahoffman.com or from third-party retailers in 2019 or later. Shoppers can then purchase these garments directly from the resellers.
Another slow fashion designer is Eileen Fisher, who is dedicated to designing garments to last. So, it’s a natural extension of their mission to have a resale program to ensure that their pieces get the long life they were designed for. Customers can trade in used branded garments for credit and these are then sorted, cleaned, and resold.
These marketplaces are a great way for consumers to find sustainable fashion more affordably, and in an even more environmentally conscious manner, as well as representing an easy way to help already-owned pieces get a second life. Companies and brands can benefit from these initiatives not only economically, but also by gaining the support of an audience that is becoming more aware and conscious by the day.
People’s closets will be made up increasingly of second-hand items and items from new retail models such as subscription boxes and resale-focused websites. Consequently, the resale culture is now beginning to be large-scale, completely changing the culture of fashion by making the current linear model into a circular one.
(Information sourced on fashionunited.uk and consciousfashion.co)
(Featured image and photo 1: by cottonbro on pexels.com)
(Photo 2: by cottonbro on pexels.com)


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Shuttl, a bus-sharing start-up based out of Gurugram has reportedly raised $11 million through a series B venture funding round driven by Amazon India in association with Amazon Alexa Fund. The round also involved the participation of many other investors, namely Sequoia Capital, Times Internet, and Dentsu Ventures.
As per sources, the evolving start-up plans to use the funds for marketing, product development, and expansion in new cities. It will soon expand its services to newer routes and increase operational frequency of the buses in Delhi, the sources further claim.
Amit Singh, CEO and Co-Founder of Shuttl, was quoted saying that the company’s mission is to reduce the inconvenience caused during everyday commute and improve traffic condition in cities through advanced seat-based solutions. He added that the firm has already implemented the same on a large scale and will continue to live up to customer expectations through consistent enhancements.
Apparently, the everyday urban commute offered by Shuttl resolves a big pain point for regular commuters. According to Amit Agarwal, Country Head, Amazon India, the company’s journey so far has been rather impressive. Amazon is thrilled to extend its support to the founders and their team., he further claims.
For the uninitiated, the start-up was founded in April 2015, by two IITians Amit Singh and Deepanshu Malviya, after identifying a potential opportunity in Delhi’s transportation crisis. Shuttl offers an app-based office commute service which is convenient as well as cost-effective. Back then, the service had an edge over Taxi giants like Ola and Uber, as their now popular cab pooling services had not commenced.
As per reports, in a day Shuttl provides 45 thousand rides and has 800 buses covering over 150 routes. Its services are currently accessible in seven cities including Delhi-NCR and pilots in Kolkata and Pune.


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Scottish Widows Bank is being forced to revamp the execution-only equity release mortgage product it distributes with Saga, the service provider for elderly people.
The product was launched last summer but from October 31, when the FSA starts regulating lifetime mortgages, this type of delivery will be outlawed and people must receive advice.
Scottish Widows Bank business development director Gordon Bowden says: “We realise the product will have to change and are in discussions with Saga about it. We are also working closely with the FSA. We always recommend that customers see an IFA.”
Scottish Widows has been unable to become a member of Safe Home Income Plans, the body which promotes responsible lending in the equity release market, because of its execution-only product and the fact that customers are not required to seek independent legal advice.
SHIP chairman Jon King says he welcomes the scrapping of execution-only. Speaking at a Prudential round table discussion last week King described it as “an absolute no-no”.
Specialist IFA Key Retirement Solutions business development director Dean Mirfin adds: “There is no way we would do execution-only as it relies on the client to make the right decision.”


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UK-headquartered publisher and developer Codemasters has announced the acquisition of the publishing rights for MMORPG Rising Force Online
in North America and Europe. The Korean game, developed by CCR and originally released in 2004, features a 3D fantasy/steampunk environment for players to explore, and three available character races.
This license-based acquisition comes after last year's cancellation
of Codemasters' internally developed MMORPG project, Dragon Empires
. At the time, Codemasters stated that the cancellation would not affect the company's plans to move into the MMORPG market, and the Rising Force Online
move appears to bear that statement out. The project will be one of the first efforts released in the West via Codemasters' newly established online division
, with more MMO announcements possibly to come.
Rising Force Online
, which is one of the most popular MMO titles currently in release in South Korea, as well as one of the most technologically advanced, has also found a publisher in Japan, as Sega announced in June that it planned to release the game in that territory. The game is undergoing beta test in Japan prior to a planned fall 2005 debut. However, Codemasters, which recently announced
significant new funding to help the company expand, hasn't yet revealed a planned Beta or launch date for the Western incarnation of RF Online


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GDS wants to ‘get better’ at understanding local government’s needs
The Government Digital Service has said it wants to find out what technology councils need to buy, in a bid to make its Digital Marketplace procurement platform more attractive to local government.
The Digital Marketplace is a central platform where public sector organisations can buy digital and technology services with more than 3,300 supplier listed on it, but its take up in local government has been consistently low.
The most recent sales figures for the two Digital Marketplace platforms – for cloud services or digital services – show that around 23% of G-Cloud sales are to local government and the wider public sector, while the figure is 14% for the Digital Services Framework.
However, in a blogpost, Gemma Phelan, who works on local government engagement at GDS, said that this figure is “not very meaningful without context”.
For instance, she said, the data quality of who is buying what from where needs to be improved – which she said GDS was doing by linking up registers of various public sector buyers with databases of suppliers – and then mapped against users of the Digital Marketplace.
This extra information on where and how organisations are buying services will help GDS to offer better, and more targeted, support to local government, Phelan said.
Total G-Cloud sales approaching £1.4bn, government reveals
Leadership continuity for Digital Marketplace team as interim takes on full-time position
Commercialisation: Another string to councils' bows
Phelan added that the recently-published Local Government Digital Service Standard called for councils to take a more common approach to delivering digital services, saying: “Currently, there’s no real uniformity in the way digital services are delivered at a local level,” she said. “Councils and other government organisations routinely buy the same products and services independently, to achieve the same outcomes.”
She went on to say that the Digital Marketplace offered an “open and transparent” way to buy products that encouraged collaboration and learning from others’, adding that GDS wanted to make it the “preferred buying route for all public sector organisations”.
GDS wants to wants to create a plan to support local and other public sector bodies across the UK – which it will do by first asking those organisations what technology and digital services they need, and what barriers they face when using the Digital Marketplace.
“We want to understand the unique challenges they face when using the Digital Marketplace so we can work together to overcome these,” said Phelan.
“We’ll be feeding these back into the design and development of the Digital Marketplace where we can.”
Phelan also said that the Digital Marketplace would be updated to cut down the time spent on commissioning services by providing a full, end-to-end user journey that allowed buyers to evaluate a shortlist, notify successful suppliers and generate and sign a contract digitally.
Minister discusses need for new training campus and greater use of data in evaluation of projects
New HMRC system given more breathing room as Border Delivery Group moved from tax agency to Cabinet Office
Chair of arm’s-length body praises government response but identifies lower payments for recipients of legacy benefits as one of several ‘rough edges’
New teams, standards and projects are being launched, according to update provided to PAC
CyberArk's David Higgins explores the cyber risks of hiring independent contractors
CyberArk's John Hurst looks at the true cost of GDPR breaches
Locked down and forced to close clinics, the hospital trust enabled 2,000 employees to work from home and maintain continuity of services within 48 hours
University of Cambridge chose Citrix Workspace to deliver an efficient, sustainable desktop, and gained work-from-home continuity when Covid-19 struck


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If you read our review of the Firefox based Multiplayer Online Game PMOG last night and want to start playing right away, now you can. The company is allowing every user to invite two other users to the service, which makes it perfect for our InviteShare service. If you want an invitation, go here, sign up and leave your email address. Someone will soon send you an invitation. All we ask is that you confirm the invitation, and use the two invites to get more people in on InviteShare (you can invite people from your PMOG profile page, at the bottom). That way, everyone gets to check it out.
European VCs say Brexit is already impacting where new founders base their startups| Connie Loizos
DeepMind’s Mustafa Suleyman says general AI is still a long way off| Frederic Lardinois
Gett launches Gett Together carpooling service| Darrell Etherington, Ingrid Lunden
Volkswagen launches Moia, a new standalone mobility company| Darrell Etherington


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Updated March 24th, 2024 at 12:43 IST
Bosch, Samsung compete for Johnson Controls' HVAC assets
While Bosch, Lennox, and Samsung are among the frontrunners, additional bidders may emerge, and any potential deal is still several months away.
HVAC Assets in focus: Industrial giants Robert Bosch GmbH, Lennox International, and Samsung Electronics are reportedly in contention to acquire heating and ventilation assets valued at over $6 billion from Johnson Controls International, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Johnson Controls, based in Milwaukee, has been collaborating with advisors to offload its residential and light commercial businesses, including its US operations and a 60 per cent stake in an air-conditioning venture with Japan's Hitachi called Johnson Controls–Hitachi Air Conditioning, sources disclosed on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.
While Bosch, Lennox, and Samsung are among the frontrunners, additional bidders may emerge, and any potential deal is still several months away, the sources cautioned.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for Johnson Controls reiterated the company's commitment to streamlining its operations and maximising value for shareholders. The spokesperson stressed the company's ongoing evaluation of its portfolio to align with its transformation into a comprehensive solutions provider for commercial buildings.
Representatives for Bosch, Lennox, and Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Johnson Controls has been actively divesting non-core businesses as part of its strategic realignment efforts. Established in 1885, the company manufactures a diverse range of appliances and equipment for commercial buildings, as well as home comfort appliances.
Its offerings include electronic systems for various sectors such as ventilation, security, and fire detection.
Despite challenges, Johnson Controls' shares have experienced a modest rise of about 12 per cent since the beginning of the year, closing at $63.75 on Friday and boasting a market capitalisation of approximately $43 billion.
(With Reuters Inputs)
Published March 24th, 2024 at 12:43 IST


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Voice over Internet protocol specialist Vonage
That's why I'm not particularly surprised to see Vonage jumping all over the place before Wednesday morning's fourth-quarter report. For one, the company reports results just days before February's options expiration deadline. For another, Vonage's brand-new mobile calling app is only a couple of days old and already draws rave reviews. This could be the cell-minute avoidance tool that finally breaks the traditional mobile phone model's back.
Stepping back for a second: Analysts expect Vonage to deliver non-GAAP earnings of about $0.11 per share on sales of $218 million. That's essentially flat revenues year over year but nearly double the bottom-line income. Vonage's management doesn't do sales and earnings forecasts, but the company wants to hit adjusted EBITDA of at least $165 million for the full year, meaning $38 million or more in the fourth quarter. Besides that target, Vonage wants to see more gross line additions than it did a year ago.
In my view, Vonage's biggest problem is marketing. Sales numbers are going nowhere, though an annual customer churn of just 2.6% would turn nearly anybody green with envy. Verizon's
In short, once you go Vonage, you're not likely to go back. And yet, few people are taking that crucial first plunge. A successful set of mobile apps could help turn that tide, so this is an important marketing tool in a pretty empty toolbox.
Since Vonage's last earnings report, the stock plunged as far as 22% in December, only to come roaring back with a market-beating 24% gain in 2012. I wish I could tell you where this report will send the stock, but Vonage is far too volatile to play short-term guessing games with. The catalysts management has lined up will take awhile to play out, too.
What I can tell you is that my bullish CAPScall on this stock is doing well, and should continue doing so over the next few years as the company matures and figures out a workable marketing strategy. Add Vonage to your watchlist and keep an eye out for fresh subscriber additions. Vonage is playing the trillion-dollar mobile market from a totally different angle.


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Nulo and local retailer Lofty Dog, shared a booth at Austin’s Snout by SnoutWest dog festival this past weekend held at the Jewish Community Center.
It featured tons of vendors, a live Grateful Dead Cover band, and the highlight of the day – the dog derby races! Sounds serious but it was two dogs racing at a time from one set of cones to another at the finish line. It was not so much a race of max speed but more which dog was paying attention to their owner who was eagerly calling them to the finish line hoping the dogs didn’t get distracted by the plethora of other interesting things/smells/food/dogs going on all around. It was a lot of fun to watch since you never knew what the dogs were going to do besides run to the finish line, ha. We’re not even sure who won but it was funny stuff.
Nulo Brand Ambassador, Rebecca Klop, shared a booth with the owner of Lofty Dog, Jon – who she said “.. is so much fun!”
“It was a great partnership with Nulo encouraging customers to shop at this locally owned store and Lofty Dog encouraging folks to try Nulo, a local very premium dog food. Lots of dogs and their owners, lots of folks interested in Nulo and it seemed quite a few were already big fans,” said Rebecca.
One woman said her dog Gabby “didn’t eat anything” and it was such a struggle to get her to eat. She open a bag of the sample Nulo at the booth and the dog proceeded to devour the entire bag while she watched in amazement. “I love to take the picky dog challenge!” Rebecca exclaimed. It was a was a great endorsement for Nulo from newfound fan.


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HONG KONG – Cohn & Wolfe announced the appointment of Diana Pong as Managing Director of its Hong Kong office.
Pong will lead day-to-day business, focusing on business growth, client oversight and team development. She will also help build client partnerships across China, working with the agency’s teams in Shanghai and Beijing, as well as internationally. Pong will report to Angelina Ong, who was named President, Asia-Pacific earlier this year.
With 20 years of public relations experience, Pong has worked with notable brands such as Microsoft, Sony, LinkedIn, Canon, eBay, IBM, Lenovo and Philips. Prior to joining Cohn & Wolfe, Pong was Deputy General Manager at Waggener Edstrom Hong Kong, where she collaborated on establishing new business strategy and talent management. Previously, she held leadership positions at Edelman and PR People Consultancy.
“Hong Kong is a critically important market for the Asia-Pacific region and globally. I am excited to have Diana on board to elevate the office to the next level,” said Ong. “As a strong, experienced leader who has counseled dozens of high profile companies, particularly in Consumer and Technology, Diana will help grow new practices and offerings to meet client demands.”
The Hong Kong office has also brought on Winky Moon, who joins the leadership team as Director, Technology Practice. She will report to Pong and oversee key clients, new business and employee development. Moon started her career on the client side working for brands such as COACH, Saudi Aramco and Japan Tobacco. On the agency side, she has worked with many well-known brands such as Chevron, HSBC, Coca-Cola, VMware and Fuji Xerox (Hong Kong). Moon also joins Cohn & Wolfe from Waggener Edstrom, where she was Head of the Technology and Corporate Practices. Moon has a Graduate Diploma in Law and a Masters of Business Administration.
Cohn & Wolfe Hong Kong is known for its bold work for major domestic, regional and international brands across a number of sectors, including travel and tourism, automotive, fashion, retail and luxury goods, healthcare, technology, professional services and FMCG. In the past year, the Hong Kong team has been recognized with a string of major awards and recently won the Champions-Brand Award, the highest honor at the Hong Kong PR Awards, for its break-through 1600 Pandas Campaign.


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HR services provider Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s (ADP) third quarter results beat street estimates. The company lifted its earnings outlook for the year aided by new business bookings. Shares rose nearly 4% before the bell and were up 2.5% in the first hour of trading. Last month, ADP has raised its dividend by 10% to $0.69 per share, mainly due to the savings from the recent tax reforms. It also expects to increase the dividends in November based on the company’s performance.
ADP’s new business bookings rose 9% compared to negative 7% growth witnessed in the prior year period. The strong growth in bookings was a result of the strong labor market and more companies willing to outsource their HR services, which would help them to focus on their core business. The unemployment rate has been at 4.1% for the past six months, which is at 17-year low levels. Strong labor market would benefit ADP, as it increases the number of employees it’s serving. As a result, the company might witness a solid growth in new business bookings in the near future.
Adjusted earnings jumped 16% to $1.52 per share on revenues of $3.69 billion, which saw 8% growth. EBIT, on an adjusted basis, improved 8% to $901 million, but margins were down 20 basis points to 24.4% due to the impact from pass-through revenues and acquisitions.
Employee Services division, which used to provide HR management solutions, saw 7% growth in revenues. Client retention improved 170 basis points and the number of people served by ADP in the US improved 2.9% due to the stable labor market. Co-employment division PEO Services saw 10% revenue growth primarily driven by 9% increase in the number of people paid by the company.
For fiscal 2018, ADP expects the earnings to grow in the range of 11% to 12% on a GAAP basis and 16% to 17% on an adjusted basis, and maintains the revenue growth forecast to be between 7% and 8%. New business bookings are expected to be up in the range of 6% to 7% compared to previous guidance of 5% to 7%.
Last month, the IPO market was in a full swing. IPOs of Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) and JFROG (NASDAQ: FROG) had an impressive opening day in September, the former creating a
PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) beat market expectations on both revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2020. The company saw the momentum continue in its snacks business while the
With more and more people turning to virtual entertainment sources, amid the virus-related movement restrictions, video game publishers like Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) are witnessing unusually high demand. Not surprisingly,


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Sara Lee Adds General Counsel for "MeatCo"
06/01/2012 -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- Following up on yesterday's laundry list of appointments, Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) today announced that Kent Magill, 59, will become general counsel and corporate secretary of “MeatCo” (Sara Lee’s North American Retail and Foodservice business). Magill's appointment will take place after the spin-off of its International Coffee and Tea business on June 28, 2012. Magill will have responsibility for the company’s legal activities as well as global business practices. He will join Sara Lee on June 4, 2012, as senior vice president, general counsel, North America Retail and Foodservice, and will lead the North American business’ legal function. Magill will report to Sean Connolly, chief executive officer, Sara Lee North American Retail and Foodservice.
“Kent is a welcome addition to our team,” said Connolly. “I look forward to leveraging his broad experience and legal acumen as we continue to prepare for post-spin-off operation as an independent food company.”
Most recently, Magill was in private practice with Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, a firm based in Kansas City. Before joining the firm, Magill was executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Hostess Brands, Inc., one of the nation’s largest wholesale bakers and distributors of fresh-baked bread and sweet goods.
Prior to his work at Hostess, he was vice president, general counsel and secretary at Layne Christensen Company. His responsibilities included board governance, securities law compliance and domestic and international acquisitions. Before that, Magill spent 12 years at The Marley Company, his most recent role being vice president, associate general counsel, where his primary responsibilities included litigation, general corporate and acquisitions. He began his law career in a large general practice law firm.
Magill received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and his juris doctor from the University of Iowa. He also completed an executive business program at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
- Keurig Green Mountain 2013 Sustainability Report Reveals New 2020 Targets Keurig Green Mountain releases its 2013 Sustainability Report under its new corporate name.
- U-Swirl Acquires Beverage and "Gummies" Company Moxie toppings and Mr. Flav beverages will be introduced across the entire U-Swirl family of yogurt brands.
- BrightFarms Reopens Bucks County Greenhouse BrightFarms' Bucks County greenhouse supplies fresh produce to retail partners McCaffrey's Market and the Great Atantic & Pacific Tea Company.
For Email Marketing you can trust


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The disastrous Austrian wine scandal that shook the world in 1985 left a lasting mark on the industry: After it came out that wine was sweetened with toxic antifreeze, quality checks were tightened in Austria and are now among the strictest in the world. “A blessing in disguise,” as Luzia Schrampf, an Austrian wine journalist, calls it. Austrian wines recovered and are now well regarded. Yet some feel that for all the good they have done, the same regulations have created a new scandal, making it harder for unconventional wines to get recognized.
Wine wholesaler Moritz Herzog has even named his shop Weinskandal to raise the issue. “It is scandalous that technically perfect wines don’t get the recognition they deserve, hence the name of my business,” he says. “The current system dictates the taste; vintners have lost their freedom. We must talk about this.”
The problem stems from classification. To be designated as a Qualitätswein (quality wine), under EU-based Austrian law, you need to fulfill numerous regulations: acidity, sugar content, alcohol level, and so on. As a final sensory test, a panel of experts assesses the taste profile: Is this what people expect of, say, a Grüner Veltliner from the Wachau? Once passed, the vintner is allowed to state the place of origin on the label. If not, he may carry only the rather vague description Wein aus Österreich (Austrian wine) or Landwein (country wine).
With the rise of biodynamic and organic farming and low intervention winemaking, however, the sensory test has become a contested topic. Low intervention or natural wines are characterized by spontaneous fermentation, limited use of sulfites (a preservative) and, sometimes, the absence of filtration. As Herzog says, “I am selling wines that derive their power from the vineyard, not from the cellar.”
Consequently, taste profiles tend to be different from the norm that officials expect, despite often being excellent wines nonetheless. As the system aims to provide transparency, this poses the question of how natural wines could pass muster despite not conforming to standards.
A league of their own
Indeed, designation issues are at the forefront for many natural wine producers. Gerhard Pittnauer, a veteran vintner and member of Pannobile, a winemakers’ collective from Gols, Burgenland, actively pursues a change in the current method of sensory testing. One of his top wines passed the sensory test and was allowed to carry the region (Burgenland), the single origin (Ried Ungerberg) and the denomination Österreichischer Qualitätswein (Austrian quality wine) on its label. But other wines, such as Andreas Gsellmann’s 2013 Bio Traminer, singled out by Gault & Millau as alternative wine of the year 2015, can carry only the imprecise label Wein aus Österreich.
“Will the law ever change?” I asked Herzog. After a slight pause, he answers with a clear no. “There is too much at stake for the traditional winemakers. Besides, Austrians aren’t revolutionaries. Es sind Untertanen. (They are obedient.)”
But even if they were fighters, EU laws have to change first. Until then, adventurous drinkers will just have to take a chance on Wein aus Österreich.
Ungargasse 28 im Hof
1030 Vienna (Austria)
Tue – Fri: 16.00 – 19.00h
Weingut Brigitte und Gerhard Pittnauer
7122 Gols (Austria)
Weingut Gsellmann Andreas
Obere Hauptstrasse 38
7122 Gols (Austria)
A slightly altered version of this article was earlier published in Metropole – Vienna in English, May 2018 issue no. 27.


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Looking for some free food in Tampa? Tampa Bay visitors and residents can enjoy a FREE Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at Wendy’s this Super Bowl weekend in Tampa from Friday, February 5th to Sunday, February 7th.
To get the deal, head to a participating Wendy’s from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM to score the deal, available at restaurants only. Check your local Wendy’s as local breakfast hours may vary. No purchase is necessary. Limit of 1 free chicken biscuit per customer.
“Our starting breakfast menu line-up, including our popular Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit sandwich, beats the competition every time,” said Carl Loredo, Chief Marketing Officer for The Wendy’s Company.
“This weekend we are bringing a free Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit offer, exclusively in Tampa, so fans can enjoy the best breakfast in the game.”
100+ participating Tampa Bay-area Wendy’s restaurants will give the sandwiches away. To find your closest Wendy’s Tampa Bay location, visit locations.wendys.com.
Super Bowl LV, the 55th Super Bowl, will occur on Sunday, February 7th, 2021 at 6:30PM EST. The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face-off against each other at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Tampa Bay Quarterback Tom Brady will play his 10th Super Bowl. Festivities are planned all around town as the weekend approaches.
Food Industry Sees Growth in Breakfast Once Again
Wendy’s has seen success with their breakfast menu according to MEAT + POULTRY.
“Drive-thru options and the quality of items like the Breakfast Baconator and the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit helped breakfast sales surge, too. Breakfast accounted for 8% of total US sales for Wendy’s in the second quarter ended June 28, 2020. Consumer awareness that Wendy’s offers breakfast hovered at 50% in the quarter.”
Competitors such as McDonald’s have long capitalized on breakfast and other fast food giants such as Taco Bell and Chick-Fil-A continue to expand into this space.
In January McDonald’s said “U.S. same-store sales rose 5.5%--and more than 10% on a two-year basis—which helped the Chicago-based burger giant recover from the pandemic and earn its sixth straight year of comparable restaurant sales growth.”, according to the Restaurant Business Online.
The pandemic was a unique disruptor of breakfast for fast food companies who were witnessing a huge surge in sales before COVID-19. More employees working from home disrupted what would normally be a morning rush for coffee and breakfast before work.
Restaurant Dive reported in June 2020, “McDonald’s and Taco Bell have reported declining comp sales over the last three months due to poor breakfast performance, which is unlikely to change since many office workers will likely work from home for the foreseeable future. And Wendy’s had to shift its breakfast plans just weeks after its March launch.”
The lag seems to have dissipated as the pandemic begins to wind down and vaccinations pick up steam. More economies are open now and the stay-at-home orders are beginning to end, bringing cars and shoppers back out for breakfast again.
Photo Credit: Wendy's, ahmadfauzanarif3


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The company Future Make showcased Polychrome World new 3D-printer, a pen Polyes Q1, which, unlike other similar devices, do not use the heating element.
The starting material for producing a three-dimensional object is a special liquid resin, which is used to harden the ultraviolet radiation. Thus, manufacturers have gone from an extrusion technology, which uses a heating element capable of leaving the user’s skin burns. New also does not exude odors at work.
The creators Polyes Q1 plan to soon create a project on the service Kickstarter to raise funds for the release of their offspring. The estimated cost of such a portable 3D-printer is not reported.


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Kampala traders protest over Chinese, Indians hawkers
A number of shops mostly in downtown Kampala were still closed by 11am. ...
PHOTOS/ Petrer Ssaava
Traders in some parts of Kampala have protested over Chinese and Indians who they accuse of dealing in petty commodities.
Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, briefly spoke to the protesting traders. A number of shops mostly in downtown Kampala were still closed by 11am.
The traders led by their councilor, David Lwanga complained that they pay higher taxes to import goods from china, yet Chinese do not pay any taxes. However, when the Chinese bring their commodities, they sell them at a cheaper price than the Ugandan counterparts.
Bosco Lubwama, retail shop owner giving an example of viper venom tiles, he says Chinese sell them at sh18, 000 while Ugandans sell them at sh24, 000, which he said is not fair.
Ronald Kiwuwa, another trader said "If they are here as investors, let them go and start factories, production plants and leave retail business for Ugandans
Lwanga who was leading the demonstration was whisked away in a police car by the Central police Deputy Police commissioner (DPC) Joseph Bakaleke.
Bakaleke called the move as 'sectarian' move which should not be encouraged and urged people to remain calm, and advised those that wanted to reopen their shops to do so because their security was assured


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New Faces New Places: Handmade House launches online shop amid COVID-19 pandemic
"When COVID hit there were a lot of decisions that needed to be made and one of them was to go online — and that was quite a significant change to go from handmade bills to the new computer system and then online."
After 50 years selling local art on Saskatoon’s Broadway Avenue, Handmade House now has a second home — on the World Wide Web.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the artist cooperative that represents around 80 artists from across the province went from a business without a computer to one with a fully functional online presence in just a few weeks, says Cindy Wright, one of the shop’s artisans and working members.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“Just at the turn of this year we got a new consignment till and it has really streamlined everything and brought us into the 21st century,” she said laughing. “And then when COVID hit there were a lot of decisions that needed to be made and one of them was to go online — and that was quite a significant change to go from handmade bills to the new computer system and then online.”
Wright adds that, without the pandemic acting as a catalyst, the online shop may not have happened — at least for a while.
“It really launched us into what we needed to do,” Wright said.
One of the most important aspects of creating the online shop was making sure the business could give customers a similar experience to shopping in-store. Though online browsers can’t smell the cedar and beeswax that permeates the air of the Broadway location, the Handmade House team is focused on making sure the photography of each item makes it feel like you can pick it up and touch it.
“The key to being successful with online (sales) is having really good photographs,” Wright said. “We actually have an in-house photographer and she just has a simple little backdrop and is able to pull things together and stage them so beautifully.”
With the cooperative offering shipping to locations from British Columbia to Manitoba, it’s a great option for sending gifts to loved ones who may not have been able to make it to Saskatchewan during the pandemic.
Wright said the shop has most of its stock available to view and purchase to its website, with more items arriving all the time. But transitioning to online sales hasn’t all been smooth sailing; because there are different members working in the shop each day, they have to be diligent about keeping stock updated so as to not sell one-of-a-kind pieces twice.
If online shopping isn’t your thing, Handmade Home’s gallery-style storefront is still open Wednesdays through Saturdays. Wright says the space has been quieter than usual this year, given the pandemic.
“This should be our high season so we are feeling it,” she said. “Usually we have a lot of tourists during the summer, but we are fortunate that the locals see a benefit of (supporting) local to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan … more people are coming in and appreciating our products — knowing that if they are going to come in and buy a gift, that it’s made with love.”
The local support extended to the co-operative’s landlord — Jana Ellis from Bill’s House of Flowers — who gave the business a break on rent while shops were closed during the pandemic, allowing members to make the pivot to online sales without as much stress.
Now that Handmade House is back up and running in-store as well as online, Wright says the cooperative is always looking for new artists interested in selling work on consignment. As an artist herself, she says showcasing and selling her work in the shop has not only been a financial boost, but also a creative one.
“I love walking in here to know I am part of a bigger picture,” she said. “Artists are generally very solo as we produce our work so stepping into this store and being surrounded by such skill and creativity is just energizing — and I think a lot of people pick up on that and get excited when they walk in here.”
Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Check Facebook and Instagram


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Coronavirus drains out this much money from your pocket; people in these states lose most
If you are living in Goa, Delhi, Chandigarh, or Haryana, you may end up losing up to nearly Rs 1 lakh this year due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The per capita loss for all India is around Rs 27,000 with states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi, Haryana, Goa, etc, exhibiting loss of more than Rs 40,000 per person in FY21, said the SBI research report. The state-wise analysis has also shown that the top 10 states accounted for 73.8 per cent of total GDP loss with Maharashtra contributing 14.2 per cent of total loss followed by Tamil Nadu (9.2 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (8.2 per cent).
While the economic downturn due to early effects of the pandemic was already strong enough to shatter the Indian economy, the rising number of cases and unavailability of clear projection of the peak have further shot up the economic woes. Our earlier GDP estimate at -6.8 per cent has been significantly overshot in FY21, the report added. It has suggested that the total SGDP loss due to COVID-19 is at 16.8 per cent of GSDP.
Coronavirus is significantly moving towards India’s rural areas as total new cases have risen to 54 per cent in August. While the urban counterpart was struggling through the disruptions in business and industries and the agriculture sector from the hinterland was believed to be leading the country’s economic growth, now new worry has surrounded India’s overall economic landscape. Adding to the woes, state-wise additional mortality in addition to Covid-related deaths due to a 10 per cent decline in SGDP showed a worrisome picture and indicated that mortality rates may increase by 0.5-3.5 per cent additionally due to unplanned exit from lockdowns and unplanned entry into fresh lockdowns across states.
Meanwhile,.the change in consumption habits during the lockdown is the need of the hour as services are not getting consumed. Based on SBI-computed Covid CPI, the actual headline inflation is much higher than the imputed inflation. The SBI research has estimated that July CPI could be higher than 7.5 per cent, instead of 6.9 per cent computed earlier.


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Mr. B.K. Karna, Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, V.S. Raju, President, FAPCCI, Mr. V. Anil Reddy, Chairman, Energy Committee, Mr. M.V. Rajeshwara Rao, Secretary General, Mr. S.S. Raju, MD, Progrssive Packaging Private Limited, Mr. Shanthanu, Executive Officer, Reddy Labs has addressed the media.
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh – We are happy to inform you, that IIP Alumni Association is an offshoot of Indian Institute of Packaging, an Autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India. They have been rendering the sacred duty of indoctrinating Training, Testing, Consultancy, Research & Development in the field of Packaging.
The Alumni Association, in Conjunction with IIP has been rendering Yeoman service to Industry, Commerce & Trade, in spreading Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship Development to the packaging Industry, in general, and for the Preservation of our Precious planet, from Exploitation. In fact, our goal is aimed at a total green revolution.
Packaging Industry is considered to be a sunrise Industry, with a total turnover of 14 billion US dollars and it is expected to reach about 18 billion dollars by the year 2015. The Industry is growing at a rate of 15% annually.
We may kindly take liberty to inform you, that the Hyderabad Centre of IIP was inaugurated by the Late Lamented Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister Of Andhra Pradesh on 24th March, 2006. In other words, we have completed six successful years of service, in achieving the above objectives.
This year, we, at the Alumni Association, have taken the Initiative, to celebrate the event as “WORLD PACKAGING DAY” with a “PACK –WALK” at the Necklace Road, which starts at 9 Am on 24th March, 2012, from the People’s Plaza to the Large Circle of NTR Marg and back to the People’s Plaza, in Association with Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI).
We have invited Sri Kasu Venkat Krishna Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Cooperation as Chief Guest for the Occasion.
Happy to inform that the country has got the “BEST” Institute in the field of packaging with large infrastructural facilities for the dissemination of knowledge and information in packaging. And thus, today, the country has become the “GLOBAL HUB” for the supply of all types of packaging materials and as well as packaging education through Indian Institute of Packaging.
Keep More update about Personality Development.ReplyDelete


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First Bitcoin Exchange Launching in Egypt
A cryptocurrency startup called Bitcoin Egypt is launching the first bitcoin exchange in the country this month. News.Bitcoin.com talked to co-founder Rami Khalil to find out more about the exchange as well as the bitcoin scene in Egypt.
Also read: Hedge Funds Investing in Cryptocurrencies ‘Exploding’ – 62 in Pipeline
Bitcoin Exchange Launching in Egypt
Founded by Rami Khalil and Omar Abdelrasoul, Bitcoin Egypt plans to launch a bitcoin exchange this month. “The tentative launch date is the 31st of August. We will definitely at least go into alpha testing at that time if we are not fully operational,” Khalil told news.Bitcoin.com.
He claims that it will be the first in the country. “There were no prior (registered) exchanges before,” he detailed, citing “everything operates peer-to-peer and under the radar now. It’s currently a ‘black’ market in Egypt.”
At launch, the exchange will only support trading between the Egyptian pound and bitcoin. “The fees will be a fraction of the transaction size (<0.25%),” Khalil said. The company plans to add support for ether, other altcoins, as well as other fiat currencies in the near future, followed by a payment service next year.
Only “rudimentary contact information (full name, ID numbers, address, etc..)” will be collected by the exchange, he detailed, adding that “since bitcoin is technically a commodity in Egypt, we’re not bound to any formal KYC/AML regulations.” Moreover, he said “we will only be doing it to deter potential money launderers from abusing anonymity on our exchange, and to of course be roughly prepared for any future regulations set by the Egyptian government.”
The bitcoin ecosystem in Egypt is currently small with only a handful of traders listed on Localbitcoins. However, Khalil said “there are a few hundred people actively using and trading bitcoin on a daily basis in Egypt on online forums.” As for merchant adoption, he said it is “virtually non-existent,” noting that “people generally assume it’s taboo. We’re of course looking to change that outlook, and improve adoption.”
Last week, Chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority (EFSA) Sherif Samy reiterated that digital currencies such as bitcoin and ether are not authorized or supervised by the authorities, according to local publications. With the absence of legal and loss protection, any dealings with them carry significant risks, the chairman noted.
In June, there were reports that suggested that the central bank was considering allowing the circulation and trading of digital currencies, which the bank’s deputy governor Lobna Helal promptly denied.
“The central bank rejected this currency because the state can control the local and foreign traditional currencies, and can impose certain fees on their movement and transfer to and from Egypt,” banker and economist at Zagazig University Ashraf Ibrahim told Al-Monitor. With state-controlled currencies, “the central bank can tax the investment and trade activities generated by those funds, but cannot do the same with bitcoin,” he asserted.
No Digital Currency Laws Currently
Khalil told news.Bitcoin.com that “from personal contacts, the Ministry of Finance fully understands what bitcoin is, and only has problems with its potential for money laundering,” adding that:
Formally, there are zero laws or regulations in place about digital assets/cryptocurrency. We’re hoping to help shape their views and provide any assistance where needed.
He then noted that “the local banks have been very firm in asserting that they have no plans to start providing bitcoin services themselves and that they will never consider it a currency, but so far no one has turned us away from opening a bank account in our company’s (very explicit) name.”
Do you think bitcoin can take off in Egypt? Let us know in the comments section below.
Images courtesy of Shutterstock and UASA
Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check our tools section.


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Tags: track-mounted portable and stationary jaw and impact crushing equipment
Dan Slife, previously with Terex, has recently been named international sales /application sales engineer for Lippmann Milwaukee Inc., a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of crushing equipment that serves the aggregate, recycle crushing, and mining industries. Lippmann is currently increasing its presence in the ...
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JuneFabrics has released a significant update to their PdaNet tethering app for iPhone which lets you hide your tethering usage from carriers.
Let me clear this up straight. No, the phone you see in the screenshot is not a jailbroken iPhone 4, but rather a jailbroken iPhone 3GS, running iOS 4.
Executives at Ma Bell would definitely say so. The company is noted to have been working on improving the network infrastructure in several high iPhone density areas in the past few months. The results have been positive with many of our readers noticing fewer dropped calls and better reliability on an average.
Despite the improvements seen in AT&T’s network, the company is yet to allow iPhone tethering to their customers. The feature, that was introduced in iPhone OS 3.0, allows users to connect their iPhone as a wireless internet modem to surf the internet on other devices like the laptop. AT&T has noted that iPhone tethering may lead to a terrific rise in network data usage that could potentially cripple the company’s wireless infrastructure. This is despite promises made by AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega in November 2008 that tethering on iPhone shall be made available “soon”.
“Don’t want to spend an extra $130 on the iPad 3G? Then use MyWi to tether your iPhone’s 3G Internet Connection to your iPad. This will also save you an additional $30 per month. This video will show you how to tether your iPhone’s 3G or EDGE Data Connection to your iPad. This works on all iPhones-iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS. Data tethering using MyWi works on any WiFi enabled device. MyWi creates a WiFi network out of your cellular data connection. You can also set up a WEP key so that the network will have a password.”


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Samsung is dealing with another smartphone snafu with the rollout of a key feature on its upcoming new Galaxy S8 phones.
Bixby, the artificially intelligent assistant Samsung touted as one of the star features of the new devices, won't completely make its debut when customers get their hands on the phones on April 21.
Customers in the U.S. won't be getting the voice feature, which as any Alexa, Siri, Cortana, or Google aficionado knows is a key part of maximizing your experience with a virtual assistant.
"I think that what this underlines is the fact that Samsung is a hardware company and obviously it is trying hard to make this transition to software and services," Geoff Blaber, an analyst at CCS Insight, told NBC News.
However, at launch, customers will be able to access features such as vision, which lets Bixby tell you about that landmark or item you're looking at, and home, which will give you smart reminders and other relevant information.
A Samsung representative told NBC News that voice support for the English language should be rolled out "later this spring."
The delay doesn't come as a complete surprise. At a briefing in San Francisco last month, NBC News was shown choreographed demos of Bixby's capabilities, but wasn't allowed to try out the feature.
If you were looking forward to Bixby, the Google Assistant should be a worthy replacement on your new Android device while you wait.
"Most consumers view assistants as being voice-based and that is the primary means of interaction, so not having voice from day one is going to create further confusion," Blaber said.
He added that stumbling blocks, such as the Bixby delay, should be expected when dealing with artificial intelligence. And when you finally see it, don't expect perfection, he said.
"When you look at AI broadly, the functionality is always improving over time," he said. "If anything, AI defines the concept of a product that is not the same on day two as it was on day one."
Last month, InJong Rhee, Samsung's executive vice president, laid out big plans for Bixby in a blog post.
"In the future you would be able to control your air conditioner or TV through Bixby," he said. "As the Bixby ecosystem grows, we believe Bixby will evolve from a smartphone interface to an interface for your life."


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With the fitness tracking wearable market gaining momentum in India, Fitbit has now launched the stylish Fitbit Alta HR in the country. The device, which is the successor to the earlier Alta, flaunts the PurePulse technology which enables the device to continuously monitor the heart rate.
Fitbit has announced the launch of the Fitbit Alta HR, which is touted to be the world’s slimmest wrist-based, continuous heart rate tracking device. The device employs the PurePulse heart rate technology to detect heart rate variability to estimate the amount of time in light, deep and REM sleep, as well as time awake each night to better understand the sleep quality.
Based on the Sleep Stages, the Fitbit Alta HR uses the Fitbit data to provide personalized guidance on how to improve sleep for better overall health. The company developed a one-of-a-kind chip for the Fitbit Alta HR that reduced the size and number of components needed, achieving a 25 percent slimmer design than Fitbit Charge 2.
The Fitbit Alta HR offers automatic exercise recognition, sleep tracking and promises up to 7 days’ battery life. The device can also measure non-step based exercise like yoga and spinning. Users can also see real-time heart zones on the wrist and exercise summaries in the Fitbit app.
The Fitbit Alta HR is priced at Rs. 14999 and would go up for pre-order on Amazon.in from March 15 to 31. It will be available exclusively on Amazon.in from April 1 to 15. Post that, the wearable would be available across major India retailers including Reliance Digital, Croma, Helios, Jumbo and Vijay Sales retail stores.
The Special Edition Alta HR (in Gun Metal and Rose Gold) is priced at Rs. 16999. The wearable would come with removable bands with the Classic fitness bands priced at Rs. 2999, Luxe Leather bands priced at Rs. 5999 and the Luxe Metal Bracelet priced at Rs. 9999.