text:
3D printing creates high-tech chef's knife
Knife specialist NextGen believes that it's time for knives to get a high-tech design upgrade. Ask almost any chef to show you their hand, for...
iPhone 6 in India takes a turn for the worse, decides to explode on the road
Exploding smartphones aren't exactly a common occurrence, especially in India, but that's exactly what happened to Kishan Yadav's iPhone 6, reports...
Apple Watch competition: Android Wear still kicking
You might be forgiven for thinking that the Apple Watch is the only smartwatch worth buying. But watches running Android Wear are alive, kicking,...
Angry Uber protests spark Paris travel chaos
Angry protests against Uber have sparked travel chaos in Paris as French taxi drivers launched a nationwide strike against the popular U.S.-based...
Norwegian security probes conclude: no eavesdropping found in central Oslo
Norway's domestic intelligence agency says there are no illegal listening devices in central Oslo, near government buildings, Parliament or...
Apple may be planning to completely change the look and feel of the iPhone -- here’s how
Hopeful iPhone fans looking forward to Apple making curved smartphones will have to wait a while before that happens, a new report from South...
US Army, Air Force, test lasers for high-tech bomb disposal
The U.S. Army and Air Force are harnessing laser technology for bomb disposal in an ambitious project to minimize the risks posed by explosive...
What are broadband data caps, and should you be concerned about them?
Are you among the growing number of people who are streaming more and more content each month?
IBM and Bon Appétit's Chef Watson app cooks up some surprising dishes
Meet Chef Watson, the most versatile culinary genius around. On Tuesday, tech giant IBM and foodie magazine Bon Appétit announced the public...
Mammoth study finds Sprint’s 4G network is the worst -- and it’s not even close
In a mammoth study comparing mobile data speeds of U.S.-based carriers across various cities, Verizon emerged victorious more often than not. But...
Big ISPs are cheating us on Internet speeds we pay for, report says
Thanks to new FCC rules put out this year to ensure net neutrality and keep all online data equal, major Internet service providers (think Verizon,...
Lenovo's first PC on a stick costs $129, runs Windows 10, even has a speaker
Lenovo has officially entered the PC stick game with the announcement of the Ideacentre Stick 300 on June 23.


text:
Mavis Bank Coffee Factory implements measuresSunday, March 22, 2020
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Mavis Bank Coffee Factory (MBCF) says it has implemented a range of safety measures and modified protocols to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect the health and welfare of all coffee industry interests.
CEO and Managing Director of MBCF, Norman Grant said the measures are in keeping with protocols advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to arrest the global pandemic and advisories by the Jamaican government with regard to travel restrictions on residents of earmarked countries, among others.
The actions include the banning of factory tours; the installation of additional sanitization stations and water stations; the holding of strategy meetings with all staff members; the development of a medical declaration form for all staff; and social distancing has been introduced for both staff and any other individuals doing business with the company as well as the development of work from home policy.
The MBCF said the measures were implemented over the past three weeks.
Other measures included advising any staff that feel unwell to remain at home; the curtailment of field visits by officers and the restriction in the collection of coffee berries to 10:00pm at the tank, while regular deliveries from farmers will be cut off at 6:00pm.
In terms of quality control testing whereby expert tasters (cuppers) taste batches of coffee to ensure its consistency and quality, Grant said training sessions were held to ensure that there was no chance of contact between the spoon and the cupper and the existing protocol was modified to maintain the highest sanitary safety among them, including the use of individual shot glasses for tasters.
Grant said the measures were critical to preserve the industry at this time of high risk and to protect the best interests of all coffee stakeholders.
“I wish to urge all the players in the coffee industry to observe these protocols fully so that we can come out of it intact and ready to continue building the sector as soon as possible,” Grant said.
Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at https://bit.ly/epaper-login

domain: news


text:
Kripalu currently serves as the managing director and global CEO of EPL, the world’s largest speciality packaging company
The appointment comes as the foodtech giant prepares for a public listing, which is likely to happen in mid-2024
Kripalu’s appointment at the helm of Swiggy’s board also comes after several top-level exits at the foodtech giant
Foodtech decacorn Swiggy has appointed FMCG veteran Anand Kripalu as an independent director and the chairperson of its board of directors to strengthen its board ahead of its initial public offering (IPO).
Kripalu, who currently serves as the managing director and global CEO of the world’s largest speciality packaging company EPL, is an IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta alumnus. He also completed an advanced management program at Wharton Business School.
“Swiggy has transformed food and grocery delivery in the country, bringing unparalleled convenience to millions of homes. I am honoured to join its accomplished board, and look forward to lending my experience and perspective as Swiggy shapes the future of convenience”, Kripalu said on his appointment.
Before leading EPL, he was the MD and CEO of alcoholic beverage major Diageo India. He also held leadership positions at Mondelez International and Unilever in the past.
Commenting on the appointment, Sriharsha Majety, cofounder and group CEO of Swiggy, said, “I’m pleased to have Anand Kripalu join as an independent director and chairperson of the Swiggy board. Anand is a veteran in the consumer goods industry, and his deep knowledge and perspective will be instrumental in guiding Swiggy as we continue to innovate and redefine the on-demand delivery landscape in India.”
The appointment comes as the foodtech giant prepares for a public listing next year. The listing, likely to happen in mid-2024, is already being touted as the biggest IPO by an internet company next year, with an issue size of $1 Bn (INR 8,300 Cr).
Earlier this year, the company also appointed three new independent directors on its board – Delhivery MD and CEO Sahil Barua, TAFE MD and chairman Mallika Srinivasan, and Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates chairman Shailesh Haribhakti.
Swiggy competes with Zomato in India’s food delivery market, which is largely a duopoly. However, both have also been facing competition from the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
While Zomato reported two back-to-back profitable quarters in FY24, Swiggy claimed to have achieved profitability in its food delivery business as of March 2023. However, there have been no further updates from the company on this front.
Swiggy is yet to file its FY23 financial statements. However, its investor Prosus, in its annual report, noted that the food delivery firm’s loss widened by 80% in 2022 and that its share of loss increased to $180 Mn in 2022 from $100 Mn in 2021 mainly due to investments in quick commerce business, Instamart.
In FY22, Swiggy’s net loss jumped 2.2X to INR 3,628.9 Cr from INR 1,616.9 Cr in FY21 as its expenses more than doubled. The SoftBank-backed decacorn’s revenue from operations rose 124% to INR 5,704.9 Cr from INR 2,546.9 Cr in the previous year.
Kripalu’s appointment also comes after several top-level exits at the foodtech giant. Most recently, senior vice president Karthik Gurumurthy left the startup to work on his venture in the foodtech space. He is also said to have talked with multiple venture capital (VC) firms, including Matrix and Accel, to fund his new startup.


text:
Furla brought blossoms and butterflies to fete its one and only Florida store. The Bologna, Italy-based accessories brand and its chief executive officer of the Americas, Scott Link, hosted back-to-back events on July 12: a brunch at its new, nearly 1,200-square-foot location in Aventura Mall, and a sit-down dinner with a flower stand for press and influencers to make their own bouquets at Soho Beach House. The summery theme referenced pre-fall 2018’s women’s bags printed and embellished with florals and butterflies from studs to leather appliqués.
“Our DNA is grounded in quality, colorful creativity, joyfulness and an Italian lifestyle — all of which will resonate with Floridians,” said Alberto Camerlengo, ceo of the Furla Group, of reentering the strong market. (The company previously operated at the Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables, Fla.) “We found the perfect location at Aventura Mall. The area has a robust local and tourist economy. We are always looking for optimal locations.”
Furla’s sixth full-price store in the U.S. opens at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., in September. It will feature the new store design prototype of durmast oak accented with Champagne-colored metal, which debuted at Aventura. There’s also a yearlong pop-up in the Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas.
Camerlengo said business has been brisk at Miami wholesale accounts including Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s. Customers are responding to pre-fall’s Mughetto top handle bag and Metropolis S crossbody; hands-free looks, and day-to-night, convertible styles. Aventura carries the full assortment encompassing scarves, jewelry, key rings and men’s leather accessories but isn’t considered a flagship like the Fifth Avenue location in New York. Located on Aventura Mall’s upper level, the store is flanked by Kiehl’s and Coach and sits across from Swarovski and Chanel.
“The state as a whole is enjoying population growth, and the Miami area is among the fastest-growing, multicultural cities in the U.S. We want to be part of this growth,” said Camerlengo, who sees similarities between South Florida and Southern California. “Furla has wholesale accounts in the Los Angeles area, but this will be our first store in California. We are a global brand, and it was so important for us to have a freestanding store on the West Coast.”


text:
This $9 computer wants to 'work, play and everything in between'
A $9 computer seeking crowd-funding right now is making waves in the technology world because of its promise of being able to do anything an ordinary computer could do, while still fitting with ease into the palm of your hand and carrying that low price.
Forget fish, investors make a meal of pocket-sized $9 CHIP computerThe Register
Fed up with expensive phones and laptops? This computer costs €8Yahoo News UK
Chip is World's cheapest computer with 1 GHz processor and 512 MB Ram for a …Techworm
Hot Hardware –TechCrunch –Tech Cocktail
all 51 news articles »
Source: Tech News


text:
Time to go grab the latest Game Informer magazine. New scans online confirm that Jade and Goro are both in the game (they were leaked awhile ago). The article mentions that Goro is currently not playable and that they currently don’t expect him to be. They also tease that other -alities may be in the game, but that they wouldn’t tell anyone about it if it were.
In less exciting news, Boon talks a lot about DLC characters being something they’re focused on. That the roster can always change and may never be final. DEFINITELY not something I’m looking forward to in a game I hope to be tourney competitive.


text:
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): On one hand, the IMC is holding almost daily meetings and devising strategies to combat vector-borne diseases, and on the other, they have turned a blind eye to a mosquito breeding ground situated a stone's throw away from busy Regal Square.
The spot is situated behind the shops selling snacks on the service road of the Shastri Bridge. Behind these shops there is an open area that is used by garage owners of the area, who come and repair their vehicles there.
It is also a dumping ground of garbage of the shops as a result of which there is a pile of rotting garbage, stagnant rainwater and scrap dumped there. Since no one cleans the area, it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquito larvae can be seen thriving in stagnant pools of water.
The shopkeepers in the area said that earlier teams used to come for fogging and sprinkling pesticides but nowadays no one from the IMC comes there. The mechanics said that they themselves burn the clothes for fogging the area. They also alleged that IMC vehicles do not pick the garbage from the area.
IMC official Brajlal Vishnar said they are fogging and spraying insecticide all over the city, and they will send a team to the area mentioned.


text:
Enrollment has opened for the first three online courses of a 10-course “101” series focused on harnessing data to make American factories more efficient and competitive.Developed in partnership with the University at Buffalo (UB) under coordination of its Center for Industrial Effectiveness for the Coursera platform, Digital Manufacturing and Design
Developed for both students and workers, the series will introduce a broad range of digital manufacturing and design technologies, and demonstrate how they can be used throughout a product’s lifecycle.
UB faculty designed the curriculum alongside industry partners, including Siemens PLM, SME, the Association for Manufacturing Technology, Moog Inc. and Buffalo Manufacturing Works. Its development was funded with a $380,000 award from the Chicago-based Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute, a UI LABS collaboration.
“Workforce development is critical to maintaining American manufacturing competitiveness,” said Caralynn Nowinski Collens, CEO of UI LABS. “It is also important that the collaborative
knowledge DMDII gains through university, industry, startup and government collaboration reach as many people as possible.”
The course modules will introduce digital manufacturing and design technologies, which use data to connect and improve each stage of the manufacturing process. For example, one module will explain how to upgrade legacy machines so they capture information about their production and performance. Another module on cyber-physical security will cover how to ensure these internet-connected devices are protected from hacking.
After completing the series, known as a “specialization,” participants will earn a certificate in digital manufacturing and design.
“For decades universities and factories were worlds apart, but the speed of innovation is drawing them closer and closer,” said Liesl Folks, dean of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “Creating a first-of-its-kind, impactful curriculum on digital manufacturing is an important step in strengthening and retraining our manufacturing employment base.”
The courses will be offered on Coursera, the world’s largest platform for MOOCs. Individual course content, including videos and readings, can be accessed at no cost; the fee to enroll in the series, with access to all assignments and the opportunity to earn a specialization completion certificate, is $49 per month.
Learn more at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Technology Specialization page.


text:
Bulgaria expected to top global producers of lavender for fourth year running
Rolling purple fields, heady aromas and trampling in distillery vats: but this isn't the south of France, this is Bulgaria's Rose Valley, set to become the world's top lavender oil producer for the fourth year running.
The oil, used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, has long been the calling card of Provence. But Bulgaria's budding producers have taken advantage of flagging French production to seize the number one spot in recent years.
Soil in the Rose Valley is light enough for the crop to flourish, while weather conditions in May and June nourish lavender yielding a high oil percentage.
Head of the distillery, Fillip Lissicharov, said that the country's exports are flourishing so much that France itself is buying up supplies.
"Our production has grown from 30 tons to over 150 tons this year. Quality of the Bulgarian lavender oil is excellent; it is compared to the French top quality. This is the so-called traditional Bulgarian lavender oil. However there are some new plantations in northern Bulgaria which are not up to that quality. Bulgaria has overpassed France in terms of production, due to the disease which is in France for the past seven, eight years. We have good specialists to keep control of the quality. Our company is producing lavender oil for over 20 years, and our main customers are based in France, United States and Asia," he said.
Harvesting takes place from July to August, and despite the increasing use of machinery, many Bulgarians still pick by hand.
To watch the interview with Mr.Filip Lissicharov, please follow the link: http://uatoday.tv/society/bulgaria-expected-to-top-global-producers-of-lavender-for-fourth-year-running-457454.html
< Enio Bonchev’s Rose oil in the register of Protected Geographical indications
Facebook Page >


text:
Snoring is costing Irish people nearly three weeks of sleep per year
As Stop Snoring Week kicks off, a whopping 87 percent of Irish people have admitted that their partner’s snoring stops them from enjoying a well-earned rest at night. This is leaving them feeling annoyed (46%) frustrated (45%) and even stressed out (28%).
It’s a widespread problem, with 91% of Irish people saying that they or their partner regularly snores, with most saying their noisy partner wakes them at least twice a night. As a result, nearly a quarter (24%) of the sleepless people polled said their partner's snoring leaves them unable to concentrate at work the following day.
With nearly one in ten people having even considered splitting-up due to the night-time disturbance, audiology experts at Specsavers are keen to remind people that one simple device could save all this hardship – the ear plug. A range of hearing protection is available at Specsavers stores across Ireland and this simple solution can help the long-suffering partner get a decent night’s sleep.
Specsavers Ireland Audiology Chairperson, Martina McNulty, said: "This research shows the significant impact that being exposed to snoring can have on your sleep and your general health and wellbeing.
"There’s no doubt that some snoring can cause considerable disruption, but it will sound even louder because there are no other ambient, background noises in the room. All you can hear is the snoring, which can be incredibly frustrating and stressful.
"If you are struggling to get a peaceful night sleep, there are some easy solutions. Earplugs are a great way to block out any noise that may be keeping you up, and they should feel comfortable in your ears, no matter how you sleep.
"Not only can they help with snoring, they can block out any other noise that may be keeping you up, such as noisy neighbours, busy streets and loud traffic."
The effects of snoring to both snorer and their partner are wide ranging and could be much more common than people think. According to the data, the average Irish person can lose up to a staggering 414 hours of sleep every year or 17 days. This works out at 68 minutes of lost sleep per night.
It’s no surprise that almost half (48%) of Irish people believe that their hearing may have even been damaged by snoring. As a result, a fifth (22%) say they are going to wear earplugs in the future or get a hearing test (21%).
Many of those kept awake take matters into their own hands and try to combat snoring, with 49% admitting to elbowing their partner, 44% rolling them over, and 42% giving them a gentle kick to make them stop.
The noises can be irritatingly varied too. A third (37 percent) described their partner's snoring as a low rumble while 14 percent said their partners snoring sounds like a lawn mower.
For more information visit your local Specsavers store or their website here


text:
On credit-building and building better financial habits: A closer look at Experian’s new checking account
- Experian launched the Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account and debit card to improve access to credit-building solutions.
- The new checking account features Experian Boost with a focus on the consumer segment just starting out on their financial wellness journey as well as Gen Z, who are new to building their creditworthiness.
Americans racked up more than $1 trillion of credit card debt in the second quarter, followed by the resumption of federal student loan payments at the end of the third quarter in September. As a result, consumers have fallen into a quagmire of confusion – challenged with balancing their finances and paying down debt. All of this is impacting their credit health.
Experian launched the Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account and debit card to help alleviate some of this burden and improve access to credit-building solutions.
Consumers can enroll in a free or paid Experian membership to open an Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account. From there, they can access other features and tools including Experian Boost, a FICO score-boosting feature that is embedded in the digital checking account.
There are no monthly fees or minimum balances on the account. Consumers who set up direct deposit can get their paycheck up to two days early and a bonus of $50. Additionally, consumers will receive a virtual debit card that they can add to their digital wallets and can also request a physical card after funding their account.
The key feature of the new checking account
Launched in 2019, Experian Boost is a free feature within the Experian membership product that allows consumers to contribute positive payments for eligible bills such as utilities and residential rent to their Experian credit files – to potentially increase their credit scores. The process allows consumers to connect their existing bank account and credit cards to Experian Boost and permits Experian to identify relevant payments for reporting. Once consumers opt-in to add the eligible payments to their Experian credit file, Experian Boost will continue to monitor the account for payments made. Consumers have control to remove or add accounts at any given time.
Experian Boost is specifically embedded in the new checking account with a focus on the consumer segment just starting out on their financial wellness journey, those who already have a credit profile and are looking to build their credit history and increase their credit scores, or Gen Z, who are new to building their creditworthiness.
Account holders who make at least three eligible monthly bill payments with their Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account are eligible to raise their FICO score through Experian Boost, free of charge.
More than 14 million consumers are already connected to Experian Boost via their existing external checking account or credit card. However, now they have the option to consolidate and pay all their eligible bills from a single checking account.
“We’ve made it convenient to pay Experian Boost-eligible bills from one account and have those positive payments reflected so potentially more consumers can reach their fullest financial potential,” Jeff Softley, group president of Experian consumer services at Experian, told Tearsheet.
A little budgeting never hurt anyone
While good credit fends off a blemished credit score or limited access to credit, it also provides the freedom to qualify for financial products at better rates.
“Credit is sometimes necessary to allow consumers to achieve their financial goals such as purchasing a home or attending a university, but it is a tool to be used wisely and responsibly,” said Softley.
Although Experian’s new account offering aims to provide consumers with a way to build credit without accumulating debt to improve their deteriorating financial health, more can be done in this regard, according to Softley.
He believes financial literacy can play a critical role in avoiding making poor financial decisions. Learning the various forms credit can take and how credit choices are relevant to each individual’s life are some of the insights that can drive sound financial decisions. Understanding key spheres of financial literacy – earning, spending, saving and investing, and having a budget in place – can help consumers live and spend within their means, an important life skill.
“With a budget in place, they [consumers] are less likely to use credit without a plan and can avoid taking on unmanageable debt,” added Softley.


text:
Vauxhall introduces lifetime warranty on all new cars with immediate effect
The new Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty applies to all new cars purchased by both retail and fleet buyers and will cover all major components, including powertrain, steering system, brakes and electrical equipment, up to 100,000 miles with no time expiration.
‘With the Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty, we are making a strong statement of confidence in the quality of our products and a clear intent to provide the very best customer service in the UK,’ said Duncan Aldred, managing director of Vauxhall Motors, who added that the move represents 'a huge step forwards for the whole UK motor industry'.
The only stipulation announced is that owners need to visit a Vauxhall retailer annually for a free vehicle inspection – with most fleets already using the dealer network for servicing, maintenance and repairs according to Vauxhall, this won't impact on firms.
The lifetime warranty is currently being offered to the first owner only, with Vauxhall saying it is working on plans to allow second owners to purchase the warranty, adding that more details will follow in due course. From the fleet point of view, any plans to offer the warranty to a future buyer would increase its desirability to used buyers. However, according to Maurice Howkins, fleet sales director, rental and leasing companies have already said that they see an uplift in RVs due to the message of Vauxhall's confidence in its products, which will benefit fleets.


text:
A few weeks ago, the Foundation launched a SenseHAT emulator that worked over your web browser. Given that many Pis are used offline, and also that there are still many older Pis out there that aren’t powerful enough to use the browser version, the emulator didn’t suit everyone.
Enter Python guru Dave Jones who has developed a new lightweight, desktop version that will be useful in both of these circumstances. It’s available now as an installed package and will soon be pre-installed on the Raspbian image. You can find out more, including how to install it, on the Raspberry Pi blog.


text:
Those were some four days for exhibitors, visitors and organisers, at Prolight + Sound 2015 and the Musikmesse music fair alike. “More than 108,000 visitors from 146 countries were presented with a firework of new products, shows and stars by 2,257 exhibitors,” said Messe Frankfurt managing director Detlef Braun. “The Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound have reaffirmed their roles as a leading destination for the musical technology and events branches, and a hub for successful networking.” Like technology, however, the exhibition business never stands still: that means a new concept awaits visitors in 2016.
Next year, both the Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound will be even more carefully tailored to the needs of the musical instrument and entertainment industries. “The new concept is equally focused on building relationships between industry and retailers, and developing innovative new ways to connect manufactures and consumers,” Braun said.
Save the New Dates for Prolight and the Musikmesse
The biggest change is to the timetable. In 2016, Prolight will be moved forward to 5-8 April (Tuesday to Friday) and the Musikmesse to 7-10 April (Thursday to Sunday). Both trade fairs will be open daily from 10am to 7pm.
Such has been the year on year increase in the number of products on show that more space has had to be found. This means that PLS 2016 will be moving to the east side of the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds, to Halls 1, 3, 4 and 5. Additional meeting rooms and outdoor areas will be made available for presentations and live demonstrations.
Musikmesse 2016 will have halls specially dedicated to experiencing individual musical styles open to visitors every day, and also an exclusive business hall for trade and exhibitors only. The music fair will be moving to the west side next year, into Halls 8, 9 and 11, as well as the Galleria, the Portalhaus special events building, and the surrounding outdoor areas. That makes the area available equivalent to more than 13 football pitches.
Prolight + Sound 2016: new exhibition grounds
Musikmesse 2016: new exhibition grounds
Picture sources: Messe Frankfurt


text:
In 2021, Bitcoin more than doubled its previous all-time high price, the Ethereum ecosystem surged, institutional investors jumped into crypto, and Dogecoin somehow became a mainstream buzzword.
But the one thing everyone couldn’t stop talking about, amazingly, was JPEGs.
This time last year, NFTs were niche. Now they’re a mainstream phenomenon. Over the span of 12 months, not only has the term permeated the broader culture and made digital asset ownership a more widely-known concept, but the industry has also surged to billions of dollars in monthly trades.
Many people feel very strongly about NFTs, and it goes both ways. Whether it’s delight, disgust, or a bit of FOMO, NFTs are both intensely loved and loathed. Depending on whom you ask, they’re either the future of ownership or just one big cynical and environmentally disastrous scam.
What ultimately is an NFT, or non-fungible token? Contrary to popular belief, an NFT isn’t a JPEG. It’s not a profile picture of a disinterested ape or a pixelated face, a sports highlight turned into a digital collectible, or a cartoonish monster that battles on your behalf in a video game. Those are all things that an NFT can represent.
The NFT, itself, is essentially a blockchain-based token that proves that you are the sole holder of that one-of-a-kind digital item—whatever it might be. Smart contracts, or the code that powers NFTs, make it possible to sell or transfer an NFT, set perpetual royalties for artists, use assets within games and metaverse worlds, and more.
Gradually, then suddenly
Early in 2021, it was sports and celebrities that helped push NFTs from a niche market into a true phenomenon. Dapper Labs’ NBA Top Shot alone put up more than $200 million per month in trading volume in both February and March—more than the entire NFT market produced over the course of 2020.
Celebrities and artists also made waves in the NFT space early this year, whether it was Grimes or Rob Gronkowski, or crypto-centric creators like Pak and 3LAU. But it was digital artist Beeple who put an exclamation mark on the early-year NFT boom with his $69.3 million sale of a single NFT at a Christie’s auction in early March—the third-largest single sale by any living artist.
In hindsight, that may have been the top for the initial NFT boom: a sign that the frenzy had surpassed the true appetite in the market. Top Shot sales began tapering off, and more and more prominent celebrity drops failed to generate significant returns. Many wondered whether the NFT boom had merely been a short-lived fad.
All told, the market generated $2.5 billion worth of trades in the first half of 2021, split almost evenly between quarters—but the Q1 buzz gave way to a muted late spring and early summer. The crypto market’s own freefall didn’t help. But as crypto prices perked up in July, the NFT market was doused with rocket fuel and blasted off to startling new heights in August.
OpenSea, now the leading NFT marketplace, jumped from $150 million worth of Ethereum trading volume in June to $329 million in July—and then $3.4 billion in August. And this time around, it was more original, fully crypto-native projects that drove the surge, showcasing the potential for creativity, community, and functional utility with digital assets.
The Bored Ape Yacht Club picked up the baton from the O.G. CryptoPunks, treating its NFT profile pictures as an all-access pass to an exclusive club packed with perks—and giving holders the right to commercialize the images. Art Blocks used Ethereum’s own blockchain to yield algorithmically generated artwork, much as EulerBeats did with music.
Axie Infinity, meanwhile, showed the enormous potential for NFTs in video games, quickly becoming the largest NFT project to date as millions of players bought and battled with cartoonish, Pokémon-like monsters. Some even made a living from it. Another project, Loot, began with NFT lists of fantasy items. Now the decentralized community that sprung up is collectively developing game experiences around the NFTs.
And as the metaverse takes shape, immersive worlds like The Sandbox and Decentraland represent the expanding digital frontier, offering ownership of virtual land that can be customized, shared, and even monetized. It’s an NFT world, and if ambitious metaverse plans from Facebook and others play out, we may all be living in it before too long.
Buzz and backlash
With $10.67 billion in Q3 trading volume and an estimated $22 billion now year-to-date, per data from DappRadar, the NFT market is thriving. It appears to be maturing, too, as additional use cases take hold amid a wider shift towards NFTs with utility. NFTs are considered an important building block for Web3—the keys to the metaverse, in other words.
All the while, NFTs have helped introduce people to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Many are colorful and alluring, and tie into the artwork and culture that people already love. Even if onboarding and usability are very much works in progress, NFTs have made crypto more approachable. As Nansen CEO Alex Svanevik told Decrypt in September, “DeFi has brought the capital into crypto, and NFTs are bringing the people into crypto.”
But NFTs have a perception problem. Sure, it’s perplexing to most of us to see anyone spend millions of dollars on a Twitter avatar. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for obstacles that the market will gradually need to solve to overcome.
The environmental impact of Ethereum continues to dominate the narrative around NFTs, even for collectibles and assets mined on less-energy-intensive blockchain platforms (like Solana), plus scams and exploits continue to flourish across the crypto industry.
Vocal criticism of NFTs is prevalent on social media, and companies and projects that want to explore the space often face backlash. That largely hasn’t stopped major brands from dipping a toe, however, as recent drops from McDonald’s and Budweiser suggest. The Budverse is coming, marketers claim—but so is the Tinderverse, and White Castle’s Sliderverse.
Even the earliest, most bullish NFT advocates probably couldn’t have anticipated such an explosive year for tokenized digital collectibles. Will the frenzy last, however?
Some in the space believe that the bulk of NFTs won’t be able to sustain such value long-term. Even Gary Vaynerchuk, a noted NFT collector and creator, has warned of an “NFT winter” market pullback, telling Decrypt that he believes only select “blue chip” projects will thrive.
If NFTs really are the building blocks of the next-generation internet, then they may eventually become utterly mundane. Much to the chagrin of current skeptics, NFTs could be everywhere before long, representing ownership of every last thing in our digital lives.
We might not even call them NFTs in time. We might not even think about it. They won’t be special anymore. They’ll just be. After all, when’s the last time you referred to your digital music stash as your MP3 collection?
But in 2021, NFTs were wild, new, perplexing, and captivating. Going into 2022, we’re still in the thick of the craze.


text:
This is the web version of a list we publish twice-weekly in our newsletter. It comprises the most noteworthy food stories of the moment, selected by our editors. Get it first here.
Pabst blues. Monday marked the beginning of a court battle that will decide the fate of Pabst Blue Ribbon, the best of the cheap beers. NBC reports that, PBR is brewed by MillerCoors—the country’s second-largest brewer—under an agreement that expires in 2020, and now the big guy insists it doesn’t have the capacity to continue brewing Pabst and its other “legacy beers,” which include Lone Star, Old Milwaukee, and Natty Boh. In response, Pabst alleges in a lawsuit that MillerCoors is just trying to live the high life (heh) by driving it out of business and getting rid of a competitor in the process. A jury in Milwaukee will be hearing the trial until the end of the month. If the two companies can’t work it out, Pabst will likely cease brewing operations. It’s an outcome the Champagne of Beers would surely toast, but we’ll be pouring one out for PBR.
7-Eleven, eighty-sixed. This is a truly insane story that slipped under the radar this week: 7-Eleven has been at war with its franchisees for years, using all sorts of tactics (think tailing people in unmarked vehicles) in an effort to purge store owners it considers “underperformers and troublemakers,”Bloomberg Businessweek reports. Now, the company is using a new tactic to undermine its own stores—reporting franchisees to immigration authorities.
Dicamba grift. Before approving dicamba, the controversial weedkiller that can “drift” from one farm to the next with disastrous consequences, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ignored warnings from scientists, according to a new investigation from FERN and Reveal. Scientists estimate dicamba damaged nearly 5 million acres of soybeans in 2017 and 2018.
Trump whines. President Trump took on the French wine industry via Twitter on Tuesday morning, complaining that “France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!” New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov responded calmly, also on Twitter: “It’s a matter of tradition and taste more than tariffs,” he wrote at the end of a short thread.


text:
The beloved DeMun restaurant is offering pizza, pasta and more to go.
These Festus and Crystal City Restaurants Are Offering Carryout, Curbside Pickup and Delivery Options
Looking for a great meal in Festus or Crystal City? Here are some options.
Chicken Out, Mission Taco Joint, Strange Donuts and More Team Up on Fundraiser for Restaurant Employees
The pay-what-you-can drive-thru will benefit the Gateway Resilience Fund.
Chickpea, buckwheat and sunflower seed flours are all great alternatives to your typical flour for all sorts of recipes.
Side Work is a hazy IPA that will be available at both Schlafly locations.
The Senate Just Passed a $2 Trillion Coronavirus Bill – Here's What That Means for Local Restaurants
Three St. Louis restaurateurs weigh in on the steps they're taking to save their businesses.
This classic Italian meat company is still making cured meat the old-fashioned way.
The restaurant has stayed in the Karandzieff family the entire time
The boxes feature essential produce,steak, chicken and pork.
For $75, you can pick up a box full of local goodies from some favorite local spots.
Pick up a meal kit for a gogi bowl or burrito.
The Team Behind Retreat Gastropub and Yellowbelly Will Open a New Cocktail Bar in the Central West End
Lazy Tiger will be a Bohemian-style bar with an impressive cocktail menu and small bites.
The restaurant has shifted gears to focus on providing groceries and necessities to those in need.
Hospitality workers can get a free meal at Kimchi Guys every Tuesday.
Businesses across the area are shutting down in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Enjoy some sashimi with an Indo rice bowl for lunch or dinner today.
Sugarfire Smoke House Hands Out Breakfast Sandwiches and Soup, Raising $8,000 For Gateway Resilience Fund
The popular barbecue joint stepped up to help furloughed restaurant workers.
Flavors include classic Margherita as well as black garlic and artichoke.
You can now make the signature Frida burger, plus other signature dishes, at home.
The Cherokee Street store has shifted its services in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
www.feastmagazine.com - RSS Results in section(s) st-louis only for asset type(s) of article


text:
Telecommunication Companies are to publish a new cost of tariff, following the implementation of the Communications Service Tax.
The 9% Communication Service Tax which was earlier charged upfront after an increase from 6 to 9 percent in the mid-year budget, is now being charged as consumers use their airtime or data.
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has assured that their members will be transparent in deducting the tax going forward.
“We will still continue with the transparency so that once you buy the credit and recharge, you will get to know how much you have recharged, and once you spend you know the prices of what it is that you have spent on it, and how much is left. We will keep on giving that information. So we will try to be as transparent as possible,” Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Kenneth Ashigbey said at a media briefing.
Mr. Ashigbey assured that once the tariff has changed, the new tariff will be published for the public to know how much the various packages will cost.
The effective rate of the CST is 7% with a 2% VAT totaling 9%.
The Telecommunications Chamber has however advised consumers to be prudent when using data.
“The bundles come with different packages so make sure you subscribe to the one that fits your lifestyle so you don’t feel cheated. Look at the things you want to use the data for and go for the bundle that can take care of all that, otherwise you will feel cheated,” Mr. Ashigbey said.
The Telecommunication companies resolved to stop the upfront deductions of the Communications Service Tax (CST), following a directive by the Communications Ministry.
The Communication Service Tax which was introduced in 2008 was pegged at 6% payable by consumers of certain electronic communication services — but the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta in his mid-year budget announced an increase to 9 percent.


text:
Yesterday we reported on how Barbra Streisand has cloned her dog twice.
In today’s news of pet-adoration-gone-too-far and umm-maybe-just-leave-their-genetic-code-in-their-body, you can now get tattoos made out of your furry friend's DNA.
Skin46 have a created a new ink production method in which the carbon from hair is turned into ink for a 'completely safe' biogenic tattoo that'll bring the two of you even closer. Model Makani Terror was one of the first people to try it out, and opted for a huge tattoo of her cat created with ink made of its fur.
The press release reads: 'Almost unbelievable to some and even shocking to others, Swiss company SKIN46 is going to launch a huge campaign of body art shock and awe promoting the first biogenic tattoo ink made from a family member, friend, loved one or pet's hair - illustrating a bond that can't be broken that the world can see.'
'The idea of SKIN46 tattoo ink starts some seriously spirited conversations,' said Andreas Wample, the brand's inventor and founder. "Some think it's offensive, while a huge amount of tattoo lovers thinks it's an amazing concept... Tattooing needs this kind of fresh spirit.' I mean, why not.
Well, Mum tattoos are definitely about to get a lot more personal. But I think the fun doesn’t have to stop at loved ones, if any hair fibre works why stop at commemorating beings?!
Get your fave cashmere jumper, silk dress or woolly blankie bonded with you forever! The sky’s the limit people, let’s think big! Make a real fashion statement this S/S18 and BECOME the garment.
I mean, no one could ever call you underdressed again, because erm actually I AM the clothes thanks very much, I'm in a Dior gown under these F&F jeans and tee, and you’re the one walking around with your skin completely naked, you creep.
I may patent this angle – remember you heard it here first if you see style going beneath the skin in Fashion Weeks 2020.
Follow Amel on Twitter: @AmelAMukhtar
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.


text:
» View Whats New For 2014 In Tablets Page 6
View Whats New For 2014 In Tablets Page 6
We are sorry, article about "View Whats New For 2014 In Tablets Page 6" is not found or may be has been deleted. You may read other articles below or searching by type keyword in search form above!
One of the best Android smartphone HTC output, One X, is now getting a refresher with some improvement in terms of hardware.
Products named HTC One X+ uses an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core 2nd generation 1.7GHz speeds.
“One X+ equipped with batteries [...]
The news about the release of Windows Phone 7.8 update for the Nokia Lumia line of smartphones from the old series yesterday NaviFirm seem right. Nokia Lumia 800 is the first smartphone that will get the updated Windows Phone 7.8 and will soon be followed [...]
The key features? iPhone
Every day the number and types of smartphones is increasing. Choose the one that suits the needs of each person, require adequate information about the technology, features, and operating system. Especially considering the price [...]
Angry Birds Seasons seems to immediately have a theme and a new level in the near future.
The new version is expected to take the theme of spring.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Monday (15/4), Angry Birds Seasons this will be the 16th series.
Rovio is often [...]
Basically, do not use the lights too bright at night.
Using iPad or watching TV late at night can make you depressed, according to a study showing that exposure to bright light during the hours of sleep can affect levels of stress and behavioral disorders.
Rumors that Samsung will release the Galaxy S4 Dual-SIM version became a reality.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Sunday (28/4), the South Korean manufacturer officially introduced the Galaxy S4 Duos.
Besides being able to be pinned two SIM Card at once, no more [...]
Unfinished news about the iPhone 5S, the latest info is precisely focused on the iPhone 6.
Quoted from BGR, Wednesday (1/5), an analyst mentioned that this smartphone will be released in June 2014.
Analyst named Peter Misek it seems pretty confident [...]
Apple is reportedly preparing a new MacBook Pro is equipped with Intel’s Haswell and will be introduced at the WWDC 2013, 10-14 June 2013 in the U.S..
Never heard about Intel Haswell? This is the latest generation of Intel processors, which will [...]
BlackBerry before giving shocking news to the ready release of BlackBerry Messenger to iOS and Android.
Unfortunately, the destination device is a smartphone.
Quoted from Techradar, Friday (17/5), this means that the BlackBerry Messenger can not be used [...]
Without compromising on quality and technology.
Lenovo finally decided to enter the smartphone market with the signing of five champion Indonesia in the launch event which took place on Tuesday night (16/10). Fifth smartphone is Lenovo Ideaphone A60 [...]
ASUS launched a product that is quite innovative. This product called Transformer AiO is a tablet that can be converted into All-in-One PC.
The tablet will be AiO when paired with the docking hardware separately.
Inside there is a tablet processor NVIDIA [...]


text:
Watch what you do, the people at Uber may be watching you.
Perhaps the Uber ride-sharing app should be called the Uber spying app. Some of Uber’s employees have been accused of using the app’s location-based technology to find and track the locations of people, including famous celebrities, politicians and exes.
Accusations that Uber employees have been using the company’s technology to spy on people surfaced in court testimony given by a former employee.
According to former Uber employee, Samuel Ward Spangenberg, these personal data problems have been going on at Uber for awhile.
Spangenberg was a forensic investigator who used to work for Uber. He claims that he was fired by the company shortly after bringing these privacy problems to the attention of Uber executives.
Mr. Spangenberg is currently involved in a lawsuit against Uber over his termination. He claims that his termination from Uber involved age discrimination and retaliation for his whistleblowing. The privacy revelations against Uber came from sworn testimony that he has given during the course of his lawsuit against the company.
Spangenberg’s testimony goes on to say that Uber employees routinely used the company’s “God View” location tracking to find and follow the locations of people, including famous politicians and celebrities, personal contacts, ex-spouses and ex-boyfriends and girlfriends. Spangenberg specifically claims that Beyonce’s Uber location was spied on by people at the company.
It has been previously reported that Uber has a “God View” tool that can be used by employees to track people who use the Uber app. In 2014, one of Uber’s managers reportedly mentioned that the tool was used to spy on the location of a news reporter in New York. The so-called “God View” location tracking tool has supposedly been renamed “Heaven View” by the company, but its potential for spying and abuse appear to remain the same.
Of course, a lot of apps and other technologies use location-based services to find and track people today. If true, however, these accusations against Uber would seriously damage the trust that people put in these services, calling into question when and how their personal location information is used by tech companies and the people who work for them.
Uber has admitted that several employees have been fired for misusing the company’s location tracking tool. The company claims that they have beefed up data security to stop employees from misusing customer information and stop them from spying on celebrities.
However, a few weeks ago it was reported that Uber has increased the amount of location data they collect on people. Apparently, Uber continues to record location information on people for as long as five minutes after they have been dropped off at their chosen destination.
And, as everyone knows, more personal data means more potential for people to abuse it.


text:
In the contact centre, time is money – and every second of time is reduced is money saved for the organisation and a smoother experience for the customer. And for many contact centres, a significant amount of time is being spent authenticating genuine customers who pose no fraud risk. But how do you eliminate questions […]
Since the COVID pandemic first struck, fraud in contact centres has soared. A combination of disruption caused by remote working and economic instability from the pandemic has made contact centres the perfect target for fraudsters everywhere. Figures included in our recent eBook show 57% of organisations have encountered fraud attacks in their contact centres since […]
Compared to digital channels the contact centre can often be overlooked, making the contact centre a weak link and critical fraud vulnerability. Rather than a reliance on cumbersome and ineffective knowledge-based verifications, Gartner advises that “organisations must deploy a layered defence of identity proofing, fraud detection and authentication capabilities, closely coupled with tighter integration into cross-channel […]
I recently wrote an article for Contact-Centres.com discussing my thoughts on how organisations can improve caller authentication and reduce costs by successfully balancing customer satisfaction with fraud prevention. Please find below a summary of my article. Up until a few years ago, many organisations relied on trusting the caller and only asked basic questions, such […]
I recently wrote a guest blog for UK Finance and provided my thoughts on how to create an ecosystem to streamline customer authentication and prevent fraud. Please find below a summary of my blog. Fraudsters are cunning. By probing different customer channels, they search for weaknesses to gather information and set-up an attack. To minimise […]
We are delighted to announce the partnership with Nuance to enhance security for UK contact centres, fighting fraud and improving call experience for customers.
Fraud cost the UK economy a whopping £190 billion in 2017. Added to this, 61% of fraud involves the contact centre at some stage during the attack.


text:
Mother’s Day is going to be a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean celebrating mom is cancelled. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by buy now, pay later solution Affirm, 75% of people want to buy mom a gift to show their appreciation. Their findings also revealed that nearly twice as many people are planning to spend more on their gift this year as opposed to spending less. Whether she’s a beauty junkie, fashionista, daydreamer or cook, FEMAIL has rounded up gifts to suit every personality. All proceeds from the Mother Up campaign provide critical support to young pregnant and parenting moms in LA’s foster care system Just in time to honor mom, AOM (Alliance of Moms) has launched the Mother Up campaign. All proceeds from this campaign provide critical support to young pregnant and parenting moms in LA’s foster care system. Famous mamas across the globe, including Natalie Portman and Kristen Bell, have been doing their part to spread the message by wearing and posting the graphic t-shirt on social media. Chances are, your mother would be proud to rock one of these tees, too. They retail for $30 at shopallianceofmoms.org. Tie-dye Handbag $315.00 Perfect for the… Read full this story
- Was a missing Tennessee woman murdered or did she willingly disappear?
- Better Call Saul, Insatiable, Jack Ryan
- How to futureproof your kid's cash
- The seven ages of woman: Irish stars on the joys and challenges that each decade brings
Show mom your appreciation! From a charitable T-shirt to flowers and chic slippers, FEMAIL reveals the best Mother's Day gifts no matter what your budget — starting as low as $3 have 246 words, post on www.dailymail.co.uk at May 5, 2020. This is cached page on CuBird. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


text:
Reliable cars are vital for most of us. And garages plus the quality of service they offer are just as important. The last thing you want is to buy a new car and find that it either lets you down or when you need help, the garage offers shoddy service.
There’s an easy way to discover how dependable cars and their dealers are and that’s by asking the people with real-life experience of owning the cars. This is where surveys come in. We’ve combed reports compiled by Auto Express and What Car? to distil the information you need to know if you’re buying a new car.
Finding a cheap car isn’t difficult. There are more than 800,000 used cars for sale at any one time on websites such as Auto Trader, eBay, Exchange & Mart and Gumtree. And that’s in addition to other online sales sites both locally and nationally.
Buying a good one, however, calls for drivers to do their homework. We’ve created this checklist to help drivers buy the best motor for their budget and sort the good from the bad and the downright ugly.
Drivers may be tempted to imagine that the most reliable cars are the most expensive models from the poshest brands. But the latest independent surveys of car owners suggest otherwise.
Audi, BMW and Land Rover can be found languishing at the bottom of tables ranking the most and least reliable car makers. And budget brands, including Skoda and Suzuki, are often given the highest ratings.
It means that when buying a used or new car, drivers should do their homework carefully. If they don’t, they run the risk of their car being off the road and unexpected repair bills.
To help inform car buyers, we’ve got some top tips on how to choose a car that won’t let you down.
The Japanese might make the most reliable cars according to breakdown data but it’s the German car makers who have the reputation for dependability. A new study has revealed that people think German motors are more reliable than they actually are.
The data was released by WarrantyWise, a company that specialises in selling aftermarket warranties for cars. It surveyed 750 drivers for their perceptions about reliability. The results show that many people’s idea of who makes reliable cars flies in the face of reality. Continue reading →
It used to be one of the most difficult questions to answer for a car buyer – what is the most reliable car money can buy? Yet is has always been one of the most important too, as no driver wants to invest their hard-earned cash in a car that’s going to be as temperamental as a toddler. Continue reading →
Being stranded roadside is never an appealing prospect and a new survey proves it, showing car reliability ranks highest among drivers. The research was carried out for What Car’s Motoring Panel of 4000 buyers. It asked them which of 29 elements was the most important to them when it comes to buying a new or used car. Two thirds said reliability was the most crucial factor. The excellence of the car’s finish and the brand’s reputation for quality were the next most important. Continue reading →


text:
The Libertyville-based smartphone company is only required to keep a smaller workforce than the one it employs now.
. The fine print in the deal, however, reveals that the smartphone company is required to keep fewer people than it employs.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the deal only requires Motorola Mobility to retain 2,500 workers. The company employs more than 3,200 people in Libertyville and Chicago.
Gov. Pat Quinn says he has nonbinding verbal agreements to keep 3,000 jobs in Libertyville, according to DailyHerald.com.
For the full stories, visit: www.ChicagoTribune.com and DailyHerald.com.
Find your Patch
Start a Blog


text:
Viet Nam on track for a robust recovery: HSBC
VGP - Viet Nam appears to be on track for a robust recovery, noted HSBC in its recent report Viet Nam at a glance released on October 12.
After a challenging first half, Viet Nam's economy recovered at a stronger-than-expected pace of 5.3 percent in the third quarter. This is largely thanks to some reprieve in the trade sector, with September marking the first month of year-on-year growth in its exports.
In particular, China's surging demand for agricultural products has put a floor under Viet Nam's exports. Viet Nam's booming tourism sector remains the bedrock of its services, prompting the government to raise its annual tourism target.
HSBC maintains its 2023 growth forecast for Viet Nam at 5 percent and raises its forecast of average inflation to 3.4 percent, from 3.2 percent.
Rebound in Viet Nam's manufacturing sector
The biggest surprise is the rebound in Viet Nam's manufacturing sector. While it is still too early to call a material recovery in the global trade cycle, Viet Nam's trade sector has had a much-needed reprieve recently.
Although due in part to base effects, exports saw their first growth in more than six months, reducing the severity of export falls from the double-digits in the first half to less than 2 percent year-on-year in the third quarter.
While export weakness remains largely broad-based, decent growth in both computer and agriculture shipments offsets some risks.
The trend is also reflected in Viet Nam's shipments to major trading partners. While exports to the U.S. (30 percent share) and the EU (15 percent share) have yet to see a turnaround, Viet Nam's exports to China (15 percent share) saw double-digit growth sequentially, largely thanks to its impressive growth in agriculture products.
Although China accounts for only 15 percent of Viet Nam's total exports, more than 20 percent of the latter's agricultural exports are shipped to the former, ranging from fruits and rice to cashew nuts and coffee.
In particular, China's demand for tropical fruits, including durian, dragon fruit and jackfruit, has gathered pace in the past two years, with Viet Nam as the main beneficiary along with Thailand.
Viet Nam remains outperformer in ASEAN in FDI attraction
Despite near-term cyclical challenges to trade, Viet Nam's long-term FDI prospects appear intact. The country remains an outperformer in ASEAN in terms of attracting FDI, second only to Malaysia.
Its manufacturing sector accounts for the bulk of FDI, providing hopes that it can climb up the value chain, paving the way for a robust rebound when the trade tide turns.
New FDI continues to pour into the manufacturing space, this year already exceeding the total in each of the past three years.
Tech supply chain relocation remained in focus during President Biden's visit to Viet Nam in September as the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Biden announced that U.S. tech companies, including Amkor and Marvell, plan to invest in Viet Nam, but not only the U.S. is investing there – a few weeks later, South Korea's Hana Micron joined in by announcing an expansion of its chip production with a US$1 billion investment by 2025.
Viet Nam on track to see continued tourism boom
Outside of manufacturing, services remain the bedrock of Viet Nam's growth. At first glance, the sectors that have enjoyed close to 10 percent year-on-year growth are all tourism-related.
Broadly speaking, ASEAN has seen a return of tourists to around 60-80 percent of 2019's levels, with Viet Nam's recovery pace approaching 70 percent in September.
Viet Nam has welcomed 8.9 million tourists as of September, prompting authorities to upgrade its full-year target to 13 million, from 8 million earlier.
Given the upcoming winter season in the northern hemisphere and the recent visa relaxations, Viet Nam looks to be on track to see a continued tourism boom.
All in all, Viet Nam's economy has seen some much-needed green shoots, particularly in its trade and tourism sectors./.


text:
Western Union and PayPal file cryptocurrency trademark applications
Ulta Beauty and Viking River Cruises have filed NFT and Metaverse-related trademark applications
The Trust Project is a worldwide group of news organizations working to establish transparency standards.
Two major financial companies, American financial services company Western Union Holdings and payment giant Paypal, have filed crypto-related trademark applications. Mike Kondoudis, the United States Patent and Trademark Office licensed trademark attorney, shared the news on his Twitter.
Western Union’s application focuses on financial services within Web3. The company plans to provide an exchange for cryptocurrencies and digital assets, trade commodities and cryptocurrencies, and manage digital currency and electronic wallets. Additionally, Western Union filed trademarks for digital currency exchange operations and the issuance of tokens of value. According to Mike Kondoudis, the trademark application also includes metaverse-related use cases.
PayPal has also recently applied for Web3 trademark applications. The company plans to introduce downloadable software for conducting operations with cryptocurrencies and other digital tokens.
It’s worth noting that the past week saw several more NFT and metaverse-related trademark applications. Viking River Cruises has filed 16 of these. The river cruise line claims plans for non-fungible tokens, virtual travel, tours, food, and beverage. More than that, Viking Cruises plans to develop a digital goods marketplace and software for creating, selling, buying, storing, and managing NFTs and digital goods.
Ulta Beauty Inc. has filed NFT and Metaverse-related trademark applications with plans to develop virtual reality cosmetics, salon services, and games. Additionally, the American beauty chain will issue NFTs featuring images and videos.
Read related posts:
Any data, text, or other content on this page is provided as general market information and not as investment advice. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.


text:
TVS Signs Agreement With UK Govt For Chevening Scholarship Programmes
- "Chevening TVS Motor Company Scholarships" announced
- A maximum of five scholarships will be available for Indian students
- The scholarships will start in the UK academic year 2023-24
TVS Motor Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to offer “Chevening TVS Motor Company Scholarships,” the company said in a statement. The Chevening Programme is a prestigious scholarship programme that aims to attract and select students from around the world who demonstrate the greatest potential to become leaders, decision-makers, and opinion-formers in their own countries.
In 2020, TVS Motor Company acquired British motorcycle brand Norton
This is the United Kingdom Government’s global scholarship programme, by which scholarships are awarded to those individuals with strong academic backgrounds who can also demonstrate their leadership potential.
The Chevening Programme offers financial support to study at any of the United Kingdom’s universities and the opportunity to become part of an influential global network of 50,000 alumni in over 160 countries and territories worldwide.
Also Read: TVS Motor Company Records 15% Year-on-Year Growth In August 2022
Under the leadership of Sudarshan Venu, TVS Motor Company acquired Norton Motorcycles, and has since pumped in investments to establish the British-origin motorcycle brand as a global premium motorcycle brand.
Commenting on the announcement, Sudarshan Venu, MD, TVS Motor Company, said, “At TVS Motor Company, it has always been our endeavour to create future leaders and support them in their journey. Our collaboration with the FCDO and the Government of United Kingdom is a testimony to this commitment. This partnership is a unique opportunity for the talented and dynamic minds in the country and we are excited to be a part of their growth. We look forward to more partnerships of this nature.”
Alex Ellis, The British High Commissioner to India, said, “I am delighted that TVS Motor Company is partnering with the Chevening Scholarship Programme; Chevening offers a unique, fully funded opportunity to experience the UK and study in some of the best institutions in the world. With TVS Motor Company’s support the Chevening programme in India, already the largest in the world, will get bigger still. The applications are now open [www.chevening.org] and I hope to see applicants from across India.”
The TVS Ronin is seen as the company's first experiment in the modern classic segment. A small displacement Norton branded motorcycle is expected to be launched in India in the near future.
The Chevening TVS Motor Company Scholarships will be open to nationals of India, who are residents of India and are based in the country at the time of applying. The scholarship programme will start in the UK academic year of 2023/24 (for which applications are currently open) and will continue in effect for a three-year period. A maximum of five Chevening TVS Motor Company Scholarships will be available under this Chevening Partnership for each academic year covered by this MOU, the statement from TVS said.


text: Longview Police say that they have probable cause to charge a man with assault after an incident reported last night at the Safeway store at 30th and Ocean Beach Highway in Longview. This incident was reported at about 12:45 this morning; employees say that a man assaulted one of the store employees, then jumped into an SUV and took off at a high rate of speed. Employees were able to get a description of the SUV, along with a license number. Officers met with the female owner of the SUV, but haven’t yet contacted the male suspect. It’s not yet known what led to the alleged assault; police say that they have ruled out theft as an instigator in the confrontation.


text:
Growing up watching Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May made me realize how badly I wanted to race friends across countries in fast cars. Unfortunately, that opportunity will more than likely never come, but at least “The Grand Tour Game” has been announced by Amazon Game Studios.
This new video game, due out for the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, will allow players to drive the cars that the trio are featuring in each episode. With four-player split-screen multiplayer added as a feature, this means you will be racing friends in the challenges that the real-life hosts are up against each week. Along with the racing, each player will get power-ups that will give players an edge. But these aren’t normal power-ups. No, we’re talking about “cheeky power-ups,” or at least that’s how the press release describes them. How cheeky are we talking about? They include the High Tea power-up that drops “tire-shredding cups and saucers.” That’s quite cheeky.
The game will act as almost a supplement to each weekly episode of Season 3 of “The Grand Tour.” The game will have new chapters released alongside the episodes, which will coincide with each episode’s theme. Players will also be able to play through the challenges of Season 1 and 2.
Amazon Game Studios has not announced a release date yet, but they have put the game up on Amazon.com. It’s listed as a “Digital Code” so a physical version of the game hasn’t been announced yet.


text:
Business activity in Maryland increased in October and sales rose for the first time in almost two years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
The Richmond Fed’s survey of Maryland businesses saw an increase in its general business conditions index, with sales in October rising for the first time since November 2007, just before the onset of the recession. Those responding to the survey also reported an increase in customer traffic, although most continued to report a decline in inventories and investment in new equipment and software. The rate of decline moderated from September’s pace, the Fed said.
Although Maryland’s labor market remains weak, conditions improved in October, according to the survey, with an increase in an index that measures a company’s number of employees, the first non-negative reading since June 2008. Weekly hours continued to decline and wages remained flat, the Fed’s survey says.
Expectations for the next six months improved, with many respondents expecting higher inventories and an increase in investment spending.
The Richmond Fed Reserve Bank contacted 160 Maryland businesses for the survey. The results are based on answers from those that responded.


text:
TerrAscend Raises $120M Loan
The closed loan is secured by Ilera Healthcare, a Pennsylvania-based subsidiary of the Mississauga, Ontario-headquartered company.
TerrAscend purchased Ilera last year for a total consideration of $125 million to $225 million.
The loan would carry an annual interest rate of 12.875%, with a 4-year maturity.
The company has an option to raise an additional $30 million. In addition, TerrAscend confirmed that warrants were not issued as part of the offering.
The proceeds would be utilized to cover Ilera's remaining 2021 earn-out payments.
"Pennsylvania is a very attractive limited license state, and we have a leadership position with Ilera. I am very proud of the Ilera team and how they have executed and delivered," the company's Executive Chairman and CEO Jason Ackerman noted. "This financing demonstrates the Company's ability to access the capital markets, with favorable terms for our industry, based on strong fundamentals."
Meantime, according to the company's latest earnings report, net sales amounted to CA$51 million for the third quarter, up by 90% year-over-year.
The company debuted on the U.S. market in February 2019 by acquiring the California-based retailer — Apothecarium. These days, it continues to expand its footprint, most recently by cutting the ribbon on its fifth store in the Golden State.
© 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


text:
July 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is scrambling to head off an imminent travel warning from Japan, in a bid to save the struggling tourism industry from a new blow, a top official said. Tourism secretary George Michael said Sri Lanka has learned of an imminent travel warning from Japan and tourism minister Milinda Moragoda had already met the Japanese envoy in Colombo.
Deputy tourism minister Faizer Mustapha was now in Tokyo for discussions with Japanese authorities to head off the travel warning, Michael told members of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka in Colombo.
In the first half of this year 5,100 Japanese had visited the island, becoming the second most important East Asian generating market after China which brought in 5,300 visitors. In the first six months of 2007, Japan was the top East Asian generating market.
In the full-year 2007 14,000 Japanese arrived in Sri Lanka, down from 16,000 in 2006, according to official data.
Sri Lanka has been badly hit by travel advisories, especially from Western countries which are the mainstay of the travel industry, with an intensifying conflict between the government and Tamil Tigers guerrillas.


text:
ITALY – US-based hybrid packaging company, Berlin Packaging has entered a definitive agreement to buy industrial packaging supplier Bark Packaging Group.
Founded in 1978, Bark evolved from a traditional packaging wholesaler to a value-added supplier of industrial packaging.
The company has expanded into flexible packaging with the acquisition of Dutch Pack International in 2017 and into UN-certified packaging for the transportation of hazardous goods with the acquisition of CarePack in 2021.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. Berlin will retain all employees and locations that are part of this acquisition.
Bark Packaging Group joint CEOs and shareholders Berny Plas and Erik Bos said: “We are excited to start this new chapter with Berlin Packaging. Together, we can offer our clients a wide range of cutting-edge solutions and offer our people even more opportunities.”
Commenting on the deal, Berlin Benelux, Nordics, and DACH regions leader Marcel Schröder said: “The addition of Bark and DeeDee will give Berlin Packaging a stronger foothold in Northern Europe, especially for flexible and UN-certified packaging.
“It will also expand our industrial packaging capabilities in Northern Europe, including Germany, a key European market.
“We are eager to welcome our new colleagues from Bark and DeeDee and are confident that combining these companies with Berlin Packaging will help us serve our clients better than ever.”
Over the last decade, Bark has become known for its proprietary and customized designs through Bark Innovations.
In June 2022, Bark acquired DeeDee Pouch Professionals, a supplier of sustainable and innovative pouch solutions and other flexible products to the European food and chemical markets.
The company has also been working closely with Private equity firm Quadrum Capital as a minority investor in Bark since 2020.
Following the acquisition, Quadrum Capital will exit its investment in Bark. During Quadrum Capital’s investment period, Bark enjoyed robust revenue and profitability growth.
“We are proud to have been part of Bark’s growth journey over the last years. It is an excellent example of a successful partnership with an entrepreneurial management team driving superior growth, complemented by the strategic and M&A support of the Quadrum Capital team,” concluded Gert Van Drie, Director at Quadrum Capital.
“We recognize the strong strategic rationale of a combination with Berlin and wish Berny and Erik all the best in continuing to grow the business in the years to come.”
Liked this article? Subscribe to our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s packaging and printing industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE.


text: Sacramento, CA, December 11, 2012 – The statewide sales and use tax rate is about to go up. The tax will increase one quarter of one percent (0.25%) from 7.25 percent to 7.50 percent on January 1, 2013. Across California, the sales and use tax rate will range from 7.50 percent to 10.00 percent because in some cities and counties, voter-approved district taxes are added to the statewide base rate. The rate increase was approved by California voters when they approved Proposition 30 on November 6, 2012. Proposition 30 increases the statewide sales and use tax rate for four years. Starting January 1, everyone will pay more for taxable purchases made in local stores or by Internet and mail order. The sales and use tax rate increase does not apply to purchases of gasoline. However, the sales and use tax rate increase does apply to purchases of diesel fuel.


text:
TV ad measurement company iSpot.tv is seeking to bolster the adoption of its TV advertising analytics technology with an additional US$30 million of investment capital.
The new money brings investment in iSpot.tv to US$57.8 million since the company started to offer real-time TV advertising analytics at scale in 2012.
iSpot, which delivers actionable analytics to a wide range of US brands, says it has grown its annual subscription base to more than 200 blue-chip brands, and increased revenues 100% or more year-over-year for five years running.
It says this rapid market adoption is down to iSpot’s ability to measure TV advertising with digital precision and help brands definitively attribute TV ad exposures to business outcomes.
“We have entered a new era of TV advertising measurement that looks a lot more like digital, except on a medium not hampered by digital’s fraud challenges,” said iSpot founder and CEO Sean Muller.
“The most important thing isn’t exactly how a TV ad gets on a screen or what programme or service it runs against. What matters is which factors are driving actions from customers. We’re helping brands take ownership of these insights to make greater impact on their business.”
iSpot says it has built the consistent and actionable measurement required to support a shift from GRPs (Gross Rating Points) and rough estimates of age and gender to an audience and business outcome-based approach.
Companies endorsing its approach include T-Mobile. “We trust iSpot and have partnered with them to push the envelope on how our TV advertising investment is deployed and how its effectiveness is measured,” said T-Mobile EVP marketing Nick Drake.
DTVE unveils details of latest digital symposium digitaltveurope.com/2021/09/20/dtv… https://t.co/3xpweIwUsX
20 September 2021 @ 14:49:31 UTC
Virgin Media to offer Plume’s HomePass across UK digitaltveurope.com/2021/09/20/vir… https://t.co/BS5HIOGa8h
20 September 2021 @ 13:59:09 UTC
Mediaset on the up as it completes Dutch move digitaltveurope.com/2021/09/20/med…
20 September 2021 @ 13:07:48 UTC
UK broadcasters ‘close to deal’ on single unified streaming app digitaltveurope.com/2021/09/20/uk-… https://t.co/OyLJQlC09M
20 September 2021 @ 12:09:17 UTC
DTVE: the week in view – Cabinet reshuffle comes at tumultuous time for UK pubcasters digitaltveurope.com/comment/cabine… https://t.co/RaPRTtN2Nr
19 September 2021 @ 19:00:00 UTC


text:
EXCLUSIVE: The Myer media pitch has moved closer to a decision after the retail giant confirmed to B&T that the race for the $50million-plus account is now down to three, with a decision on the final two imminent.
B&T understands the three agencies left contesting the account to be incumbent Ikon, PHD and Starcom. GroupM agencies Mediacom and Mindshare were widely rumoured to be in the running but it now appears they will not contest.
"This week we have received pitches for the final three agencies left in the process,” a Myer spokesperson told B&T, without disclosing the names of the agencies. "We expect a decision on the final two to be made shortly and these agencies will be notified over the course of the next week.”
It's rumoured in the market that the sticking point with the other agencies previously involved was commercial terms.
With Ikon attempting to hang on to the lucrative Myer account it won in 2009, James Greet (picutred) has confirmed to B&T that he will officially take over the reins as CEO of the agency on 15 July.
In April, Greet parted ways with Mindshare to take over as boss at Ikon, following the dramatic departure of Dan Johns.
Greet said the gardening leave that he’s been on with Mindshare since April officially ends tomorrow and he will take up his new appointment at Ikon on Monday week.
Greet added that having adhered to the gardening leave he’s had no hand in the Myer pitching process.
"I’ve had no insight whatsoever in to what’s going on with Myer … when I officially start with Ikon in a couple of weeks I'll be taking a look at all aspects of the business,” he said.
Please login with linkedin to comment
me&u, Australia’s first and leading mobile ordering and payment platform, has appointed Clementine Churchill as Head of Marketing as they continue to drive rapid growth and expansion in Australia and new international markets. A highly experienced marketing leader and recognised industry thought leader, Churchill joins me&u from My Muscle Chef, one of Australia’s top rated […]
MILO is on the search for Australia’s best made MILO, calling on fans to share their creations for the chance to win #TheMILOCup, via Ogilvy Sydney. This integrated campaign follows on from the success of last year’s ‘Hot v Cold’ campaign, which encouraged Aussies to settle the debate on whether MILO is best enjoyed hot […]
New research from Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, has found that LGBTQ+ representation in ANZ remains low and stereotypical. It’s 2021 – this needs to change – especially in marketing and advertising. In partnership with GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organisation, Getty Images has launched a full-spectrum Guidebook in direct response to […]
Natural historian Sir David Attenborough is one of the most commanding and respected storytellers in the world and now the iconic series, David Attenborough Life Stories, is available on LiSTNR as part of SCA’s recently announced partnership with the BBC. David Attenborough Life Stories is a series of talks on the natural histories of creatures and […]
Menulog has doubled down on its marketing support for restaurant partners, with the promotion of Senior Marketing Manager, Rami Tamer, to a newly created role of ‘Head of Partner Marketing’, as well as the promotion of former-Blue 449 Performance Manager, Jaryd Buggins. In the new Head of Partner Marketing role, Rami will lead a team […]
ARN has announced Barry Drinkwater will be handing over his content director reins at 97.3FM and 4KQ to respected radio executive, Alisson Longhurst. Drinkwater has had a stellar career in radio spanning more than four decades, and was acknowledged as one of Australia’s Top 20 Content Directors by Radio Today in 2020. He began his radio career […]
Australia’s largest social enterprise is turning 25. On the anniversary of Australia’s first Big Issue magazine being sold on the steps of Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station in June 1996, Town Square has created a campaign to mark the occasion. 25 Years Big is a celebratory statement of pride, rendered in the iconic Big Issue logo […]
The Australian commercial radio industry has joined a global working group of broadcasters, carmakers and tech experts collaborating on the innovation of radio in Android Automotive. Android Automotive is Google’s infotainment operating system which is being built into new connected cars. Industry body Commercial Radio Australia is part of the working group, led by the […]
For the third consecutive year, Triple M’s No Talk Day will return on Thursday July 1 to raise awareness around men’s mental health and encourage courageous conversations on Triple M’s 45 stations across the country with support from partner Beyond Blue. From 6:00am – 6:00pm on July 1, Triple M is encouraging listeners to clear […]
Consumer shifts in how and where people buy products evolved significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating new opportunities for retailers to use new channels, fulfilment strategies and payment options, according to the results of a new survey out today from BigCommerce and PayPal. While a majority of the 3,000 consumers surveyed from the United States, United Kingdom […]
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about contextual advertising bar the curling wand and the hot pink leg warmers.
The brainchild of co-founders Gina Williams-Folau (main photo) and Greer Bland, the talent agency Liquorice was born out of a desire to make things easier for brand managers. Liquorice offers social talent for brands wanting to hit the sweet spot with Kiwi audiences. Launching with a roster of big names on board including Millie Elder-Holmes, Athena […]


text:
How would you feel if you have a new smartphone and get a charger with it? Today we are going to tell you which are the companies that have stopped giving chargers with smartphones. Now you have to take a separate charger for your new phone. First in this line, Apple stopped providing chargers with its iPhones citing the environment, while Samsung followed suit and stopped providing chargers. At the same time, after these two companies, Nothing has also launched its first phone without a charger. Now Oppo and Xiaomi are also stopping giving chargers.
Let us tell you that whenever you go to buy a new smartphone of any company, first know everything about it properly so that you do not face any problem.
For the latest mobile and tech news, gadgets reviews and telecom news, you can subscribe to Mobile Update. Facebook And Twitter Follow on.


text:
Starmaxx adds new sizes to ST760 range
Starmaxx, represeneted in Ireland by Kevin Burke Tyres has added two new sizes to its ST760 Ultra Sport car tyre range.
The range now includes: 275 / 35 RF 19 RFT and 275/30 ZR 20 RF. Both sizes have a W speed rating.
For more information contact Kevin Burke Tyres on 091 845329 or visit the company’s stand at the Auto Trade EXPO, at Citywest Exhibition Centre, Dublin, October 20-21.


text:
The researchers hypothesize that participants who abstained from animal products dropped significantly more pounds since plant-based foods include loads of filling fiber and slow-to-digest complex carbs. Though more research is needed to confirm these results, the study authors write, "Vegetarian diets appeared to have significant benefits on weight reduction compared to non-vegetarian diets."
There’s more: According to a 2017 review that looked at and analyzed more than 70 studies of over one million people, 42 percent of adults reported having tried to lose weight some time in the previous 12 months. So, lots of people are trying to lose weight, and lots of people are gaining it back. But we also all know someone (or several someones) who have lost weight and kept it off. So, what gives?
If you’re wanting to get your own bottle of the Keto Shred Supplement, your best bet is going to be to find their official website. We don’t think that KetoShred is a bad product, but we also don’t think that it’s going to make us change our favorite. If you want to know why we like our favorite so much, go check it out for yourself! It’s linked in the photos on this page. We hope you like it too!
And that’s not just the junk food sabotaging your diet, or the time suckers keeping you from working out. We’re also talking about the fad diets, fitness trends and questionable studies that have made reaching and maintaining a healthy weight more confusing than ever by promising this superfood or that super intense workout is the quick fix to tip the scale in your favor. (They’ve also spawned a $66 billion weight loss market.)
The upshot of all these chemicals floating around is big trouble for big-bellied guys. In a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, researchers took 137 men of all ages and sizes and used seven different measurements to determine their risks of cardiovascular disease. The single best sign of multiple heart-disease risks? No, it wasn't the guys' family histories or their cholesterol profiles. It was the amount of abdominal fat they carried.
Listen to your mum - dieting is faddish. Instead, improve the "quite" to "all" healthy and eat only nutritionally balanced, healthy foods. Cut out all sweets and junk foods, apart from an occasional treat, as humans would have always done till recent times. The exercise is important, and include plenty of stealth exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator and cycling to the shops instead of driving, etc.
As a result, about four in 10 Americans are obese -- that’s a whopping 93.3 million adults -- which increases their risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and early mortality, and cost the country $147 billion in medical costs in 2008, according to the CDC. Nearly 80% of American adults are also not getting enough aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity, which is linked to about $117 billion in annual health care costs and 10% of premature mortality, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Drink at least 2 liters (0.53 US gal) of water each day. Water has the double effect of both hydrating your body and filling your stomach with a certain volume of a liquid that has zero calories. The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (0.8 US gal) (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.
In a way, moderate-intensity physical activity is that "magic pill" a lot of people are looking for, because the health benefits go beyond keeping your waistline trim: Not only can it reduce your risk of cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart attacks, but studies have shown that physical activity can significantly improve the moods of patients with major depressive disorders.
Fennel, peppermint, and ginger have all been shown in research studies to have calming effects on the belly. They work by enhancing digestive enzymes so your food gets moved through your system faster. And faster-moving food means a flatter tummy. In addition, peppermint reduces cramping and gas, ginger helps with nausea and inflammation, and fennel is a diuretic to help you stop retaining water.
These foolproof workouts are designed to shred fat while building lean muscle, to ultimately sculpt the slim, sexy figure of your dreams! These workouts rely on short periods of intensive resistance exercise, a form of exercise that experts claim can have you burning more calories throughout the day than longer workouts. Meanwhile, they pair high intensity cardio with strength training, a critical combination when it comes to losing inches. The aerobic part of these exercises will crush calories, while the strength training involved will build muscle. And muscle, being metabolically active, burns calories at rest, so the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn!
Write down everything you eat this week. People who keep food diaries, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, lose an average of 6 pounds (2.75 kg) more than people who don't keep a record of everything that they eat. So force yourself to write down the good, the bad and the ugly. Keep these tips in mind:
Have you ever decided to skip a meal to cut back on your daily calorie count? Despite saving a few calories in the moment, this strategy almost always backfires. When you skip breakfast, or any meal, you'll begin to experience excessive hunger that can lead to craving unhealthy foods—and lots of them. You may also eat faster than you normally do after skipping a meal, causing you to miss the warning signs that you're full and resulting in overeating.
Ultimately, you need to pick a healthy eating plan you can stick to, Stewart says. The benefit of a low-carb approach is that it simply involves learning better food choices—no calorie-counting is necessary. In general, a low-carb way of eating shifts your intake away from problem foods—those high in carbs and sugar and without much fiber, like bread, bagels and sodas—and toward high-fiber or high-protein choices, like vegetables, beans and healthy meats.
If you don’t have an established exercise routine, simply walking is the best first step toward weight loss. “Walking is a pretty good entry point for people,” says Gagliardi. This is particularly true if you have been out of the gym for a while and want to ease back into a workout routine. One small study published in The Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry found that obese women who did a walking program for 50 to 70 minutes three days per week for 12 weeks significantly slashed their visceral fat compared to a sedentary control group.
Sure, you can lose weight quickly. There are plenty of fad diets that work to shed pounds rapidly -- while leaving you feeling hungry and deprived. But what good is losing weight only to regain it? To keep pounds off permanently, it's best to lose weight slowly. And many experts say you can do that without going on a "diet." Instead, the key is making simple tweaks to your lifestyle.


text:
This week saw the launch of Jessops’ new Flagship store opening on London’s Oxford Street and the Popcorn team were fully focused on a flash media campaign maximising time with Jessops’ Chairman, Peter Jones CBE, for key business and industry media. [Read more…]
Supporting the launch across consumer and trade media and influencer channels; Popcorn constructed a highly cost-effective campaign that delivered not only reach and awareness, but credible brand engagement and a bank of visually-impactful assets to be utilised across Bel Group’s European markets. [Read more…]
After hosting an array of standout influencer events this year, it was time for the final celebration of 2018 as the team headed into London to host the ultimate Instagrammable Christmas party with client OGX.


text:
Verizon Pushing Android 4.4 KitKat to Moto X
Article Comments 8
Nov 19, 2013, 12:31 PM by Eric M. Zeman
Motorola today announced that Verizon Wireless has begun to deliver the Android 4.4 KitKat system update to its variant of the Moto X. KitKat includes a new phone dialer, more gallery options, a broader selection of emoji and changed keyboard behavior, new focus controls for the camera, and a revised launcher, among many other changes. Motorola did not say when other variants of the Moto X would have access to KitKat.
The Moto X is a better pick for Verizon customers than the newest Droids. Here is Phone Scoop's take on Motorola's latest Android smartphone.
Motorola claims the new MOTO X was made just for you. It is a curious phone that offers useful new software features and some compelling hardware options.
Nov 11, 2013
Motorola has expanded the availability of its Moto Maker tool to customers of Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. Moto Maker lets people customize a Moto X smartphone online and have it delivered to their house.
Aug 1, 2013
Motorola today announced the MOTO X, a smartphone that was "designed for you." The MOTO X represents the first device created by Motorola from scratch after it was acquired by Google last year.
Jan 23, 2014
Motorola today updated the Gallery application that's installed on its Android smartphones. The app has a refreshed design that offers larger thumbnails and faster, simpler navigation between galleries and photos.
Glad Moto wins this time


text:
Russia reports increase in trade turnover with Armenia
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said that trade turnover between Russia and Armenia has grown and expressed satisfaction at the overall bilateral trade and economic relations between the countries, Prime reports.
Medvedev talked about the development of relations between Russia and Armenia at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Tigran Sargsyan, in the Crimean town of Foros in the framework of the meeting between the heads of the CIS countries.
For his part, Sargsyan said that Armenia attaches great importance to the deepening and expansion of relations with Russia.
Adapted from vestnikkavkaza.net
More on the topic
- 04.12.2013 Putin: Russia plans to 'strengthen positions' in South Caucasus
- 04.09.2013 Armenia ready to join Russia-led Customs Union – president
- 20.03.2013 Russia approves five-year military cooperation with Armenia
- 12.10.2012 Russia, Armenia to discuss economic cooperation
- 04.10.2012 Armenia to discuss Russian program of compatriots
- 03.10.2012 Russian-Armenian war games started in Gumri


text:
Marketplace for Tuesday, January 8, 2013
After being bailed out by the government in 2008, AIG is considering suing the U.S. government over the terms of the bailout. With more and more movies being filmed outside of Hollywood, businesses that once solely depended on the L.A. movie industry have to find new ways to make money. The battle between austerity and stimulus is being hashed out by Britain’s coalition government. Retail pharmacies are using the flu vaccine to make big bucks. Low-wage warehouse workers are suing Walmart for wage theft, even though they don't directly work for the retailer. And coin designer Garrett Burke talks about his concept for a proposed trillion-dollar coin.