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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSY-TV) - A new group of drone companies is now at The Tech Garden in Syracuse.
The five companies are hoping to win $1 million in Round 3 of the GENIUS NY competition.
They all say they're excited to be in Syracuse because of the drone ecosystem that exits in Central New York.
GENIUS NY Director Jon Parry says, "These companies are knocking on our door to get here, right to Syracuse to be part of the ecosystem, to leverage the investment the State is willing to put behind them and to create jobs, that's our number one goal here."
The companies are from around the world including CivDrone of Israel.
It uses drones to physically put markers in the ground at construction sites like roads, rail, ports, pipelines, solar panel fields, long linear projects.
CEO and Founder Tom Yeshurun says, "No more trying to find a blueprint."
"You never have to own a drone, you never have to know how to fly a drone, you never have to deal with regulations," says Brian Streem of Vermeer from Brooklyn.
By downloading the app from Vermeer it pulls up a 3D model of anyplace in the US and you use your phone like a camera.
Streem tells NewsChannel 9, "You send those shots to somebody with a drone locally, they pull it out of the trunk of the car, they download your shot. The drone autonomously goes click, click, click and two days later like magic for a fee you get the footage."
ResilienX of Syracuse calls itself a "check engine light" for the drone ecosystem.
Andrew Carter is the President & Co-Founder, ResilienX.
He tells NewsChannel 9, "When you start going Beyond Visual Line of Sight and you don't know what's out there and you don't know what your drone is doing, you're having to rely on other systems the system robustness and resiliency to failure become a much bigger factor."
Patrick Walsh, CEO & Co-Founder of EagleHawk, says "We've inspected 700-plus buildings and we found that 70-80-percent show signs of leakage."
But thanks to the infrared technology for drones developed by EagleHawk of Buffalo it can see water leakage that can't be seen with the naked eye.
Sentient Blue of Italy is developing hybrid power systems that will double the length of time a drone can be in the air and help with power loss to the cold, which they say can sometimes be as much as 50-percent.
The company's Business Developer, Miguel Dupret, tells NewsChannel 9, "This technology now allows for you to do Amazon deliveries, this technology now allows you to transport very large, heavy merchandise in very difficult environments."
The Italian company is already looking at building a factory near Griffiss International Airport in Rome, site of the of the nation's seven FAA approved drone test sites.


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Flying is becoming more expensive: from April 1, departure taxes will rise in the United Kingdom and a month later in Germany. However, within a year, Great Britain would charge higher taxes only from business travelers.
The British use a sort of salami tactic when it comes to departure lines. Air fares will be slightly increased on April 1 this year. For example, for economy travelers flying from the UK to the US, this increases by just one pound to £88 (around €103). In business class it's a modest 1.6 percent more at 194 pounds (228 euros).
If you sit more comfortably, you may pay more
But the British government is already planning to drastically increase departure taxes for passengers in premium classes from April 1, 2025. Anything with a seat pitch of 40 inches (approx. 101m) counts as “premium”. British media etc Weekly trip The consensus report is that the current 216 pounds tariff from Great Britain (254 euros) to the United States would be 13 percent higher. The United Kingdom already imposes the highest departure taxes in the world.
Ticket taxes in Germany will also increase by nearly 20 percent from May 1, 2024. The tax is calculated according to the flight distance. Within the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union, air transport tax increases from 12.73 euros to 15.53 euros. For long-distance routes of more than 6,000 kilometers, passengers will now pay 70.83 euros instead of 58.06 euros.
You may also be interested in:
BCD Travel Forecast 2024: Airfare to fall, hotel rates to rise
Airports: The fare screw will turn upwards
Budget gap: Higher ticket tax instead of kerosene tax
- More on the state of German business travel and how experts assess the most important challenges facing companies
- Why business travel is on the rise again
- This makes business travel a challenge
- How to create a mobility plan that works for everyone
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TWO OF NORTH AMERICA’S LEADING MULTICULTURAL AGENCIES FORM CANADIAN PARTNERSHIP
BROOKLYN and TORONTO — UniWorld Group, Inc. (UWG) and Monsoon Communications, two top-tier multicultural agencies, together have expanded their reach by forming UWG Monsoon, a new multicultural agency specializing in strategies that offer brands a deep and comprehensive understanding of the numerous ethnic consumer segments in Canada – each with their own unique culture, characteristics, and consumer buying habits.
Brooklyn-based UWG is the longest-standing multicultural advertising agency in the United States, while Toronto-based Monsoon has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most respected multicultural agencies since its founding in 2010.
“The formation of UWG Monsoon to serve the Canadian market is a first step in our international growth plans,” said UWG President & CEO Gregory Edwards, who leads UWG’s advertising and marketing services globally. “We’re proud of our accomplishments on behalf of our clients in the United States and look forward to bringing our unique unicultural perspective to Canada and the world.”
The new agency will be housed in WPP Toronto’s new campus in the city’s Waterfront Innovation Centre.
“We’re extremely proud to join with UWG and take this next step in our growth,” said Sachi Mukerji, CEO and Executive Creative Director of Monsoon. “I believe this new business partnership is a validation of our strategic vision, and we’re excited that it will allow us to share our passion for multicultural advertising with a wider client base.”
Penelope Chow, a member of Monsoon’s leadership team, will be on special assignment as UWG Monsoon’s first Managing Director, charged with leading the new agency and driving growth.
A seasoned multicultural marketer, Ms. Chow possesses a deep understanding of how “newcomers” to Canada engage with brands. During her tenure at Monsoon, she led teams in support of top advertisers in the mobile, banking, CPG, and technology sectors. Previously, she spent several years working for leading hotel brands in China.
“Canada’s population growth surged to over a million people last year, almost entirely due to immigration, and the federal government plans to welcome 500,000 new immigrants annually by 2025. These are staggering numbers, and it’s now more important than ever for advertisers to incorporate proven newcomer strategies into their overall marketing plans”, said Ms. Chow.
“This partnership creates new opportunities for our teams to flex their multicultural knowledge, insights, strategy, data and creative muscles, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” she added.
Monsoon Communications will continue to operate as an independent multicultural advertising agency in Toronto with its own roster of clients. There will be no changes to the ownership or management team headed by Sachi Mukerji as CEO and Ramesh Nilakantan as COO.
About UniWorld Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, UniWorld Group, Inc. (UWG) is the longest-standing, full-service multicultural advertising and marketing agency in the United States. A thought leader in creativity, inclusion, and innovation, UWG has carved its legacy in the communication space for more than fifty years by connecting brands to multicultural audiences beyond the construct of race and ethnicity. UWG is a minority-owned, woman-led strategic partner of the WPP network. For more information on UWG, visit uwginc.com.
Monsoon is a full-service agency specializing in multicultural marketing and advertising. The firm is headed by a team of senior industry professionals with strong backgrounds in mainstream and direct-response advertising, and broad experience with national and global brands. Monsoon’s success in helping brands thrive in Canada’s diverse ethnic markets is a testament to its deep knowledge and understanding of Canada’s newcomers combined with a rigorous and disciplined strategic mindset and a focus on creating effective advertising that generates meaningful ROI. To learn more about Monsoon, visit monsooncommunications.ca.
Group Director, Experiential & PR
UniWorld Group, Inc.
CEO and Executive Creative Director


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Nov 6 (Reuters) - Payments processor Square Inc reported a near 50% rise in third-quarter profit on Wednesday, as the company benefited from growth in its subscription and services business.
The company, founded and led by Twitter Inc Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey, said net income rose to $29.4 million, or 6 cents per share, in the quarter ended Sept. 30, from $19.6 million, or 4 cents per share, a year earlier. (bit.ly/2Nq3jAx)
Total net revenue rose to $1.26 billion from $882.1 million. (Reporting by C Nivedita in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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The new Microsoft.com is now live. The refreshed design was shown off earlier in the year, and draws heavily from the popular Microsoft design ethos called ‘Metro.’
Metro can also be found on and in Windows Phone 7 and Zune products, two parts of the Microsoft empire that have always received plaudits for their strong UI design.
The new design also features integration with the ‘pinning’ functionality of Internet Explorer 9, something that the company has been touting recently to developers as a way to boost site engagement. This is what the new Microsoft.com looks like at the time of writing:
If you access the website, scrolling through sections can be done by clicking on the arrow that is visible under the text “For work.” As with Windows Phone 7, this will slide you to the next page, an animation that is rarely seen online.
Microsoft.com is the 27th largest website in the United States, and 25th in the world, according to Alexa, making this redesign quite impactful.
While we have not heard word, we anticipate this design to slowly roll out to other Microsoft web properties over the coming months. Sound off in the comments, do you like it?


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The most ‘visible’ effect of the coronavirus on cryptocurrency markets has undoubtedly been the major fluctuations in crypto prices, particularly Bitcoin’s.
The Most Diverse Audience to Date at FMLS 2020 – Where Finance Meets Innovation
Indeed, after several weeks of hovering between in the $8,000-$10,5000 range, Bitcoin plummeted from roughly $8,000 to nearly $4,000 before recovering to about $6,100. Since April 1st, the price of Bitcoin has floated between $6,900 and $7,300. The fluctuations in price caused the discussion around Bitcoin’s status as a ‘safe have n’ asset to change considerably.
Beyond the price, however, the coronavirus has also brought several other important, albeit less ‘visible,’ changes to the cryptocurrency industry.
“Fraudsters are leveraging increased fear and uncertainty during the COVID-19.”
Perhaps the most urgent–and the most problematic–of these changes is the emergence of a number of COVID-19 related scams.
Indeed, earlier this week, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigations warned that fraudsters are on the verge of unleashing a huge wave of cryptocurrency scams related to the coronavirus.
“Fraudsters are leveraging increased fear and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic to steal your money and launder it through the complex cryptocurrency ecosystem,” a statement from the FBI said, adding that the intended victims of the scams are “people of all ages, including the elderly.”
The announcement also said that “many traditional financial crimes and money laundering schemes are now orchestrated via cryptocurrency,” specifically mentioning several kinds of scams that it anticipates to become increasingly popular in the wake of the coronavirus, including “work from home scams,” “blackmail attempts,” and “investment scams.”
A “perfect storm” for crypto scammers
Why are these scams so prevalent at this particular moment in time? In a way, the outbreak of the coronavirus has created a sort of “perfect storm” for scammers: a world-wide sense of fear and anxiety (causing panic-buying and investing), a wave of altruism (inspiring charitable actions), and billions of dollars in stimulus package cash (cha-ching).
Indeed, “while governments are rapidly deploying massive amounts of capital to mitigate the health and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus, bad actors are taking advantage of the resulting lack of oversight and a sense of urgency,” said John Jefferies, Chief Financial Analyst at cybersecurity firm CipherTrace, in an email to Finance Magnates.
Therefore, “in the rush to fund these programs, there will inevitably be misallocated funds, creating a ripe environment for corruption and money laundering.”
For example, “some established dark market vendors have transitioned from selling their traditional illicit products to masks and drugs such as chloroquine that claim to cure the COVID-19,” Jefferies explained.
“Additionally, scammers and fraudsters are benefiting from fear created by the health crisis selling non-existent treatments such as vaccines and life-saving drugs to unaware consumers. According to the FTC, bad actors have made off with almost $13 million from such coronavirus-related scams in the United States alone.”
Other fraudsters are taking advantage of corona-related altruism
Additionally, there are a number of fraudsters posing as charitable organizations that are allegedly collecting money for individuals and communities affected by the coronavirus. For example, Chester Wisniewski, a security researcher at Sophos, tweeted a phishing email impersonating the World Health Organization (WHO) in mid-March.
The scammers impersonating the @WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund are evolving. First samples seen on 16 March and have put a bit more spit and polish on the 18 March run. Please donate to the real fund here: https://t.co/MfggnADyKF pic.twitter.com/FVwbbSmN4e
— Chester Wisniewski (@chetwisniewski) March 19, 2020
In other words, the same number of scam victims are sending the same decimal amounts of cryptocurrencies–but their coins are simply worthless.
“We believe scammers are still receiving those same payments from roughly the same number of victims per month. The payments are just worthless now due to cryptocurrency price drops,” the report explained.
Crypto scammers are feeling the same pains that the rest of the industry is enduring
Therefore, it follows that fraudsters aren’t the only ones feeling the sting of the economic crisis that the coronavirus has brought on the entire world. A number of legitimate crypto companies have also reportedly had to lay off their employees due to corona-related economic losses.
Indeed, citing a “100% user-generated” list of companies on recruiting site Candor, NewsBTC reported earlier this week that “Bitcoin.com, crypto mining firm Bitfarms, and mining hardware manufacturer Bitfury are among the firms in this industry that have begun to lay off staff over the past few weeks.”
In addition, Factom, which was founded in 2014, has allegedly gone into liquidation–this, in spite of millions of dollars worth of funding over the past five years and a grant from the US Energy Department.
Additionally, the coronavirus has also put a bit of a damper on fundraising efforts in the crypto and fintech space more broadly. Specifically, multinational professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers suggested that “the global headwinds caused by the coronavirus and other related events are having an impact on many industries globally, including the crypto industry,” in a report earlier this month.
“We believe that the crypto industry is not immune to these conditions, and the number and value of fundraising and M&A deals may be impacted as a consequence in 2020.”
Fraud-prevention fintech solutions could ‘save the day’ if they are used effectively
However, changes in other parts of the global financial landscape could mean that we will emerge from the coronavirus quarantine with fewer instances of fraud than before.
Earlier this week, Finance Magnates reported that several fintech firms had been approved to facilitate the distribution of loans by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and that the fact that the US government was partnering with these fintech firms was a significant milestone in terms of recognition for the industry.
However, it’s also true that in addition to the opportunity for SBA loan facilitation, fintech firms have an opportunity to meet the needs of the financial industry in other ways–including an increased need for fraud prevention.
Indeed, “the increased threat of fraud must be addressed,” said Brian Drozdowicz, Manager of Customer Acquisition & Growth Solutions at Bottomline Technologies, in an email to Finance Magnates.
“Industry experts are projecting a heightened level of fraudulent activity, and fintech-powered solutions…can help reduce fraud by including integrated risk and compliance capabilities that help streamline and secure the process for lenders and borrowers,” he said. His own company also offers fraud-prevention services.
Indeed, “FinTech has streamlined our ability to order goods online, reduced financial fraud, optimized the speed of home deliveries, and has been a literal safety net for millions of people,” said Monica Eaton-Cardone, owner, co-founder and COO of Chargebacks911. “Without this technology, we wouldn’t be able to weather the storm nearly as well as we have.”
Hopefully, at the end of this all, the crypto industry will be able to say the same thing.
What are your thoughts on the way that the coronavirus has affected the evolution of fraud in the cryptosphere or any other aspect of the crypto industry? Let us know in the comments below.


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Stores unveiled a record number of negative trading updates during the the fourth quarter of 2008 – a figure that has only ever been equalled in the first quarter of 2005.
27 per cent of retailers issued negative updates, according to Grant Thornton. The figure equalled the previous worst period, which was suffered in 2005.
However, 31 per cent of statements were positive, which was the highest proportion since the first quarter of 2008.
Food and drink retailers made the most upbeat statements at the end of last year, when 67 per cent issued positive statements compared with just 20 per cent of other retailers.
Grant Thornton head of retail services team David Bush said: “This has been a particularly harrowing three months for the retail trade with some large familiar brand names going into administration and most having to seriously discount their products merely to turn stock into cash.
"Like-for-like sales figures showed a dramatic fall in sales activity. Only 29 per cent of all retailers showed an increase in sales. In the fourth quarter of 2007 the reported figure was 65 per cent."
Five listed retailers also issued profit warnings at the close of 2008.
Bush said: "It is highly likely that the Christmas trading updates which will be released in the next few weeks will be extremely bleak, with even the stronger retailers struggling for sales.”


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[caption id="attachment_200214" align="alignright" width="459"] Chris Burkhard | Photo courtesy of Placers[/caption]
Newark – As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced this year’s Small Business Persons of the Year winners – over 50 outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. Chris Burkhard, owner and president of Placers Staffing has been selected as Delaware’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2020. The virtual National Small Business Week event, rescheduled from May due to the coronavirus pandemic, was held September 22-24.
Chris said in a statement “I'm humbled and honored. Any time that you are picked out of the approximately 13,000 businesses in the state of Delaware, being number one on this particular day is pretty cool in my book. The SBA is a great resource for business. They helped me 20 years ago to get things started for my business and honestly I think people forget that the SBA is the organization that was instrumental for the recent Payroll Protection Program. Placers benefited from that to employ people and keep people working in the state. There are so many other businesses in the state that are thankful for that connection. Honestly, this award means that I have to go to work and live up to it each and every day.”
Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week by recognizing the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States. All NSBW winners were recognized during a virtual event on September 22.
SBA also co-hosted a free, three-day virtual conference featuring educational workshops and networking. Additionally, recognition and educational seminars throughout SBA’s 10 Regions and 68 Districts were held throughout the week. To get involved in the National Small Business Week activities and to see all the 2020 awardees, visit http://www.sba.gov/nsbw.


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The new device is a part of mega 4G service launch by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm
Experts said Reliance LYF would want to tap the wearable devices market--which is expected to be between $14 billion and $40 billion by 2020--to complement its mobile devices
Reliance Retail claims its phones are future ready, best poised to exploit 4G. Will that be enough to make consumers get a LYF?
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New Logo For New York Fashion Week
With the goal of unifying all fashion week activities and raising NYFW’s visibility, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has unveiled a new logo and brand campaign for the shows, which are officially organized under the Fashion Calendar. (Think maybe they fought over the colors?) The CFDA acquired the Fashion Calendar in 2014, which serves as the official schedule of New York Fashion Week.
“This is the first time [having a logo and campaign], and it’s really the result of the process of creating New York Fashion Week as a brand,” said Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the CFDA. Kolb and Diane von Furstenberg, president of the CFDA, met with Mayor Bill de Blasio, to speak about the city, the fashion industry and the importance of fashion week to the city. They decided they should create a brand connecting New York Fashion Week to the city and make an umbrella. The CFDA worked with Redscout, the brand strategy and innovation agency, to develop a visual identity for NYFW. The goal was to align all facets of the city’s runway shows and presentations, from central locations to off-site venues and events within the brand.
Under Armour Expands Reach With Sports Bras
To create a closer bond with women Baltimore-based activewear brand Under Armour has chosen to get that message across, through a new collection of sports bras! On Tuesday, Under Armour will host an event in Los Angeles to unveil the Armour Bra Collection, a new line of high-, mid- and low-support sports bras designed to provide women with different levels of support for every activity.
The bra launch will be marketed as part of the company’s “I Will What I Want” campaign that was introduced last year. It will feature Under Armour athletes Lindsey Vonn, Misty Copeland, Kelley O’Hara and Brianna Cope as well as model Gisele Bündchen.
Rue La La Expands Cotton Inc. Takeover Days
Flash-sale site Rue La La is expanding on its Cotton Incorporated partnership, this time adding Molly Sims as the ambassador for the three remaining site-wide cotton campaign takeover days. The company has done structured partnerships before, such as with Norwegian Cruise Lines and 20th Century Fox, which helped provide the movie “Spy” with some exposure before it hit theaters. The theme of the campaign is “Cotton. It’s Your Favorite for a Reason.” and it represents the first time the site has allowed for takeover days, which will incorporate curated picks for boutiques targeting women, men, children and home.
As part of the program, Rue has partnered with select designers to create cotton-rich merchandise exclusively for the site during the takeover days in September and November, including Lafayette 148, Alice & Trixie, Current/Elliott, Nanette Lepore and J. McLaughlin.
– Carol Calacci
Source and Photo: WWDSee the Top Ten Summer 2016 Trends for Women Over 40
Tags: campaigns, Carol Calacci, CFDA, Cotton Incorporated, Diane Von Furstenburg, Fashion Calendar, logo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Molly Sims, New Logo For NYFW, New York Fashion Week, Rue La La, sports bras, Steven Kolb, Takover Days, Today's Fashion News, Under Armour, Under Armour Bras


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Alexandra Burke and Duffy have rounded off an eventful 12 months by being declared the top-selling musicians of the year, it emerged yesterday.
Burke, winner of The X Factor, whose cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah was the Christmas No 1, sold 888,000 copies through downloads and CDs - 311,000 of them in the last week.
According to figures from the Official Charts Company, Burke also pushed the X Factor Finalists' charity single, Hero, into second place with sales of 751,000.
It was also a good year for X Factor judge Simon Cowell: the top two singles were released through Syco Music, the company he set up, as was the year's fourth most popular album, Leona Lewis's Spirit.
The Welsh singer Duffy saw her single Mercy take the No 3 spot in the year's bestseller chart. It was the only other single to sell more than half a million copies.
Duffy's debut album, Rockferry, was the year's bestselling album, racking up 1.685m digital and physical sales, and denying Take That the top spot.
The reformed boy band's latest album, The Circus, sold 1.446m copies in the last four weeks, making it the UK's second fastest million-seller. "Duffy and Alexandra Burke have been the biggest new arrivals on the British music scene over the past year, bar none," said Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company, which compiles the UK's official singles, albums and compilations charts.
The Mamma Mia! The Movie soundtrack was the year's biggest compilation seller and the only various artists package to sell more than a million copies in the UK.
Kings of Leon claimed the third spot in the top 10 bestselling albums with Only By the Night. Lewis's Spirit came fourth, while Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, was fifth.


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AT&T is sending out a poorly worded email to many customers urging them to update their devices to avoid disruptions in service. The email (screenshots by AndroidPolice below) suggests that the users’ devices are not “compatible with the new network”, and that they need to “replace it to continue receiving service”.
The communication does not explicitly mention what warrants the device upgrade or what timelines are in place for the service disruption. However, heading to the link provided in the email that directs to a support page reveals that the communication is to warn users about the company’s switch away from 3G networks, which is happening in February 2022. The carrier is moving to VoLTE (Voice over LTE) based calling – which the firm calls HD Voice – and will stop supporting 3G and 4G devices that do not support the technology.
Interestingly, the email communication has likely been sent to many users – including those that are running unlocked versions not purchased through the carrier or phones that have not been whitelisted by the company yet. A thread on the carrier’s Community Forums has users wondering if the communication is legitimate at all, since customers who bought devices like the Galaxy S10e or Nokia 6.1 – that support VoLTE – are also receiving the email. The company’s supported devices list itself lists the S10e, leading to more confusion.
In times of the pandemic that is causing an economic stain on many people, such an alarming email that urges users to upgrade their devices to avoid service disruption without any context is clearly uncalled for. It will be interesting to see if AT&T provides any clarification on the said communication.


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Xiaomi announces that they will soon launch NFC enabled watch straps earlier today. These straps will sync via Mi Pay to offer contactless payments to users. However, the extensive details about the NFC straps are yet to unveil. Meanwhile, the company executive Raghu Reddy posted on Twitter stating that they will work only via Mi Pay. And this move mays see an increase in the adoption of the payment service that the company offers in India.
Xiaomi Watch straps collab with digital payment
Moreover, the launch took place earlier today, at the Global Fin Tech Festival that kicked off earlier today. As part of one of its announcements in a bid to offer services that contribute to digital payments in India, the company’s watch straps were unveils in partnership with RuPay, RBL Bank and Fintech platform Zeta. In addition, the offering might be initially limit to a few specific banks. But, will later expand to offer its contactless payment services to a wide range of users in the long run.
Furthermore, the announcement was in line with the first day of the Global FinTech Festival. which touched upon India’s scope for expansion in the modern, digital finance space. Moreover, a report by News18 cities Rajesh Bansal, CEO of the RBI innovation Hub, as stating that while UPI payments in India stand at around Rs 2.3lakh crore as of 2021. In addition, he reportedly says that only one in five people across the country is actively using digital payments. And says that this reflects on the massive scope of growth that FinTech firms in India have in the immediate future.


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The eighth edition of the annual Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference (APHIC) 2016 kicked off on 25 May at Dusit Thani Bangkok.
The 23rd edition of the travel show was held from 23 to 26 March at the Epocentre Fairgrounds in Moscow.
The ITB Berlin Convention, the world’s leading travel and trade fair, was officially inaugurated yesterday with the Maldives as the official partner country of this year’s event.
The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), together with 5 industry partners, are taking part in the 20th edition of East Mediterranean Tourism and Travel (EMITT) exhibition in Turkey.
The Hotel Technology Summit, due to take place from the 22nd to 23rd November this year, is set to be held at Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa.
The 11th Hotel Asia Exhibition a 2015 was officially opened this morning at an inauguration ceremony at Dharubaaruge Exhibition Hall, Male’.
The 13th China (Guangdong) International Hospitality Supplies Fair (HOSFAIR) has opened today and will run until September 12th.
The Food, Beverage and Hospitality industry is gearing up for Maldives largest and most anticipated event ‘Hotel Asia 2015.’ This annual expo will be held from the 19th – 21st of September 2015,
The Vivaha Bride Fair is the most prestigious bridal fair held in India every year, where couples often choose a honeymoon destination.
11th Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge to be held in September at Dharubaaruge
The Maldives’ largest annual food and hospitality event, Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge 2015, will be held at Dharubaaruge Exhibition Hall, Male Maldives from the 19th to 21st September 2015 while the mega culinary competitions will commence from the 18th to 21st August.
The Maldives has been awarded three prestigious titles at the National Dive Travel Awards, held during Japan’s Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo from 3-5 April 2015.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation participates in Azerbaijan International Tourism Fair 2015
The Maldives has successfully participated in the Azerbaijan International Tourism Fair (AITF), which commenced on April 2nd and closed yesterday, April 4th, in the country’s capital, Baku.


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Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 15, 2011
Localpages.com launches free email service connecting consumers with amazing offers sponsored by numerous local and national businesses. Network advertisers see huge spike in quality traffic.
Cash-strapped consumers reeling from holiday overindulgence are finding themselves stuck with a shopping hangover. People are forced to tighten their belts and search for money saving opportunities in their communities. But they don’t have to wander very far because LocalPAGES.com, a local search directory, brings the savings right to their inboxes.
With LocalPAGES’ Deal of the Day service, customers can join the coupon group by signing up for elite email promotions sponsored by neighborhood small businesses as well as national retailers. The sign up process is over in a matter of seconds; simply enter a valid email address along with a zip code to start receiving coupons today. The zip code information matches the recipient’s location to relevant campaigns, which ensures geo-accuracy. When they see something enticing, they can purchase it with a single click on the LocalPAGES homepage.
Advertisers love the LocalPAGES approach to direct marketing, too. They don’t have to worry about reaching out to disinterested buyers because the user-friendly opt-in platform eliminates this common concern. E-marketers are enjoying a solid boost in web traffic that’s virtually guaranteed to produce actual conversions. Plus, the share features effortlessly increase the scope of their campaigns via Facebook, Twitter, and Buzz. Data shows that digital word of mouth, powered by social networking, is even more effective than traditional marketing strategies.
For more information contact: Eric Barkey, VP of Business Development Phone: 877-48-LOCAL email: eric(dot)barkey(at)localpages(dot)e-mai;lcom
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For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, eTrade is still an emerging phenomenon that holds many opportunities. However, like other African countries, there are challenges that must be overcome to become significant players in eTrade. Connecting and getting online is just the beginning of a digital process that will eventually give birth to successful business transactions if nurtured well. Accomplishment in eTrade involves engaging in the entire process successfully, from creating an online business, setting up online payment systems, ensuring the delivery of quality goods across the border to providing after-sales support services.
There are several challenges that SMEs in Nigeria and other developing countries deal with that hinder them from participating effectively in eTrade. It is essential to mention that there are also encouraging signs that SMEs in Africa will catch up with those in the developed world soon. Nevertheless, let us look at these challenges, proffer solutions to resolve them and finally, close the gap between the two worlds in eTrade.
About 60 million Nigerians, which make up 30% of the country’s population, are illiterate. Nigeria’s Minister of Education expressed concern over the country’s high rate of illiteracy, pointing out that some 60 million Nigerians cannot read or write. Nigeria will not achieve its development aspirations unless it checks this high rate of illiteracy. Women account for nearly 60 per cent of the country’s illiterate population. Therefore, to win the war against illiteracy, Nigeria must give priority to the girls and women. The most convenient approach is through the selective, thorough, and countrywide campaign against illiteracy, aiming at states and groups that have the highest levels of illiteracy, with girls and women as the primary target. If a minimum of 10 literacy centres are established in each of the 9,572 wards in Nigeria, with each centre enrolling about 30 learners in two sessions per annum, 5.7 million adults would be made literate at the end of each year under the national literacy campaign. Consequently, about 23 million people would become literate.
Access to the internet
Nigeria internet users hit 105 million, and it's broadband penetration reaches 30.9 per cent in 2018, according to a report from the National Communication Commission (NCC). 54% of this population accesses the internet, while about 12% have active social media accounts. The report says that 3 hours 17 minutes is the average amount of time Nigerians spend on social media. This is higher than the global average, which is 3 hours, 14 minutes. WhatsApp is the most active social media platform in the country, with 85% of users. The second is Facebook at 78%; Instagram is third at 57%, followed by FB Messenger at 54% and Youtube at 53%. This figure shows that SMEs in Nigeria have tremendous opportunities on the internet and the potential to participate successfully in eTrade.
If SMEs in Nigeria take advantage of the internet for eTrade, small firms can turn into global players. eTrade provides a method for those who have been traditionally marginalized in international business, especially young people, women, rural dwellers of least developed countries to become worldwide players. eTrade makes up 12% of global trade on goods, and this is on the increase. The benefits of eTrade are many; it permits a more extensive variety of exports in terms of products and markets. For example, a digital exporter in Nigeria reaches on average 28 countries, while a traditional one reaches only about three. It is also welcoming to new entrants. Newcomers account for 25% of online sales annually, while their share in traditional exports is around 2%.
Empowering women online
The digital divide is big for SMEs, and the divide is especially significant for women. eTrade is the only option for business in Nigeria and other developing countries to flourish. It is a solution to problems that entrepreneurs face. From computer literacy to logistics and marketing, we need to ensure that women and men have the knowledge and skills to eTrade.
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eBay has launched X.Commerce, the company's new commerce developer platform designed to house all of eBay's major commerce and developer tools.
The main pillars will be PayPal and eBay, but also includes RedLaser, ProStores, Milo, GSI Commerce, Zong, Where and Magento (eBay's popular e-commerce software).
"We intend to build the full suite of commerce tools," eBay CEO John Donahoe said Wednesday on stage at the X.Commerce Innovate conference in San Francisco.
Donahoe said that the X.Commerce platform has three key tenants. First, eBay will make sure it has all the commerce tools developers and merchants need to do business, and eBay will make the acquisitions necessary to get it done. Second, the platform will be an "open platform." And third, it will be designed to be easily accessible and usable.
One of the tools eBay will launch as part of X.Commerce is PayPal Access, a service that allows people to use their PayPal accounts on other merchant websites, eliminating the need to give third parties their credit card information.


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In a bid to promote the usage of cashless transactions, State Bank of India (SBI) has launched its ‘SBI Unnati card’. The...
DMRC collaborates with Ola Money for cashless card recharge
Tata Starbucks launches m-payment options for fast transactions
SBI introduces “Work from Home” facility for its employees


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By Lisa Capobianco
For business owners Traci Selinske and Suzanne Shamleffer, the recent Small Business Marketing Summit, sponsored by the Southington Chamber of Commerce and Liberty Bank, served as an opportunity to expose their new business, Posh Pear, which recently opened in downtown Plantsville. Although they have been using a variety of social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, Selinske and Shamleffer said they hope to expand on what they already know in order to engage more customers.
“We are still new and still trying to get our name out in the community,” Selinske said. “There’s so many different ways now to market and advertise.”
Coordinated by Image Marketing Consultants and presented by the town, the Small Business Marketing Summit provided a complimentary breakfast and also featured three different speakers who educated business owners about different marketing strategies, including social media, public relations and video marketing.
Keith Atchinson, the owner of Fusion Interactive Group, presented on small business social media, focusing on how to turn “followers” and “likes” into customers. During the summit, Atchinson provided business owners an overview of the social media landscape, including Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Vine, Google + and Snapshot.
“The key to these social networks is deciding which ones are going to work for your business,” Atchinson told business owners, adding that they do not have to be on every social media website.
During his presentation, Atchinson also advised business owners to create a content strategy by posting relevant or valuable content, making connections with customers online, and having conversations with them through a bi-directional relationship.
“Tell a story, ask a question…post a poll out there,” Atchinson told business owners. “You want to post something that is useful to your audience…know what makes them excited about your business, and encourage them to share.”
Like Selinske and Shamleffer, Amy and Eric Kline of Vintage from the Heart have also used social media to engage customers, posting pictures on Facebook to spotlight certain parts of the store on a daily basis to engage customers.
Through the summit, Eric, who helps his wife Amy with the marketing aspect of Vintage, hopes to enhance his understanding of how to engage more customers on social media websites like Facebook.
“We want [customers] to come in and experience the shop,” said Kline.
During the summit, Michelle Bonner, the former anchor of ESPN’s Sports Center, advised business owners how to pitch an attention-grabbing press release to different media outlets as well as how to network with local TV stations and newspapers.
Michael Miceli, the owner of Miceli Productions, a keynote speaker during the summit, engaged business owners with his presentation on using professional video to engage customers in a short amount of time.
“Our point with video is to reach people in a new way, give them something to look at and respond to very quickly,” Miceli said during his presentation. “There’s so many ways to use video, you have to figure out what is right for you.”
For Pete Cambi, the partner and director of Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers, incorporating videos is the next marketing tool he hopes to pursue.
“We’re interested in adding video to the website,” said Cambi, adding that Physical Therapy in Southington has become active in community events such as the Apple Harvest Festival and road races. “It’s an avenue we’re going to look into.”
Shamleffer also said using video served as an avenue worth pursuing.
“The video part is something we haven’t explored yet,” she said.
The summit also gave business owners an opportunity to network with each other. Karen Bobik of Century 21 AllPoints Realty said the event served as a great networking opportunity both residentially and commercially.
“Marketing is everything for us,” said Bobik, who has been a realtor for ten years now. “All of us realtors are our own boss.” “Any way you can get exposure is great.”
Kline added that networking allows business owners to refer their customers to other businesses located nearby.
“We all have the same goal,” said Kline, noting that attracting a large number of customers is a goal that all businesses hope to achieve.
By Lisa Capobianco


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The biggest US chipmakers, including Intel Corp, Nvidia Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) and Qualcomm Inc, are starting off the year by unveiling products that push further into each other’s main territories, signaling that they are girding for tough competition as semiconductor demand increases across industries.
Intel, clinging to its title of world’s largest chipmaker by revenue, on Tuesday showed off graphics chips aimed at fighting Nvidia and AMD in their area of domination.
Nvidia’s latest chips are targeted at persuading more laptop owners to choose its highly specialized graphics capabilities, and AMD touted products meant to maintain its market share gains.
Photo: Steve Marcus, Reuters
Qualcomm, the biggest maker of chips used in mobile phones, bolstered its drive to win a chunk of the personal computer market, leveraging its dominance in smartphone technology.
The flurry of announcements at the annual CES gadget show, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, highlights the shifting competitive landscape for a group of companies whose technology rules the computer and mobile phone industries.
The show is based in Las Vegas, but is mostly taking place virtually.
In an online presentation earlier in the day, Intel announced its 12th-generation Core mobile processors, including 28 new models that are as much as 40 percent faster than their predecessors.
Crucially, new Arc graphics chips are being shipped to PC makers, including Acer Inc (宏碁), Dell Technologies Inc and HP Inc, which are to use them in upcoming machines aimed at gamers, it said.
The Arc chips are Intel’s attempt to cut into the dominance of Nvidia and AMD in high-end graphics. More laptops are using add-in graphics cards to bolster capabilities in gaming and content creation, which are increasingly determining customer preferences.
Intel’s chips in the past have only offered graphics built into main microprocessors, typically with less power to generate realistic images.
Nvidia countered by unveiling new graphics chips for laptops, aimed at bringing high-end gaming and artificial intelligence capabilities to the thinnest and lightest computers.
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics processor would equip notebooks with prices starting at US$2,499, giving them better capabilities than many previous high-end desktop models, Nvidia said in a virtual presentation, adding that laptop models running on the 3070 Ti chip would start at US$1,499.
Nvidia, whose market value is larger than any other chipmaker, is rolling out new products as it works to broaden the reach of its technology into the laptop market. Most thin computers contain what is called integrated graphics, capabilities typically built into central processors from Intel or AMD.
AMD chief executive officer Lisa Su (蘇姿丰) showed off new laptop and graphics processors, meant to continue the company’s run of stealing market share from Intel.
AMD’s graphics chips have come closer in performance to Nvidia’s, but the larger company still controls the majority of the market for add-in cards for PC gamers that can cost more than US$1,000.
In one of the few remaining in-person appearances at CES, Qualcomm president and chief executive officer Cristiano Amon spoke about his commitment to bringing smartphone technology-based processors to the PC market.
He listed customers such as Microsoft Corp, Acer and Lenovo Group Ltd (聯想).
Amon also talked up his push into automotive semiconductors, unveiling chips that would help vehicles pilot themselves.
That move would put him in more direct competition with Intel’s Mobileye unit and Nvidia.
CLIENTS’ RIGHTS: Banking Bureau Deputy Director-General Lin Chih-chi said the buyer and Citibank Taiwan would need to disclose changes to branch operations DBS Bank Taiwan (星展台灣), the local unit of Singapore-based DBS Group Holdings Ltd, has reportedly won a bid to acquire Citibank Taiwan Ltd’s (花旗台灣) consumer banking business, but the two companies declined to confirm the report yesterday. Citibank Taiwan’s consumer banking business is to be sold for about NT$60 billion (US$2.17 billion) to DBS Taiwan, the Chinese-language Economic Daily News reported on Sunday. DBS Taiwan and its parent company are expediting the negotiations with the seller’s US-based parent company, while other local bidders, including Fubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控) and Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控), have dropped their bids, the report said. Citibank
Intel Corp yesterday said it has placed its first order with ASML Holding NV to purchase the semiconductor industry’s first TWINSCAN EXE: 5200 system, as the US chip giant aims to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in advancing to 2-nanometer process technology. The Dutch semiconductor equipment maker’s TWINSCAN EXE:5200 system is an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) high-volume production system with a high numerical aperture (NA) that can produce 220 wafers per hour, more than the 150 wafers that its previous generation TWINSCAN EXE:5000 system can handle. ASML aims to launch the new system in 2024. ASML president and chief
MediaTek Inc (聯發科), the world’s biggest 5G chip supplier, saw its ranking rise by one notch to No. 7 last year among world semiconductor vendors, as it benefited from the rapid 5G smartphone uptake in China after Huawei Technologies Co (華為) was forced to exit the market, Gartner Inc said in a report yesterday. MediaTek’s revenue soared 58.8 percent to US$17.45 billion last year from US$10.99 billion in 2020, outpacing the global semiconductor industry’s growth of 25 percent, according to Gartner’s tally. That gave MediaTek a 3 percent market share. The Hsinchu-based chip company ranked No. 8 in 2020, behind Texas Instruments
Siltronic AG cast doubt on a planned US$5.3 billion takeover by GlobalWafers Co (環球晶圓), saying the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action’s feedback so far was opaque and offered no clear resolution on how to win approval for the deal. During recent discussions, the companies did not receive any information as to whether and under which conditions a clearance for the takeover might be issued, the German company said in a regulatory filing on Friday following a news report on remedies the companies have offered. In the ministry’s view “in this case, a mitigation agreement is apparently not suitable


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YouTube star Joey Graceffa has partnered with Studio71 Games to help bring to life his vision to expand the Escape the Night universe with a new board game.
New cloth masks by MaskClub.com, the subscription service from licensed apparel company Trevco, will feature characters from Genius Brands’ Llama LLama.
Moose Toys unveils a new line of squishy, stretchy and uniquely goo-filled toys in collaboration with Marvel, as well as Treasure X, a new innovation in time for Shark Week.
In addition to the launch of Ryan’s World Road Trip board game, Far Out Toys is further expanding its partnership with pocket.watch to create collectibles for Love, Diana.
Snap Ships invite kids to build, battle and display an array of spacecrafts, merging two play patterns for boys — action-play and construction.
Regatta’s new collection of Peppa Pig outerwear and accessories for children is set to launch across the UK and Europe in Spring/Summer 2021.
Jazwares and UFC are teaming up to bring the world of mixed martial arts into homes everywhere with a new line of UFC action figures and role play collectibles.
JRL Group, Inc. has secured a licensing partnership between NHRA and Castline Inc. for a series of NHRA diecast collectables under their M2 Machines brand.
This week, WowWee launches the first official Power Treads set in the U.S. on DRTV: the Power Treads Full Throttle Pack with 40+ pieces.


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Volvo’s EWR150E, EWR170E and EW220E, the latest in Volvo Construction Equipment’s wheeled excavator lineup, can now be bought using purchasing cooperatives Sourcewell and HGAC.
Volvo Construction Equipment’s newest wheeled excavators — the EWR150E, EWR170E and EW220E — are now available through Sourcewell and HGACBuy, adding to Volvo’s robust lineup offered through purchasing cooperatives for governments and nonprofit organizations.
The number of wheeled excavators offered by Volvo Construction Equipment doubled in 2018. The EWR150E, EWR170E and EW220E further diversify what Sourcewell and HGAC make available to their members. Volvo’s EW60E, EW160E and EW180E can also be purchased through these programs.
“Volvo wheeled excavators are becoming an integral part of more and more government fleets thanks to their mobility and versatility,” said Matt McLean, product manager, wheeled excavators, at Volvo Construction Equipment. “Many municipalities consider them as a viable and more capable replacement to backhoes and truck-mounted excavators.”
Cooperative purchasing agencies such as Sourcewell and HGACBuy, are government entities that competitively solicit, evaluate and award cooperative purchasing contracts, streamlining the procurement process for their members by satisfying the bid process. Cooperative purchasing is becoming increasingly attractive for many government agencies who are facing budgets cuts, personnel reductions and demand for increase in efficiencies, as the contracts allow compliance without duplication of effort. These contracts give municipal customers the freedom and flexibility for advanced budget planning, while saving time and money for them and their taxpayers.
Because Volvo has contracts with both Sourcewell and HGACBuy, municipal customers have an easier and more efficient way to rent, lease or purchase Volvo equipment, ensuring the best price without going through a traditional bid letting process.
Local governments in the U.S. are seeing the benefits European crews gain from using wheeled excavators, which is contributing to their popularity in North America.
“Wheeled excavators in the U.S. represent a paradigm shift,” said John Edwards, government sales manager for Cowin Equipment. “As we engage with our municipal customers that are somewhat more progressive, they see the potential of a wheeled excavator and are willing to explore its use and capitalize on its benefits.”
Hear from an Alabama county on why they chose Volvo through Sourcewell.
Covington County, Alabama purchased an EW180E Volvo wheeled excavator using Sourcewell. They found the process faster and most cost-effective than going through a bidding process.
Listen to officials from Texas municipalities on why they purchased Volvo wheeled excavators through HGACBuy.
Local Texas officials are using cooperative purchasing to buy wheeled excavators to replace their truck-mounted excavators.
In addition to wheeled excavators, a variety of Volvo equipment is available through procurement programs, including crawler excavators, wheel loaders, articulated haulers and much more. For more information, visit the Volvo Construction Equipment Government Sales North America website.


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Jay-Z and Kanye West’s ‘Watch the Throne’ Premieres at No. 1 on Billboard 200
As expected, Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative LP 'Watch the Throne has debut on top of the latest Billboard 200 album chart. The collection moved 436,000 copies last week, making it the second-largest sales week of the year for an album, following Lady Gaga's 1.1 million chart premiere of 'Born This Way.'
'Watch the Throne' also had a big week in digital sales as well, grabbing 321,000 downloads during its availability on iTunes from Aug. 8-11 before hitting digital and retail stores on Aug. 12. In total, according to Billboard, 'Throne' sold nearly 290,000 downloads breaking Coldplay's digital record of 282,000 downloads in its first week with their 2008 album, 'Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends.'
This latest chart achievement marks Jay-Z’s 12th and Kanye West’s fifth number one albums of their careers.
Congrats to the Throne!


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Microsoft has been gradually plugging the app holes in its Windows and Windows Phone ecosystem, and today is no different. The Mint banking app is now available for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone users, complete with Live Tile integration. Mint provides access to over 20,000 bank, credit card, loan, and investment accounts, and the Live Tile integration surfaces an overview of financial accounts, bills, and money advice.
Like the Android and iOS apps before it, the Windows version allow Mint users to track and monitors accounts, categorize and organize spending, and enter or edit transactions. The Windows and Windows Phone version look almost identical to the recently redesigned Mint app for iOS 7. Mint is yet another big name app that has made its way to Windows 8 and Windows Phone, and another application to help further close the app gap that currently exists. Windows Phone also recently benefited from the relase of Instagram and Vine and further apps and games are expected to be released in the coming weeks, including Xbox Video for Windows Phone devices. Mint is launching in the Windows Phone Store and Windows Store today.


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The 2012 edition of the West Virginia International Auto Show left the starting line with an invitation-only charity preview gala that featured an appearance by "America's Got Talent" winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.
"I always used to go to auto shows when I was washing cars," Murphy joked to an appreciative crowd that was dressed to the nines.
Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday evening, Murphy and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., opened the show by unbuckling a giant replica of a seatbelt.
The show at the Civic Center opens to the public at 10 a.m. today. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. Admission is free for children 6 and under.
"This show is the rebirth of the auto industry," said Ruth Lemmon, president of the West Virginia Auto & Truck Dealers Association.
Indeed, Toyota - which suffered through parts shortages in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last March and, more recently, flooding in Thailand - is among the manufacturers who have come to this year's show in full force.
Several company executives are in town, including Kim Menke, manager of external affairs and government relations for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.
Menke said he and several associates spent Thursday meeting with state legislators "and what better way to top it off than to come to the auto show, help Hospice, and look at some cars?" He has owned two Toyota Highlander hybrids. It remains his vehicle of choice but Menke is also looking at a Camry hybrid and a Lexus hybrid.
The Camry hybrid XLE sedan on the show floor gets an estimated 40 miles per gallon in the city and 38 miles per gallon on the open road, with an impressively low average annual fuel cost of $1,400.
Honda also has a robust display at this year's show. One vehicle garnering a lot of stares is a 2012 Accord four-door with a V-6 engine and polished metal metallic paint job. State Delegate Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, let out an audible "Oooh," when he got in the driver's seat.


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A sign is pictured in the hallway of the Microsoft Cybercrime Center, the new headquarters of the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, in Redmond, Washington November 11, 2013.
A previously unknown flaw in a recent version of Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer web browser is being used to attack Internet users, including some visitors to a major site for U.S. military veterans, researchers said Thursday.
Security firm FireEye Inc. discovered the attacks against IE 10 this week, saying that hundreds or thousands of machines have been infected. It said the culprits broke into the website of U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars and inserted a link that redirected visitors to a malicious web page that contained the infectious code in Adobe Systems Inc.’s Flash software.
FireEye researcher Darien Kindlund said the attackers were probably seeking information from the machines of former and current military personnel and that the campaign shared some infrastructure and techniques previously attributed to groups in mainland China.
He said planting backdoors on the machines of VFW members and site visitors to collect military intelligence was a possible goal.
A VFW spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Microsoft spokesman said the company was aware of the “targeted” attacks and was investigating. “We will take action to help protect customers,” spokesman Scott Whiteaker said.
The latest version of the browser is IE 11, which is unaffected, and a Microsoft security tool called the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit also protects users who have installed that.
Previously unknown flaws in popular software are a key weapon for hackers and are sold by the researchers who discover them for $50,000 or more, brokers say.
They are most often bought by defense contractors and intelligence agencies in multiple countries, but some of the best-funded criminal groups buy them as well.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
(Credit: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET)
It's a classic game show conundrum: keep the gift you're given or swap it for a chance at winning something better. That's the idea behind Microsoft's new online gift exchange.
Each day from Monday, December 9, until Friday, December 20, Microsoft's gift exchange page will offer you a chance to win a surprise holiday present. After the gift pops up, Microsoft plays virtual Monty Hall by giving you the option to exchange it for something else. The grand prize of an online gift code worth $500 will end up in the stockings of 12 lucky winners.
To qualify, just fill out the form with your name, e-mail address, phone number, and zip code. Be sure to check the box to certify that you're a US resident. But you may want to uncheck the option to receive news and promotions from the Microsoft retail store.
A mystery gift then appears, which you can keep or swap for something else. On my first try, I opted to keep the gift and ended up with nothing but a message that said: "Bah Humbug. Sorry, you didn't win this time but you can still take advantage of our great holiday deals going on now. Don't forget to come back tomorrow and try you luck again."
Sure, Microsoft, I'll try again tomorrow. But I have a hunch I'll get the same message.
Like the 12 days of deals promotion, the online gift exchange is Microsoft's attempt to drum up excitement for its products among all us holiday shoppers.
Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
In addition to being a conduit for iTunes, Apple’s little black streaming box also wants to be your new in-home radio station.
The perpetual hobby known as Apple TV was updated to software version 6.0 today. The firmware bump brings Apple’s new iTunes Radio service to the set-top box. Similar to Pandora, the service has radio stations built around genre, artists, and songs. You can also vote songs up or down. Subscribers to the $25/year iTunes Match will get an ad-free experience while everyone else will be subject to occasional ads, according to Apple.
The iTunes Radio service is a part of Apple’s massive iOS 7 update that landed on iOS devices Wednesday. The desktop iTunes App was also updated on Wednesday to 11.1 and includes iTunes Radio.
The service is Apple’s (much delayed) answer to similar radio features on Slacker, Rdio, and Spotify. By placing its radio service on the Apple TV, the company has linked iTunes Radio to the best — or at the very least, the most used — speakers in the house. While music from other apps can be pushed to the Apple TV via AirPlay, having a native app could give Apple a distinct advantage over competing products in homes with Apple TVs.
More importantly for the bottom line, it gives Apple the chance to sell more tracks from its iTunes music. Songs that are played in iTunes Radio show up in the services history on all devices and can be purchased from those devices including the Apple TV, thanks to today’s update.
Today’s update also brought AirPlay From iCloud, which lets guests stream their purchased music, photos, and videos stored in iCloud to another person’s Apple TV. If you bought World War Z on iTunes, you can now go to a friend’s house with an Apple TV and watch it there without having to log into their Home Sharing account or store it on your phone. It’s all streamed from iCloud.
by Roberto Baldwin
Follow @strngwys on Twitter.
If you’re a Flickr member but you haven’t been using the Flickr iPhone camera app(Free), you may just start doing so after you get your hands on its new filter-rich update and other added features.
iPhone camera apps are plentiful, but the new Flickr Mobile App seeks to up the standards with a fresh set of eighteen filters and photo effects to choose from. Now before you yawn, you should know that not only can you scroll through and preview filters to see how they will affect your selected photo, but the new feature also allows you customize applied filters to get the look you want.
In the new update you can tap on the pencil icon of a filter and then pinch to adjust the vignetting and/or blur the background or edges of an image.
In the new update you can tap on the pencil icon of a filter and then pinch to adjust the vignetting and/or blur the background or edges of an image.
For advanced shutter bugs, the mobile app includes exposure, color balance, levels, sharpening and cropping tools so you don’t have to open your images in another app to edit them. If you’re looking for even more professional editing, tap on the crop tool and you get yet another set of tools for rotating, flipping, and cropping an image to one of four aspect ratios, e.g., 4:3, 1×1, and 16×9. And as with previous versions of the app, you can upload photos to your Flickr account for public or private viewing.
If all these controls sound like too many bells and whistles, then just tap the magic enhancement tool and you’ll more than likely get results better than your original shot, and sufficient enough for sharing.
It seems with this latest update Yahoo! is making clear that it’s still squarely in the photo sharing business along side the popular Instagram. Let us know what you think of the new upgrades.
It's a dream that Carl Dietrich, the company's co-founder, CEO and CTO, has been working at steadily since at least 2006.
Terrafugia is perhaps just a few regulations and one very powerful battery away from clearing most of the hurdles it needs to create a flying car that consumers in the market for the equivalent of a super luxury sedan could afford.
With a cruising speed of 100 miles per hour in the air and gas mileage of about 35 to the gallon on the ground, Terrafugia's first model of flying car exists already.
The Transition is basically a small general-aviation airplane that can fold up its wings with the push of a button. It runs on normal automative gasoline — about 30% less expensive than aviation fuel (its range is about 410 miles plus a 30-minute reserve). Fly the Transition to a small airport, land, and the wings withdraw in less than a minute. Its propeller disengages and its rear-wheel drive turns on. At that point, you're street legal and ready to roll. At home, the Transition is designed to fit within a single-car garage.The next generation from Terrafugia, the follow-up to the Transition, should prove a bit more universally affordable.
Google’s primary search domain for Palestine has seemingly been hacked, with the standard Google search interface for the region being replaced by a political message from its hackers.
From the information available so far, it doesn’t appear that Google’s own servers were hacked — instead, it seems that Google’s Palestinian domain was hijacked and redirected to another server altogether. How that was done, exactly, is unclear. One current theory is that Google’s top-level domain provider for the region was compromised, allowing hackers to point the domain somewhere else.
“uncle google we say hi from palestine” taunts the defaced page, “to remember you that the country in google map not called israel. its called Palestine”
Here’s a screenshot of the defaced page as it appeared this morning:
Credited to a Domino’s Pizza franchise in the UK, a prototype or publicity stunt pizza delivery drone whizzes through the skies outside London to bring two pizzas to a waiting customer. While debates rage over whether it is real, whether Domino’s really intends to pursue the concept, and if it is even legal; there are some interesting questions for the logistics community.
The drone supplier, Aerosight, is an innovator in aerial photography, using unmanned video drones to capture stunning images and videos for film makers, advertising, and broadcast media. Just as the military have adapted surveillance drones to carry weapons, why not a civilian application to carry small packages?
The practicality of widespread use of drone delivery devices is limited. If the application were to become popular, it would drive congestion overhead with the potential for midair collisions – though having a beer copter and a pizza drone collide and rain down pizza and beer at a college campus event may be seen by many as a positive mishap. That doesn’t preclude the possibility of some real applications.
One very real “cargo” opportunity for the drones comes to mind in post disaster response. Flying a drone into a flood area can aid responders in locating victims and identifying those with the most critical needs – and then providing some relief. Such a drone might carry a communications device and some basic medical supplies (like insulin) that can help save lives.
A document drone might shuttle paperwork between remote locations at a port or a large terminal operation. At the same time, the camera can provide location verification on trailers and containers and a security check while enroute.
While we watch the skies for flying pizza, enjoy the video above (or click here) and feel free to add comments on how we might apply drones to other social and disaster recovery problems. Keep in mind that until recently a commercial carrier making deliveries in space sounded fantastic – then came the SpaceX Dragon.
Google has been awarded a patent that could allow Google Glass users to unlock the screen using eye tracking.
As of now, a single side swipe across the high-tech spec's touchpad unlocks the device, but if the patent is any indicator, that may soon get even easier.
In the patent filing, Google details how a moving object could appear on Glass' projected screen, sort of like a screensaver, and unlock a wearable device when eyes align with the movement. In this case, we're assuming the "wearable device" the company refers to is its own Google Glass, but it notes wearable computers can be worn "under or on top of clothing or integrated into eye glasses."
In an attached picture, the company uses an image of a bird flying back and forth (see below). When one's eyes follow the bird's movement, the technology recognizes the alignment and unlocks the device.
The same concept applies to text scrolling across the screen.
"The computing system may determine that a path associated with the eye movement of the user substantially matches a path associated with the moving object on the display and switch to be in an unlocked mode of operation including unlocking the screen," Google said in the filing.
The speed of the moving object on the screen could also accelerate or decelerate, and the technology would detect the eye's corresponding response to those changes and in turn unlock the screen, the filing said.
By Samantha Murphy
Mozilla is teaming up with Taiwanese company Hon Hai Precision Industry — better known as Foxconn — to launch a new device running the Firefox OS.
Mozilla confirmed the partnership to Reuters and although the company wouldn't share the exact nature of the device, it is believed to be a tablet. Mozilla is expected to unveil the plans at Focus Taiwan on June 3.
Mozilla has already signed partnerships with Alcatel (TCL), Huawei, ZTE and LG for Firefox phones but this would be its first tablet initiative.
Foxconn makes most of its money from Apple but is reportedly looking to diversify its customer base. It already makes Android devices but this would be its first foray into the Firefox OS space.
Firefox OS is just one of the class of operating systems vying for a fourth or fifth spot in the smartphone ecosystem. These platforms — which also include Ubuntu Touch and Tizen — are primarily targeting emerging markets and first-time smartphone buyers.
What do you think of Foxconn getting into the Firefox OS space? Let us know in the comments.
Photo via Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images
Source - Mashable
Coffee With Tim Cook Charity Auction Ends With $610,000 Bid.
A charity auction that offered up coffee with Apple chief Tim Cook closed this week at $610,000.
The chance to have coffee with Cook at 1 Infinite Loop pulled in 86 bids, with the winner pledging more than half a million to chat with Apple's CEO.
The winner - and a friend - only get 30-60 minutes with Cook, so that's about $10,000-$20,000 per minute, depending on how chatty Cook feels that day.
The auction, hosted by Charitybuzz, kicked off in late April, and quickly racked up over $100,000 in bids. Charitybuzz valued the meeting with Apple's CEO at $50,000, but Apple fans clearly felt he was worth much more.
Proceeds from the Cook auction will go to The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, as will a number of other Charitybuzz auctions, including a tour the SpaceX Center in Los Angeles and a meeting with Elon Musk, which went for $42,500.
"We're truly amazed by the results of Tim Cook's remarkable donation. Sincere thanks goes out to Charitybuzz's community of socially conscious bidders here in the U.S. and overseas, whose generosity has helped us raise an incredible amount for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights," Coppy Holzman, Charitybuzz CEO and founder, said in a statement. "With the support of cultural icons from Hollywood to Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley, we are thrilled to have amassed more than one million dollars this spring for the RFK Center's powerful work."
Charitybuzz did not release details about the winning bidders. Don't expect to hear about it, either. According to the auction rules, "the winner cannot blog, social network, talk to press, write about, take pictures or record during the experience in any way due to security regulations."
The winner will also sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) upon arrival at Apple headquarters. The time and date for the sit down will be agreed upon in the coming days, but must happen within a year. Travel and accommodation costs are not included.
There are actually 147 auctions on Charitybuzz that will benefits the RFK Center. After three weeks, the first wave of auctions closed this week, raising more than $1.1 million for its global human rights programs. To date, the RFK Center's annual auctions at Charitybuzz have raised more than $4.6 million for human rights over six years.
"The RFK Center's annual auctions empower our human rights advocacy around the world, from courtrooms to classrooms, from Cambodia to California," said Kerry Kennedy, president of the RFK Center. "We are enormously grateful to our generous donors and to all those whose support will help us carry forward Robert Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world."
Cook's auction tied the record for highest winning bid on Charitybuzz, which was set by a 2013 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster auctioned in March 2013 for $610,000.
Cook, meanwhile, is reportedly scheduled to have a more stressful sit down next week. According to Politico, the Apple CEO will appear before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation on May 21 for a hearing about "offshore profit shifting and the U.S. tax code." The witness list for that hearing is not expected to be released until Friday, but an Apple spokesman told Politico that the company has been working with the committee.
According to Bloomberg, Apple avoided $9.2 billion in taxes by funding a dividend and stock buyback program.
Source: PC Mag


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Wairarapa's international tourist figures in February almost doubled on the same period last year and an industry leader says the district's tourism is riding "a nice wave".
Statistics New Zealand figures show nights stayed by international guests rose 87.7per cent in February 2016 compared to February last year.
Destination Wairarapa general manager David Hancock said it's a high time for tourism, and Wairarapa was certainly benefiting.
"We're hitting a nice wave at the moment, and we'll ride it," Mr Hancock said.
More than 27,000 total guest nights were recorded in February in Wairarapa, an increase of 27 per cent on the year before for both domestic and international visitors. More than 115,000 tourists arrived in the year to February, an 5.8 per cent year-on-year increase.
Mr Hancock said strong relationships with travel and tourism agents was a key to bringing more international guests to the region.
He said he met with 82 agents on a recent trip to Auckland to promote Wairarapa and capitalise on the national tourism boom.
Nationwide, guest nights in February 2016 were 7 per cent higher than a year earlier. Nights were almost evenly split between domestic and international tourists, making up 51 and 49 per cent of the figures respectively.
Year-on-year, tourist numbers from all of New Zealand's top 10 international markets increased more than five per cent. The largest of these was a 27 per cent increase in tourists from China, followed by 21 per cent growth from Korea and 19 per cent from India.
The Tourism Industry Association said although international tourism was experiencing massive success at the moment, the value of domestic travel was "often overlooked".
Chief executive Chris Roberts said domestic tourism was worth $18.1 billion last year -- significantly more than the $11.8 billion international market.
Mr Roberts said New Zealanders' strong summer holiday tradition was great for the industry, but encouraging travel outside of those months was a "major goal" for the tourism industry.
"There's no silver bullet for encouraging domestic tourism. [The challenge is] how do we get that discretionary dollar spent on having a great weekend away, as opposed to maybe buying a TV for the bedroom," Mr Roberts said.
He said most people were only prepared to travel three hours by car, so encouraging air travel was crucial to opening up more of the country to travellers.
He said recent competition between airlines had also been "excellent".


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The Commerce Department’s Free Trade Agreement Tariff Tool (FTA Tariff Tool) has been updated to include the latest information on tariffs on U.S. products exported to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) partner markets. When enforced, the TPP will eliminate more than 18,000 foreign import taxes that various countries place on Made-In-America exports.
“Helping businesses, especially small and mid-sized companies, compete and succeed in the global marketplace is a core priority for the Department of Commerce," said Secretary Pritzker. “The Trans-Pacific Partnership presents multiple opportunities for U.S. companies of all sizes to export their world-class products and services to markets that represent nearly 40 percent of global GDP. The updated FTA Tariff Tool will help these firms realize those benefits by including the latest information on tariffs on U.S. products exported to TPP partner markets.”
FTA Tariff Tool users can see how TPP and other FTA partner tariffs on individual products – searchable by keyword or tariff code – are treated under an agreement. Additionally, U.S. importers and exporters can see the current tariff and future tariffs applied to their products, as well as the year in which those products become duty free. It also incorporates agricultural and non-agricultural goods and includes product specific rules of origin information.
The TPP is a transformational 21st-century trade agreement with 11 other countries bordering the Pacific Rim, home to some of the fastest-growing markets in the world. TPP levels the playing field for American workers and businesses, supporting more Made-in-America exports and higher paying American jobs.
The updated website also contains an instructional video, quick start guide, and user’s manual.


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Jack Waibel is a husband, dungeon master, and lifelong gamer. He's tapped more land cards than modern science can measure and looks forward to the day he turns 10 and can begin his Pokemon journey.
Yes, Your Grace is a narrative-driven kingdom-management RPG in which you sit on your throne and listen to petitioners requesting your aid.
Zoria: Age of Shattering is a tactical, party-based RPG with base and follower management.
I guess this means we're in the future now.
During today's Inside Xbox presentation, Microsoft and Obsidian Entertainment showed off more of The Outer Worlds, Obsidian's upcoming Fallout-esque RPG.
During today's PlayStation State of Play presentation, Sony revealed that the next two games coming to PlayStation Plus in October 2019 will be The Last of Us Remastered and MLB The Sh
During Sony's State of Play presentation for today, Infinity Ward unveiled a new trailer showcasing the campaign for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
At PAX West this year, publisher Gearbox and developer Blackbird Interactive announced that the long-awaited Homeworld 3 is officially in development and will have a


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Tech Report: Startups
Startups step into the smartphone game
Mobile apps are forecast to be a $30B market by 2013
- Peter Key
- Staff Writer
(Page 2 of 6)
Gartner Inc. said in January that 4.5 billion mobile apps will be downloaded worldwide this year, 82 percent of them at no charge to the downloader. The Stamford, Conn.-based research company expects more than 21.6 billion mobile apps will be downloaded in 2013, but it expects the percentage of free apps to increase to 87 percent that year.
Despite the give-aways, Gartner is forecasting consumers across the globe to spend $6.2 billion on mobile apps this year and $29.5 billion in 2013.
Those download and revenue figures have three drivers, said J.P. Finnell, the founder and CEO of Newtown Square-based consulting firm Mobility Partners LLC and a founder of Mobile Monday Mid-Atlantic.
The first is network speeds. For example, T-Mobile just upgraded its 3G wireless network in Philadelphia to enable download speeds of 21 megabits per second.
The second is the computing capability of today’s mobile devices, which Finnell said, on average, have the equivalent processing power of a workstation made by Sun Microsystems 15 years ago.
The third is the model for making apps available online pioneered by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and emulated by Research in Motion Ltd. for the Blackberry and Google Inc. for Android phones.
“Apple took a lot of friction out of the system, just like they did with iTunes,” Finnell said.
Those factors haven’t made smart phones ubiquitous just yet, but they’re heading in that direction. Seventeen percent of mobile-phone subscribers in the United States owned smart phones at the end of last year, up from 11 percent in December 2008, according to comScore Inc. Overall 3G phone ownership was up to 43 percent from 32 percent, according to the Reston, Va.-based digital marketing intelligence firm.
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To promote electric vehicles (EV), Power Minister R K Singh on Friday approved amendments in guidelines and specifications for charging infrastructure. These revised guidelines and specifications shall supersede the earlier guidelines and standards issued by the Ministry of Power on December 14, 2018, according to a statement by the Power Ministry.
Singh said in the statement that the revised guidelines are more consumer friendly, as they incorporate a number of suggestions received from various stakeholders.
"We have tried to address the concerns of EV owners in new guidelines," he added and expressed hope that the new guidelines will encourage faster adoption of EVs in the country.
To address the range of issues of the EV owners, a phase-wise installation of a network of charging infrastructure throughout the country has been envisaged in the new guidelines to ensure that at least one charging station should be available in a grid of 3 km X 3 km in the cities and one charging station at every 25 km on both sides of highways and roads.
It has been envisaged that in the first phase (i.e. 1-3 years), all mega cities with a population of over four million as per Census 2011, all existing expressways connected to these mega cities and important highways connected with each of these mega cities may be taken up for coverage, while in the second phase (3-5 years), big cities such as state capitals, Union territory (UT) headquarters may be covered for distributed and demonstrative effect.
Further, important highways connected with each of these mega cities may also be taken up for coverage.
To address the concerns in inter-city travel and long range and/or heavy duty EVs such as buses and trucks, it has been provided that fast-charging stations shall be installed at every 100 km on each side of the highways and roads.Assuming that most of the charging of EVs would take place at homes or at offices where the decision of using fast or slow chargers would rest on the consumers, it has been clarified in the guidelines that private charging at residences or offices shall be permitted and power distribution companies may facilitate the same.


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Huobi HK, a subsidiary of the renowned digital asset exchange Huobi Global, has made a significant announcement, stating that it now offers crypto spot trading services to retail and institutional clients in Hong Kong. In line with regulatory requirements, the exchange submitted an application notice to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission on May 29. This move signifies Huobi HK’s commitment to operating within the legal framework and obtaining a virtual asset exchange license before providing regulated services.
Hong Kong’s crypto-friendly regulatory environment supports Huobi HK’s expansion
Hong Kong has been actively fostering a crypto-friendly regulatory environment to protect retail investors and promote innovation in the cryptocurrency sector. Recently, the region introduced a crypto licensing regime for exchanges to establish a framework that ensures consumer protection while encouraging technological advancements. In light of this regulatory support, several firms, including Huobi HK, intend to apply for the virtual asset exchange license. The proposed guidelines encompass various aspects, such as asset custody safety requirements, cybersecurity standards, and client asset segregation, with implementation scheduled to begin on June 1.
Huobi HK’s expansion into the Hong Kong market underscores its compliance and regulatory adherence dedication. The platform will collaborate with auditors to ensure strict compliance with anti-money laundering regulations and meet the requirements set by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Huobi HK aims to provide its clients with a trusted and secure trading environment by focusing on compliance and regulatory standards.
Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem and Huobi HK’s role
Hong Kong has been gradually implementing crypto-friendly policies and developing its Web3 ecosystem. Huobi, with its decade-long experience as a cryptocurrency exchange platform, is actively involved in constructing and developing Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem. During the recent Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, Huobi emerged as a significant contributor to the region’s first Web3 ecosystem fund, further reinforcing its commitment to fostering innovation and growth in the Web3 space.
Huobi HK aims to play a pivotal role in driving Hong Kong towards becoming a global hub for Web3 technologies. The platform will enable users to buy, sell, and hold mainstream cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other major cryptocurrencies listed on the independent index. By delivering an excellent trading experience, Huobi HK seeks to support the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies among Web3 users in Hong Kong.
Huobi’s continued collaboration with regulatory authorities
As the regulatory landscape evolves, Huobi remains committed to collaborating with regulatory authorities in Hong Kong. The company recognizes that regulating Web3 technologies in Hong Kong will significantly contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies. Huobi will continue its collaborative efforts to support the development of a vibrant Web3 hub, working closely with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance and foster an environment that encourages responsible growth.
Huobi, founded in 2013, has transformed from a cryptocurrency exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing various blockchain businesses. With a presence in over 160 countries and regions across five continents, Huobi serves millions of users worldwide. The company’s three development strategies – “global development, technology drives development, and technology for good” – underline its commitment to providing comprehensive services and values to cryptocurrency enthusiasts worldwide.


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Happy Holidays from everyone at Image Comics!
(art by Brandon Graham!)
HIP FLASK COMES FULL CIRCLE
Price drop on penultimate Starkings-Ladrönn collaboration
Ladrönn has returned to HIP FLASK to illustrate the penultimate issue of Richard Starkings’ acclaimed series. Ladrönn won an Eisner for his artwork in HIP FLASK: MYSTERY CITY, and he and Starkings returns with a lush, beautiful story about redemption and love, OUROBOROUS.
And, as a bonus, the price of HIP FLASK: OUROBOROUS has been decreased — from $5.99 to $4.99! It’s a Christmas miracle, and is it any surprise that it comes from the genial, white-bearded Starkings?
“Call me a numbskull,” said Starkings, “but I figured readers need more bang for their buck, not less.”
HIP FLASK tells the story of the eponymous anthropomorphic hippopotamus, an information agent in a dystopian future where human-animal hybrids, created as implements of war, struggle to be accepted into society. A series of extra-long issues, HIP FLASK is set in the same universe as Starkings’ beloved series ELEPHANTMEN.
HIP FLASK will be in stores on December 26! An interview with creator Richard Starkings, who is also the founder of the graphic design and lettering company Comicraft, about the art and design in OURORBOROUS was published at Multiversity Comics on December 24.
NOWHERE MEN PERFORMS IMPRESSIVE ENCORE
Second issue sells out, gets second printing
Lauded for its mash-up of “science fiction, a little bit of Beatles-esque mystique, a touch of retro, a bit of business” (iFanboy) at the release of its first issue, NOWHERE MEN continues going strong. The second issue of the pop-art sci-fi series by Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellegarde has sold out at the distributor level the same week as its release. The issue will receive a second printing (NOV128153), to be in stores on January 30, the same day as NOWHERE MEN #3.
Image Comics also recently revealed a T-shirt bearing the series’ tagline “Science is the new rock ‘n’ roll,” to be released in March.
FREE FIRST ISSUES OF STORM DOGS AND COMEBACK
Image Comics miniseries debut issues are free digitally
The holidays have come early, thanks to free digital #1s of two critically acclaimed Image Comics miniseries. The debut issues of two Image Comics science fiction miniseries, STORM DOGS and COMEBACK, are now free at comiXology and on the Image Comics digital site and app. The two issues have sold out in print at the distributor level.
“The free digital firsts are a great way for people who may have missed the print issues to get started reading a new series,” said Image Comics PR and Marketing Director, Jennifer de Guzman. “Storm Dogs and Comeback have excellent receptions and reviews, and we don’t want people to have to delay reading them. New fans can either follow up at their local comics shop or continue buying the series digitally — whichever they prefer.”
STORM DOGS by David Hine (THE DARKNESS, THE BULLETPROOF COFFIN) and Doug Braithwaite (Journey into Mystery) has been hailed for its sophisticated depiction of an alien world, futuristic technology, and taut procedural mystery story. In a four-star review, Comic Book Resources called it “a worthwhile addition to Image’s growing line-up of science fiction titles with elaborate worlds and great looking artwork.”
STORM DOGS #2 was in stores on December 5 and continued the roll of positive reviews. Issue #3 will be in stores on January 16, 2013.
COMEBACK is a stylish time-travel thriller by Ed Brisson and Michael Walsh, published under Image Comics’ Shadowline imprint. Multiversity calls it “a high-concept thriller that takes its time, gradually drawing you into the story as it establishes the characters and the overall atmosphere” in an interview that gives it 8.9 out of 10.
COMEBACK has also continued its great reception with the release of its second issue on December 19.


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Apple just revealed the most downloaded apps of 2016 and the top spot should come as little surprise to those who have been paying attention: Snapchat.
As if we needed more proof that Evan Spiegel's.. Mashable
I'm back playing Roblox Pokemon GO with a bunch of other Noodlers! This is the very first ROBLOX game I've seen that actually has the Pokemon Go spawning and catching like the real game! Source: Rumble -
I'm giving Roblox Pokéblox GO a try, since I've caught nearly all the Pokemon in Roblox Pokemon GO! This one's a little different because it sort of mixes Pokémon GO, with Pokemon battles and.. Source: Rumble -
Augmented reality game Pokémon Go saw explosive growth in the weeks following its release. People swarmed onto the streets in search of their next catch, visiting Pokéstops in obscure locations to.. Huffington Post
If you’re a Pokemon Go fan, you might want to pay close attention the next time you’re in Starbucks morning line. It seems that rumors have been swirling about a possible Starbucks-specific event.. geek.com
Pokémon Go is about to get bigger, according to a handful of Starbucks employee guides that found their way online early this week. The images have not been verified by Niantic, the.. engadget Also reported by •TUAW
Pokémon Go is planning a partnership with Starbucks that will begin on December 8, according to an alleged Starbucks employee memo that has been leaked on Reddit.
The partnership will turn.. Business Insider
Pokémon Go players may be able to earn a brand new Pokémon at Starbucks locations around the country later this week, if leaked documents supposedly distributed to staff members are to be believed. Digital Trends
With the holiday season just around the corner, a lot of Pokemon GO players are demanding a Christmas event for the game. With that in mind, a lot of Reddit users who also play the game posted some.. HNGN
Whether you're shopping for a Pokémon GO fan or someone who owns every console ever made, we've got holiday shopping recommendations to suit everyone from beginners to the most discerning gamer. CNNMoney Also reported by •CNN.com
As the year draws to a close, it's traditional to look back and pick out some highlights. This is precisely what Google has done, drawing up a list of the 'Best of 2016' from Google Play. Covering.. betanews
The year is nearly over, and it's time for a little reflection. Harambe. The election.
And the top Android apps, of course.
Google released its annual list of the top Android apps on.. Business Insider
We all know the video game hype cycle: a game is announced, a fancy trailer drops, we pick apart every second of every video released in its marketing, then, finally, the game is released.
Pokémon Go is finally fixing its biggest problem.
After months where many players could not find Pokémon in Pokémon Go, players in the U.S. and most of Europe will finally get a working.. Business Insider
We know that 100 new Pokémon are eventually coming to Pokémon Go as part of a massive second generation update.
References to 100 new creatures (ranging from number 152 to 251 in the master.. Business Insider
After months of speculation, Pokémon Go creator Niantic Labs has finally released Ditto into the wild.
Ditto was the last missing Pokémon in the game, aside from a few powerful Legendary.. Business Insider
That didn't take long. Mere days after leaks hinted that Pokémon Go would get more monsters, Niantic and The Pokémon Company have rolled Ditto into the game. The critter is a.. TUAW Also reported by •engadget
While Pokémon Go’s fallen pretty far, it remains one of the most popular apps of all time with over 500 million downloads to date. That’s despite the developer, Niantic, gutting many of its […] geek.com
There are many features players want to see in Pokémon Go, but nothing has been as hotly anticipated as a 'Nearby' tracker that actually works.
Pokémon Go creator Niantic Labs has been testing a.. Business Insider