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VF Corp – parent company to such outdoor brands as The North Face and Icebreaker – turned to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) to ensure their climate goals are in line with the Paris Agreement.
VF states that its new science-based targets are among the most ambitious in the industry – can you expand on this, and where will the key reductions take place?
“We are among the first in our industry to have set a 1.5-degree target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a well-below 2-degree target for Scope 3 emissions, in alignment with the latest SBTI guidance for our sector which was just released in June 2019.”
“Through the process of developing our science-based targets, we discovered that about 1% of our total emissions can be attributed to our owned operations, while over 50% can be directly related to the sourcing and production of materials and products. This gave us a great view of where to start in terms of prioritizing our CO2 impact reduction efforts.”
What’s the value in this and similar initiatives from an industry perspective?
“Companies have a significant role to play in driving down global GHG emissions. The purpose of the Science-Based Targets Initiative is to provide a consistent methodology within and across industries for companies to set meaningful targets, rooted in science, toward the well below 2 degrees C or 1.5 degrees C thresholds that will be required to prevent severe ecological and humanitarian crises.”
“As a purpose-driven company, and one of the largest apparel and footwear companies globally, we believe we have an opportunity to use our scale to effect change – and to demonstrate that these activities can enhance, not detract from, business success. We hope that our commitments inspire other companies to follow suit, and that they signal to NGO’s, government, investors, and other stakeholders that we are serious about leading the charge into a new vision of what business leadership can be.”
VF is also a signatory to other climate initiatives. How do you choose and prioritize these?
“We get approached to sign on to so many different initiatives – we definitely have to prioritize. This typically involves robust discussion among all of the relevant internal subject matter experts, which includes asking ourselves questions like ‘how does participation in this initiative provide value to our business?’ and, ‘are we already signed on to an initiative that provides the same or similar value?’”
Critics note it’s easy for businesses to exit such voluntary coalitions, putting into question their long-term efficacy. Would you agree or disagree?
“I actually disagree with the statement that it’s easy for businesses to exit these types of commitments. In my opinion, businesses do not take these types of commitments lightly – neither joining nor dissolving them. I don’t think companies would sign on unless they are truly committed to the change.”
“I have friends and colleagues in various organizations and sustainability leadership positions across the outdoor and fashion industries, and our collective passion and commitment to the fight against climate change is what gives me hope that we can actually succeed in achieving our targets and using the power of business to play a significant role.”


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Netflix will spin off its foundational DVD-by-mail service, the company announced this morning, ceding its iconic red envelopes to a new site that will go by the name of Qwikster. Netflix says it intends to focus on the increasingly popular streaming-video model. Customers, already upset by an earlier decision to split DVD and streaming services and change the rates, are bemoaning this further split, which will increase costs and hassle for those who want the same service as before. All the same, the change could lead to some concrete technological improvements.
Netflix forever changed the movie rental market in 1999, when it began offering subscribers DVDs by mail for set rates. The company’s wide selection and distribution technology laid waste to competitors that operated physical retail stores. In 2007, Netflix scored another coup with the launch of “Watch Instantly,” a feature that allows customers to stream certain movies on demand over the Internet. In the years since, the service has grown in scope and popularity, owing in part to integration with televisions and game consoles.
But despite these successes, the company is still running scared. In an e-mail sent to customers early this morning, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wrote, “Most companies that are great at something—like AOL dialup or Borders bookstores—do not become great at new things people want (streaming for us).” So Netflix has decided to take drastic action in the name of technological progress, moving the foundation of its business to a different brand name.
“Over time, we realized DVD and streaming were becoming more and more different and that we could do a better job for both services if we separated them,” Hastings said in a video about the split posted to YouTube. In a related blog post, he added, “We feel we need to focus on rapid improvement as streaming technology and the market evolve, without having to maintain compatibility with our DVD-by-mail service.”
Experts see strong technical justification for the move. “I really believe [DVD and streaming] are different businesses,” says Jay Cofield, an associate professor in the mass communication department at the University of Montevallo, in Alabama, who has studied streaming video. The DVD, he says, is a proven technology that is most appealing when delivered with special features and beautiful physical packaging. But streaming is a work in progress, and Cofield believes improvements are likely to come in forms that are incompatible with DVDs.
For example, Cofield believes Netflix could potentially implement powerful social features. Some companies that stream live events already allow viewers to chat while watching. Cofield suggests that Netflix could move toward streaming events such as moderated chats with actors and directors. “If Netflix added this as a pay-per-view feature, or went ad-supported, I would imagine that for certain movies, you could announce a showing starting at [a certain time], with tweet-like commentary by the director or whoever,” Cofield says. “Aspiring filmmakers would love it. And I reckon that Hollywood would lose track of the cash generated if the Twilight stars did something like this when the movie hit Netflix.”
Cofield adds that the importance of mobile devices can’t be overstated. Though it’s not clear whether people would watch feature-length films on small screens, he believes Netflix may want to focus on mobile support for streaming shorter content such as television shows.
Besides adding new features, Netflix may also have to solve some existing technical problems. “As people pay more money for premium content, consumers will expect more quality,” says Hui Zhang, cofounder and chief scientist of Conviva, a company that optimizes and personalizes live video streams. Today’s consumers are accustomed to smooth delivery of HD television content through cable networks, and Zhang says it’s difficult to provide the same level of service over the Internet. Though customers may forgive occasional hiccups, the coming increase in Netflix’s prices may make them less forgiving. Netflix and other streaming-video companies will have to deal with growing loads on the network and unpredictable network conditions, he says, adding, “Online video will be a very software-intensive business.”
Though consumers might well enjoy such improvements to streaming service, today they are criticizing Netflix for breaking something that was working well. In the online comments on Hastings’s post, customers complain particularly about being forced to maintain accounts on two different sites and about having to pay attention to how they want to watch a movie rather than simply deciding which movie they want to watch.
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Enghouse Interactive Signs Partnership Agreement with Amillan
27th February 2019
An alliance focused on driving closer ties and enhanced collaboration and connectivity for customer-facing organisations
Enghouse Interactive has signed leading communications integrator, Amillan, as an elite member of its EMEA partner programme. The new agreement marks an expansion to an existing long-term relationship between the companies.
As a gold partner, Amillan will sell, market and deliver a range of Enghouse Interactive products, including its flagship Enghouse Interactive Communications Center (“EICC”) solution and Quality Management Suite (QMS). In addition, Amillan will have access to a range of Enghouse resources including account planning, marketing and lead generation alongside pre-sales support.
Patrick Daly, Operations Director, Amillan, said: "Enghouse Interactive and Amillan complement each other well. Enghouse’s contact centre solutions are intuitive, can be delivered to scale and have a great reputation for reliability in the marketplace. We have also been impressed with the speed at which Enghouse has developed its communications solutions portfolio to meet customer requirements."
The strength of Enghouse Interactive’s relationship with Microsoft is important to Amillan. The communications integrator was originally introduced to Enghouse by Microsoft. Today, Enghouse’s partnership with Microsoft and its understanding of the Microsoft product roadmap are key to Enghouse and Amillan winning business together.
Another advantage to Amillan is that Enghouse’s products are platform-agnostic. Their interoperability with other leading UC and PBX platforms from companies such as Cisco and Avaya opens up new avenues for Amillan to explore.
The two companies have already achieved success together primarily across the education, housing and local authority sectors. The new partnership will allow them to further build on this.
“People are key to any partnership,” continued Daly. "We have an open working relationship with a similar ‘can do’ attitude and a drive to win business, based on delivering excellent customer service."
Jas Jhita, Channel Director, Enghouse Interactive, said: "We are delighted to welcome Amillan as a gold partner within our EMEA partner programme. They share our vision of communications and contact centre solutions and delivering enhanced collaboration and connectivity for customers. Amillan has demonstrated its commitment to our solutions by investing in training and quickly becoming self-sufficient in sales, delivery and support."
Looking to the future, Amillan plans to expand its portfolio of Enghouse solutions. There is increased demand for Enghouse’s Contact Center Enterprise solution and great potential in leveraging Enghouse Interactive’s Communications Portal for elements such as app development, self-service bots, robotic process automation and AI. Moving forwards, both partners are committed to further exploring the opportunities that automation and AI present to drive benefits for businesses today.


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It’s confirmed: the Victoria Secret Fashion Show will air on ABC on Sunday, Dec. 2. But you’ll be able to catch a sneak peek after the show tapes on Thursday, Nov. 8, in NYC.
After 2017’s extravaganza went down in Shanghai, China, executive producer Ed Razek promises even more thrills this time around.
“The show is a year-long production, and 2018 promises to be our most ambitious yet. We have more musical guests, more fashion, and more stories than ever; and, of course, 60 of the world’s top models”.
Read on to see who and what you should be looking out for…..
The 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show tapes in NYC on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Supermodel Taylor Hill, who has been a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2015 and has walked in four shows (her first was in 2014), will be the first one to hit the catwalk for this year’s show.
Victoria’s Secret Angel Elsa Hosk, who will be walking in her eighth official runway show for the brand, will be weeding the Atelier Swarovski bra, which is valued at $1 million and features over 2,100 diamonds. The piece, which has over 71 carats, took 930 hours to create.
This year, there will be more musical guests on the Victoria’s Secret runway than ever before, including Halsey, Bebe Rexha, The Chainsmokers, Kelsea Ballerini, Rita Ora, Shawn Mendes, and The Struts.
Behati Prinsloo enjoyed some downtime as an all-star mommy, but the supermodel is back on the VS runway after a three-year hiatus.
There’s a long list of Victoria Secret newbies to look out for and Winnie Harlow is definitely one of theml. Sixty (60) models will strut the runway with confidence this year.


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Black market prescription drugs sold online. Author: black market prescription drugs for sale. Published: 11/20/2012 2:21:00 AM. Updated: 2:34 AM PST November 20, 2012. KFMB-TV.2 days ago Eric Jergens, owner of the Madison Avenue Pharmacy in Springfield, Just three PBMs control more than 75 of the black market prescription drugs for sale. market. Refill and transfer prescriptions online or find a CVS Pharmacy near you. Shop online, see ExtraCare deals, find MinuteClinic locations and more. The black market in non-controlled substance prescription People buy the medications and bring them to a stash house where they are. By S Grzybowski 2004 Cited by 23 30 mg morphine costs 096 in the pharmacy and sells for 2040 on the street, where it is known as a purple peeler. Oxycodone, first released. Portland Police and Multnomah County are warning people to only buy prescription medications from licensed professionals. They say buying pills.
By K Outterson Cited by 251 international prescription drug markets such as the Canadian internet sales to the US, will not harm innovation if patent. It's been produced as a legitimate pain medication by drug companies for decades but it is also produced illicitly in black market operations in China. Suboxone is a prescription medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. Ivo Bogdamovic, 44, was arrested for sale of a controlled substance. Portland Police and Multnomah County are warning people to only buy prescription medications from licensed professionals. They say buying pills. Illegally obtained and possibly unsafe medications to HIV patients as part of a 274 million black-market prescription drug ring. By N Dasgupta 2013 Cited by 73 One study found a 10x linear association between the pharmacy price and the street price of prescription opioid analgesics in Vancouver, British.
Four black market prescription drugs for sale Los Angeles men accused of a scheme to sell 70 million worth of black-market prescription drugs, primarily for HIV treatment. Shop online at Giant and select same day pickup at one of our 150 stores. Sign up for an account and collect digital coupons and save. An expectorant is a medication that people can use when they have a cough that on the market in the United States that the Food and Drug Administration. Opioid overdoses, mainly from prescription drugs, are also the leading cause pharmacy customers were likely engaged in illegal activity. The quantities purchased were more than the normal amount of these medicines that are legitimately dispensed by a pharmacy against prescription. Your family-first pharmacy is here to lower your healthcare costs with select free prescriptions. Talk to our pharmacists, get auto refills, alerts & more.
Generally, in retail pharmacy, standing orders and protocols are methods used by physicians to delegate and define their prescribing authority. Portland authorities are warning people not to buy prescriptions off the black market. They say black market counterfeit pills often contain. When you think of people selling and buying prescription medications on the black market, cannazon darknet market illegal drugs may come to mind. But the black market. By enhancing transparency in prescription drug pricing policymakers and unsuspecting patients purchasing black market drugs from their pharmacy which. Entering the illegal drug market in any capacity, not on making a sale to and/or chargebacks to the Defendants for sales of prescription. 3 days ago This year saw the consolidation of big pharmacy chains around the the prescription drug market by offering discounts on popular drugs.
By R Soloveichik Cited by 1 illegal market activities: drugs and prostitution. 4This category includes illegally resold prescription drugs, hallucinogens like LSD, synthetic drugs. Buprenorphine, an opioid use disorder treatment medication, Third, this process would reduce and hopefully eliminate the black market for buprenorphine. Prosecutors say a Virginia doctor who wrote thousands of fake prescriptions for an infamous black market pharmacy has pleaded guilty. By B Gilbert 2018 The economics of opioids and their cannahome market black markets will be explained to buy opioids from patients who buy legal drugs with prescriptions. In other instances, it was bureaucracy that got in the way. Delays in approval, filling a prescription or shipping prevented some individuals. Silk Road was an online black market and the first modern darknet market. called Wall Street Market, allowed for the illegal sale of drugs and fake.
Vice City Link
Participating law enforcement included the FBI, the DEA, American Homeland Security (HSI), U. After click on signupyou will get registration form pop up windows, just like bellow given screenshot. The IRS will never ask for your information through an email. Deep Web Drugs Sites - Do you want to buy legal or illegal drugs on the deep web without prescription and looking trusted darknet black market prescription drugs for sale drugs market links then I have good collection links where you can find all categories drugs information, these deep web drugs store only received payment via bitcoins The Cannazon market is one of the recent darknet marketplaces, which is around a year old now, being available since 2018. To find out more about the dark web’s role as a crossroad of illicit trade, click here. It was addressed to Sean Gygi, Shamo's "runner," so agents arrived at his house with a search warrant. First Degree Manslaughter added by Attorney General Keith Ellison on top of previous Second Degree Manslaughter.
This was the first time when sales surpassed $600 million, Chainalysis says. So the dark net is not necessarily a place but more a way of using the internet that can be used for good or bad. A reliable FIFA 21 coins supplier with secure transfer methods, fast delivery, professional team, attractive member etc.


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Kroger, Harris Teeter shares react to acquisition news
- Staff Cincinnati Business Courier
Kroger Co. shares were up 2.7 percent to close at $37.15 in Tuesday trading, following the Cincinnati-based grocer's announcement that it will buy the Harris Teeter chain in a $2.44 billion deal. Shares of Matthews, N.C.-based Harris Teeter closed up 1.5 percent to $49.26 per share.
Kroger, which will finance the transaction with debt, said the combination will bring annual savings of $40 million to $60 million in the next three to four years, the company said.
The Harris Teeter purchase would give Kroger control of a chain that had sales of $4.54 billion last year and 212 stores in southeastern U.S. states, including North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina.
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Leading Indian Packaging Printers Receive New KBA Rapidas
The management of Parksons Packaging, KBA, and the Indian KBA sales partner Indo Polygraph Machinery, stand in front of a Rapida 105 press at drupa. Two new presses from this series have gone into operation at leading packaging companies this year.
Visit to KBA’s customer center (from left to right): Aditya Surana, managing director of KBA sales partner IPM; Muthukumaraswamy Muralidharan, engineering manager ITC; Kulasekaran Natarajan, production manager ITC; and Bhupinder Sethi, KBA sales representative.
A KBA Rapida 106 press with a Corona unit, six printing units, coater and double-delivery extension, has gone live at TCLP Packaging in Haridwar. Pictured here, are the company’s press operators with the commissioning team from IPM and KBA in front of the new press.


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An automaker is looking to alleviate range anxiety, one of the largest barriers to electric vehicle adoption, by equipping electric cars with generators. Range anxiety refers to the fear of running out of power while on the road with no charging station in sight, and many American drivers cite it as one of their main reasons for not switching to EVs.
Ram, a brand by automaker Stellantis, has introduced an electric pickup truck dubbed the Ramcharger, which comes equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 combustion engine and a generator to recharge the onboard battery while the pickup truck is moving. This offering would be especially beneficial for drivers who tow or haul things and need more power while on the road.
While the United States has a nationwide network of easily accessible fueling stations for regular drivers to use, public electric charging stations are harder to come by. They are mostly concentrated in certain cities in states such as California and are often plagued with issues including long wait lines and dysfunctional chargers. This makes electric cars the least attractive option for drivers who regularly take long-haul trips, especially with cargo. Electric pickups such as the Rivian R1T come with up to 410 miles in range, but their high price range puts them out of the reach of most drivers.
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis says that while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have a lot of advantages, issues such as limited range are slowing their adoption. Fortunately, he says, Ramcharger drivers won’t have to worry about running out of juice while on the road. The pickup’s 27-gallon gas tank and its battery give it up to 690 miles of range when fully charged. Furthermore, the truck can tow up to 14,000 pounds in weight. It has a two-way charging system that allows it to take and discharge power, giving Ramcharger owners the ability to power their homes with their cars, albeit for a limited amount of time.
Although Stellantis has been slow to introduce fully electric vehicles, this plug-in hybrid equipped with a generator has the potential to attract significant market demand from consumers who were interested in switching to EVs but had reservations about range.
Unlike traditional plug-in hybrids, the Ramcharger will only use the gas engine to charge the battery, not turn the wheels. Ram is poised to debut the new hybrid pickup truck in showrooms at the close of the year. Other EV makers such as Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WKHS) are having the competition brought to them, and they will need to step up in order to keep growing their market share.
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LOOKING BORED: PureArts Limited Gave The Bored Ape Yacht Club Its First Look At Its Bored Figurines
After PureArts Limited teamed up with BoredJobs to turn two Bored Apes into action figures earlier this year, the company gave the community a sneak peek at its boring action figures.
On Friday PureArts, a well-known figurine maker, took to Twitter and shared two teaser trailers for its two highly anticipated Bored Ape Yacht Club figures. Take a look at the video’s below:
As the Bored Ape Gazette previosuly reported, PureArts and BoredJobs collaborated over the summer to create a pair of Bored Ape inspired toys.
“Blue chip NFTs such as the Bored Ape Yacht Club have created passionate communities of collectors interested in characters from collections, they are a member of across various product categories,” Mousebelt wrote in a press release on July 27th. “PureArts intends to release a collection of affordable and high-quality Bored Ape Yacht Club collectible figures. Rather than buying their own Bored Ape NFTs, the manufacturer is taking a community-first approach by offering licensing deals directly to owners in the community.”
Following the announcement, the Ape community voted to make BoredSpaceApe’s Bored Ape #1356 and FriesFrame’s Bored Ape #778 into figurines.
The Bored Ape Gazette will continue to follow PureArts BAYC figurines and will let you know when they’re available for purchase. Stay tuned for updates!


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StormWall experts analyzed DDoS attacks targeting multiple European online markets in 2020. The analysis revealed that the Entertainment sector (39,6%), Telecommunications (28%), and Online retail (14,55%) were attacked the most. Other industries that were commonly targeted by DDoS campaigns during the year were Finance (8,94%), Education (5,5%) and Construction (3,41%).
The entertainment industry faced the most DDoS attacks in 2020, with the number of malicious campaigns rising by 14,1%, compared to 2019. Traditionally, the majority of DDoS attacks have been directed at the gaming market. Cybercriminals can easily profit by blackmailing the owners of the attacked entertainment website or online application.
Next, the number of DDoS attacks on the telecommunications industry increased by 27% compared to last year. The increasing frequency of critical attacks in the telecommunications sector is associated with intense competition: Since many companies have adopted remote work, the continued Internet access has become important for many users. The flawed function of Internet infrastructure is becoming increasingly serious, and some companies are using DDoS to compete unfairly.
The number of DDoS attacks in the e-commerce market in 2020 has increased by a staggering 300% compared to 2019. Most of the attacks are launched by competitors or to extort money.
The number of DDoS attacks targeting banks and financial institutions increased by 30% in 2020 compared to 2019. Cybercriminals launch DDoS attacks as a distraction while utilizing different malicious strategies to steal sensitive data. Specifically, hackers are after the personal information of the users and their credit card details.


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Photo - (From left): Nazrin Hassan, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd; Edward Pinto, Head - Customer Experience and Analytics of Hong Leong Bank Berhad; Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah, President of Malaysian Business Angel Network; and Domenic Fuda, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Leong Bank Berhad
First announced in October 2016, Hong Leong Bank (HLB) has now officially launched its mentorship programme for Malaysian technology and fintech startups, called HLB LaunchPad.
Under the programme, which is part of the HLB's collaboration with Malaysia's official trade association and governing body for angel investors and clubs, the Malaysian Business Angel Network ('MBAN'), up to five startups will be selected to undergo an intensive three-month programme specifically focusing on three areas: Simplifying Banking Today, Digitising Customer Journeys & Experience; and Re-Imagining Banking for tomorrow.
State early stage funding agency Cradle Fund (Cradle) will also be offering funding opportunities to eligible participants of the programme to help continue the rapid expansion of the country's fintech scene, as noted recently by national applied research agency MIMOS (see Fintech is disrupting Malaysia's FSI in ín a big way')
HLB LaunchPad will be focusing on areas around fintech, customer experience, cognitive technologies, big data, product and productivity enhancements, said Domenic Fuda, HLB's group managing director and chief executive officer.
"We are very excited to be rolling out HLB LaunchPad and are confident that our partnership with MBAN and Cradle will enable HLB to bring on board and nurture Malaysia's next generation businesses," said Fuda.
"Since we announced our collaboration in October 2016, we have seen many local start-ups with the potential to innovate and grow in the financial services space and we envision the HLB LaunchPad to be a catalyst for opportunities for both sides of the ecosystem," he said.
Participants will also be trained by design thinking experts and have the opportunity to validate their products in the market. In addition, they will receive an allowance of up to RM25,000 (US$4,600) per startup to enhance their product or service offerings.
Of note, one of the five startups may be considered for an equity investment of up to RM1 million if the start-up is able to meet Cradle's specific and comprehensive investment requirements.
Applications for the HLB LaunchPad will be open on 15 March 2017. For further information visit the hlblaunchpad section of Hong Leong Bank's website.
The latest edition of this article can be found on Computerworld Malaysia 17 March 2017.


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Welcome to the gates of hell, markets started Monday greeted by Cerberus as the focus for trading ce...
View from London: The Good Times Roll in China
07/17/2017 2:55 am EST
So, we are all going to focus on China growth as the upside surprise and wait for more 2Q earnings reports in the U.S. Welcome to the best of times and summer, writes Bob Savage, CEO of Track Research in Monday commentary from London.
Bears are likely to act more like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh today.
The good times rolled in China in 2Q even though many in the West doubt the data and can’t see it sustaining. The ability to grow even as money supply shrank and rates rose surprised many economists.
The ongoing political shakeouts are another factor that mixes badly with too much debt. The positives are that high-tech manufacturing drove some of the growth along with online retail sales lifting the domestic demand side to near 64%, well below the U.S. and Japan and Europe but still in the league of the G7.
The leveraging and deleveraging of global economies is part of how investors see risks and trade for the future but in a nation where there is Winnie the Pooh in charge few are able to see beyond the honey pot–at least from an official standpoint. This is the problem and promise of the day ahead with Japan on Marine Day holiday and the lack of other economic data notable.
So, we are all going to focus on China growth as the upside surprise, Chinese yuan/US dollar (CNY/USD), and wait for more 2Q earnings reports in the U.S. Welcome to the best of times and summer.
The risk mood is up and the waiting for BOJ and ECB means few will be bold in selling bonds leaving it up to other markets to move the volume needle.
The euro/dollar (EUR/USD) is holding and for now, that might be the most exciting thing to watch as Les Bon Temps Rouler.
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Bill Baruch, president and founder of Blue Line Futures, reviews and previews the euro, Japanese yen...
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One of the largest hurricanes to hit the U.S. continues to storm through the Southern states today. ...


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Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL 3.13 % on Monday said that it will no longer carry hunting trophies of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and buffaloes as freight.
Tom Hayes, a 35-year-old trader, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after becoming the first person to be convicted by a British jury of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court.
Energy stocks were the biggest losers among the main S&P sectors on Monday. Exxon Mobil and Chevron, which reported poor results on Friday, led the losses.
Aug 3 Struggling retailer Sears Holdings Corp said on Monday comparable store sales in the United States fell sharply in the second quarter, sending its shares down 8 percent to a more than three-year low.
Kraft Heinz Co. is voluntarily recalling about 36,000 cases of cheese slices after consumers reported choking on the packaging film.


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It's been an exciting year for Bridgwater's shoppers in 2018.
The carnival town has seen the likes of the Food Warehouse, Marks and Spencer and Mercure Hotel open its doors.
But Bridgwater has seen its fair share of casualties, namely GAME, British Heart Foundation and smaller independent shops closing for good.
Retailers have struggled in 2018 and have axed a significant number of jobs in Somerset as consumers increasingly favour online shopping.
Every shop, restaurant and hotel that opened in Bridgwater in 2018
Mercure Hotel, Eastover
The hotel opened in November just before Bridgwater Carnival.
The new accommodation features a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill, 119 rooms and two meeting rooms.
Food Warehouse, Bridgwater Retail Park
The supermarket, run by retail giants Iceland, opened its doors in December.
Shoppers can buy ready meals, gluten-free and 'no bull' vegetarian food as well as pizza, fish and fresh meat and household goods.
Lidl, Leggar Retail Park
Migrating across the road, the budget supermarket moved into a more modern and larger unit in the Leggar Retail Park.
The 1,690sqm store features a bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing facilities with customer toilets and baby changing facilities.
Marks and Spencer Foodhall, Bridgwater Retail Park
The store first opened its doors in June - 28 years after the town centre branch closed in 1990.
Shane's Gourmet Burgers, Eastover
The venue opened its doors in May and the owner previously said it will offer a restaurant experience "Bridgwater hasn't got".
The eatery closed later in the summer.
PureGym, East Quay
Bridgwater's newest 24-hour gym will open on December 20.
The gym will be spread across two floors and include a main gym area, studio, various weights and activity zones across 570 square metres of floor space.
Phone Tech Central, Fore Street
Soon after GAME closed its doors, this phone shop moved in.
Customers can buy second hand phones, accessories and repair their devices here.
Club Icon, Penel Orlieu
Clubbers rejoiced after the former Remedies nightspot was taken over and opened as 'Club Icon'.
Operated by seasoned club managers, Terry and Jennifer Clare, the Penel Orlieu bar opened its doors to the public on Friday, August 31.
On Your Bike, Eastover
The charity bike shop took over the former Buzy Beez premises in October.
Not only does the store sell second-hand bikes and repair customers' bikes, the Eastover shop supports unemployed, homeless and veterans into employment by providing work placements.
Elysian Cafe, New Road
Opening in October, the new cafe has already been praised for its friendly service and "interesting" menu.
Noodle Brothers, High Street
The restaurant, which opened in May, offers classic noodle dishes such as jai green chicken, sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice and salt and pepper chicken.
Hannah Marie Photography studio, Bath Road
The freelance photographer opened a new studio in 2018.
The Crafty Collective, Angel Place
The pop-up shop opened in November inside the shopping centre.
The shop is made up of five Somerset businesses who share a desire to "bring something a little different back to the High Street".
Update - The store closed near Christmas.
Papa John's, Taunton Road
The popular pizza chain opened its doors in April after several delays.
The takeaway restaurant is known for its special American Hot, Chicken Hot, and All the Meats pizzas in varying sizes including a 16 inch XXL pizza.
Co-operative, Taunton Road
One of Co-operative's newest branches in Somerset opened on March 8.
The store, based next door to a new Papa John's, has multiple car parking spaces available outside the fast food restaurant.
Escape Rooms Middlemoor, Causeway, Woolavington
Opened at the very popular Middlemoor Splash site, this puzzle room opened in October.
One reviewer called the experience a "great laugh with the girls" and called the room "challenging".
Andee Knits, Wye Avenue
Opened in September 2018, the shop sells, services and refurbished knitting machines and also sells hand knitting yarn and haberdashery.
Every shop and restaurant that closed in Bridgwater in 2018
Mace Newsagents, High Street
The convenience shop suddenly shut its doors in the summer.
A sign posted on the unit reads: "To all of our customers; sadly as of the July 14, I will no longer be trading as BW News or Bridgwater Mace".
Shane's Gourmet Burgers, Eastover
The sit-in or takeaway restaurant closed three months after opening.
Shane's Gourmet Burgers did attract some mixed reviews during its brief spell on Eastover, with one TripAdvisor review praising its "top service" while another user was left "disappointed".
Lidl, Bridgwater Retail Park
The supermarket shut in November and migrated into a bigger store across the retail park.
The site will be divided into smaller units ahead of the Retail Park's expansion.
Fresh, The Avenue
The cosmetics retailer held a closing down sale before shutting its doors earlier this year.
The unit remains closed.
Insane Games, East Quay
The owners of the entertainment store moved over the bridge into a smaller Fore Street unit.
The site is being taken over by a book and cafe venture called "Snug Bookshop".
British Heart Foundation, Eastover
The charity shop is now empty after closing its doors earlier this Summer.
GAME, Fore Street
The town's GAME branch closed its doors in June and gamers now have to travel to Taunton to visit their nearest GAME store.
The unit has since been taken over by a mobile phone shop.
Piggy's Sandwich Bar, High Street
Thankfully this business hasn't gone bust - it's simply moved around the corner.
The unit remains empty.
Sedgemoor District Council's comment
A spokeswoman for Sedgemoor District Council previously said that Bridgwater is actively trying to attract businesses and has a void rate of just 7.6 per cent.
According to the most recent Springboard Vacancy Rate Survey, the vacancy average in South West areas is 8.1 per cent while there is a 9.2 per cent shortfall across the UK.
A statement reads: "As the District Council, we own a few of the units but only have two vacant at present, one of which is being refurbished and is out with agents, which we fully expect to be filled once the works have finished.
"We also have a unit within the Cornhill market; this is a traditional market which can act as an incubator. The unit is vacant because the owner has moved up to a shop within its own right.
"The problem that many towns find is that properties are owned by various companies which buy property as an investment, with the emphasis being on the net worth of the building, rather than what is in it/rental income.
"They have little or no concern about the local economy and the retail mix. We have no influence over these properties.
"Unfortunately, Sedgemoor District Council does not set the business rates, but is the collection agency for the Valuation Office.
"Business rates are worked out based on the property's 'rateable value'. This is its open market rental value on April 1, 2015, based on an estimate by the Valuation Office Agency.
"We do have several local schemes which can help businesses if they are struggling to pay their business rates."
Businesses coming to Bridgwater in 2019
A number of big brands are coming to the carnival town in 2019.
A fourth store unit at The Leggar Retail Park remains empty with no confirmation what could move inside.
Meanwhile in the main section of the site, the former Lidl supermarket is currently being partly demolished and converted into smaller units.
Premier Inn is targeting an opening in summer 2019 and will create 32 year-round jobs at Bridgwater Gateway near junction 24 of the M5.
A new 123-bedroom hotel including 81 car parking spaces, a spacious bar and restaurant is coming to the Woodlands Business Park on Bristol Road.
McDonald's has targeted an opening date in the second year of 2019 for its new restaurant on land near the Dunball Roundabout on A38 Bristol Road, a short drive from junction 23 of the M5.
What do you think of the state of Bridgwater's shops and hotels? What would you like to see move into the town?
Have we missed a shop or restaurant? Got a Bridgwater or West Somerset story to share? Email me at firstname.lastname@example.org or call 01935 709742.
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This is the full version of our interview with Craig and Christina Milne, the owners of Wilson Benesch, which accompanied our review of the new Precision P1.0 loudspeaker in Audio Esoterica magazine, shortly after the UK company celebrated its 30th anniversary. We began by asking about the company’s beginnings and development.
Craig and Christina Milne,
owners of Wilson Benesch
AUDIO ESOTERICA: Congratulations on your 30th anniversary! Can you take us back to the beginning? What were you both doing prior to Wilson Benesch, and what led to the company being formed?… Read the full article


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AUSTIN, Minn. — The makers of Hormel® Black Label® bacon are reinventing bacon once again with the launch of – Hormel® Black Label® Ranch Thick Cut Bacon and Hormel® Black Label® Classic Country Style Thick Cut Bacon.
The Hormel® Black Label® team brought the flavor and versatility of ranch to life with the latest innovation of Hormel® Black Label® Ranch Thick Cut Bacon. Ranch lovers can rejoice, because this new flavor is hand-rubbed with ranch seasoning and naturally hardwood smoked to create an irresistible flavor.
“Our team combined American’s favorite condiment with thick-cut bacon to create Hormel® Black Label® bacon hand-rubbed with ranch seasoning,” said John Hernandez, brand manager, Hormel Foods. “This new item will deliver the mouth-watering flavor of bacon and creamy ranch you crave on any sandwich, salad or baked potato – creating an unforgettable meal.”
In addition, consumers now can enjoy the bold, unforgettable flavor of bacon made with time-honored smokehouse processes dating back to the days of the American settlers. Hormel® Black Label® Classic Country Style Thick Cut Bacon is handcrafted using only the finest ingredients and smoked for over 10 hours, creating a difference you can taste.
Both flavors are available in 12-ounce thick-cut bacon packages. Find these new flavors in store at select Walmart and Spartan Nash locations.
For additional information on all Hormel® Black Label® bacon products, including recipes, nutritional information and where to buy, visit https://hormel.com/Brands/BlackLabelBacon.aspx.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin’s®, Wholly®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Happy Little Plants® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the “Global 2000 World’s Best Employers” list by Forbes magazine for three straight years, is one of Fortune magazine’s most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” list for 12 years in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.


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- Reports Q2, 2019 results on Wednesday, January 30, after the market close
- Revenue Expectation: $32.49 billion
- EPS Expectation: $1.09
One thing newbie investors often overlook is that companies with a lot of cash, a wide economic moat and sticky services are the businesses best positioned to weather any storm. This statement is totally on point for Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), currently the world’s most valuable company by market cap.
MSFT Weekly 2016-2019
Though its shares took a hit when the broader market selloff intensified during the past quarter, Microsoft was still among the few big tech companies that showed investors they’re here to stay.
Taking into account the past year’s extreme market volatility as well as headwinds from political missteps, trade wars, and doubts about U.S. and global economic growth, Microsoft shares—which closed on Friday at $107.17—are still up 14% over the 12-month period. Since we last wrote about Microsoft in October, the stock has outperformed the broader market.
We believe this strength will once again be on display when Microsoft releases its FY 2019, second quarter earnings report on January 30. Earnings per share are forecast to grow about 14%, to $1.09 a share from a year ago. Sales are expected to surge 12% to $32.49 billion, according to analysts’ average forecast.
The primary point-of-focus for investors will be how Microsoft is performing in the growing cloud computing market where it competes against Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Google’s parent.
Cloud Segment Powering Growth
So far, the company has successfully benefited from the bet made five years ago by the company’s CEO Satya Nadella, when he invested heavily in data centers and other infrastructure to help corporate customers run applications and store their data. The growth in this market continues unabated for Microsoft, powering its operating income.
Indeed, the cloud computing market is expected to grow from $285 billion in 2017 to $411 billion by 2020. That segment alone is big enough to drive the company’s revenue growth for the next three to four years, according to Microsoft executives.
Microsoft, which runs the biggest cloud business after Amazon, may see its operating income rise 18% relative to a 13% increase in revenue for the same period a year ago. As well, that pattern should continue for the March quarter, according to Wall Street estimates.
Adding to the appeal of Microsoft as an attractive investment during an uncertain economy is its rock-solid dividend and excellent track record on payouts. Since 2004, when the tech giant first began paying a dividend, its payout has swelled more than four-fold. Microsoft’s current annual dividend yield is 1.7% with a quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share.
Companies that pay regular dividends are in a much better position to withstand selling pressure versus those that don’t. Indeed, dividend-paying stocks are less volatile in a bear market since they provide recurring income to shareholders. And Microsoft’s dividend growth has been supported by increasing free cash flows and a low payout ratio of 40.62 which means there’s a long runway for payout increases.
As investor jitters about the global economic outlook and the longevity of this aging market bull increase, Microsoft’s fundamentals make it a safe bet in the tech space. Consumers may stop buying PCs, tablets and cellphones if some of their worst economic fears prove true in 2019, but it’s unlikely that large corporate entities will cut their spending on crucial IT infrastructure, such as the cloud.
We believe Microsoft’s earnings momentum will continue as it expands its market share in the cloud computing segment while maintaining its leading position in legacy software products such as Windows and Office. This durable advantage will help the company achieve sustained, double-digit growth in revenue, earnings per share and free cash flow, making it a reliable tech stock to own over the long run.


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Louis Vuitton is venturing into the world of e-sports, announcing a partnership with Riot Games, the makers of multiplayer game League of Legends. As part of the deal, Vuitton will be making the trophy travel case for the 2019 Summoner's Cup - the trophy awarded to the League of Legends world champions, considered the most prestigious prize in e-sports. Additionally, Louis Vuitton’s womenswear artistic director Nicholas Ghesquière will be designing unique champion skins - which change the appearance of a player's avatar - and a capsule collection that will be announced as the League of Legends 2019 World Championships approach.
During his tenure at Louis Vuitton, Ghesquière has already established an interest in gaming, having already cast Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII as a Spring/Summer 2016 campaign face. Louis Vuitton, of course, create trophy cases for long-running sports events like the FIFA World Cup and the French Open, but this is their first foray into creating pieces for e-sports. Speaking to leagueoflegends.com, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Michael Burke said, "The League of Legends World Championship is not only the climax of the tournament: it’s where the world of sports and entertainment come together in celebration of new legends to be born. Louis Vuitton has long been associated with the world’s most coveted trophies, and here we are today, alongside the Summoner’s Cup. We are thrilled to be part of such an iconic event."
Moschino also has shown an interest in getting in on gaming fashion, releasing a The Sims capsule in August 2019 that comprised both IRL product and in-game clothing for players' Sims to wear. And given the rise of clothing brands - where designs don't physically exist, but are Photoshopped onto consumers' photos instead - could we see more digital-only collections from the major houses? Only time will tell.


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|By Marketwired .||
|July 21, 2014 06:00 AM EDT||
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - July 21, 2014) - ViXS Systems Inc. (TSX: VXS), a pioneer and leader in media processing solutions, today announced that Sling Media Inc.'s just announced Slingbox® M1 and SlingTV™ are based upon ViXS' XCode SoC media processor product family. These latest Sling products replace the popular and award-winning Slingbox 350 and 500 models, bringing powerful TV Anywhere features to mobile device users that are easy to set-up and use.
The Slingbox M1 is designed for mainstream users wanting remote access to all their home TV channels and shows as well as access to DVR content on their personal computers, tablets, and phones, with the added benefit of being the most affordable Slingbox that Sling Media has ever produced. SlingTV is based upon the Slingbox 500 hardware platform and provides a "Smarter TV" experience for the living room, including enhanced discovery and navigation tools for finding programming and quick tuning, as well as a vibrant electronic programming guide (EPG) and an advanced recommendation engine powered by SlingCloud™. Both the Slingbox M1 and SlingTV products utilize a single XCode SoC to drive the above mentioned features such as utilizing the internal graphics engine to drive the vibrant EPG and navigation tools and the media processing engine to drive the unique DVR and "TV Anywhere" functions, allowing Sling to deliver the features that consumers need.
"ViXS is thrilled once again to be working with Sling Media to bring the Slingbox M1 and SlingTV products to market and providing the consumer an enhanced 'TV Anywhere' experience," said Sally Daub, President and CEO, ViXS Systems Inc. "The XCode SoC media processor family has been an integral part of the Sling Media product line for the last several years and the launch of these latest products is a testament to the power and innovation that can be found in ViXS products."
"ViXS' XCode SoC product line has provided us the power and flexibility to introduce the entry-level, mainstream Slingbox M1 as well as integrate the graphic-intensive new features being introduced as part of our premium model SlingTV," said Michael Hawkey, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sling Media. "With the advanced media processing found in ViXS XCode family, we have been able to launch the most advanced and innovative Sling products to date and we look forward to continuing our award-winning innovation."
Sling Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is a leading provider of Multiscreen Smart TV solutions for consumers and television service providers. Sling provides the complete award-winning solution of hardware, cloud services and applications that gives consumers the freedom to discover, control and consume their live TV and DVR content anywhere in the world, on their preferred tablet, phone and computing platform. Sling's patented TV solutions are available directly to consumers or through service providers that have embedded Sling's capabilities. For more information, please visit sling.com.
About ViXS Systems Inc.
ViXS is the pioneer and market leader in designing revolutionary media processing semiconductor solutions for the broadcasting and consumer electronics industries, with over 461 patents issued and pending worldwide, numerous industry awards for innovation, and over 30 million media processor shipments to date. ViXS is driving the transition to Ultra HD 4K across the entire content value chain by providing professional and consumer grade chipsets that support the new High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard up to Main 10 Profile, reducing bandwidth consumption by 50% while providing the depth of color and image clarity needed to take advantage of higher-resolution content. ViXS' XCodePro 300 family is ideal for Ultra HD 4K infrastructure equipment, and the XCode 6000 family of system-on-chip (SoC) products achieve unprecedented levels of integration that enable manufacturers to create cost-effective consumer entertainment devices.
ViXS is headquartered in Toronto, Canada with offices in Europe, Asia and North America. VIXS
The best way to leverage your Cloud Expo presence as a sponsor and exhibitor is to plan your news announcements around our events. The press covering Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo will have access to these releases and will amplify your news announcements. More than two dozen Cloud companies either set deals at our shows or have announced their mergers and acquisitions at Cloud Expo. Product announcements during our show provide your company with the most reach through our targeted audiences.
Oct. 27, 2016 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 5,059
Virgil consists of an open-source encryption library, which implements Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) and Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme (ECIES) (including RSA schema), a Key Management API, and a cloud-based Key Management Service (Virgil Keys). The Virgil Keys Service consists of a public key service and a private key escrow service.
Oct. 27, 2016 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,190
In his general session at 19th Cloud Expo, Manish Dixit, VP of Product and Engineering at Dice, will discuss how Dice leverages data insights and tools to help both tech professionals and recruiters better understand how skills relate to each other and which skills are in high demand using interactive visualizations and salary indicator tools to maximize earning potential. Manish Dixit is VP of Product and Engineering at Dice. As the leader of the Product, Engineering and Data Sciences team a...
Oct. 27, 2016 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 787
Intelligent machines are here. Robots, self-driving cars, drones, bots and many IoT devices are becoming smarter with Machine Learning. In her session at @ThingsExpo, Sudha Jamthe, CEO of IoTDisruptions.com, will discuss the next wave of business disruption at the junction of IoT and AI, impacting many industries and set to change our lives, work and world as we know it.
Oct. 27, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 277
@ThingsExpo has been named the Top 5 Most Influential Internet of Things Brand by Onalytica in the ‘The Internet of Things Landscape 2015: Top 100 Individuals and Brands.' Onalytica analyzed Twitter conversations around the #IoT debate to uncover the most influential brands and individuals driving the conversation. Onalytica captured data from 56,224 users. The PageRank based methodology they use to extract influencers on a particular topic (tweets mentioning #InternetofThings or #IoT in this ...
Oct. 27, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 8,609
SYS-CON Events announced today that eCube Systems, the leading provider of modern development tools and best practices for Continuous Integration on OpenVMS, will exhibit at SYS-CON's @DevOpsSummit at Cloud Expo New York, which will take place on June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. eCube Systems offers a family of middleware products and development tools that maximize return on technology investment by leveraging existing technical equity to meet evolving business needs. ...
Oct. 27, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 4,644
Join Impiger for their featured webinar: ‘Cloud Computing: A Roadmap to Modern Software Delivery’ on November 10, 2016, at 12:00 pm CST. Very few companies have not experienced some impact to their IT delivery due to the evolution of cloud computing. This webinar is not about deciding whether you should entertain moving some or all of your IT to the cloud, but rather, a detailed look under the hood to help IT professionals understand how cloud adoption has evolved and what trends will impact th...
Oct. 27, 2016 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 698
More and more brands have jumped on the IoT bandwagon. We have an excess of wearables – activity trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses and sneakers, and more that track seemingly endless datapoints. However, most consumers have no idea what “IoT” means. Creating more wearables that track data shouldn't be the aim of brands; delivering meaningful, tangible relevance to their users should be. We're in a period in which the IoT pendulum is still swinging. Initially, it swung toward "smart for smar...
Oct. 27, 2016 11:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,250
operations aren’t merging to become one discipline. Nor is operations simply going away. Rather, DevOps is leading software development and operations – together with other practices such as security – to collaborate and coexist with less overhead and conflict than in the past. In his session at @DevOpsSummit at 19th Cloud Expo, Gordon Haff, Red Hat Technology Evangelist, will discuss what modern operational practices look like in a world in which applications are more loosely coupled, are deve...
Oct. 27, 2016 11:45 AM EDT Reads: 2,017
Web Real-Time Communication APIs have quickly revolutionized what browsers are capable of. In addition to video and audio streams, we can now bi-directionally send arbitrary data over WebRTC's PeerConnection Data Channels. With the advent of Progressive Web Apps and new hardware APIs such as WebBluetooh and WebUSB, we can finally enable users to stitch together the Internet of Things directly from their browsers while communicating privately and securely in a decentralized way.
Oct. 27, 2016 11:30 AM EDT Reads: 1,909
All clouds are not equal. To succeed in a DevOps context, organizations should plan to develop/deploy apps across a choice of on-premise and public clouds simultaneously depending on the business needs. This is where the concept of the Lean Cloud comes in - resting on the idea that you often need to relocate your app modules over their life cycles for both innovation and operational efficiency in the cloud. In his session at @DevOpsSummit at19th Cloud Expo, Valentin (Val) Bercovici, CTO of So...
Oct. 27, 2016 11:15 AM EDT Reads: 2,227
Enterprises have been using both Big Data and virtualization for years. Until recently, however, most enterprises have not combined the two. Big Data's demands for higher levels of performance, the ability to control quality-of-service (QoS), and the ability to adhere to SLAs have kept it on bare metal, apart from the modern data center cloud. With recent technology innovations, we've seen the advantages of bare metal erode to such a degree that the enhanced flexibility and reduced costs that cl...
Oct. 27, 2016 11:15 AM EDT Reads: 545
With an estimated 50 billion devices connected to the Internet by 2020, several industries will begin to expand their capabilities for retaining end point data at the edge to better utilize the range of data types and sheer volume of M2M data generated by the Internet of Things. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Don DeLoach, CEO and President of Infobright, discussed the infrastructures businesses will need to implement to handle this explosion of data by providing specific use cases for filterin...
Oct. 27, 2016 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 3,055
Security, data privacy, reliability, and regulatory compliance are critical factors when evaluating whether to move business applications from in-house, client-hosted environments to a cloud platform. Quality assurance plays a vital role in ensuring that the appropriate level of risk assessment, verification, and validation takes place to ensure business continuity during the migration to a new cloud platform.
Oct. 27, 2016 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,117
In past @ThingsExpo presentations, Joseph di Paolantonio has explored how various Internet of Things (IoT) and data management and analytics (DMA) solution spaces will come together as sensor analytics ecosystems. This year, in his session at @ThingsExpo, Joseph di Paolantonio from DataArchon, will be adding the numerous Transportation areas, from autonomous vehicles to “Uber for containers.” While IoT data in any one area of Transportation will have a huge impact in that area, combining sensor...
Oct. 27, 2016 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,154


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New Delhi: Domestic passenger car sales declined 8.15 percent to 1,42,849 units in November this year as compared to 1,55,535 units sold in the same month last year.
According to the data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), motorcycle sales during last month grew by 1.44 percent to 8,80,015 units from 8,67,508 units in the same month previous year.
Total two-wheeler sales in November 2013 grew by 5.55 percent to 12,40,732 units from 11,75,441 units in the same period of previous year.
Total sales of commercial vehicles were down by 28.78 percent to 43,730 units from 61,403 units in the year-ago period, SIAM said.
Total sale of vehicles across categories registered a growth of 0.90 percent to 15,26,438 units in November 2013 as against 15,12,869 units in the same month of 2012, it added.


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The Nike Kobe 1 Protro may be the best performer of 2018 but that doesn’t matter if people can’t buy it without paying resale. However, fans may have another chance at picking up this performer…
The Kyrie 4 ‘Red Carpet’ will see another release via the Kyrie ‘Uncle Drew’ Collection for the premier of Irving’s debut film Uncle Drew.
Finally, the Internets can rejoice! Two of YouTube’s biggest personalities have finally come together for the latest episode of Hot Ones.
With the Nike KD 11 ‘Still KD’ releasing on June 18 everywhere other than the U.S. we’re lucky that we were able to buy a pair to review.
The LeBron 15 Low isn’t just a low for summer, it’s a hit both on-court and off. Now, the latest colorway, ‘Signal Blue’, has an official release date.
Amid rumors that he could be signing a one plus one deal with the OKC Thunder, Paul George has another signature shoe coming soon. The Nike PG 2.5 is nearly identical to the PG 2,…
Overseas leaker US11 has given us a look at two new colorways of the latest Nike Sportswear model that was unveiled just yesterday, the Nike EXP-X14.
If you love Nike logos and loud, colorful, graphic apparel look no further than the Nike Sportswear Summer 2018 collection.
Last week, WearTesters reported the leak of what could be the Nike Kyrie 4 Low. The shoe is an amalgamation of familiar features from several Nike sneakers, and now, a new colorway has surfaced.
Last week, the U.S. Naval Academy — and hundreds of people on Twitter — demanded that Nike and Undefeated stop using a logo that blatantly copied the academy’s crest. Now, Nike has ditched the offending…
The next shoe in Nike’s Hyperdunk series, the Hyperdunk X, will celebrate ten years of the line — and a release date has finally surfaced.
The Nike EXP-X14, unveiled today, is yet another Swoosh-branded lifestyle sneaker that adopts performance features. It’s also a remake of the late-90s — early ’00s Nike Zoom Drive.
This Epic React Flyknit is a solid addition to the rotation for sneakerheads that love the beach.
Those concerned about a price increase coming to the latest in Kevin Durant’s signature line, the Nike KD 11, can exhale.
U.S. Naval Academy spokeswoman Jenny Erickson said Navy leadership was preparing a letter informing Nike of what they believe to be trademark infringement, according to a statement released on social media Thursday night.
Summer is here, and that means that it’s time for the Swoosh to unveil its latest collection to support Native American and Aboriginal communities. The standout of the 2018 Nike N7 may be the stunning…
Debuted by Jayson Tatum in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Kyrie 4 ‘Power is Female’ has finally arrived.


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Here ya go!
? Ongoing “crossover” success? More luxury and added capability? Target 40,000 cars per year? U.S. the largest market? Sales start in August 2007When the first XC model from Volvo Cars took to the roads in 1996, it was not only an immediate sales success; it also carved out an entirely new Cross Country segment.Now the […]
More powerful grille and larger skidplates Roof rails in brushed aluminium Headlamps with clear lenses New body and bumper colours Interior with higher quality impression Practical tunnel console with multifunctional armrest New generation of Volvo seats “The Volvo XC70 continues to become increasingly popular,” says Steve Harper, Platform chief designer. “The fact that we have […]


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Facial recognition for gamers, app store bans for Didi: what’s behind China’s recent crackdown on big tech?
With the recent travails of Didi, and the emergence of Tencent's facial recognition feature, China's tech sector is undergoing major upheaval.
Is Double 11 a showcase of China's private consumption power, or is it highlighting the shift from bricks-and-mortar to mobile commerce?
This week: in a special on social commerce in China, we talk to our guest Kishi Pan about the unique experience of Xiaohongshu, or Little Red Book.
This week: banning TikTok and WeChat, and the fragmented internet.


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Canadian Government Says New MCOOL Rule Does not cut it
The Canadian government has released a statement in response to the submission of the amended Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling rule to the World Trade Organization. Minister of International Trade Ed Fast and Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz said the U.S. government continues unfair trade practices that are severely damaging to Canadian industry and jobs despite consistent rulings by the WTO. They say the Canadian government is extremely disappointed that the U.S. is upholding this protectionist policy and is preparing to launch the next phase of the WTO dispute settlement process on the new U.S. MCOOL rule. They have released a list of U.S. commodities for possible retaliation - including beef, pork, chicken and a wide range of grains, fruits and dairy products. National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Scott George says cattlemen and women have long known MCOOL violates the nation's international trade obligations and provides no value to the consumer. He says it's a failed experiment in boosting beef demand and a tremendously successful experiment in creating a trade barrier.
George says the list of products released by the Canadian government brings home the real-world consequences of the USDA's adherence to MCOOL. He says NCBA's members have warned USDA and members of Congress that there would be a true cost to cattle and pork producers - as well as many other segments of the U.S. economy - should this program continue. George says this is too high a price to pay for a program that has proven it has no value.
George says NCBA isn't opposed to voluntary country of origin labeling. But he says it is a marketing tool and not a food safety program. As a marketing tool - George says it should be run by beef producers and processors.
© 2014 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information


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Pragmatic Play links up with Croatian casino operator
Leading casino game content provider Pragmatic Play has launched its entire slots offering with Admiral Casino.
Admiral, part of the Novomatic Group, will see the Croatian operator have access to Pragmatic Play’s slot content, including fan favourites like Wolf Gold and Sweet Bonzana.
Admiral’s customers will also be able to use Pragmatic Play’s gamification toolkit, which is proven to increase player engagement and retention, European Gaming reports.
Chief business development officer at Pragmatic Play Yossi Barzely said: “Taking our games live with Novomatic’s Admiral Casino marks an important step for us as we look to grow in the regulated Croatian market.
“This is a truly exciting operator, and we couldn’t be happier partnering with them for our debut in this area.”
Head of online gaming at Admiral Casino Zarko Zuvela said: “With one of the broadest slot offerings in the industry, Pragmatic Play is the ideal partner for us as we look to grow our commercial reach.
“Its diverse array of titles will ensure there is content for players of all tastes and preferences and we look forward to a long relationship together.”
Pragmatic Play currently produces up to five new slot titles each month, as well as delivering live casino and bingo products through its multi vertical offering.
Pragmatic Play inks partnership with Reactive Games
Leading gaming industry content provider Pragmatic Play has seen its Live Casino product added to the portfolio of software solutions supplier Reactive Games.
European Gaming reports that Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino offering has continued to grow at a rapid-fire pace since its launch in early 2019.
With speed variants of the games and localised roulette tables, players all over the world can now receive the ‘casino experience’ online, in a live-host environment.
Reactive Games has a significant presence in Italy, and the partnership will help Pragmatic Play continue its expansion across regulated territories worldwide after already experiencing a strong period of growth in Europe.
Vice president of Pragmatic Play Lena Yasir said: “We are very pleased to have taken our products live with Reactive Games, one of the premier software solutions providers in Italy.
“Our live casino offering continues to impress and we are keen to deliver immersive gaming experiences to as many players as we can – something that is possible through deals like this.”
Reactive Games chief executive officer Enrico Melfi said: “Pragmatic Play has a strong reputation for delivering great products and its Live Casino portfolio has quickly emerged as one of the best in the industry.
“We look forward to offering these products to our customers and expanding together as Pragmatic Play’s innovative products continue to grow.”
Pragmatic Play currently delivers up to four new slot titles a month, as well as ever-growing Live Casino and Bingo products through its multi-vertical offering.
The company’s entire portfolio is available through a single API integration.
Pragmatic Solutions certified in Sweden
Online gambling platform Pragmatic Solutions marked an important milestone after receiving product certification in Sweden last year.
The company has added Sweden to the list of regulated territories it has been authorised to provide its PAM iGaming platform and has extended its availability in the lucrative and recently regulated market.
Casino News Daily reported last August that Pragmatic Solutions noted in a recent press release that Sweden has long been an important and extremely popular iGaming destination and after the recent reorganization of the market, the company’s certification was a necessary step in order for it to be able to tap into the regulated space and to provide its existing and new clients with its services.
Headquartered in Gibraltar, Pragmatic Solutions provides an online gambling platform that services all sectors of the growing iGaming and betting industry.


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Google is working on a tablet computer with HTC, the company that built the hardware for the Nexus One “Google Phone“, according to a report.
The report claims that HTC has “been working closely with Google for the past 18 months” on “several working models of a touch tablet”.
Are Google and HTC about to challenge both the iPhone and the Apple tablet, rumored to be called iSlate?
Australian news site SmartHouse, which first published the story, pits the Google/HTC offering as a direct rival to Apple’s tablet ambitions. But the device might equally prove a threat to Microsoft: getting Google Chrome OS into consumer’s hands is key to the operating system’s success.
Skeptics might argue that Google will never promote a tablet computer of its own: that would endanger its relationships with other hardware makers. And yet the Nexus One proves that Google very much will tread on toes if the move makes strategic sense.
What do you think: could a Google Tablet rival the iSlate? Or will this rumored device never see the light of day?
[Mashable, image via Gizmodo]


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Shark Tank Helps Rocketbook Company Score Major Investment
Since it’s inception in 2013, the Rocketbook company has provided a unique and affordable notebook for consumers. This year, they appeared on Shark Tank in hopes of gaining some more funding and exposure for their brand.
The Rocketbook is a smart notebook that allows you to write or draw with any pen or marker, and the ink will appear in your preferred notes app on your phone or tablet. You can also erase your notes with a damp cloth and start all over again.
The company’s founder, Jake Epstein, presented the product to the sharks and asked for a $500,000 investment in return for 5% equity. The sharks were initially skeptical, but after Epstein demonstrated how the Rocketbook worked, they were impressed.
Ultimately, all of the sharks decided to invest in the company, and Epstein left the tank with a $1.5 million investment. This was a huge success for the Rocketbook company, and it’s safe to say that their future looks bright.
The Rocketbook company, which makes reusable notebooks, was able to secure a $500,000 investment from one of the "sharks" on the show;
The Rocketbook company, which makes reusable notebooks, was able to secure a $500,000 investment from one of the "sharks" on the show; it is one of the largest investments ever made on the show.
The popular TV show "Shark Tank" can be a major boost for small businesses seeking investment;
The popular TV show Shark Tank can be a major boost for small businesses seeking investment. The show features a panel of successful businesspeople who listen to pitches from entrepreneurs and decide whether or not to invest in their businesses. Small businesses that appear on the show can benefit from the exposure and the ability to attract potential investors.
The exposure and potential investment from "Shark Tank" can be a major boon for small businesses.
For small businesses, the exposure and potential investment from appearing on Shark Tank can be a major boon. The hit TV show has helped make household names out of businesses like Scrub Daddy and Bombas, and has brought in billions of dollars in investments. Appearing on the show can give your business the exposure it needs to take off, and the potential to attract investors who can help you grow.


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Fertilizer producer Mosaic
The company warned that volumes may remain sluggish into the spring, as its distributors and farming customers remain cautious due to economic uncertainty.
While we expect third quarter results to decline due to near-term macroeconomic uncertainty and cautious distributor purchasing behavior, we remain confident of the strong long-term demand prospects for our products, Mosaic Chief Executive Jim Prokopanko said in a statement.
For the fiscal second quarter ended November 30, the company earned $623.6 million, or $1.40 per share, compared with $1.03 billion or $2.29 a share in the year-ago period.
Analysts expected earnings of $1.28 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The year-ago results were helped by the one-time gain of the sale of a business.
Revenue rose 13 percent to $3.01 billion. Analysts expected $3.2 billion in revenue.
Potash and phosphate -- Mosaic's two main products -- are the second- and third-most important fertilizers for farmers to apply, after nitrogen.
Mosaic's average selling price for potash rose to $440 per tonne from $331 a year earlier. Volumes, at 1.8 million tonnes, were flat.
The company's average selling price for phosphate rose to $661 per tonne from $461, offsetting a 14 percent drop in volume.
Mosaic has complained that phosphate volumes are too low, and last week said it would cut phosphate production this year due to low prices for the nutrient.
The company is also battling in the courts for a permit that would let it expand a Florida phosphate mine.
Shares of Mosaic gained 0.6 percent to $52.59 in after-hours trading. The stock has traded between $44.86 and $89.24 in the past 52 weeks.
(Reporting By Ernest Scheyder; editing by Andre Grenon and Matthew Lewis)


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A new bill by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ed Markey (D-MA) would impose new significant restrictions on the collection of data by Facebook and other online services. Known as the Consent Law (abbreviation of Client's Online Notification to Stop Network Transgressions from Edge Providers), the law requires the explicit consent of users to use, share or sell any personal information, as well as clear notification every Once data is collected, shared or used. The bill would also add new security requirements and non-compliance with reports.
Fundamentally, the CONSENT Law is based on the Federal Trade Commission to enforce violations of these new rules. If the bill is passed, the result would be a significant expansion of the commission's power and role in online advertising more broadly. The commission is expected to take action against Facebook in response to a 2011 consent decree, which many believe the Cambridge Analytica data collection may have violated.
Senator Blumenthal faced Mark Zuckerberg over the apparent violation of the consent decree during the testimony of the chief executive before the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees today.
"Does that [thisisyourdigitallife] term of service not conflict with the FTC order that Facebook had at that time?", Blumenthal asked Zuckerberg, after presenting the language of the application that was finally used to collect data for Cambridge Analytica . "Is not there a conflict there?"
"It certainly looks like we should have been aware that this application developer presented a term that was in conflict with the rules of the platform," Zuckerberg replied.
"What happened here was, in effect, deliberate blindness," Blumenthal continued. "It was careless and reckless, which in fact amounted to a violation of the consent decree of the FTC." Do you agree?"
"No senator, my understanding is not that this was a violation of the consent decree," he said. "But as I've said several times today, I think we should have a broader view of our responsibility for privacy than what the current law establishes."


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It’s no secret that Folorunsho Alakija, the wealthiest black woman in the world, has had a pretty rough journey to becoming one of the formidable female entrepreneurs on the planet.
Drawing on that experience garnered from a long, hard journey, Alakija pushed herself through one of the hardest and yet uncertain times in her business career and she thinks young entrepreneurs in Africa should embrace some difficulty, in order for them to succeed.
At the Tony Elumelu Foundation Forum 2016 held in October, in Lagos, Alajika told a group of 1,000 African entrepreneurs selected for the $100 million Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme of the importance of embracing challenges and using them as stepping stones to greatness.
On the entrepreneurship journey, she said, young entrepreneurs may “need to fight yourselves, friends, competition and sometimes, your government in order to succeed.”
The fight, she encapsulates, if won, could launch the entrepreneurs to unimaginable success, one that she has experienced in more than 30 years of business.
And it may make others to doubt that very success, she said.
“Many people see the grace and the glory but they did not know the story,” she said, as she shared with the audience what she called the “little beginnings” of her life.
Taking the audience through how she started as a fashion designer to becoming an oil magnate, Alakija said could only survive those difficult years because of what she called a “higher power.”
Speaking to the fashion entrepreneurs, who make more than 10 per cent of the 1,000 African entrepreneurs, Alakija said “as a designer, your passion for fashion is one of the attributes that will sustain you in the industry.”
The fashion industry, she said, is one of the most demanding industries of one’s time and one’s energy. “It can practically drain you both emotionally and financially. At does bring the so much fame and fortune.
“I experienced all of this as a fashion designer and the ability to remain focused helped me to sustain it. Despite the attendant challenges I faced, I kept on at it.”
She also told them to be ready to take on multiple roles before they could begin to think about hiring more people.
“I found myself being the fashion illustrator, sometimes pattern drafter, the cutter and maybe even the tailor, depending on what the job demanded at the time.
“Often times, as I did, you may even have to be the merchandiser, the marketer, the account and play many other roles to make your business succeed.
She also encouraged the entrepreneurs to embrace failure, as learning from those failures could help calibrate them for a lifetime of success.
“My initial foray into the industry was to broaden the transaction for a client who wished to lift crude but this failed,” she said, adding that she did not allow that to stop her from pressing forward.
“Having got a food in the door, I decided to take advantage of the opportunities in industry for small contracts. My proposals went from providing catering services for offshore crude to providing transportation services,” and so on. From there on, she began another journey that gave her fame, fortunate and has placed her as world’s richest black woman in the world.
But like she said, that journey wasn’t without its challenges.
After spending 15 years, and all her life’s as well as her family’s life’s saving on an “extremely difficult to explore” oil block “in 5000 feet depth of water” she was engaged in a legal battle for another 12 years to claim what she said was hers, a catalyst to the magnitude of her financial success as a business woman.
“We had to fight back by going to court to seek redress and it took another 12 years for justice to be served in our favour. In all those years it was my trust in God, my perseverance and the support of my family that got me going,” she said.


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The move follows the breakdown of Max’s business relationship with France’s Groupe Auchan due to difficulties in complying with India’s foreign investment rules. The Indian retailer and Spar are already well acquainted, having been partners before, although they decided to part ways in 2012.
The new sites are expected to be operational by 2019, with 13 of the former Max-Auchan stores converted to the Spar brand over the coming months, and a further 20 new outlets opening nationwide by 2019. The partnership expects to see annual retail sales in excess of €300m (US$402m) within five years, Spar said in a statement.
Announcing the new partnership, Dr Gordon Campbell, managing director of Spar International said Spar’s business model suited India’s retail market.
"The efforts of Max Hypermarkets have enabled us to develop a strong customer franchise, and as a result, the Spar brand is well known and respected by consumers in India.
“Our previous presence in the market provides a strong foundation to grow the brand in the years ahead and we look forward to working closely with Max Hypermarkets to bring quality fresh foods, low price and a convenient shopping environment to consumers in India.”
Viney Singh, of Max Hypermarkets, added that Spar’s retail experience would provide a fillip for modern retail in India while allowing his company to survey further growth.
"This new arrangement will ensure that the stores are operated to the highest international standards of quality and food safety and provide customers with an enhanced shopping experience. We look forward to working with Spar to rapidly expand the chain and increase our footprint nationwide.”
Spar International is the world's biggest food store retailer with over 12,000 outlets across the world, with global retail sales of €32.2bn (US$43.1bn) in 2013. Max Hypermarket, part of the Dubai-based Landmark Group, was incorporated in 2004 and operates hypermarkets with an average floorspace of 50,000sq-ft.
Max said earlier this week that its partnership with Groupe Auchan could not comply with Indian foreign direct investment regulations for supermarkets and hypermarkets as these required some of its existing stores to be excluded from the joint-venture. This outcome was “despite the best efforts” of both companies to find a solution, Max said. The earlier partnership had planned the opening of 80 stores.