text:
London Loses Its Position As World’s Second Most Visited City
Bangkok overtook London as the second most visited city in the world in 2015, according to latest figures from Euromonitor International. Hong Kong held on to the number one spot for the seventh year, despite an almost 4% drop in visitors to 26.7 million, while a near 7% increase in arrivals in London wasn’t enough to avoid it being bumped into third place. Bangkok leapfrogged into second place after seeing a 10% rise in visitors in 2015, to a total of 18.7 million. London attracted 18.6 million. Singapore came in fourth place with almost 16.9 million and Paris fifth with 15 million.Overall, there was a 5.5% increase in international travel to the world’s top 100 cities in 2015 compared with the previous year.
Hotel VAT Refund ‘Will Boost Tourism To Argentina’
Argentina’s decision to exempt foreign tourists from paying VAT on hotel stays has been welcomed by the Latin America Tourism Association. Tourists will receive a refund for the VAT, which today stands at 21%, when they pay for their accommodation. To receive the refund, they must pay with a foreign credit or debit card, provide their passport number and confirm their address. Tour operators and travel agents who take bookings must provide this information on their behalf. This new law, combined with the development of tourism infrastructure and the launch of new direct flights from Europe to the region, reflect the efforts being made by governments to open up Latin America to international tourism and to better promote the destination.
TSA Adds 11 Airlines To Precheck
Eleven additional airlines now are participating in the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s Precheck program, including Avianca, Emirates, Spirit Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, the TSA announced. Other newly added carriers include Aruba Airlines, Boutique Air, Key Lime Air, Miami Air International, Southern Airways Express, Sunwing and Xtra Airways. Thirty airlines now participate in the program, which gives travelers access to expedited screening at more than 180 U.S. airports.
Magnitude 8 Earthquake Hits Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
A powerful magnitude 8 earthquake hit the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands on Sunday, but no tsunami was reported hours after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert for nearby islands. The quake struck at a depth of 103 miles under Papua New Guinea’s most eastern province of Bougainville, where the two South Pacific countries meet in a continuous archipelago. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
HAL Culinary Council Named ‘Best Culinary Initiative’ in Porthole Cruise Magazine
Holland America Line’s Culinary Council, a team of world-class celebrity chefs, was named “Best Culinary Initiative” in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2016 Editor-in-Chief Awards. The annual awards are chosen by Bill Panoff, the magazine’s editor-in-chief and publisher, who honors his favorite travel experiences that left an impression in terms of service, quality and memorable moments. The winners were announced in the Jan./Feb. 2017 issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine. The Culinary Council is a collaboration of some of the greatest international chefs, chaired by Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, a past recipient of Panoff’s “Best Cruise Line Chef” Editor-in-Chief Award.
Australia To Replace Passports With Facial Recognition Technology
Australia’s international airports are in the process of automating 90% of air traveler processing by 2020 by implementing facial recognition technology that involves biometric recognition of faces, irises and/or fingerprints, hence eliminating the need to carry essential traveling documents such as passports.
Elton John Announces Spring 2017 Performance Dates At The Colosseum At Caesars Palace
Returning to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace to perform his most iconic hits, tickets for performances of Elton John’s critically-acclaimed show, “The Million Dollar Piano” for the following April 2017 and May 2017 dates have gone on sale. The dates for the show are: April 25-26 Tuesday, Wednesday, April 28-29 Friday, Saturday, May 1 Monday. May 3-4 Wednesday, Thursday and May 5 Friday. At the centerpiece of the performance is the show’s namesake piano, an engineering marvel featuring more than 68 LED video screens created by Yamaha. “The Million Dollar Piano” features iconic hits and classic album tracks from Elton’s incredible five-decade career, all enhanced by the most elaborate stage design Elton has ever used.
Emirates To Fly To US Via Athens
Reuters reports Emirates is to start flying to the US with a stop for passengers in Greece, its second so-called fifth freedom flight and a move that could anger US competitors who accuse it of competing unfairly through state subsidies.
The airline said Monday it would start daily flights to New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport via Athens on March 12. Dubai-based Emirates already operates four daily flights to JFK in New York, including one with a stop off in Milan. Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to fly between foreign countries as a part of services to and from its home country.
Lindblad Expeditions Names Next Ship National Geographic Venture
Lindblad Expeditions has named its newest addition to its fleet the National Geographic Venture, which is currently being built in Seattle and will make her inaugural voyage in June 2018, according to a statement. Sister ship to the National Geographic Quest which is launching in June 2017, they are the first newbuilds in Lindblad’s history and the only purpose-built expedition ships designed and built from scratch in the USA. The 100-guest National Geographic Venture will launch in June 2018 and will have 50 cabins, 22 with balconies, and six sets of connecting cabins for families and groups; all category 5 cabins can accommodate a third guest. The ship will be outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, and Zodiacs, according to Lindblad. Her inaugural voyage will be on the June 24, 2018 departure of “Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska & British Columbia.”
Sandals To Operate Marriott Hotel In Jamaica
Resort operator Sandals will manage a new hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, but on a very different model to its usual all-inclusive concept. Sandals has teamed up with Marriott International to bring the AC Hotels by Marriott brand to the Caribbean for the first time. It will be the first time Sandals has been involved in the management of a non-proprietary brand. The new build will feature 220 rooms and a 10,000-square foot conference centre, and is expected to open in 2019. Full service restaurants, a car rental facility, a wellness salon and retail units will also be housed in the mixed-use site.
Royal Caribbean To Offer PADI Dive Courses
Royal Caribbean cruisers can now become certified scuba divers, as the line has added onboard PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Five Star Dive Centers. Programs range from a 30-minute Try Dive program for newbies to PADI’s Reactivate Program for certified divers wanting a refresher course. Prices are reasonable, the Try Dive class costs $29 per person, while the Reactivate class is $59 per person. A third option is PADI’s Open Water Diver course, which allows passengers to complete their scuba diving certification; prices start from $599 per person. This course starts before the cruise with participants attending an online course using either the PADI Touch app for mobile devices or PADI eLearning online system for desktop and laptop computers. Once onboard, divers will begin in the ship’s pool before heading out to open waters for four mandatory, open-water training dives. The training dives will be split among two different ports of call. Courses will be offered on Royal Caribbean itineraries in the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
American Airlines is Doing Away With The Seatback TV In Its New Planes
The new 737 MAX’s that will start arriving later this year for American Airlines won’t have seatback television screens, the airline said in a letter to employees. The reason is the abundance of smart phones, tablets and other electronics passengers bring on the plane for entertainment. American said more than 90% of flyers bring a device onboard with them. “Those phones and tablets are continually upgraded, they’re easy to use, and most importantly they are the technology that our customers have chosen,” the letter reads. “So it makes sense for American to focus on giving customers the best entertainment and fast connection options rather than installing seatback monitors that will be obsolete within a few years.”


text: After endless speculation, we finally have an announcement: the iPhone is coming to Verizon. It’s essentially the same phone you can get through AT&T, which has been the exclusive service provider since the iPhone was introduced in 2007. But there’s one adjustment: the antenna design has been changed to fit the necessary components for Verizon’s network, but hopefully also to fix reception problems with the initial iPhone 4. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5 this summer, so some forward-looking customers may wait to buy, rather than getting tied in to a two-year contract right away. Verizon customers can get their hands on the phone February 10 or one week sooner if they reserve one in advance.

domain: news


text:
What America’s protectionist turn means for the world
In recent months, the United States has taken a sharp turn towards protectionism and away from global trading norms. For a country that has been historically open to free trade, this shift will have far reaching implications for the world. Through tariffs, quotas, and other measures, American protectionism could affect global trade, investment, and employment around the world. In this article, we will explore the potential effects of America’s protectionist turn and the implications for global markets.
1. An Uneasy Time for Global Trade
The global trade community is in the throes of a tumultuous time. The world economy is facing brewing protectionism, with countries introducing tariffs and other protectionist measures to safeguard domestic industries and markets. The scourge of global trade is having a ripple effect on the cost and availability of goods, services, and resources.
Amidst the growing sources of uncertainty, the trade agreements between countries have also come under strain. Countries looking to renegotiate or eschew trade agreements altogether has injected a healthy amount of doubt in the global trade scenario. The situation is aggravated further by looming political risks, with more regional instabilities springing up in recent times.
- Protectionism raising costs and reducing availability of goods
- Trade agreements held in limbo
- Political risks leading to further instability
2. America’s Turn Toward Protectionism
America’s drive for protectionism began during the great depression in the early 30s. Large industries such as stock and banking were closing across the country, causing mass unemployment and leaving the nation grappling for solutions. In response, President Herbert Hoover initiated the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930. This piece of legislation imposed hefty tariffs on thousands of imported goods, from fruit to vehicles to manufactured items. In doing so, it provided necessary safeguards and restrictions in order to protect the American economy from any further harm.
Hoover’s policy was the start of a long road towards the re-emergence of the protectionist spirit in one of the world’s strongest economic and political forces. The policy set a precedent that other nations soon replicated, and this trend has continued right up to the present day. Protectionist measures have been apparent in policy developments in the automotive, steel and agriculture industries, among others. By protecting home-grown industries through import tariffs, subsidies and other trade barriers, America has been able to not only sustain its economy but also to create jobs, stimulate production and maintain a competitive edge on the international market.
- Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act – The foundation of America’s protectionist stance.
- Automotive industry – High tariffs aimed at protecting America’s automobile sector.
- Steel industry – Subsidies granted to domestic steel companies.
- Agricultural industry – Imposition of quotas and subsidies to shield farmers from foreign competition.
3. Dire Consequences for the Global Economy
The global economy has seen dramatic changes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. While some countries were able to take drastic measures to combat the virus, most were not. The consequences of this are enormous and far-reaching, with dire long-term outcomes for the global economy.
The disruption of international trade and labour markets has resulted in significant economic losses that have rippled through the global supply chain. Job losses and business closures are rampant, leaving not just individuals but whole economies in distress. Moreover, global stock markets have been devastated, erasing years of advancements in economic growth and employment.
- Cross-Border Trade: The drop in global trade has led to lost revenue for businesses, necessary protectionism and shrinking consumer demand.
- Decreased Investment: Stock markets have dropped and businesses have canceled plans for new investments. This further pushes down economic growth.
- Malign Health Outcomes: Millions of people in developing countries will suffer from both the health effects of the pandemic and the economic effects that follow.
More alarmingly, the full effects of the crisis have yet to manifest. The consequences of the coronavirus have polarized the global economy, creating uncertainty and increasing the risk of further recession.
4. Looking to the Future of Trade
As the trade landscape continues to evolve, there are some key trends that are emerging to optimise efficiency, increase sustainability and maintain a healthy trading environment:
- Technology: Automation of process, data collection and analysis are all being used to speed up the process of trading and identify possible fraud with greater accuracy.
- Sustainability: Tighter regulations from international bodies are reducing trade deficits, resulting in fairer markets for developing nations and more sustainable development over the long term.
- Security: With the introduction of biometric data, blockchain technology and encryption, trades are becoming more secure, reducing the risk of fraud and theft.
It’s clear that the future of trade is going to be largely focused on efficiency, security and sustainability as the world becomes increasingly interconnected. With new technologies and regulations being developed, the business environment is quickly becoming more transparent and secure. In the years ahead, we should expect to see further improvements in trade processes, paving the way for more efficient and equitable global trade.
It’s clear that if America’s protectionist turn continues, the whole world may well feel its effects soon enough. The best thing now is to prepare for the realities of the new protectionist age while keeping the long-term goals of a more equitable, prosperous global economy in mind. Who knows? It may just be that a new wave of protectionism will bring some much-needed balance and security to a world in flux.


text:
Apple of China, Xiaomi is now working with Microsoft to bring Windows 10 for Phones to Mi4 power users, while Lenovo has already confirmed it will launch its first Windows Phones in mid-year 2015. But these are not the only Chinese companies to take interest in Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. It turns out that ZTE might be interesting taking the Windows Phone route with some of its devices.
ZTE is well-known in China, but the company did manage to get into the US market with too many of its cheap smartphones. The company’s next flagship smartphone, ZTE Nubia Z9 is expected to be unveiled on March 29.
We expect the Nubia Z9 to be released globally in the next couple of weeks and we’re also expecting the phone to be cheaper than other flagships that will go on sale in March / April timeframe. Even though we’ve confirmed that ZTE Nubia Z9 will ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system out of the box, here is something interesting for Windows Phone fans.
Microsoft may prepare a Windows Phone ROM for ZTE’s flagship phone
Chinese blog MyDrivers has just find out that ZTE Nubia Z9 can run Windows 10 for Phones without problems. The smartphone seems to have been showcased at WinHEC conference where Microsoft announced that Windows 10 for Phones will be launched sometime this summer.
This means that the Windows Phone ROM that Microsoft plans to provide to Xiaomi Mi4 power users might be available to other brands as well. ZTE Nubia Z9 could be another smartphone that Microsoft plans to add to this “experimental program” it debuted this month.
We doubt that ZTE will announce the availability of the Nubia Z9 in Android and Windows Phone versions, but Microsoft might allow owners to install and test Windows 10 Technical Preview. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more on this one, so stay tuned.


text:
San Francisco Loses Phone Radiation Appeal
A federal appeals court denied the City of San Francisco's bid to force city retailers to display information about cell phone radiation in stores. The appeal marked the latest round in a protracted legal battle between San Francisco and the CTIA Wireless Association over the labels. San Francisco believes consumers need to be warned about the potential health risks of cell phone radiation, and wanted to require that cell phone retails post pamphlets and provide other materials outlining the dangers. The CTIA felt the ordinance could lead to consumer confusion and fought the ordinance. The judge overseeing the appeal said retailers can't be forced to display messages that contain disputable information. The actual health effects of cellular phones have been debated the world over with no clear evidence linking cell phone to cancer.


text:
Denver coffee shop in gentrification 'joke' remains closed
DENVER – A coffee shop targeted by protesters after a message about gentrification struck a nerve in a rapidly changing city remained closed Monday despite an apology and plans to reopen after the holiday weekend.
Last week, Ink! Coffee displayed a sidewalk sign that said “Happily Gentrifying the Neighborhood Since 2014” outside a store in a historically diverse neighborhood near downtown Denver. Outrage over the message, fueled by anger over a city being dramatically transformed by an influx of newcomers, quickly spread on social media. A window was broken at the shop and “White Coffee” painted on the building and about 200 people protested there Saturday.
The Colorado chain initially called the sign a bad joke but later founder Keith Herbert explained it was part of an advertising campaign. In a statement, he said he saw the campaign as a way to take pride in being part of a “dynamic, evolving community” that is inclusive but was now embarrassed to say that he did not “fully appreciate the very real and troubling issue of gentrification.”
“I recognize that we had a blind spot to other legitimate interpretations. I sincerely apologize — absolutely and unequivocally,” said Herbert, who promised to educate himself and his colleagues about the issue and show ways to express his contrition.
A sign posted on the door of the shop said it would reopen Monday. No one answered the phone at the shop or company’s office and an email seeking an explanation was not returned.
The shop is located near Five Points, a once largely black neighborhood, in a former industrial area that has become one of Denver’s trendiest neighborhoods filled with breweries, restaurants and apartments, driving up rent and forcing many longtime residents to move.
City councilman Albus Brooks, who represents the area, said he was angered by the sign but urged residents to focus on patronizing businesses that support their values and resisting the urge to retaliate against the shop. He said he planned to ask Ink to have its workers undergo “cultural competency training” by a member of the community.
Merriam-Webster tweeted that searches for “gentrification” and “gentrify” on its online dictionary rose 2,500 percent Monday following media coverage of the controversy.


text:
Gaga tweeted an image of herself recreated in digital form with the "Fortnite Festival" logo in the corner.
After the upcoming Joker: Folie á Deux actress shared Tuesday an image of a digital recreation of herself to social media in a quote-tweet of her memorable 2019 post that posed the question, "What's fortnight," Epic Games announced Wednesday that Gaga will officially join Fortnite Festival as a headlining act.
Launching on Feb. 22, Gaga will headline the Fortnite Festival Season 2: Unlock Your Talent with eight of her songs as playable tracks. The titles gamers will be able to hear in the game include "Applause," "Bloody Mary," "Born This Way," "The Edge of Glory," "Just Dance," "Poker Face," "Stupid Love," and "Rain on Me" featuring Ariana Grande. Gaga will headline the game on a stage inspired by her 2020 album Chromatica.
Gaga's initial tweet served as a hilarious correction of her prior spelling error in the original note nearly five years later, as she captioned the new Fortnite image — which sees her clad in an outfit similar to one she wore on the 2022 Chromatica Ball tour — with a one-word statement: "*fortnite."
Many took this as an indication that Gaga would follow in the footsteps of The Weeknd, who partnered with the Epic Games title in 2023 to create a playable headlining festival set featuring his music.
Billed as a "music-driven, rhythm-based game" that is "playable as two unique experiences: Fortnite Festival Main Stage and Fortnite Festival Jam Stage," the Fortnite Festival offshoot from the main battle royale-style original allows players to enter the game's popular environment and "play through a licensed soundtrack of some global hits and Fortnite originals," per Epic's website.
The Fortnite news comes amid Gaga's repeated teases about a potential upcoming album, studio sessions for which she has previewed online in recent weeks.
Fellow pop star Kesha joined in on the excitement over the thought of new material from Gaga after the latter wrote "Tik tok tik tok" underneath a photo of herself at work. "READY MOTHER," Kesha — who roared onto the pop music scene in 2009 with her No. 1 smash titled "Tik Tok" — commented.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 20, 2024
In a 2021 interview with EW, Gaga said that new music was always on her mind.
"There's always music in my heart, in the works. It's just about [asking], 'What will it be?'" she explained. "I'm not ready to answer that yet. But what I will say is that ... I'm always thinking about music. It just comes out in different forms."
See Gaga's Fortnite Festival teaser above.
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.


text:
Tesla Power India to hire over 2,000 people across verticals
The planned recruitment drive will encompass positions across engineering, operations, sales, marketing, and support functions, providing ample job opportunities for the youth, it said in a statement.
The sustainable energy storage solutions provider also recently launched its refurbished battery brand ReStore. It plans to open 5,000 ReStore units by 2026 across the country. Image Courtesy: Reuters.


text:
Tourism is expected to increase with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% in the next five years, and luxury tourism is expected to grow at a faster pace with a at 7.3%, according to a new report by German research group, Statista (Statista DossierPlus – Luxury Travel and Tourism’). China and India’s luxury markets are forecast to grow the most rapidly. Can medical travel form part of this market?
According to the report, high-end tourism is a niche market designed to satisfy the travel expectations of high net worth individuals. With a global value of US$831 billion, it stands out as a prime revenue driver.
The USA has the biggest luxury travel market with a value of US$263 billion. China is second with US$90 billion. China and India’s luxury markets are forecast to grow the most rapidly in the next five years, mostly driven by the growth of the domestic luxury market.
Dr Friedrich Schwandt of Statista emphasised: “The luxury tourism market accounts for 14% of revenue. This makes it a highly competitive growth environment. A key trend that has been shaping luxury tourism in recent years is the increase in multigenerational travel. Families are seeking an opportunity to spend quality time together. As Millennials and Generation Z gain economic influence and represent an increasing proportion of luxury travellers, adventure, uniqueness, as well as sustainability also become vital, as they contribute to a high-profile social media image.”
Research identified nine trending countries: USA, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Morocco.
Luxury travellers have net assets of over US$1 million and spend an average of US$2,400 per travel day.
Luxury tourism is acquisitions of consumer goods, services and valuables for and during trips by individuals.
The report breaks down luxury tourism by domestic and international inbound tourism and reveals the countries where luxury international tourists are from.


text:
Ach du lieber! Tesla outsells all three premium German automakers—in Germany
Tesla’s vehicles have been outselling gas-powered competitors in their segments for years now, but the latest news has got to be keeping all but the most somnolent of legacy automaker execs awake at night. According to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, in September, Tesla’s Model 3 outsold mid-size sedans from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes in Germany.
Above: Tesla Model 3 (Flickr: Mark Vletter)
Yes, the upstart American outsold all the theoretically comparable models from all three of Germany’s premium brands combined, in their home market.
Wirtschafts Woche reports (via CleanTechnica) that the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes C/CLA-Class sold a collective 6,100 units in September, while Model 3 sold an estimated 6,800. Model 3 was roughly tied with the VW Golf, a smaller and much cheaper vehicle that’s been one of the continent’s best-selling cars for decades.
Of course, it’s always perilous to predict trends based on one month’s sales data, and there are two caveats to consider here, pointing in opposite directions. The good news (for the German automakers) is that Tesla’s deliveries come in batches, so the full-year figures are unlikely to show such a total Tesla triumph. Furthermore, the Volkswagen Group is selling a lot of EVs across all of its major brands (Audi, Porsche, Skoda and Volkswagen). It’s the top EV-selling firm in Europe, far ahead of Tesla.
Above: Inside Tesla's German Gigafactory (YouTube: CNET Highlights)
The bad news for the Germans is that Tesla’s new Grünheide Gigafactory is going to start production very soon. Cars delivered from here will have far lower transport costs, and will incorporate several new cost-saving innovations. Kein Wunder that Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess has sounded the red alert. He recently told his top managers that the company needs to completely revamp its factories for EV production, and took the unprecedented (and controversial) step of inviting Elon Musk to give them a pep talk.
The big picture is that fossil fuel vehicles are on their way out in Europe. Wirtschafts Woche tells us that German gas vehicle sales fell by 41 percent in September compared to the same month a year ago. Diesel sales dove by 54 percent, while sales of hybrids grew by 11 percent, PHEVs advanced 14 percent, and pure EVs added 59 percent.


text:
Slanj, the Glasgow-based retailer, is doing a roaring trade in anti-England T-shirts, as the 2010 World Cup gets under way.
In the past three months, it has sold 6,000 with the brand “Anyone but England”. The police have said the logo could potentially be racist. But Scots have shrugged off the claims and happily pay £20 for a T-shirt supporting England’s group rivals USA, Algeria and Slovenia. Slanj initially expected to sell a few hundred.Reuse content


text:
First lady of football Baroness Brady is made chair of Philip Green's wounded retail empire
- Brady, 48, will take over at Taveta Investments the parent firm of Green’s stores
- The group has endured a rocky period, with annual profits dipping by £130m
- The Apprentice star will take over from Lord Grabiner, who is stepping down
Baroness Brady has been made chairman of Sir Philip Green’s High Street empire
Baroness Brady has been made chairman of Sir Philip Green’s High Street empire.
Brady, 48, will take over at Taveta Investments, the parent company in charge of the Green’s Arcadia stores, which includes Top Shop and Burton.
The group has endured a rocky period, which has seen annual profits plunge by £130 million and costs linked to the collapse of BHS.
Sales at Taveta also dropped 2.5 per cent to just over £2 billion in the period, according to accounts filed at Companies House.
Brady, who was also chief executive of West Ham United Football Club – a post which saw her dubbed the First Lady of football – said: ‘It is a privilege to have been invited to chair.’
The Apprentice star, who advises Lord Sugar on the show, will take over from Lord Grabiner, who is stepping down from the position of non-executive chairman.
Grabiner spent 15 years leading the Taveta board, which came under fire from MPs for providing ‘weak’ corporate governance that contributed ‘substantially’ to the demise of BHS.
Most watched Money videos
- Ferrari launches new green supercar: 296 GTB plug-in hybrid
- Futuristic zero-emissions electric Ioniq 5 from Hyundai
- Stunning Lotus Emira unveiled as company's last petrol car
- Discover the water-resistant interior of the new Ineos Grenadier 4X4
- Volkswagen reveals stylish hybrid, seven-seater, family bus
- Vauxhall to make electric Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD concept car
- Take a look at £3.3 million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport hypercar
- E-Type UK Unleashed transforms classic cars using modern features
- New £2m electric Nevera: The fastest accelerating car in the world
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57: One of the most valuable pre-war cars
- Are investors too worried or too complacent about inflation?
- Why UK smaller companies can profit in the recovery


text:
Samsung has released their its latest mid ranged smartphone Galaxy On Max in India. The handset is the successor of last year’s Galaxy On8, and it will be exclusively available on E commerce website Flipkart for Rs.16990. The device is encased in a metal uni-body design and will be available in two color variants black and gold.
Samsung Galaxy On Max will have massive a 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. The smartphone is powered by an 1.6 GHz octa-core MediaTek MTK P25 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of inbuilt storage that’s expandable via microSD card up to 256GB. The device will have a 13MP camera on the rear with aperture of f/1.7 and for selfies, video call etc. it has 13MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture lens.
The handset packs a 3300mAh battery and will be running on Android 7.0 Nougat underneath Touch wiz skin. Galaxy On Max features Samsung Pay Mini and Social Camera Mode which helps users to insta share images on their favourite social media contacts for quick sharing. The company says the Social Camera Mode also lets users utilize live stickers.


text:
In the early 1990s, when I used to be a health writer, Dr K Srinath Reddy, one of the country’s foremost public health advocates, used to lament the absence of any concern for "lifestyle diseases", especially those that are diet related and hence reversible, in the public sphere.
He would refer wistfully to the Danish model of reducing the burden of cardio-vascular diseases by rigorously introducing food labelling, cutting down salt intake at the population level, and introducing safe and nutritious food in schools.
Policy discussions in those days were still dominated by contagious diseases, from malaria to the new "pandemic" (as it was then described by a number of vested interest) of AIDS, and barring few people, such as Dr Reddy and the eminent late nutritionist, Dr Vulimiri Ramalingaswamy, no one really cared to underline the potential dangers of the new diets (now covered by the umbrella acronym HFSS, or High Fat, Salt and Sugar) that were being introduced into the country by fast food multinationals, cola giants and purveyors of breakfast cereals.
In the last 25 years, what were once lone voices of public intellectuals — such as Dr Reddy, Dr Vandana Shiva, alter-globalisation crusader and founder of Navdanya, and the director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Dr Sunita Narain — now got amplified into a chorus for change.
Informed Indians, influenced by the western debate on the subject sparked off by Fast Food Nation, the turn-of-the-millennium book by Eric Schlosser, started speaking up and acting against junk food, sugar-laden colas and breakfast cereals, genetically modified food, chemically altered "low fat" food, and "high-yielding agriculture" propelled by an overload of potentially life-threatening chemicals and fertilisers.
Multiple factors have ensured that food will finally find its place at the centre of the national health policy debate — and it will cease to be the sole concern of doctors, nutritionists and your friendly neighbourhood dietician.
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a new set of progressive Draft Food Safety and Standards (Display and Labelling) Regulations, which have already triggered nationwide discussions on making it mandatory for sugar and added sugar to be mentioned specifically on product labels, for nutrition labels to be attached to junk food delivery boxes, and for film and sport celebrities to stay away from promoting colas.
The food regulator is also getting new, and realistic, standards in place for the certification of organic foodstuff, and it is all set to flag off its nationwide “Eat Right” initiative on July 10.
One of the pillars of the movement, which for the first time will also cover food served at holy places and on the Indian Railways, will be the implementation of the national goal of freeing India from the scourge of “transfats” (the real artery blockers, such as margarine and vegetable oil, or vanaspati, in packaged and fast foods) by 2022.
This movement can only gather momentum because of international initiatives such as the recently published, action-orientated "Solutions Menu" of the Nordic Council, or the SDG2 Advocacy Hub’s efforts to get chefs around the world aligned to sustainability issues, or the 20-member Lancet Commission’s monumental work on healthy and sustainable diets (look out for its report on India).
Getting a country such as India to "Eat Right" is not easy. No regulatory mechanism can be strong enough for a country where, as I learnt the other day, big food operators sell their used oil to small restaurants and street vendors for a profit! Unless all of us view "Eat Right" as more than just another slogan, but a call for national action, we’ll all continue to wallow in the sea of lifestyle diseases.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)


text:
PORT ARTHUR (KFDX/KJTL) — After licking ice cream at a Walmart in Texas and putting back on the shelf last August, the man responsible has pleaded guilty.
D’Adrien Anderson, 24, posted a video on Facebook in August taking ice cream off the shelf at a local Walmart, opening the carton to lick it, just to put it back in the freezer.
More than 2,000 people shared the viral video, gaining the attention of Port Arthur Police.
Anderson claimed he bought the ice cream later, also saying he showed police the receipt to prove it.
He has pleaded guilty to a Class-A misdemeanor, his sentencing is set for March 4, 2020.
Police said he was arrested and charged with criminal mischief because of the money Walmart lost after the incident, having to restock and throw away the shelf of ice cream.


text:
While the travel industry has suffered some of the toughest economic hits from the global Covid-19 shutdown, it's been heartening to see luxury travel companies' continued commitment to the communities around the globe that have grown reliant on the tourism those companies bring.
One of the latest examples comes from Abercrombie & Kent, which recently reported that in response to the pandemic, its philanthropic arm had boosted its funding by 60% for the delivery of medical supplies through its partnership with Project Cure.
Keith Sproule, executive director or Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP), said the effort was part of a decision made by A&K from the outset of the pandemic to shield AKP from the job cuts and furloughs that have been widespread across the sector and rally its on-the-ground coordinators around the globe to figure out what Covid-19 relief was necessary in underdeveloped regions.
The recognition, Sproule said, was that "if we are going to be going through a tough time, they are going to be going through a really tough time."
Retaining the full AKP staff, he said, "allowed us to work with the communities and strategize on need."
Coordinators in Peru, Brazil, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia worked with locals to assess the greatest need, which in many cases, he said, was "food security."
So in addition to medical supplies, AKP launched bulk food deliveries to isolated communities, particularly in Africa, where a lack of food often correlates to an increase in poaching, Sproule said.
Since the start of the year, AKP said it has delivered more than $2 million in medical supplies and emergency relief around the world.
At the same time, it is continuing its support for ongoing and non-Covid-related projects, including its AKP Bike Enterprise Program, which helps women across Botswana, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia establish bicycle sales and repair shops using donated bikes, and a partnership with Cure Cervical Cancer.


text:
A new face is joining the Olay family.
The brand recently shared that Quinta Brunson, actress, producer, writer, comedian and creator of the Emmy nominated series “Abbott Elementary,” has been named one of its newest brand ambassadors.
Brunson will appear in Olay’s new campaign highlighting its Retinol 24+ Peptide Night collection.
“It is an honor to be the new face of such an iconic brand,” said Brunson. “When I was growing up, society pushed a beauty standard that was unattainable. Brands told me I needed to change everything about myself to be beautiful. It’s exciting to be a part of the latest Olay campaign and to help change that narrative. This partnership coming to life as my first-ever beauty collaboration is truly a ‘pinch me’ moment.”


text:
The push to bring relevance to traditional teaching is a constant one for business schools, says Allan Riding, professor at Telfer in Ottawa
With a surplus of overqualified workers, getting a degree to land a good job may not be the best advice to give today's young people
One of America's largest banks has chosen to cut ties with one of the country's largest fraternities and a key source of Wall Street talent after it had 10 deaths linked to its hazing rituals
UBC business school adopts quirky marketing techniques traditionally used in consumer brands as part of international branding campaign.
The attacks on Sept. 11 forced the business world to become laser-focused on security and risk management, but for business schools 9/11 was a catalyst to training global commerce with cultural sensitivity.
The renaissance of city states may not be far away and universities have a key role to play in fostering the growth and development of urban economies by creating ideal environments for the cultivation of tomorrow's technology.
How two doctors and a business-savvy executive improved the process of teaching the the ears-nose-and-throat specialty and exported it around the world.
The story of how a university administrator helped three pro football players chart a path to a career in business.
'Universities and colleges need to think about how what they’re providing translates into the labour market. And business needs to tell us what skills they need, because we don’t know'
Analysts and human resource professionals will argue that the right combination of erudition and 'soft' skills can put one on a better footing in the job pool
For Tesla's stock price to make any sense at all, you have to be at least willing to consider Musk’s vision of absolute market disruption for gasoline cars
Under Chip Conley’s direction, Airbnb has been focusing on uniqueness, authenticity and immersive local experiences
When BlackBerry said in Septmeber it plans to release an unconventional device each year, is this what it meant? A throwback to its 2010 BlackBerry Torch sales flop?
Thanks to a partnership between medical company Amblyotech and researchers from McGill University in Montreal, Ubisoft's next video game is 'prescription only'


text:
The 16th International Exhibition on Electrical Technology and Equipment – Vietnam ETE 2023 and the 13th International Exhibition on Energy Saving and Green Energy Technologies and Products – Enertec Expo 2023 will be held from July 19 – 21
The event was chaired by the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, and jointly organized by C.I.S Vietnam Advertising and Exhibition Company and the Center for Supporting Industry Development of Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam ETE & Enertec Expo 2023 is an international specialized exhibition on technology and electrical equipment, energy-saving product technology and green energy, which will be held from July 19 to 21 at the Exhibition Center and Saigon Exhibition – SECC.
The exhibition is expected to have a scale of nearly 10,000 m2 with nearly 500 booths of more than 300 domestic and international enterprises. After 15 years of organization, Vietnam ETE & Enertec Expo has affirmed to be the leading prestigious program in the country, where participating businesses will display and introduce typical products in the fields of electrical equipment, energy saving, new energy, green energy, new technology and products in related fields.
In 3 days of opening, the exhibition is expected to attract about 20,000 visitors to visit and work directly.
Source: Dai Doan Ket Newspaper


text:
The price associated with bitcoin improved greatly in the particular year 2017. Coinbase, one of several world’s largest cryptocurrency deals, was in the proper place at the right period to capitalize in the increase in interest. Having said that, Coinbase isn’t interested in using it is crypto gains without any consideration. To stay ahead throughout a much larger cryptocurrency industry, the company will be plowing money back into their particular master plan. best crypto signals Up until 2017, you can actually revenue was reported on $1 thousand and over $150 billion of resources were traded in across 20 million customers.
Coinbase, the San Francisco centered company, is recognized as the leading cryptocurrency trading system in often the United States and with it is continued success, arrived at the No. 10 spot on the CNBC Disruptor collection in 2018 after fails to make the record the previous a couple of years.
On their path to accomplishment, Coinbase has quit no stone unturned around poaching essential executives by New York Stock Trade, Myspace, Facebook, and LinkedIn. In the modern calendar year, the measurement of their fully committed system team has nearly doubled.
Earn. com was initially bought by Coinbase that 04 for $100 zillion. This kind of platform will allow users in order to send and receive electronic digital currency while responding to help mass market email messages plus completing micro jobs. Presently, the company is planning to bring a former Andreessen Horowitz enterprise capitalist, Makes originator and CEO as their first-ever fundamental engineering official.
According to present valuation, Coinbase valued by itself from about $8 billion when it set out to acquire Earn. Possuindo. This benefit is much over the particular appraisal of $1. six billion which was approximated with the last circle involving venture capital auto financing in the summer of 2017.
Coinbase declines to comment on its value inspite of the fact of which this has more in comparison with $225 million in funding from top VC’s which include Union Square Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and also coming from the Nyse.
To meet up with the needs of institutional investors, the New York Stock Exchange is planning for you to start a unique cryptocurrency trade. Nasdaq, a rival connected with NYSE can also be contemplating a similar move.
� Opposition is Coming
As competing organizations look to have a mouthful out associated with the Coinbase’s business, Coinbase is looking to some other venture capital prospects around an attempt to build a moat all around the particular company.
Dan Dolev, some sort of Nomura instant analyst, mentioned that Square, some sort of company operate by Twitter CEO Jack port Dorsey could eat directly into Coinbase’s exchange business because it started out trading cryptocurrency about the Square Cash application in January.
According to the reports by Dolev, Coinbase’s common trading costs had been approximately 1. 7 percent around 2017. Expenses this elevated could generate the users additional more affordable exchanges.
Coinbase is looking in order to become a one-stop go shopping for this institutional option traders while hedge its exchange business. In order to lure throughout that white baseball glove investor class, the company has announced a fleet of new merchandise. This type of shareholders has recently been especially watchful to dive into the volatile cryptocurrency marketplace.
Coinbase Prime, The Coinbase Institutional Coverage Group, Coinbase Child custody and Coinbase Markets will be the products launched from the company.
Coinbase feels there exists billions of us dollars throughout institutional money which can be invested in often the digital currency. It by now has the guardianship connected with $9 billion in client investments.
Institutional buyers will be concerned about safety regardless of knowing Coinbase never suffered a hack such as several other world-wide cryptocurrency trades. Coinbase chief executive and COO said that the impetus connected with launching the Coinbase custodianship last November was initially the lack of trusted custodian to safeguard their particular crypto resources.
� Presently Wall membrane Avenue Shifts by Bashing Bit to Cryptocurrency Backer
According to latest information obtainable from Autonomous Following Wall Street’s, interest in cryptocurrency seems to end up being increasing. At present, you can find 287 crypto hedge money, while in 2016, now there were merely 20 cryptocurrency hedge budget that been around. Goldman Sachs has possibly opened the cryptocurrency investing desk.
Coinbase has as well introduced Coinbase Ventures, which often is an incubator deposit for early-stage startup companies functioning in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. Coinbase Endeavors has already accumulated $15 million for further ventures. Its initial investment was basically announced in a startup identified as Compound which will allow 1 to borrow as well as provide cryptocurrency while gaining the interest rate.
In this beginning of 2018, the particular company launched Coinbase Business, which allows retailers in order to accept key cryptocurrencies intended for payment. Another bitcoin start-up was BitPlay, which not too long ago raised $40 million in venture cash. Last 12 months BitPlay processed a lot more than $1 billion in bitcoin payments.
The proponents of blockchain technology think that in the future, cryptocurrency will be capable to reduce the need for central banking government bodies. In the process, this is going to spend less and create a new decentralized financial solution.
� Regulatory Safety Remains Intense
To keep entry confined to four cryptocurrencies, Coinbase has drawn a lot of criticism. But they must tread properly whilst the U. S. government bodies deliberate on how to police certain uses connected with the technology.
For cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase, often the matter of concern will be whether or not cryptocurrencies are securities which would likely be subject to Stock options and Exchange Commission jurisdiction. Coinbase is admittedly sluggish to add new gold and silver coins for the reason that SEC announced in Walk that it would employ stability laws to help all cryptocurrency deals.
Wall membrane Streets Journal described of which Coinbase met the particular SEC officials to register themselves as a licensed broker agent and even electronic trading location. A wonderful scenario, it would certainly become much easier for Coinbase to support a great deal more coins and also to comply along with security regulations.


text:
07 Apr Financial Inclusion and The Rise of Independent Incomes in Rural India Through FinTech Apps
Read: – 1:50 mins
To achieve a 100% financial inclusion, technology is the only drive. There are various technological innovations that are aimed at breaking the barriers of urban-rural divide can bring more technology-hesitant people within the ambit of financial inclusion. While the tech industry has propelled multiple other sectors towards unparalleled growth, financial inclusion and last mile financial connectivity remains challenging. It is for FinTech players to empower Tier III & IV people with tools that help them to generate an additional independent income simply using their smartphones. As India is moving towards becoming a less-cash economy, rural consumers that constitute a major portion of that economy are becoming more confident about adopting new digital technologies and payment methods.
A large population of India is still unbanked. FinTech today offers a multitude of opportunities to the rural and urban population – both consumers and sellers. E-commerce and FinTech outreach in semi urban and rural India have led to a rise in the number of entrepreneurs from remote areas of India. it has been spotlighted for us to understand that FinTech today offers a multitude of opportunities to the rural and urban population – both consumers and sellers. It is everywhere – in our phones, on our desktops, in the big malls, at the fuel stations, and even at the local kiraana stores near you. From something as basic as a mobile recharge or purchase of groceries, to something as complex as running a business and earning money – can be done today using FinTech & payments mobile apps.


text:
Ukraine is heavily leaning towards crypto now that Russia has invaded. The economy and the financial systems of the country have become destabilized in recent weeks, and crypto appears to be the big answer the nation is looking for according to Michael Chobanian, the president of the Blockchain Association of Ukraine and founder of the Kuna Exchange.
Michael Chobanian Says Ukraine Is Really Integrating Crypto
Kuna is a platform utilized by the Ukrainian government to set up wallets so it could accept crypto donations for the military and other supplies. At the time of writing, more than $50 million has been received. Prior to his work in crypto, Michael primarily worked in the tech world of Ukraine, though now things have changed significantly. He said in a recent interview:
Yes. I was working at a telecom company. I oversaw business development. We were the first company to launch 3G in Ukraine. It was based on the CDMA standard, the American standard, while Europe was GSM. At the time that was quite amazing. A couple of months later, I saw that mobile traffic was growing fast. I also had data on fiber optic — the fixed-line internet — and I saw that traffic was not growing as fast there. For me, it was obvious that everything was going to go mobile, especially after the iPhone was released. That was when I was really starting to get interested in using mobile as the universal key to the digital world.
Michael is an extremely educated person. He went to the London Business School and Columbia Business School. From there, he transferred to the University of Hong Kong to get his MBA degree. It was here where he found himself getting into web analytics and web design, though a few years later, he would step into the world of bitcoin. He commented:
I found out about bitcoin around 2011, during one of the projects we were developing about digital banks. At the time, they did not exist in Ukraine and there were only a few examples in the world, so we were doing marketing research on what was happening with the money in the world. It was the global financial system with a lot of banks with electronic money, a lot of institutions. Bitcoin couldn’t fit into any of the bubbles that we drew. I asked my guys, ‘What the hell is bitcoin?’ They said, ‘This is digital currency, fully decentralized. It has nothing to do with the fiat system.’ I was like, ‘What is a fiat system?’
Slow to Get Involved
Despite knowing about it, he wouldn’t get heavily involved in bitcoin for another two years until the Cypriot financial crisis occurred.
The government was after people’s money and many citizens were worried, so a lot of them – including Michael – began investing in BTC.


text:
Today's Top Gainer
Note:Top Gainer - Nifty 50 More
Tourism has now become a significant industry in India. It is a sun rise industry, an employment generator, a significant source of foreign exchange for the country. Tourism in India is the third largest foreign exchange earner of the country. The booming tourism industry has had a cascading effect on the hospitality sector with an increase in the occupancy ratios and average room rates. As per Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report by World Economic Forum, has ranked India at the sixth place in tourism and hospitality. The hotel industry in India thrives largely due to the growth in tourism and travel. Due to the increase in tourism with rising foreign and domestic tourists, hotel sector is bound to grow. There is an emergence of budget hotels in India to cater to the majority of the population who seek affordable stay. International companies are also increasingly looking at setting up such hotels. Imbalance in increase in tourists both domestic and foreign not been supported with equal number of rooms is a latent source of opportunity for growth.
The tourism and hospitality sector is among the top 10 sectors in India to attract the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). According to the data released by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the hotel and tourism sector attracted around US$ 9.2 billion of FDI between April 2000 andMarch2018.
The Indian Hospitality industry has emerged as one of the key industries driving the growth of the service sector and, thereby, the Indian economy. The tourism and hospitality sectors direct contribution to GDP in 2016 was 47 Billion. Also, tourism in india accounts for 7.5% of the GDP & is the 3rd Largest Foreign Exchange earner for the country. This is said to have translated into an overall pick up in the economic activities, thereby having a positive impact on the demand for hotel industry in the country.
At the close of FY16, the country saw macroeconomic stability owing to a decline in inflation, fiscal deficit and current account deficit. Going forward, the Union Budget FY18 has identified some Major pillars that will support economic growth for the country that includes tax reforms, fiscal discipline, investment in infrastructure, ease of doing business, agriculture and farmer welfare, rural sector, social sector, education, and job creation.
The Indian government has also taken several steps to make India a global tourism hub. To increase the travel and tourism in India the government plans to cover 150 countries under e- visa scheme by the end of the year. The government has also introduced e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 113 countries.
In the long term, the demand-supply gap in India is very real and that there is need for more hotels. The shortage is especially true within the budget hotels and the mid-market hotels segment. There is an urgent need for budget and midmarket hotels in the country as travelers look for safe and affordable accommodation. Various domestic and international brands have made significant inroads into this space and more are expected to follow as the potential for this segment of hotels becomes more obvious. With a rise in online competition, popular models have come up with online travel agents (OTAs) offering a single marketplace for all travel- related needs. There are also seen meta search engines like Trip Advisor and Make My Trip, that operate like travel discovery platforms. Further, online accommodation reservation services like Oyo Rooms have gained popularity. Apart from this, branded hotels are seen operating direct bookings through their websites.
Apart from the above initiatives, the government has proactively sought foreign investment from countries such as China, the United States and Japan, leading to an increase of business related travel to the country.
It should be noted that that the base for tourism in India is still very low. The spurt in demand for hotel accommodation over the last few years has inflated hotel rooms in the country. However, a number of international brands across all hotel segments are planning to or have recently entered the Indian market. Furthermore, domestic hotel chains, too, are embarking on strong expansion and development plans across all hotel segments.
The international travel and tourism industry continues to be one of the largest global industries and a major engine of economic growth. At present, 1 in every 11 people worldwide are employed by the tourism sector, with the industry generating US$ 7.2 trillion or 9.8% of the global GDP in 2015. As per the most recent data, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India increased 11.8% YoY due to 670000 tourists in August 2016. Further, Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism increased 13.1% YoY to Rs. 129 billion in August 2016 (source: Ministry of Tourism).
As per the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourists arriving on e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) during the month of August 2016 reached a total of66,097 tourists. This meant a growth ofl96.6%ona YoY basis. Domestic travel spending also witnessed impetus, attributing 82.5% to the direct Travel & Tourism GDP. The appreciation of the US dollar has made international travel unattractive to many who are now seeking to travel within the country for holidays.
F.Y. 2016-17 also saw the first Incredible India Tourism Investment Summit 2016. The event was organised from September 21-23, 2016. The summit witnessed signing of 86 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) worth around Rs 150 billion for the development of tourism and hospitality projects. The 2016-2017 Union Budget allocated Rs 15.9 billion to infrastructural development and promotion which is a 70% hike over the previous year.
The Company believes that there is a significant potential for growth of hospitability business in India. During the year, it has taken several measures to tap this opportunity. As most of its addressable market is very active online, the Company has made a conscious effort to focus on digital, both as a channel for future growth and to build its brand. As a result, response times to customer leads, queries or online mentions are being cut drastically. The Companys results of operations are primarily affected by room revenue and food and beverage revenue in its hotel. Room revenue is dependent upon the number of hotel rooms occupied by guests and the rate at which such guests can be charged.
The Company with a view to expand its business has made an investment in a new project at Poovar, Kerala, by acquisition of an existing resort and surrounding land approximately 6 acres to develop this resort from an existing 13 rooms to 75 rooms with all amenities, and has purchased
floral Plots at Kulathoor Village, Taluka Neyyatinkara, District Thiruvananthapuram.
The prime motive of Company has been profitable growth and to achieve the same, the Company has been fast re-shaping its processes aligning its people to the vision of creating long term shareholder value. The Company has included general trading in its main objects in the current financial year and now operates in three segments. The Management believes that Company will be able to achieve better growth in all three segments in the future.
DISCUSSION ON OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE & FINANCE HIGHLIGHTS:
During the year under consideration the income of your Company has increased to Rs. 1811.68 Lac in the current year from Rs. 1490.43 Lac earned in the previous year. The Profit before Tax (PBT) of the Company for the current year has increased to Rs. 84.55 Lac as against 76.76 Lac in the previous year. Similarly the Profit after Tax (PAT) for the current year is Rs. 62.78 Lac as compared to Rs. 51.70 Lac earned in the previous year.
The Management is expects growth form this sector in long run as the business climate has turned positive and will be able to acquire and expand more business in future.
Our income from other sources comprises of interest income from bank and other non-operating income.
Efficient resort operations are central to delivering a holiday experience that meets the expectations of our customers. This encompasses three key areas: infrastructure and facilities, holiday activities, and food and beverage (F&B). The Company continued its initiative on institutionalizing postholiday feedback as the chief mechanism to measure its success in delivering quality holiday experience to its customers and addressing their concerns. We are happy to report that the feedback scores have consistently improved dining the year. Efforts are in progress to further improve the coverage of the feedback, both in terms of processes and resort location.
OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS, RISKS AND CONCERNS:
Viewed on face value, the Govts annual budget produced no cheer from hospitality. Tourism, hospitality and hotels did not even find mention and taxes increased. Viewed more broadly, though, there is hope. If airport, road and rail infrastructure improves, as planned, manufacturing & industry will benefit. 3-5 yr tax holiday for start-ups should boost this sector too. Rural and farm initiatives could deliver more income to smaller towns. Optimistically, we may gain indirectly.
Winter 17-18 provided a glimmer of hope. Revenues have largely improved over the same period in the previous year. India wide new hotel room supply is petering off. We expect further gains in REVPAR in 18-19.
Goa still maintains its position as Indias No.l leisure destination. Strong domestic demand, combined with inbound interest, keeps Goas engine running. We will tread FY17 with some caution. Events in Europe, and the indifferent health of Europes largest economies, may see downward inbound traffic. We forecast modest growth in Gross Revenue in the coming year.
The company has made units investments at Poovar Islands Resorts at Kulahtoor Village, Taluka Neyyatinkara and District Thiruvananthpuram in Kerala in view of further expansion.
Risk management is an integral part of the Companys business process. With the help of experts in this field, risks are carefully mapped and a risk management framework is evolved. Pertinent policies and methods are set forth to mitigate such risks. The Company has taken several measures at all its properties to beef up its security preparedness. In addition to the physical security measures, the Company has also taken adequate insurance cover to meet financial obligations which may arise from any untoward incidents. INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS AND THEIR ADEQUACY:
The Company has a proper and adequate internal control system to ensure that all the assets are safe-guarded and protected against the loss from unauthorized use or disposition and those transactions are authorized, recorded and reported correctly.
The internal control is supplemented by an extensive internal audit, periodical review by the management and documented policies, guidelines and procedures. The internal control is designed to ensure that the financial and other records are reliable for preparing financial statements and other data and for maintaining accountability of assets.
MATERIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HUMAN RESOURCES:
The Company continues to lay emphasis on developing and facilitating optimum human performance. Performance of management was the key word for the Company this year. Recruitment process has been strengthened to ensure higher competence levels. During the year, the Company successfully inducted people to meet the needs of the growing business, both from outside as well as through talent management and capability development initiatives aimed at development of existing employees. The employee strength is 110 as on3r* March, 2018.


text:
Rock stars settle with music archive
The 1960s-era rock band the Doors and musician Carlos Santana reached a tentative settlement of claims accusing a music archive of violating their rights by selling merchandise and offering free online recordings.
The musicians and their licensing companies, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, reached the proposed agreement last week with the Bill Graham Archive and its chief executive, William Sagan, according to a filing in federal court in San Jose.
In 2002, Sagan bought memorabilia and concert tapes created and collected by famed concert promoter Bill Graham, who died in a 1991 helicopter crash, for about $6 million. Sagan’s website, Wolfgangsvault.com, sells the items and offers free concerts as streaming audio broadcasts. The musicians sued in 2006, claiming the site violated their copyrights and trademarks.
The settlement doesn’t include other plaintiffs in the case, such as Grateful Dead Productions, which sued on behalf of musicians Robert Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. Led Zeppelin rockers Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant weren’t included either.
In October, U.S. District Judge James Ware dismissed most counterclaims filed by the Bill Graham Archive against the musicians. Sagan had argued that they conspired to destroy his San Francisco-based business by seeking to block the sales.


text:
The UK government has announced plans to introduce drone registration and safety awareness courses for owners of the small unmanned aircraft.
Exchange rates for the pound are possibly the worst ever as the summer holiday season starts. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images.
Claim against the credit card company would have been the most complex in British legal history. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
Bank of America has chosen Dublin as its preferred location for its post-Brexit EU entity, in a big-name win for the Government in its hope of attracting Brexit spoils from the City of London.
AUDI and Volkswagen say customers are partly to blame if they've suffered loss due to the alleged “defeat” software the car makers are accused of using to make it appear their vehicles spew out less pollution.


text:
Happy days were here again for Trumbull County retailers in December, and local real estate agents had reason for optimism after an improved sales month in February.
A Christmas shopping spree produced a record month for county sales tax receipts at $2.37 million, according to the latest Ohio Department of Taxation report.
The total, which comes from the county's 1 percent permissive sales tax, surpassed the previous high of $2.34 million in December 2006, a year before the Great Recession began. The worst December during that period produced $2.10 million in 2009.
Tribune Chronicle file photo
Randy Slusher of Windham, left, sits on the end of a bench inside the Eastwood Mall and waits for his wife as Kelli Penn of Cortland, second from left, and her sister, Heather Koscelnik of Chandler, Ariz., formerly of Cortland, and friend Jennifer Mullen, right, of Champion, relax after a day of shopping last year on Black Friday. A Christmas shopping spree produced a record month for Trumbull County sales tax receipts.
The strong finish pushed Trumbull County's year-to-date tax take to $23.59 million, blowing past the previous high of $21.44 million in 2007. The county's receipts bottomed at $19.31 million in 2009.
Sales tax revenue, based on the month when the county gets the money, is expected to cover half of the county's $42 million budget this year.
Analysts credit the resurgence of the 4,500-worker General Motors Co. Lordstown Complex, the 1,100-worker RG Steel, and more recently 1,000-plus new jobs from growth of the shale gas industry for restoring consumer confidence.
Mahoning County also fared well, with a single-month record $3.16 million sales tax revenue in December. The finish pushed the county to $30.82 million for the year, taking out the previous best of $28.33 million in 2007.
The number reflects the month when the sales occurred, in order to better track consumer spending habits.
The state reports its number in January when it collects the tax dollars. The counties got the money near the end of March.
Trumbull County home sales achieved a rare feat by outselling Mahoning County, 112 units to 105, and by surpassing its larger neighbor in median selling price, $61,500 to $57,000.
The last time Trumbull had more unit sales than Mahoning was March 2011 at 145 to 136.
February's performance beat the year-ago February's 97 unit sales, although it fell short of the $62,500 median price.
Mahoning County's performance fell short of the 111 units sold in the 2011 month but improved on the median price of $51,000.
The driver of better economic times - jobs - continued to improve in February. Warren's jobless rate declined to 9.3 percent from 11.1 percent in February 2011.
Trumbull County's rate improved to 8.9 percent from11 percent in the same period.
New-vehicle sales were the one category that weakened in February, although that was due more to an unusually strong February 2011 for General Motors Co., the area's favorite brand, than the economy.
The owner of the Lordstown Complex returned to leasing a year ago, driving the company's new-vehicle sales to 797 from 312 in February 2010. Sales dropped to 415 in the latest February as people who wanted a new vehicle already had bought.
Used car and truck sales picked up some of the slack by surging to 4,127, an 11.6 percent gain over February 2011.


text:
TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.
Nintendo for a period of time in the '80s and '90s ruled over the relatively young gaming industry. It found success once again with its motion-sensing Wii console a decade ago but struck out swinging with its follow-up, the ill-fated Wii U.
With Microsoft and Sony prepping a historic mid-cycle console refresh in Project Scorpio and the PlayStation 4 Pro, respectively, it's easy to forget that Nintendo also has a new gaming machine waiting in the wings in the NX (and even more so considering Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about it thus far).
According to one developer and publisher, it'll be hard to overlook Nintendo's new system once it arrives.
During a recent meeting with investors, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said he believes the NX will put Nintendo back in the race. That's in addition to statements given earlier this month in which he praised the NX as being a fantastic machine with a genuinely new approach. It's Nintendo coming up with something new again, he said, and Ubisoft loves it.
Whether or not Guillemot's praise is more than just business talk is unclear. As Venture Beat correctly highlights, it's in the company's best interest for Nintendo's upcoming console to strike a chord with gamers seeing as Ubisoft is in the business of selling software that'll run on it.
Gamers shouldn't have to wait too much longer for details on the NX as Nintendo said earlier this year that it plans to release it globally in March of next year. All we really know - or rather, all we think we know - is that the machine will be a hybrid portable / living room console that may use cartridges.
Lead image via Yuriko Nakao, Reuters


text:
Impact of FinTech and Government Schemes on Indian MSME8 Oct 2018
The MSME Sector of India has been contributing to the country’s booming economy in large proportions, specifically a massive 45% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The MSME Sector is responsible for the employment of nearly 50 million Indians. Micro, small and medium businesses contribute to 45% of the manufacturing sector, 40% of the country’s exports and 69% of the employment sector.
It is surprising to note that although MSME businesses contribute to the country’s economic growth, they are most often the ones that suffer from a lack of capital. This need for capital needs to be met efficiently and adequately. The FinTech industry is what meets this need in a way that aids in the growth of these small businesses and hence, the growth of the country’s economy at large.
As evident from its name, the FinTech Industry is where technology meets finance. The digitization of financial transactions, lending and borrowing, trading, insurance and more is what constitutes this industry. This has tremendously helped to streamline all the processes in the finance industry that needed hours and hours of manpower. From Bitcoin to Blockchain and from Open Banking to Robo-advising, FinTech offers a vast range of innovations that optimizes and increases the accuracy of traditional financial products and services.
Micro, small and medium businesses also greatly benefit from the schemes that the government has implemented. One of the most important schemes launched by the Government of India is the MUD₹A (MUDRA) scheme which allows start-ups and small businesses to access capital ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh! More specifically, the government provides refinance support to banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions, Micro Finance Institutions and other such similar organizations so that they can aid small businesses to grow and expand. It was launched in 2015 and has already benefited numerous business across various states in the country. Other than this, the scheme also aids MSMEs to digitalize, promote and develop their businesses. Here let me show you a brief gist of what this looks like:
Other than the MUDRA scheme, one of the major ideas to aid businesses is the Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum. This was developed by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) and it allows businesses to register officially as a business operating in the country by providing them with a unique 12-digit code on successfully filing their application. So far, a total of 5,264,224 MSMEs across all the states of India have registered and the benefits are tremendous!
Why would the owner of a small business want to do a government registration?
Several benefits are enjoyed by businesses that register using the UIDAI website. Exemptions on taxes, reduction in fee for filing patents, credit guarantee schemes and a concession in your electricity bills are just a few of the long list… Here, let me show you the full list:
The schemes developed by the government and the advancement of technology with time have greatly aided the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises and the growth of the nation’s economy at large. This is due to the fact that the FinTech industry and the government’s schemes have simplified the availability of finance and also increased the chances of getting much needed capital for firms that previously required lengthy paperwork and could only borrow money against securing a piece of their personal property. Moreover, the FinTech industry has enabled every organization, no matter what the size or the recognition of the business is, to access as much capital as needed, as long as they meet the criteria that are set for them. The growth rate of the MSME industry has immensely benefited India’s growing population in innumerable ways, from employment to export and much more.
However, at the same time, the increasing availability of finance has disrupted the finance sector of India in some ways. Recently, many Indian public-sector banks suffered from a sudden increase in bad debts and a large drop in profit margins. Some banks were even shut down due to the non-performing assets (NPAs) that had accumulated over years and years of lending. Evidence pointed to the fact that majority of the non-performing assets were debtors and a vast majority of the debtors were from small organizations that could not afford to pay back loans and the sum of interest that was incurred on them. Moreover, several FinTech firms also suffered from increasing NPAs, owing to the same cause i.e. small firms that could not pay back their borrowed money. The total amount of NPAs in PSUs (Public-Sector Undertakings) was ₹7.33 lakh crore as of December 31, 2017.
However, many FinTech companies are increasingly taking measures to make sure that their NPAs are not accumulating over time. Assessing the health of a business before lending money is one of the steps that FinTech firms adopt. This is done by looking at the past borrowing records, credit exposure, credit type, credit duration and so on. These factors determine what your credit score is, which is updated from time to time. Generally, most lending firms look at your CIBIL© Score, which is a standardized score that can be produced on uploading your financial documents on TransUnion CIBIL©’s website.
At KNAB Finance, we assess the health of a business using 300+ variables, not just to assess the financial condition of the company, but also to understand and address the financial needs of the business in a better manner.
The MSME sector has impacted and continues to impact many entities during its growth period. By providing employment to millions of Indians, the MSME sector has transformed the lives of people and given hope to many individuals. The rate at which the Indian MSME sector is growing is phenomenal, but it requires its stakeholders to keep up with the pace of its growth. On the other hand, the goals of a small business also need to be realistic in order to make sure that the impact of the growth is positive for all stakeholders – the government, employees, business owners, customers and lenders. India’s MSME sector has a huge potential and has the capacity to transform India into a superpower in the years to come. However, realistic expansion goals supported by adequate and an appropriate form of funding along with support from all key stakeholders are required to realise this broader vision.


text:
Demi Rose didn’t even wait 24 hours after exposing her famous apple bottom rear to gear up for another challenge – King Kong, today, as the 25-year-old model hit up another safari expedition during her African travels. The British bombshell has been in Kenya and Tanzania these past few days, with the end of the weekend taking her to Uganda. Demi’s 15.3 million Instagram followers are getting every last detail of her explorations, with Monday bringing a wild jungle outing – and Demi was warned to prepare for King Kong. Check it out below.
Scroll for the jungle action. Demi made weekend headlines for a jaw-dropping and seriously classy corset snap from the Serengeti, with the Pretty Little Thing ambassador once again proving that a bare rear isn’t necessarily tasteless. In fact, Demi had gone super-classy in a safari-inspired hat affording couture vibes as she posed with her sizzling peach exposed amid Africa’s scenic landscapes.
Today didn’t show off the booty, but it did showcase what Rose was up to. The model filmed her safari outing, beginning with a masked guide explaining what was coming up.
Keep scrolling for more photos. Demi, eventually seen on camera in a very safari-appropriate cotton shirt in olive greens and complete with matching pants and a baseball cap, let fans in.
The guide, who wore army-style camouflage and a beret, spoke to Demi and her group of gal pals for prep. Speaking of the gorillas to come, he said: “Sometimes, out of the blue, gorillas may end up charging towards us.” His advice, were this to happen, is to run away “for dear life.”
Video after the peachy bikini shot!
The guide then said if anyone’s watched the movie “King Kong,” they’d know what he was on about – his humor was met with a laugh. The camera, which took in Demi looking gorgeous in her safari look, even included the gorillas observed, although there was no charging as the ape was seen peacefully enjoying grass.
If you haven’t seen much of Demi in the news lately, she’s been all over the media. October brought Demi’s lengthy Maldives vacation, her hitting 15 million followers, plus major career news.
Demi was unveiled as clothing brand Pretty Little Thing’s new brand ambassador in October, having since released an edit with the label. The star, who joins U.S. faces fronting PLT including model Jordyn Woods and reality star Larsa Pippen, is now inching her way up the fashion ladder.
“So excited to announce my first edit with @prettylittlething is now live! It was so important for me to curate a collection that has all women feeling amazing and confident ?,” she wrote five days ago.
Scroll for Demi proving that see-through dresses don’t need bras.


text:
The concept of sharing, or rental economy, is turning from sublime to ridiculous. There are companies sharing workspace to reduce initial capital investments and help promote innovation through shared ideas. On the other extreme, you can hire a pet—it cuts the tedium of looking after a puppy or a meow fulltime.
Estimates vary on the global size of the sharing economy. Brookings in a study released last year projected it will reach $335 billion by 2025. Retail market experts say that apart from hospitality and real estate, rental economy for items such as textiles, furniture and luxury goods in India is insignificant.
“This practice has proven to be beneficial for consumers because of lower price with reduced expense and maintenance, which will drive the rental market size,” says Ankur Pahwa, partner and national leader, e-commerce and consumer internet, EY India.
So, startups are looking to find a model that works the best for them. Right from hiring beds and linen during family get-togethers or office parties, the rental...


text: 8 The online retail giant said over 1 mil people joined Amazon Prime last week, and Baird analysts said Cyber Mon. orders jumped 39%. More than half of customers shopped with a mobile device. Amazon (AMZN) also refunded shipping charges and offered $20 gift cards on orders guaranteed to arrive before Christmas but didn't. Shares rose 1.3%. UPS (UPS) and FedEx (FDX) said record online sales and bad weather caused delays.


text:
And his role in the digital currency industry. Adam Draper has invested in different companies including Coinbase, his devotion to bitcoin, a San Mateo-based accelerator that focuses on Bitcoin companies. Boost VC, draper and CoinDesk discussed the future best crypto to invest in quora of. Last week, boost VC,
Investment and human welfare. Being described by many, further illustrating the deficiency of the SAPs was Ghana, which achieved macro-economic stability at the expense of growth, a serious decline in the standards of living was observed after the implementation of the adjustment programmes,
Best crypto to invest in quora
In Passive income best crypto to invest in quora has been a relatively loosely used term Passive income, income is considered passive income by some analysts,
Social Trading Book Bitcoin Trader The Guardian Traders to Copy: Social trading is especially popular investing in crypto coins because it is completely anonymous, as in you best crypto to invest in quora do If you would like to know more about our social trading platform,
Cryptocurrency move puts banks at centre of blockchain race. Eight years later and the blockchain the groundbreaking technology Nakamoto invented to power Bitcoin is being championed by banks as a.
That he is working on a certificate-based crypto system countries such as the US that continue to make whole collections Cross-site scripting (XSS) is.
In addition, the acronym BTC is often used to represent a bitcoin (and LTC for a litecoin). Related.
Best crypto to invest in quora Canada:
General partnership Enterprise (GPE A general partnership enterprise best crypto to invest in quora may be formed by general partners who bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of the partnership.) the general partners share unlimited liabilities for the debt of the partnership. Commonly,
Is used to limit losses. A stop order is an instruction to trade shares if the price gets worse than a specific price, on the other hand, a stop order, known best investing crypto as the stop r example,
The p2p lending platforms help you with deciding how much risk is involved with a certain lender. Bitcoin Lending for Margin Trading Many Bitcoin Brokers also give up to 3 per day in interest (if the markets are really hot) if you lend your Crypto.
Soaring to 2.6 billion, in its first quarter earnings call last month, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag. Apple revealed that quarterly revenue in China quadrupled, 10 percent of best crypto to invest in quora Apple's total revenue. For the top stories in tech,
Dementia services in Barnet Dementia services in Barnet Adult social care.
the Government will share in the downside. If it falls in value, say you bought a property for 200,000 and sold it six years later for 220,816. If your property doubles in value best crypto to invest in quora so will the size of your repayment.when you best crypto to invest in quora place a stop limit order you are actually placing two orders.de Francisci gets to best crypto to invest in quora see how the manager lives and h.
USDT /BTC UTC/BTC UTH/BTC UTLE /BTC UYU/BTC VAL USD ETC/USDT NXT/USDT STR/USDT XMR/USDT XRP USDT BBR/XMR BCN/XMR BLK/XMR DIEM /XMR DSH.
putting your money into an FDIC -insure. The Best Way to Start Investing When best crypto to invest in quora You're Young by Christian Hudspeth. 5 Things to Know Before Opening a CD by Christian HudspethWant to keep your emergency fund safe while earning interest yields that are three to five times higher than a typical savings account? Question: Hi there. Botswana Answer: You've defini. Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, i need your advice. - Tirelo M., i'm only making money day trading cryptocurrency 19 and I really need to start investing. Gaborone, where can I start?banks will have to get specific approval from the RBI to set up the subsidiary, the RBI said. The circular said, banks that currently offer such services best crypto to invest in quora through an internal department will have to reorganize their operations within three years,
In USA - Affiliate marketing sites uk!
You will want a weekly or monthly price guide to best crypto to invest in quora stay more on top of the current market. Once you begin to buy and sell coins on a regular basis however,in Algeria, by the best crypto to invest in quora end of the 1990s, several demonstrations and protests against Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP)) had taken over the streets of dozens of African states.it means you want to buy or best crypto to invest in quora sell shares at whatever the market price is. When you place a market order,
You could hire it out, but that eats into your profits. I best crypto to invest in quora often found myself frustrated and stressed because I couldnt get something to work. There is a huge learning curve in the beginning if you arent very good with blogging technology and terminology.driving the price even further into the ground. Bitcoin exchange dropped dramatically. Sparking best crypto to invest in quora an influx of new users and speculators. It reached parity with the US dollar, after hitting 31, the Mt Gox system was hacked, by February 2011, in June 2011,we offer a completely best crypto to invest in quora online trading experience from account opening, execution and settling your transaction, trading experience.or Cyber-AJ, andrew Johnson, cyber-AJ Treats His Tremors With Targeted Electrical Shock best crypto to invest in quora to the Brain.
Urmston, m41 9EH. Urmston: 4th Friday of the month from best crypto to invest in quora 10.00am to 12.00noon at Age UK Trafford, drop in Sessions We also have two drop-in sessions per month where you can have direct advice and support form a Dementia Adviser. 1-3 stop limit on quote sell order Church Road,
Lim Tel: (86-21)) GMT8 ( English and Mandarin)) Shenzhen Southern China Office E-mail: or Request For Proposal 6009 Yi Tian Road, new World Tower, hangzhou 310051, suite 2306, best crypto to invest in quora china Regional Consultant: Ms. Binjiang District,electricity, altcoin: other cryptocurrencies that are patterned from the same processes as Bitcoin, bitcoin: the original and gold standard of crypto currency. Miners: best crypto to invest in quora an individual or group of individuals who use their own resources (computers,) but with slight variations in their coding.Program Employee Assistance Program (English Click here to see the Employee Assistance Program Brochure program/employee-assistance-program-brochure).
a cryptocurrency is a digital currency that is created and managed through the use of best crypto to invest in quora advanced encryption techniques known as cryptography. Cryptocurrency made the leap from being an academic concept to (virtual)) reality with the creation of Bitcoin in 2009.
According to the general partnership in uae IRS,
BitQuick claims to be best crypto to invest in quora one of the fastest ways you can buy and sell bitcoin.


text:
If this new leaked footage is any indication, it seems like the robot creators at Boston Dynamics finally found a way to improve on humanity’s primitive two-legged design: By adding a pair of wheels to their new self-balancing robot, giving the bot some impressive new capabilities.
Venture Capitalist Steve Jurvetson was at a presentation given by Boston Dynamics’ founder Marc Raibert, who revealed a new two-legged robot called Handle. The bot swaps articulated feet for a pair of wheels that it can balance on like it’s riding a Segway. But while that human transporter is regarded as a genuine failure, this footage—which Boston Dynamics told us was not meant to be seen outside the presentation—shows a sweet robot creation.
Unlike ATLAS, who can carefully walk over uneven terrains, making it ideal for exploring almost any environment on earth, Handle appears to be limited to mostly smooth surfaces, where it can roll with minimal resistance. The trade-off would allow Handle to move much faster and more efficiently, in a factory or warehouse environment where it doesn’t have to worry about ever having to tackle rubble or debris. But as demonstrated in this video, Handle is still able to tackle some obstacles, including leaping over a short wall.
Seemingly designed for carrying objects around, Handle’s ability to self-balance by adjusting its weight also helps it handle heavier things in hand without falling over. In comparison, ATLAS’ torso only has a limited amount of flexibility, limiting what that humanoid can lift while still staying on its feet.
In his presentation, Raibert also mentions that by using wheels, Handle could be built and made available at a much cheaper price point than Boston Dynamics’ other two-legged creations. There is still speculation as to why Alphabet decided to put Boston Dynamics up for sale two years after acquiring it for its now-defunct Replicant division.
Some believe it was because Alphabet had hoped to parlay the company’s advanced research into a consumer-ready product, but eventually realized the development time needed for such complex hardware would be considerably more than just a few years. So as Boston Dynamics waits to hear who its new owner will be, maybe the reveal of Handle will help sweeten the pot for potential buyers.


text:
Audio Books are Turning New Leaf in Publishing
The Chicago Tribune has this article on the flourishing of audio books.
\"...audio books, like electronic books, are redefining cultural attitudes toward reading. They are even becoming the first medium for some titles, whether because they\'re controversial or aimed at a special audience more likely to \"read\" a book in that form than curled up in an armchair with a bound title.\"
\"In fact, a recent survey indicates that one-fifth of American households listen to audio books, an increase of 75 percent since 1995.\"
\"The audio publishers have plenty to celebrate. Unlike most of the book industry, which has suffered nearly flat sales in the past few years, the $2.5 billion audio book business has enjoyed a sales growth approximately five times that of its partners in print.\"
\"Once thought of primarily as a tool for the visually impaired or illiterate, audio books are increasingly reaching a cross-section of the population. In fact, some unexpected demographics among the readers of audio books are emerging. Industry figures indicate that men ages 21-34, sometimes stereotyped as spending leisure time locked in sports bars or glued to televisions, log more hours listening to audio books than almost any other group.\"
\"I was frustrated with myself for not having time to read,\" said Hartman, a sales representative for an international shipping company. \"Since college I felt like I was getting soft in the head.\"


text:
Facebook has bought pioneering virtual-reality headset maker Oculus for $2 billion, and Mark Zuckerberg is pretty excited about it. The startup's immersive headset for video game developers has been a big hit, but Facebook appears ready to take virtual reality beyond gaming, Business Insider finds. "After games, we're going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences," Zuckerberg writes in a Facebook post. "Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face—just by putting on goggles in your home. "
The headset is "different from anything I've ever experienced in my life," Zuckerberg said during a conference call following the announcement. "Today's acquisition is a long-term bet on the future of computing." But while Facebook is enthusiastic about the buy, game makers are less than thrilled about the company's move into virtual reality, Time and AdWeek report. Soon after the announcement, Minecraft creator Markus Persson said he had canceled plans for an Oculus version of the game because Facebook "creeps him out." Facebook is "not a game tech company," he explained in a blog post. It cares "about building user numbers, and nothing but building user numbers." But over at Mashable, Chris Taylor urges everyone to put their freakout on hold: "Facebook has a history of funding its big purchases well and letting them run themselves independently." So any Matrix-esque scenario "is as unreal and unlikely as anything you'd see in VR." (Read more Facebook stories.)


text:
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition Confirmed For Xbox 360
Written Monday, October 07, 2013 By Richard WalkerView author's profile
NetherRealm has announced that Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition will be coming to Xbox 360 this November, bringing the game and all of the DLC released for it thus far in one definitive package.
Ed Boon confirmed that the Ultimate Edition will be coming to Xbox 360 on Twitter earlier today, tweeting: "Some are not realizing that Ultimate Edition is also coming out for PS3 and Xbox 360. Not just PS4, Vita and PC."
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition includes over 30 extra skins, six extra characters and 60 additional S.T.A.R. Labs Missions. It'll be out on November 12th in North America and November 29th in Europe.


text:
Analyst cuts Apple Watch sales forecast for 2015 and 201617
The analyst says that the number of Apple Watch units he expects to be sold during the last two quarters of 2015 has been reduced from 11 million to 10.5 million watches. He now sees Apple selling 21 million watches in 2016, down from the 24 million that he previously expected Apple to sell in 2016.
The analyst used a number of tools to decide that the early buzz for the Apple Watch is fading. He cited a reduced number of Google Search entries, supply checks, visits to the Apple Store, and data computed by third parties.
Despite Hargreaves comments, Apple's shares rose .94% on Wednesday to $126.60 a share.


text:
You can get on-demand or scheduled grocery delivery from Uber in San Francisco. New York City and Washington, D.C., among others.
Uber is expanding its เว็บสล็อตxo grocery delivery service to more than 400 cities across the country. The ride-sharing company said on Monday. San Francisco area New York City and Washington, D.C. can now order on-demand or scheduled groceries from Uber.
The announcement comes as Uber is partnering with 1,200 Albertsons stores such as Safeway, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Tom Thumb and Randalls. With the expansion,
Uber said all grocery orders over $30 will be met. Free Shipping for Uber Pass and Eat Pass customers Uber has since started offering grocery delivery to 100 local areas in 2020.
The company also offers grocery delivery services to areas in Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Uber plans to expand the service to more cities. continuously for years.


text:
WELL, THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY: Progress In Quantum Teleportation. “Since 1997, researchers have been able to quantum teleport photons with a major record being set by researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China in Shanghai. In 2010, that team successfully teleported a photon over 16km. Now that same team has released new findings, in which they claim to have teleported photons nearly 100km, or over 60 miles.”
InstaPundit is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.