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BMW Shows off Unique, Breakthrough Crossover Concept Car
BMW finally released information about its long-awaited iNEXT concept vehicle -- the vehicle tasked with leading the company's foray into electric vehicles.
The German auto giant showed fans the new concept of the iNEXT that will serve as the basis for the 2021 production line.
The concept car is giving BMW executives so much hope that Chairman of the Board Harald Kruger said "The iNEXT project will provide our building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all of its brands are set to benefit."
Details of the iNEXT
BMW has been teasing the creation and release of the car for years, but no one knew anything about it beyond the limited information put forth from BMW.
However, the development and potential for the iNEXT car gives executives hope for the BMW brand. Last year, Ian Robertson -- BMW's head of sales and marketing -- challenged Tesla's pricepoint and its ability to meet production deadlines and expectations. It finally seems like BMW officials have more data to counter against other EVs.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design sums up the creative approach: “BMW i exists to generate creative, pioneering ideas which transform the way we think about mobility. The BMW Vision iNEXT marks another next big step on that journey of transformation, showing how more intelligent vehicles can make our lives easier and more beautiful.”
Thus far, the company has annnounced it could boast a range of 435 miles. It will also be autonomous, starting at a Level 3 semi autonomous status. That system will use 33 sensors and LIDAR.
The interior of the iNEXT is spacious, featuring a sleek futuristic design. That futuristic look even extends to the car mirrors -- or lack of car mirrors. The car uses cameras built into the edge of the car instead.
However, in terms of both design and specs, a number of people commented how the iNEXT doesn't seem nearly as revolutionary as BMW positioned it to be. Several car enthusiasts online reported their frustration with a 'lackluster' car reveal that didn't quite fit the expansive (and expensive) reveal event.
BMW partnering with Lufthansa Cargo
The automaker is also partnering with Lufthansa Cargo to showcase more of the iNEXT vision. BMW even created a unique media event to talk about the partnership. Over 300 members of the media will board a Boeing 777F from Lufthansa Cargo fleet and experience the BMW Vision iNEXT -- the plane embodiment of what the company wants their i program to become.
Lufthansa Cargo and the BMW Group team have worked together closely to turn this technology presentation from just an idea into a reality. The media guests experienced both the cargo plane's redesign as well as get access to seeing the concept car.
According to the companies, over 120 specialists in exhibition stand construction from Lufthansa Cargo and the BMW Group have played their part in making the project happen.
“Visionary products deserve visionary presentations. We are delighted to have made this extraordinary world premiere possible in cooperation with BMW,” said Peter Gerber, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG.
“iNEXT is our mobility proposition for the future, so it’s only logical that the BMW Vision iNEXT should be presented to a global audience in a fresh new style,” said Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Development. “The World Flight is a fitting way to get the ball rolling.”
An international team of researchers have introduced a plasma-based method that could convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and produce fuels on Mars.


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IPC embarked on a review focused on its specialist titles in April 2010 after restructuring three months earlier which reduced its five divisions to three. That review ended late last year.
However, sources familiar with the situation said Time Warner and senior IPC executives are now taking a detailed look at the whole IPC portfolio. This could lead to magazine disposals this year.
The sources said there were no talks yet with interested parties, although the sale of blocks of magazines and individual titles are both being considered.
They went on to say that the review could include "all possibilities", from significant disposals to selling individual titles.
Sylvia Auton returned from IPC parent group Time Inc last month to once again take the reins at the British magazine business. This has led to industry and internal speculation that Ms Auton has returned to sell all or some of the business. It is also understood that Jack Griffin, the chief executive of Time Inc, is planning a visit to IPC's London offices in the next few weeks.
However, sources familiar with the situation cautioned on speculation about a sale of the whole of IPC, saying a full sale was "unlikely" at this stage.
With the exception of the men's magazine Loaded, which was sold by IPC last year, the April 2010 review centred on the group's specialist titles. Loaded was sold to the owners of gay monthly Attitude, the private equity-backed Vitality Publishing.
Time Warner acquired IPC Media from Cinven in 2001 for £1.15bn.
Last year, Dennis Publishing acquired IPC Media's Web User magazine, while Guitar & Bass was sold to Bath-based Anthem Publishing. Cage & Aviary Birds was sold to Kelsey Publishing, while Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering were sold to The Chelsea Magazine Company.
In January 2010, IPC re-organised its publishing businesses to create a new, audience-facing structure: IPC Connect for mass market women; IPC Southbank for upmarket women; and IPC Inspire for men.
The latest review at IPC comes as Hearst, the owner of Cosmopolitan magazine, last week acquired the international magazines business of Elle-owner Lagardère for £560m. The cash deal will include the titles Psychologies and Inside Soap, as well as a licence for Elle.
A Time Warner spokesman said: "Of course we conduct regular reviews of all of our businesses to ensure we remain competitive, but there is no plan for any further action at IPC."

domain: news


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CANARY ISLANDS FREE COVID-19 INSURANCE
Canary Islands offer free Covid-19 insurance in bid to kick-start travel
The Canary Islands have taken out a broad "travel assistance policy" that will cover visitors for incidents related to Covid-19, including any need to extend stays due to quarantine."There is no cost to travellers and all are automatically covered," a spokesperson for the Spanish Tourist Office in Dublin said.The policy has been agreed between insurance company AXA and the islands' Department of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and will cover both Spanish and foreign visitors provided they are staying at regulated tourist accommodation - and not, for example, with friends, the Office clarified.It means that should tourists test positive for Covid-19 while holidaying on the Canaries, their medical expenses and any health repatriation and extended stays due to quarantine (which is mandatory for positive results on the islands) will be covered.
The policy comes into force this week and will initially last for twelve months - it will not cover cases of Covid-19 known prior to travel, however.It comes as the Canary Islands battle to reboot a devastated tourist industry, having implemented a wide range of health and safety protocols in a bid for recognition as a safe holiday destination.The move follows a similar step by Emirates, which is now offering passengers free cover for Covid-19-related expenses if they test positive while travelling and away from home.The policy, with no registration necessary, provides up to €150,000 in health expenses and quarantine costs of €100 per day for 14 days.The cover is effective until October 31, 2020, and is valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first sector of their journey, the airline says.
Visit Portugal has also advertised a 'Portugal Travel Insurance' product, designed to offer "complete reassurance" during the pandemic.It starts from €37.20, and cover includes refunds for flight cancellation or interruption and unlimited access to a tourist assistance service.Neither Portugal, Spain nor Dubai are on Ireland's 'green list', of course - and the Government continues to advise against non-essential travel to those places.The Canaries have kept a relatively low Covid-19 caseload (Lanzarote has so far reported just 97 total cases, for example), however, and Spanish authorities have lobbied to have them included on the 'green list' in future.No countries or regions were added in the first update to the list this week - in fact, five destinations including Malta and Cyprus were removed, leaving some Irish holidaymakers scrambling for alternative flights home.By now, Irish consumers have largely written off overseas trips in 2020, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) said today."The Association believes that the addition or removal of countries to the list is immaterial, as many consumers are choosing not to travel abroad for the remainder of 2020, postponing their travel arrangements until next year."Outbound travel is down by 98pc since March, the ITAA says.


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Friday, September 20, 2013, 05:02 pm PT (08:02 pm ET)
Bug in iOS 7 allows calls to be placed from locked iPhoneAnother security flaw has been discovered in Apple's iOS 7, this time exploiting a bug in the emergency calling system that allows anyone to bypass an iPhone's passcode lock to make a phone call.
The bug was found by Karam Daoud and reported by Fortune, which noted the emergency call exploit has AppleInsider was able to replicate the process on an iPhone 5 running iOS 7.
The discovery comes after a separate issue was uncovered on Thursday that exploits a glitch in Command Center to bypass iOS 7's lock screen security protection. That problem is easily rectified, however, by turning off the feature's lock screen access in Settings.
Apple has been informed of the latest exploit and will likely issue a patch with the next software update.
On Topic: iOS
- Apple's iOS 7.1 brings animation updates, UI tweaks for Phone, calendar, and more
- Apple issues updates for iOS Remote, GarageBand, Logic Remote & Podcasts
- Apple releases iOS 7.1 with CarPlay support, Siri and Touch ID improvements
- New Android "RAT" infects Google Play apps, turning phones into spyware zombies
- Amazon takes online sales management mobile with Amazon Seller iOS app


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Hello Games has confirmed that Joe Danger 2 The Movie will be launching on the PlayStation Network "really soon".
The sequel was released on Xbox Live Arcade earlier this month, with the developers, up until now, being tight-lipped regarding a potential PlayStation Network launch.
Hello Games founder Sean Murray said that the PlayStation 3 version will feature around 10 hours of extra content, in addition to refined bike controls. While the independent studio hasn't provided a specific release date yet, they did tease that the arcade racing/platformer will be available to download for PSN users "really soon".
The original Joe Danger was released as a timed PlayStation 3 exclusive before Microsoft secured the rights to a modified version of the game.


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As homeowners across the nation rev up their lawnmowers and clean out gutters, the home improvement geniuses at TrueValue, Ace and Lowe’s are taking a more inspirational route this season.
True Value Hardware is kicking off a campaign with a pretty “Summer Moments” effort, which reminds people that the season’s most classic and relaxing moments, including picture-perfect barbecues and family water balloon fights, start with springtime advance work. The Chicago-based chain, with some 3,500 stores, says the campaign, created by Solve, Minneapolis, is running on TV, cable, digital, and radio, and includes a Pinterest promotion.
“The spring season is such an important time in our customers’ lives,” says an agency spokesperson in its release. “Our DIYers are out getting dirt under their fingernails, putting in the time and effort to cross projects off their to-do lists. We wanted to remind them the satisfying idyllic summer moments are just around the corner, and that True Value can help them get there.”
Competitor Ace Hardware is taking a decidedly different approach with its new “Helpful is Beautiful” campaign, which it says is the largest in its history. Aimed at women, TV spots spoof high-glitz cosmetic advertising, revealing that the color expertise it’s talking about isn’t lipstick or nail color, but … paint.
The campaign, from FCB in Chicago, is intended to steer shoppers to its 4,800-plus stores, as well as its new The Paint Studio, a website it is loaded with inspiration, painting tips and how-to wisdom. The campaign includes TV, radio, print, social, digital and point-of-sale.
"For years, women have expressed loyalty to their favorite cosmetics brands and the inspiring shopping experience that comes along with it," says John Surane, marketing EVP, in a release from the hardware co-operative. "Ace and Valspar recognize the emotional response evoked by color and built the 'Helpful is Beautiful' campaign and The Paint Studio at Ace around this connection as a way to offer consumers a differentiating paint shopping experience.”
Valspar also features prominently in the new spring ads from rival Lowe’s, which is rolling out its Valspar Reserve Paint + Primer with HydroChroma Technology, a formulation it says is 40% more durable. Spots promoting the paint’s resistance to staining, scrubbing, and fading do so by targeting everybody’s favorite patsy: A struggling dad when mom’s traveling for business.
The Home Improvement Research Institute predicts that while real-estate sales may be cooling, gains in housing starts, household balance sheets and consumer confidence will power continued growth in home-improvement spending. It forecasts a 6.5% increase this year, with sales expected to reach $309 billion.


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Asda is to start selling boxes of misshapen fruit and vegetables in 550 of its stores in an effort to encourage shoppers to buy cheaper, uglier food.
The 'Wonky Veg' boxes will cost £3.50 and contain 5kg of imperfect fruit and veg that supermarkets typically refuse to buy from farmers. Asda said the move would also help farmers by ensuring the supermarket buys "as much of their crop as possible".
Asda's support of so-called wonky veg comes just days after the supermarket removed food bank donation points from its stores.
The move, which wasn't announced in advance, was confirmed by Asda to The Guardian. A spokesperson for the supermarket said the food banks had been removed as part of a change in national policy.
Local charities in Suffolk and Somerset reported that they rely on Asda’s food banks for around 25 percent of the food they distribute.
But what guidelines govern the fresh fruit and vegetables we buy? And how much are supermarkets throwing away?
Up to 40 percent of fresh produce from some farms is rejected by supermarkets because it is too ugly to sell, the BBC reports.
Until 2009, rules set out by the European Commission prevented supermarkets from selling fruit and veg that didn’t meet precise appearance and size guidelines. But the UK government still sets out strict cosmetic requirements for the classification of fruit and vegetables.
Top-quality grapes must be "firm, firmly attached, evenly spaced along the stalk and have their bloom virtually intact", according to government guidelines. Grapes that just scrape into the lowest classification (Class II) are permitted to have "slight sun scorch, bruising [and] slight skin defects."
Class I tomatoes may have a "fine blossom scar in elongated form" but only if that scar is "not longer than two thirds of the greatest diameter of the fruit." These guidelines are enforced by the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate which can prosecute traders if they do not comply.
Despite strict rules governing what they can sell, supermarkets still send 200,000 tonnes of fresh produce to landfill every year according to the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP). That represents just 1 percent of food wasted in the UK, while households throwing away food makes up over half of all food waste.
Other UK supermarkets including Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco have also tested selling wonkier fruit and vegetables.
In December 2015 Morrisons reported strong sales of potatoes and carrots from its trial of wonky seasonal vegetables in Yorkshire and the north-east. At the time the supermarket said the trial had been "encouraging" and hinted it may introduce the produce to other parts of the UK.
Matt Reynolds is a senior writer at WIRED, where he covers climate, food, and biodiversity. Before that, he was a technology journalist at New Scientist magazine. His first book, The Future of Food: How to Feed the Planet Without Destroying It, was published in 2020. Reynolds is a graduate of... Read more


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4.11.2021 | Verizon will use Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellites to extend 4G and 5G
Verizon has made a deal to use Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to add capacity to the Verizon cellular network and provide fixed-wireless Internet service in rural parts of the US. Verizon said it will use Amazon satellite connectivity for both consumers and large businesses.
There won't be any immediate change to Verizon's services because Amazon has said its Project Kuiper division won't launch any satellites until at least 2023. The companies announced this strategic collaboration on 28th of October, 2021.
Verizon already provides LTE home-Internet service in rural areas and 5G home-Internet service in urban areas. But availability is limited, and Verizon plans to use Amazon Kuiper to expand its fixed-wireless offerings.


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Recording Industry Wants To Use Anti-Terrorism Laws Against File Sharers
from the over-reaching-their-bounds dept
The recording industry has been known to over-estimate its own importance in the past, but it looks like a lot of folks are becoming more attuned to how the recording industry misleads. The latest is that they've made an effort to expand new European data retention proposals to be opened up to them as well. The rationale for those who support data retention is usually focused on stopping terrorism. Of course, plenty of people have accurately pointed out why data retention laws actually make the problem worse, by providing more bogus data, rather than making it easier to find the right data. However, the recording industry figures that if the data is going to be retained, they might as well be able to make use of that data for their own purposes: smoking out file sharers. However, in the wake of the Sony BMG rootkit fiasco, it seems like this suggestion is being met with well deserved ridicule from many corners who wonder where the industry gets off thinking it somehow has a right to this kind of data.


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Dr. Jonathan Latham says 95% of table salt contains plastic due to plastics pollution in the oceans
DIMITRI LASCARIS: This is Dimitri Lascaris, reporting for The Real News from Montreal, Canada.
In a historic vote, the European Parliament has just approved, by a huge margin of 571 to 53, a complete ban on a range of single use plastics across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans. One member of the parliament said if no action was taken, “by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans.” The MEPs backed a ban on plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, straws, drink stirrers and balloons sticks. The proposal also calls for a reduction in single use plastic for food and drink containers like plastic cups.
Other items, where no alternative exists, will still have to be reduced by 25 percent in each country by 2025. MEPs also tacked on amendments to the plans for cigarette filters, a plastic pollutant that is common litter on beaches in the European Union. Cigarette makers will have to reduce the plastic by 50 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2030. Another ambitious target is to ensure 90 percent of all plastic drink bottles are collected for recycling by 2025. Currently, bottles and their lids account for about 20 percent of all the sea plastic, according to the European Parliament.
Now here to discuss this with us is Dr. Jonathan Latham. Dr. Latham is the co-founder and Executive Director of the bio-science resource project and editor of the Independent Science News Website. He holds a master’s degree in Crop Genetics and a PhD in Virology, and he joins us today from New York State. Thanks for coming back onto The Real News, Dr. Latham.
JONATHAN LATHAM: Quite, Dimitri.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: So, Dr. Latham, before we get to the EU plastics ban, let’s take stock of the problem from a global perspective. Not too long ago, there were news reports about a sea of plastic trash floating in the Pacific Ocean that was twice the size of the state of Texas. Why should ordinary citizens be concerned about this form of pollution?
JONATHAN LATHAM: Well, for one thing, that it gets into the food that you’re likely to eat. So, for example, animals that you eat will be consuming these plastics and then they will get into their stomachs. The other is that it disrupts the ecological chain. Even if you don’t eat turtles or whales, they are necessary for the proper functioning of those ecosystems. So, we depend on these organisms one way or another.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: So, let’s flesh that out a little bit, if you’ll excuse the pun. This gets into your system as a human being. What are the kinds of health effects that we can anticipate from ingesting these plastics?
JONATHAN LATHAM: Well, even low levels of plastics can cause endocrine disruption, for example. So, these plastics, if they’re BPA, for example, BPA has all kinds of effects on human systems. And although we haven’t tested its effects on whales or turtles or most fish, you can be pretty confident that it will have effect on their endocrine system. So, even if you don’t eat very much of these plastics, you can expect effects on fertility, for example, and effects on heart function, for example I’ve documented, from BPA. Many, many consequences that are not good, basically.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Now the EU’s research on the topic says about 150,000 tons of plastic are tossed into European waters every year. Apparently, that’s only a small contributor to the global problem, with an estimated 8 million tons of plastic entering the world’s oceans annually. If the EU ultimately implements these measures, how far will that go toward solving the problem, and in particular, what countries are the major contributors to plastics pollution in the oceans today?
JONATHAN LATHAM: Well, I think there are no countries that are immune from these issues. If you go to India these days, you’ll see people burning plastic on the streets just to get rid of it. There are many countries that that do an appalling job of picking up disposable and non-disposable plastics. It’s not really on their radar because they have other concerns. So, the European Union is doing its best in a way. But the fundamental issue is that there are many, many other uses of plastic, so they end up in the ocean and not addressed by this legislation for, example.
So, if you use artificial clothes, you put those in the laundry, then the bits of plastic that are separated from your clothing in the process of laundering will ultimately likely end up in the ocean, little bits of polyethylene and fibers from your clothes, unless you use cotton or wool clothing, that will be contributing to pieces in the ocean.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And if we continue on to business as usual course in terms of our plastic production and consumption, what do we expect – and not just looking at plastics, but the other challenges that ocean confronts today – if we continue on a business as usual path, what we expect, scientifically, the oceans to look like, let’s say in approximately 30 years from now, 2050?
JONATHAN LATHAM: Well, what that European politician said is based on a scientific study of the amount of plastic that we put into the oceans. But I think that our understanding is that many of these plastics are toxic, irrespective of any other things that they may do so. So, there’s steady accumulation of this stuff on the sea floor, in the ice, in table salt, for example. There’s was a study the other day showing that 95 percent of all table salt has plastic in it, because you’re basically evaporating seawater and what’s left is salt, metals and plastic. So, we can expect the oceans to be a pretty sorry place in 2050 if we don’t do something about this.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Now, if you were advising global governments about the crisis of plastics pollution in our oceans today, what would you recommend that they do, what would be the major measures you recommend that they adopt in order to address this crisis?
JONATHAN LATHAM: Well, the simple thing is to use natural products. If you use cotton, wood, wool, and allow natural products to replace plastic products, what you’ll do is two things; you’ll provide work for farmers and useful opportunities in the economy, but you will also put the chemical industry out of business. In the U.S. today, we use 30,000 pounds of fossil fuels to generate the plastics and disposable materials for every single person who lives in this country. So, we are generating huge quantities of plastic and we have to have an economy that doesn’t depend on throwing stuff away.
And so, but what that means is that we have to have an economy which is somehow sustainable. And what governments have basically done is use subsidies to encourage businesses to produce products that can be thrown away; kettles that only last a year, toasters that only last a year, fridges that that don’t last. We have all these products that we produce in the economy that basically are planned as obsolescent and there’s a good reason for that. Because if we wanted to simply provide for everybody one toaster and one kettle and one house and one table or one set of chairs and so on, for their entire lives, we could easily do that, and the planet would thank us, but economy would, as presently constructed, would collapse.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: So, basically this really gets to the heart of the capitalist system that we constructed it seems. Would you take that view?
JONATHAN LATHAM: Yeah, it does. Because the reason why governments want all this production is because they are relying on skimming off money to pay for military services and to pay for their bureaucracies. The invention of money in the first place goes back to the Romans, for example, wanting to have a surplus that they could then use to defend their empire with. So, this is what the function of the economy ultimately is.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Well, we’ve been speaking to Dr. Jonathan Latham about a major new initiative by the European Parliament to try to get a grip on the problem of plastics in the oceans. Thank you very much for joining us today, Dr. Latham.
JONATHAN LATHAM: You’re welcome. Thank you.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And this is Dimitri Lascaris reporting for The Real News from Montreal, Canada.


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Tetris fans in Philadelphia were able to play their favourite video game on an epic scale when it was projected onto a skyscraper.
Using a joystick, players were able to move images of supersized shapes displayed on two sides of the 29-storey Cira Centre.
The mirrored tower, which has hundreds of LED lights embedded in its glass facade, normally displays colourful geometric patterns at night.
And organisers hoped that Saturday’s spectacle, which kicked off a citywide series of events called Philly Tech Week, would inspire onlookers and players to think about the possibilities of technology.
The display also celebrated the upcoming 30th anniversary of Tetris, which was created by Russian computer programmer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984.
The game challenges players to rotate and arrange falling shapes into complete rows.
Frank Lee, a digital media professor at Drexel University, said Tetris is a game revered as the epitome of elegance and simplicity
The game designer, who oversaw creation of the giant display, said putting it on an office building is like making a huge virtual campfire.
“What I wanted to create was essentially a shared moment for the city of Philadelphia,” he said.
This won't be the first time Tetris has been played on a building. But the 100,000 -square-foot (9,300-square- metre) “ screen” - which includes the north and south faces of the structure - could be a record.
Lee already holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest architectural video game display for playing Pong on one side of the Cira Centre last year. Pong is an electronic version of paddleball developed by Atari in 1972.
Tetris became a global phenomenon in the late 1980s after game designer Henk Rogers, who had seen it at a trade show in Las Vegas, acquired the rights and struck a deal to put it on Nintendo's original Game Boy.
Mr Rogers said he cannot believe the longevity of Tetris, which decades later continues to mesmerise players on more than 30 platforms.
“If a game lasts a year, that's amazing,” said Mr Rogers, now managing director of The Tetris Company.
“They usually go out of style very quickly.”
He said several new Tetris products and initiatives are planned for release around its 6 June anniversary.
Additional reporting by Associated PressReuse content


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UberSki service launches in France, with riders able to order a flat-rate car equipped with four-wheel-drive and a rack for skis and snowboards via the app
- It’s the first time the service has been made available in Europe
- It will be accessible from Grenoble station between February 16 and March 16
- Riders simply tap an ‘UberSki’ option in the Uber app to order a car
It’s the first time the service has been made available in Europe and it will be accessible from Grenoble railway station between February 16 and March 16.
Riders simply tap an ‘UberSki’ option in the Uber app and a driver will arrive equipped with an all-wheel drive car and a rack for skis and snowboards.
Uber aims to take the hassle out of heading to the mountains for skiers and snowboarders in France, with the launch of UberSki
Riders tap an ‘UberSki’ option in the Uber app and a driver will arrive equipped with all-wheel drive and an equipment rack
There are 12 eligible ski stations and there is a flat rate for each, varying from 35 euros to 90 euros.
The locations included in the service are Saint-Pierre de Chartreuse (35 euros); Les Sept Laux (45 euros); Villard-de-Lans (45 euros); Chamrousse (45 euros); Lans-en-Vercors (45 euros); Alpe du Grand Serre (45 euros); Autrans (45 euros); Gresse-en-Vercors (60 euros); Vaujany (70 euros); Le Collet d’Allevard (70 euros); L’Alpe d’Huez (90 euros), and Les Deux Alpes (90 euros), which is 70km (43 miles) away.
Uber said: ‘This ski season, you need not be concerned with getting chains onto your hire-car tyres in sub-zero temperatures, paying exorbitant prices for parking on the mountain or cramming onto a mini-bus with the rest of the eager travellers.
‘UberSki saves you queuing for a hire car or lugging your gear around on public transport. With winter-ready rides on-demand, getting a ride to the Alps has never been easier.’
The service may expand in the future if demand is high enough.
The UberSki service has previously been available in Chile and in the U.S.
UberSki will be accessible from Grenoble railway station between February 16 and March 16
FRANCE’S UBERSKI STATIONS
Saint-Pierre de Chartreuse: 35 euros
Les Sept Laux: 45 euros
Villard-de-Lans: 45 euros
Chamrousse: 45 euros
Lans-en-Vercors: 45 euros
Alpe du Grand Serre: 45 euros
Autrans: 45 euros
Gresse-en-Vercors: 60 euros
Vaujany: 70 euros
Le Collet d’Allevard: 70 euros
L’Alpe d’Huez: 90 euros
Les Deux Alpes: 90 euros
Fares are from Grenoble railway station
News of the UberSki service comes as Uber ramps up efforts to keep riders safe.
This week it launched a new feature in the U.S that aims to alert riders to buckle up via a distinctive chime from the driver’s phone and a simultaneous push notification to the rider’s phone.
‘The intent is really just to help remind riders that they should be buckling up – every seat, every time,’ said Kristin Smith, Uber’s head of Global Road Safety Policy, who added the chime ‘sounds kind of like an airplane seat belt reminder’.
Uber plans to send riders push notifications at the start of their next five trips and then periodically thereafter.


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Paris Hilton’s website hackedJanuary 15th, 2009 - 12:59 am ICT by IANS
London, Jan 14 (IANS) Socialite heiress Paris Hilton has been targeted by cyber thieves trying to steal personal information of her fans through her website.The hackers infected her website ParisHilton.com with a virus, which sucks personal details from subscribers’ computers and it has hit thousands of her fans and spread to up to 15,000 other websites, Mirror.co.uk reports.
The virus, uncovered by computer safety consultant ScanSafe, prompts fans to update their systems and then downloads itself to their system.
From there, thieves can extract personal details such as bank information from a home computer or sensitive corporate material from a company network.
ScanSafe researcher Mary Landesman said: “Internet users should be especially cautious. Sites such as ParisHilton.com are extremely attractive targets for online criminals.”
- Paris Hiltons website targeted by cyber thieves - Jan 14, 2009
- Paris Hilton faces another burglary scare - Nov 14, 2009
- Hilton rubbishes dating rumours - Jun 01, 2012
- I love you India: Paris Hilton - Sep 24, 2011
- Lady Gaga's website hacked - Jul 17, 2011
- Paris Hilton sued for not returning $60K in borrowed Damiani jewelry - Apr 07, 2011
- Paris Hilton adopts new dog - Dec 17, 2010
- Hundreds of fans greet Paris Hilton in Mumbai - Sep 25, 2011
- Over 460 cyber criminals arrested in China - Dec 01, 2010
- Macca's website was hacked by internet crooks - Apr 09, 2009
- Paris Hilton to visit Mumbai from Sep 24 - Sep 07, 2011
- I love Paris Hilton more than ever: Cy Waits - Jun 17, 2011
- Sir Paul Maccartney falls victim to cyber criminals - Apr 09, 2009
- Paris Hilton donates $5,000 to struggling fan - Jul 31, 2012
- 300,000 computers with deadly virus to lose internet: FBI - Jul 08, 2012
Tags: attractive targets, bank information, computer safety, corporate material, criminals, cyber thieves, hackers, heiress paris hilton, home computer, internet users, london jan, mary landesman, mirror, paris hilton, researcher, safety consultant, subscribers, virus


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Thousands of reports are coming in tonight that the Netflix app is down and not working on cell phones.
The outage began on August 28 at around 2 a.m. EDT and appears to be affecting subscribers in different regions.
After what has been shared so far, those affected cannot access any content via the Netflix streaming service.
It’s possible to open the Netflix app and access your account settings, but some subscribers won’t see any other information.
This also includes showing a blank screen that appears to be loading but isn’t showing any of the usual shows or movies. Other reports suggest that things load the normal way, but no content can be streamed.
It’s unclear what is causing the problems tonight, but the good news is this is not a global outage and should be fixed soon.
And Netflix shared an update confirming they are investigating tonight’s streaming issues and telling subscribers on Twitter:
“Hey! We are currently having trouble streaming on all devices. We are currently working on resolving the problem. We apologize for any inconvenience.”


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Stocks are heading for a lower open Thursday as the technology sector is likely to suffer on the heels of an earnings warning from Compaq Computer.
September S&P 500 Futures lost ground on the warning, falling 4.10 points. They are trading about 4.60 points below fair value, pointing to a sloppy open, according to figures provided by HL Camp & Company.
Meanwhile, the market awaits word from Fed boss Alan Greenspan, who is scheduled to testify before the Joint Economic Committee on the economy and monetary policy at 10 a.m. ET. Analysts believe he'll use the appearance to signal to markets what the Fed's decision may be at the June 29 and 30 Federal Open Market Committee meeting. .
Compaq Computer cpq said it expects a second quarter loss of up to 15 cents per share because of "pricing pressure in the PC segment, inadequate revenue growth, and a non-competitive cost structure." A First Call survey of analysts expected the computer maker to post a profit of 20 cents per share vs. 2 cents in the year-ago period. Shares were off 1 11/16 to 20 9/16 in pre-market open trading in Instinet.
The PC maker also announced a plan for a major restructuring aimed at cutting costs by as much as $2 billion. Compaq said it expects to take a "substantial" third-quarter charge related to the re-organization.
Shares of PC makers turned lower on the Compaq news. IBM IBM, -0.62% lost 11/16 to 120 and Dell DELL, -1.15% shed 13/16 to 35 in Instinet. Among the semiconductors, Intel INTC, -0.39% lost 2 3/16 to 57 1/2 while Applied Materials AMAT, -2.55% fell 3/16 to 69 in Instinet.
Meanwhile, Western Digital WDC, -2.24% said it sees a wider-than-expected fourth quarter loss of 90 to 98 cents per share. The computer storage specialist was expected to show a loss of 51 cents per share, according to First Call. Shares hadn't traded in Instinet.
In overseas markets, Europe was mixed, with London's FTSE 100 off 0.42 percent. In Asia, shares ended sharply higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index up 1.51 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index up 1.92 percent.
In the prices rose for the second consecutive session but didn't stray far from the unchanged mark as anxiety is the prevailing sentiment ahead of Greenspan's testimony
The 30-year Treasury rose 5/32, to yield $tyx 6.057 percent.
On the economic front, the U.S. April trade deficit came in at $18.9 billion, the same as the revised deficit in March, which had been previously reported at $19.7 billion. Economists surveyed by CBS.MarketWatch.com had expected the trade gap to narrow to $19.2 billion in April.
In other economic news, weekly initial claims fell 28,000 to 297,000.
On Wednesday, an unchanged reading on May consumer price inflation stoked a bonfire beneath the technology sector Wednesday, leading to hefty gains in nearly every computer-related segment.
"The important story is that inflation may turn out to be higher than expected in 1999 and 2000 -- but not alarmingly higher," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment strategist at First Albany Corp.
"The New Paradigm thesis [of robust growth without troublesome inflation] is still very much alive and well. It's not yet in tatters."
The tech-drenched Nasdaq Composite $compq catapulted to its biggest point-gain ever, up 103.18 points, or 4.3 percent, to 2,517.83. In percentage terms, it was the weightiest move since Oct. 15's 4.5 percent jump.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.08% charged ahead 189.96 points, or 1.8 percent, to 10,784.95, for its biggest percent rise in about six weeks.
May's unchanged consumer price index was the first such reading since March 1998. Excluding the volatile food and energy items, the core CPI rose just 0.1 percent. Most Wall Street economists had forecast 0.2 percent increases in each measure. See full story.
"The bond market likes the CPI report because it shows that if the Fed does raise rates at the end of the month, they will be well ahead of the inflation-fighting curve," said M. Cary Leahey, managing director and U.S. economist at Primark Decision Economics.
The Federal Reserve's announced tilt toward higher rates, a jump in the April CPI, and recent hawkish remarks by senior Fed officials have most on Wall Street expecting a rate boost when the central bank meets June 29-30. The big question concerns the number of rate hikes on the way.
"The market now thinks that the potential rate increases will be capped at no more than 75 basis points," Leahey offered. He expects the Fed to hoist the federal funds rate, the interbank overnight lending rate, by 25 basis points on June 30.
Added Johnson: "I think the chance of the Fed raising rates on June 30 has gone from 70 percent to 50 percent."
The markets still have another hurdle this week: Thursday's appearance by Fed Chairman Greenspan before the Joint Economic Committee. The central bank chief will speak about monetary policy and the outlook for the U.S. economy.
Irwin Kellner, chief economist at CBS.MarketWatch.com and Weller professor of economics at Hofstra University believes the stock market's glittery showing Wednesday increases the likelihood "that Greenspan will say something harsh Thursday."
Said Tony Crescenzi, chief bond market strategist at Miller, Tabak, Hirsch & Co: "Higher stocks equal a strong economy, which equals higher interest rates."
Inside technology, the Internet group rocketed, with the Goldman Sachs Internet Index ($GIN) $gin recording a 13.8 percent advance, the second-heaviest advance in its history.
Elsewhere in the tech complex, software shares $cwx were especially popular.
The market's glowing performance notwithstanding, more than one market watcher remained wary.
"We came into the day with a glass jaw, and I still think we're vulnerable," said Charles Payne, president and chief market analyst at Wall Street Strategies.
"It's my thinking the Fed will raise rates by 25 basis points on June 30," Payne continued. "I'm hoping we can get a relief rally based on that and good second-quarter earnings."
Technically, the market's move was encouraging. Breadth was excellent on the New York Stock Exchange, with winners whipping losers by1,971 to 1,063. Advancing issues beat decliners by3 to 2 in the Nasdaq Stock Market.
But volume, though improved, left much to be desired, indicating that many players remain on the sidelines ahead of the Fed's end-of-month policy meeting.
On the Big Board floor, 800 million shares hit the tape, 15 percent more than that of Tuesday. It was the most-active session since May 27. Nasdaq turnover hit 1.01 billion shares, the most since May 25.
Oracle ORCL, -0.83% reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of 36 cents a share, 4 cents richer than the First Call estimate of analysts, and 9 cents ahead of the same period a year ago. Software license revenue at the second-largest software developer increased 22 percent year-over-year. "The company performed magically, with strength across all of its major businesses," said Neil J. Herman, analyst at Salomon Smith Barney, in a research report. The stock jumped 7 13/16 to 32 15/16. See full story.
Jabil Circuit JBL, -1.23% said it netted 29 cents a share in its fiscal third quarter, matching the First Call consensus projection of analysts. It earned 23 cents in the same quarter of last year. But design delays on new products from two clients might slim fourth-quarter revenue and earnings growth by as much as 10 percent below forecasts. Shares of the company, which makes circuit board assemblies, added 4 to 47 9/16.
Amazon.com AMZN, +0.57% pressed ahead 15 3/16 to 111 11/16. The electronic retailer will take a $45 million stake in Sotheby's Holdings, the 255-year-old auction house. The companies are creating an online auction service which will be known as sothebys.amazon.com. The deal is an attempt by Amazon to gain a foothold in the lucrative online auction field, currently dominated by eBay.
Elsewhere in cyberspace, most marquee names surged 11 percent to 17 percent. America Online, which Tuesday hit a correction low of 89 1/2, added 11 5/8 to 106 3/8, Yahoo! 16 3/8 to 141 5/8, CMGI 16 1/8 to 93 1/8, eBay 13 1/4 to 148 3/4, and Excite @Home 14 11/16 to 94 3/4.
Circuit City CC, +3.59% put on 8 3/8 to 90 3/8 after the consumer electronics retailer blew away most analysts' estimates with its first-quarter operating earnings of 41 cents a share. A First Call survey had shown most analysts expecting 25 cents. Circuit City earned 21 cents in the same period of 1998. Also, the company's board okayed a two-for-one stock split.
Other electronics sellers chimed in with their own gains. Tandy drove ahead 3 43/128 to 88 118/256 and Best Buy was up 2 9/16 to 56 1/2.
Caterpillar CAT, -0.64% rose 1/2 to 58 15/16 after Lehman Brothers started coverage of the heavy equipment maker with a "buy" recommendation.
H&R Block HRB, +0.68% checked in with fiscal fourth-quarter operating profits of $3.03 a share, 18 cents above the First Call expectation. The tax services provider earned $2.39 a year ago. The stock declined 1 5/16 to 48 13/16.
Central Sprinkler CNSP, +0.00% vaulted 5 13/16 to 28 3/16. The maker of fire sprinkler systems inked a pact to be acquired by diversified manufacturer Tyco International TYC, +0.00% for $30 a share, or about $115 million. Tyco stock rose 2 1/8 to 91 1/16.
See latest commodity prices and currency rates.


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INDIANAPOLIS — More than two-thirds of generic drugs carry safety warning labels different from those of their branded equivalents, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Regenstrief Institute, a research organization supported by the Regenstrief Foundation and located on the campus of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, reviewed 9,105 product labels for more than 1,500 drugs available on the Food and Drug Administration's and National Library of Medicine's online labeling information repository DailyMed. Of more than 1,040 drugs with more than one manufacturer's label, 68% had discrepancies within their safety information.
Using a software program they developed, the researchers found that most of the generic showed relatively small differences, but 9% showed differences of more than 10 side effects, and other errors included out-of-date information, incomplete data and one that had information for the wrong drug. The study was published online in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety and will be published in the print edition as well.
"Physicians frequently use labeling information, either directly or indirectly, to make prescribing decisions," lead study investigator and Indiana University professor of medicine Jon Duke said. "They need to know about side effects, drug interactions and other safety issues. We found that generic drug labels may contain incomplete or incorrect safety information. Until this problem is resolved, physicians and patients should rely on brand drug labeling only, even when the patient is getting a generic version of a drug."


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Tag Heuer launched the Connected Modular 45 smartwatch last year. The modular design approach meant that customers could choose from 56 versions of the new smartwatch. The total number of combinations that could be made with additional parts like bezel designs, lugs, and straps was over 500. Some customers may have shied away from purchasing this smartwatch due to its 45mm size but that will no longer be an issue because the company has launched a smaller version of its Connected Modular smartwatch.
As the name suggests, the new Connected Modular 41 swaps the 45mm case for a smaller 41mm. While it’s not quite the 39mm version that Tag Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver hinted it, it’s still considerably smaller than its predecessor.
The changes don’t end here. Tag Heuer has also added a new 390 x 390 AMOLED display and doubled the storage and RAM to 8GB and 1GB respectively. The smartwatch is still water resistant up to 50 meters and comes with GPS and NFC for Android Pay.
Prices for the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 41 start at $1,200 but given the wide variety of options available, one of these smartwatches can cost as high as $17,000. For that kind of money, you’re probably better of buying a mechanical watch from some of Tag’s more prestigious Swiss rivals.


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Metals firm invests over £500k to keep up with sustainability demand
Leeds Galvanising and Powder Coating Ltd has invested over half a million pounds in new machinery in response to growing demand for sustainable products.
With support from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, the metals processing company has invested £520k in new machinery to reduce waste.
The investment follows a move in 2018 to cut raw material use by one third, an achievement which resulted in the firm securing the internationally recognised ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental management.
Since securing the accreditation, the business has grown revenues by 10 per cent. The firm also hired six new staff in 2018 and plans to create five new roles this year.
Simon Kelly, managing director at Leeds Galvanising and Powder Coating Ltd, said: “Firms in the building products supply chain are striving to be more sustainable, and we’re seeing a high demand for end-products with a smaller carbon footprint.
“With Lloyds Bank’s help, we’ve made significant investments in our facility to improve our efficiency and to cut waste. Now that we’ve secured ISO accreditation, many more customers are choosing our services, helping us to grow our market share and to create new jobs.”
Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →


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“We expect more personalized customer service to emerge as a major source of healthcare differentiation, much like other industries today,” Russ Nash, who leads Accenture’s U.S. payer business, said in a statement. “The health insurance industry must use insight-driven health to better understand the expectations of its unique customer segments and how to [enhance] customer relationships to impact revenue growth.”
Among the five characteristics customers rated most important:
• Knowledgeable representatives: Roughly 85 percent rated interaction with knowledgeable employees as highly important, yet fewer than 50 percent were satisfied with current experience;
• Convenient service hours: Nearly 80 percent prefer customer service being extended to weekend and evening hours, while fewer than half currently experience this convenience;
• Wait time: About 80 percent rate wait time as important, but more than 60 percent said they were kept waiting too long by current health plan providers; and
• Single contact: More than 80 percent said dealing with one contact to resolve issues was important, but 60 percent said they currently were transferred to multiple contacts to resolve issues.


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Massive Recall Issued for Thousands of Cans of Baby Formula
Recently, a massive recall was announced by the FDA. The recall is in regards to a particular type of baby formula sold in US stores and the recall applies to more than half a million cans of the formula across the United States.
Which Baby Formula Has Been Recalled?
The recall announced by the FDA comes in regard to a special brand of formula sold produced by the company Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition. The special brand of formula was identified as the Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder. The United States Food and Drug Administration currently has a list on their website to help those who may have bought the contaminated identity correctly identify if whether or not they have a contaminated product.
The numbers listed on the FDA's list are referred to as "batch numbers". As the name implies, the batch number identifies specifically when the product, in this case formula powder, was made. The formula can also be identified via the items UPC code and its expiration date. All of this information can be found by accessing the link to the FDA website, which you will find here.
FDA Recall Details
This recall of the Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder came bright and early to start the New Year. According to multiple reports, the recall was announced after Israeli health authorities confirmed a type of bacteria was found in cans that were being imported into Israel from the U.S.
The bacteria itself is called "Cronobacter Sakazakii". The bacteria is classified as a pathogen and is naturally occurring, meaning it could have come from anywhere. According to the report by the FDA, the Israeli Ministry of Health notified the FDA of the issue back on December 14, 2023. This would then begin a weeks-long process of sampling, testing and gathering information on the matter. Then on December 28, the FDA received testing results which confirmed Israeli reports.
Following the test results and confirmation of the Israeli findings, the FDA immediately contacted Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition and notified them of the findings. Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition then issued the announcement of the recall. In total, 675,030 of the contaminated formula was distributed across the United States.
In addition, Reckitt/Mead Johnson also produced and distributed additional products outside of the US which was made at the same time as the contaminated product.
Response to Baby Formula Recall
Despite this latest event, the FDA remains dedicated to protecting the "most vulnerable population". The FDA provided information on their current list of preventative strategies to protect against Cronobacter and are active in ways to improve the process.
The FDA also has provided information on Cronobacter bacteria and its potential effects on a young child to become ill from it. Parents should also understand that young children becoming sick from this bacteria is RARE, however, it should also be taken seriously if a child were to get sick. That information as well as much more, may be found here
We will continue to do our best to provide updates for this subject if or when new information becomes available.
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The new Lexus GS 460 car will debut at the Brisbane International Motor Show next month, with vehicles going on sale in March.
The all-new GS 460 will feature a new 4.6-litre V8 engine developing 255kW of power and 460Nm of torque with eight-speed automatic transmission.
Click to enlarge
The GS 460 will also preview exterior changes for the entire GS range, which includes new front and rear bumpers, grille, wheels and mirrors.
The LX 570 will be equipped with a 5.7-litre V8 engine mated to a six-speed transmission, and will feature the most advanced suspension system of any Lexus vehicle to date.
Show goers will also be treated to regular demonstrations of Lexus’ unique Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) system – as featured on the LS 600hL hybrid saloon.
The IPA system, a first for an Australian production vehicle, enables the vehicle to reverse or parallel park without steering input from the driver.
Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca said the 2008 Brisbane International Motor Show will be the launching pad for what is set to be an exciting year for Lexus.
“2008 is set to be another big year for Lexus. We will be introducing two all-new models in the LX 570 off-roader and the IS-F performance sedan, as well as launching the all-new GS 460 and the facelift of the GS range,” he said.
“The Brisbane Show will give the public the opportunity to view some of Lexus’ advanced engineering. This includes our performance hybrid vehicles, the Intelligent Parking Assist system and even eight-speed transmission on GS and LS models.
“There is no doubt that the Lexus stand will offer something for everyone – from the off-road to the performance and environmentally conscious driver.”


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On-trade suffers £100bn loss during pandemic
Covid-19 has cost the UK hospitality sector £100.2 billion (US$140bn) in trading since the start of the pandemic, new data shows.
The statistics come from the latest edition of the UK Hospitality Quarterly Tracker in association with CGA report.
The UK on-trade generated £164.6bn in the 15-month period to June 2019. However, prolonged closures and ‘severe’ trading restrictions due to Covid-19 caused sales to plummet in the same period to June 2021.
In the 12 months to the end of June 2021, hospitality sales dropped to £59.8bn (US$83.6bn), a decrease of £72bn (US$100.6bn) compared with the same period ending June 2019.
Further declines in sales during the second quarter of 2020, which marked the start of on-trade closures in the UK, brings total sales in the past 15 months down to £64.4bn (US$90bn) – £100.2bn below the same 15-month period ending June 2019.
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, said: “These figures confirm in stark terms the huge impacts on the hospitality sector during Covid.
“Furthermore, while we hoped to be close to normal trading from 19 July, in reality hospitality businesses instead remain impeded by the ongoing ‘pingdemic’ crisis, the pre-existing staffing shortage and the looming shadow of vaccine passports over some of the sector.”
The data also noted that the most recent quarterly figures show a ‘notable improvement’ on recent year-on-year data, as Covid-19 restrictions have eased across the UK.
Estimated sales in the three months to the end of June 2021 reached £18.4bn (US$25.7bn) – notably higher than the £4.6bn (US$6.4bn) for the same quarter in 2020.
Nicholls added: “History tells us that hospitality can be a leading economic force in driving an economic recovery but to do so in current conditions and with huge debt accruals, it will need further support to push it over the line and back to pre-Covid trading.
“Extension of the business rates holiday, speedy resolution to the rent problem and retention of the lower VAT rate indefinitely are more crucial than ever to safeguard jobs and businesses.”


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SmartMetric reports interest from banks for its biometric credit card, awarded five patents
SmartMetric revealed that it is in card purchasing talks with more than seven banks from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and the United States and distributors and representatives wanting to participate in the global sales and marketing of the its biometric credit card.
The SmartMetric Biometric Card is built around the EMV chip card and uses a person’s fingerprint to activate the card in a secure on card scan and match. It is self-powered with a rechargeable battery and scans and matches a person’s fingerprint in less than 0.25 seconds. All of its scanning and matching is conducted inside the card. Once the user’s fingerprint has been verified, the card is activated and able to be used. The card conforms to ISO size standards for credit cards.
Chaya Hendrick, president and CEO at SmartMetric, said the company is “… able to manufacture 1 million cards a month and are able to rapidly increase this production capacity to over 10 million cards a month as demand from card issuers increases.”
In other company news, SmartMetric has been issued five patents covering biometric fingerprint cards.
“We are excited to announce the issuance of these new patents that give a tremendous protection for the years and dollars we have invested in developing our breakthrough biometric card technology,” commented Hendrick.


text: PALAKKAD: The Palakkad chapter of the Kerala Builder’s Association will be inaugurated by association president M.D. Jairaj here on Saturday. The keynote address will be delivered by R.P.R. Nair, former professor, Government College of Engineering, Thrissur. Association district president K. Rajan said the organisation aimed at ensuring quality in all sectors of the construction field, bringing all members of the association on a par with regard to quality in a time-bound manner and introducing scientific methods in the sector. It wanted to create a labour bank by pooling workers from the State and outside to provide a labour force; train the workers in operating modern machinery; train skilled workers to ensure quality, constitute a consumer cell to solve complaints from consumers and so on.


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Internet advertisers must be careful in how they target potential consumers to avoid turning them off by being too intrusive, an industry insider said at the ad:tech conference Tuesday.
"Try to be relevant and helpful but not make customers feel like you are looking over their shoulders," Emily Scott of Internet travel destination Kayak.com told a media strategy session.
Scott, Kayak's director of marketing, said advertisers should focus on making targeted advertisements relevant but be careful not to go overboard.
"Various types of data and information can feed into an ad to make it more relevant and valuable to a potential consumer," Scott said.
"When ads look like content, they're not that annoying."
Dave Martin of Ignited moderated the session.
Scott advised advertisers not to overdo personalization because it could turn people off to their entire brand.
"I think, 'how is this going to affect my brand,'" Scott said.
But Scott said targeted online advertising, done right, was so effective the industry was sure to grow.
"That the industry is going to grow because of effectiveness is an easy argument to make," she said.
Martin said the new world of automated Internet advertising had raised a list of new challenges that agencies still had not adapted to. "A new workforce is needed," but agency staffs still were too small.
Swain, SpotXChange's vice president of operations, agreed that the performance of real-time bidding platforms was "really, really good."
This article is part of Allvoices’ series on ad:tech, the largest digital marketing and technology conferences and expositions. Check out allvoices.com/adtech for more of Allvoices’ ad:tech San Francisco event coverage. This series is supported by ad:tech.


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A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators — Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John Boozman (R-AR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and John Thune (R-SD) — recently introduced an important piece of legislation that, if enacted, would alleviate much of the regulatory confusion surrounding cryptocurrencies. While only 16 percent of Americans have ever used or purchased these digital tokens, the U.S. has become a leader in this growing industry. Clear regulatory guidelines are needed to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader.
If Congress passes the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act of 2022 (DCCPA), it will create a transparent framework from which the cryptocurrency industry can grow. This legislation creates a definition for the term digital commodities, which is “a fungible digital form of personal property that can be possessed and transferred person-to-person without necessary reliance on an intermediary.”
The bill specifically mentions the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ether. However, including the lack of reliance on a third-party intermediary as a qualifying factor would expand the definition to other tokens, as this is a fundamental aspect of cryptocurrency. Additionally, the legislation expands the definition of a commodity to include the new term “digital commodity,” which provides cryptocurrency a secure location within the existing U.S. legal and regulatory structure. According to the definition from the Commodity Exchange Act, the term “commodity” is categorized by a form value, “in which contracts for future delivery are presently or in the future dealt in.”
One of the key characteristics of commodities is that they are fungible, meaning each unit is interchangeable with another. This makes them particularly useful for future trading, as traders aren’t creating contracts for specific units but rather for quantities of a general unit of a good. In this sense, cryptocurrencies fit within the commodity framework as fungible tokens of value.
Additionally, the DCCPA would establish that cryptocurrencies fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). One of the barriers to cryptocurrency expansion has been the confusion over agency regulatory authority, which creates a lack of consensus over what rules apply to a cryptocurrency firm.
According to Chris Brummer, a professor at Georgetown University, the current default regulatory agency is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). However, other potential agency examples would include the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. All these agencies have different rules and regulatory processes which can be hard to navigate and create significant confusion.
Internationally, the DCCPA would also allow the U.S. to catch up with other countries that have clarified the status of cryptocurrencies within their governments’ legal and regulatory framework. For example, Japan recognizes cryptocurrency as a form of payment and treats it as digital money, positioning it within a legal structure. In Bulgaria, cryptocurrency is considered a financial instrument, subjecting it to income taxes. While various countries have different classifications, they all aid in the clarity of how cryptocurrencies will be treated within the legal system.
The United States saw the most cryptocurrency gains in 2021 with almost $47 billion, far outpacing the United Kingdom, which was the next highest country with just over $8 billion. Despite the stake the U.S. has in the crypto industry, the existing confusing regulatory structure has hindered further growth.
In fact, following a court battle over whether the cryptocurrency company Telegram’s offerings should be classified as a security, the company ended up announcing it would discontinue services in the United States. While Telegram was initially expected to launch its TON token, this launch was delayed after complaints from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company cancelled the project and only partially refunded U.S. investors “due to an uncertain regulatory attitude in the United States.”
The DCCPA addresses the U.S.’s current shortcomings regarding cryptocurrency’s standing in the legal system. Future regulations or rules could be helpful in addressing other areas such as taxation and fraud. However, this bill offers a tremendous first step on which to grow, and lawmakers should focus their attention on clarifying the legal position of a burgeoning technology.
Published in the Economic Standard


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A number of cryptocurrency exchanges are available where Australians can exchange their fiat money to buy digital currencies. Find the best of the lot here.
The price of 0x (ZRX) suddenly increased after images spread online showing the coin included on crypto exchange Coinbase's tax gain/loss calculator.
HoloToken, an ERC-20 substitute for the credits on the Holo platform, has performed relatively well in recent times. Find out how the tokens will be used.
Blockchain project Elastos has publicly released its testnet to developers. The project has also started accepting requests for testnet ELA tokens.
SpectroCoin is a crypto payment solutions provider that offers an exchange platform, blockchain wallet, crypto debit card, and crypto tools for merchants.
Price of Noah Coin (NOAH), an ERC-20 token to be used for ambitious real-world projects like crypto city, was in the green during the bearish market.
Are price surges and dumps the real story of Cryptocurrency? Ash Benington explores what mass media should be focusing on instead. Blockchain?
Cryptocurrency will go big next year as many signs currently point to major industry players, including China, heavily investing in Crypto and Blockchain.
Should you be bullish on Bitcoin this week? CryptoWendyO thinks so. Watch her analyze and explain in detail the reasons she is going bullish on Bitcoin.
Everything Blockchain takes the spotlight in this episode of Ameer Approved as Jesse Abramowitz covers adoption issues, scaling problems, and even Defi.
Still confused what Bitcoin is and does? GiveBitcoin is out to bring more people into understanding Bitcoin while educating them about it and Blockchain.
A blockchain expert says there is more to understand about Bitcoin as cryptocurrency and blockchain technology continue to evolve. What are these?
EOS addresses two of the main problems in blockchain: transaction speed and transaction costs. But the question is: Is EOS widely used by many?


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Google’s Android OS under investigation by FTC
Google dominates many sectors of technology, and Android is no exception.
It’s no surprise then that the US Federal Trade Commission is investigating the company over its hugely popular Android mobile operating system.
According to a Bloomberg report, the FTC is scrutinising the business to see if Google is attempting to stifle competition.
“FTC officials have met with technology company representatives who say Google gives priority to its own services on the Android platform, while restricting others,” reads the report.
It continues: “
A separate report by Reuters also corroborates this information based on its own “source”.
Android is currently the world’s most popular mobile operating system, by a long way.
According to information by analytics firm IDC, Android held an 82.8% share of the global mobile market in Q2 2015.
That’s compared to Apple’s iOS in second place, which holds a significantly lower 13.9%.
Third place is weaker still, with Windows Phone at 2.6%, followed by BlackBerry OS in fourth with a near-negligible 0.3%.
Related: Best Android Smartphones 2015
A possible cause for concern may be that Google’s Android platform comes bundled with a number of Google products and services.
Neither the FTC nor Google have released on an official statement on the matter.
Do you think the FTC is right to investigate Google? Let us know in the comments.
Check out our iOS 9 features video below:


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Is a programmatic only future good for brands and marketers? eBay recently ran an experiment where it only traded adverts bought on a programmatic basis. Rob Bassett, Sales Director (Hard Goods) eBay reports back with the results…
Earlier this year, we ran a “Programmatic Only Week” at eBay – seven days during which we changed the way we worked, only serving ads that were bought on a programmatic basis and only trading programmatically.
This wasn’t the first Programmatic Only Week. Two years earlier, we launched the initiative with the aim of understanding what stage the industry was at in its adoption of programmatic, and encouraging a movement towards a programmatic-dominated advertising landscape.
We found that there was a lingering perception of programmatic as a solution for remnant inventory and that, although many stakeholders grasped the potential offered by programmatic, the industry as a whole wasn’t putting its weight behind it.
This time around, we wanted to explore how the industry had evolved since the first iteration of the experiment – and what needs to change in the years to come, to make a programmatic only future a reality.
So, what had changed?
The preconception that programmatic is a channel for remnant inventory has been dispelled. Broadly, programmatic is viewed simply as an alternative means of trading inventory: an enabler, rather than a channel in its own right.
When we looked at what had changed within our own organisation, it’s clear that our investment in header bidding over the past two years has brought us much closer to being programmatic only, because it facilitates fair valuing and trading. We are now 99% header biddable.
But despite this progress we know that elements of the industry just aren’t ready to be programmatic only. We weren’t able to map all direct sales to a programmatic line, indicating that not all campaigns could be moved.
What still needs to change?
There are structural changes that need to take place in the industry to facilitate the shift from direct sales to programmatic. Presently, too many organisations are split into ‘programmatic’ and ‘direct’ silos, making it almost impossible to create fluidity between the two.
We believe that this will change over the next two years. In fact, it is already changing.
A number of our agency partners have invested in spreading programmatic knowledge throughout their organisations in a holistic way, making it a part of the fibre of their businesses. Programmatic from the inside, rather than from the outside, if you will. This has been achieved through building staff expertise and even, in some cases, absorbing their trading desk into the organisation. Publicis Media is a fantastic example of an agency group that is at the vanguard of programmatic – breaking down silos within the business and building programmatic capabilities across the organisation.
This is significant progress from where agencies were two years ago, and we hope to see other following the lead of these trailblazers.
We asked Danny Hopwood, EVP at Publicis Media for his take on Programmatic Only Week. He said:
“We welcome eBay’s commitment to encouraging the industry to embrace the value that programmatic can offer. At Publicis Media, we have invested significantly in building our programmatic capabilities. We have placed programmatic at the heart of how we trade media in order to provide our clients with best in class products and services, creating the optimal alignment of resources and talent in a model that is simple to engage with and that supports our clients.”
“As part of this commitment we launched IQ Academy last year as Publicis Media’s global learning platform, which includes a Programmatic Certification which is endorsed by the IAB and which all our employees are being trained in.”
Programmatic evolves in line with other market forces, as the values it attributes to inventory is broadly based on supply and demand. Trading via IO can never be as fluid, and ties the industry to standards that are not only inefficient, but unfair. It’s a bad deal for publishers, brands and agencies.
We hope that if we replicate the Programmatic Only Week experiment in another two years we will be able to announce that the industry has made further strides to truly embrace the potential of programmatic to transform – and improve – the way we do business.
In the meantime, we have a role to play in helping to improve readiness. We know there is still some skepticism as to the value of header bidding in the industry. So we want to help to allay these concerns, and are offering to act as a test bed for any partner who would like to explore the benefits and measure the performance of header bidding.
Our aim here is to focus on building a framework that makes transitioning to programmatic as painless as possible for everyone we work with, and to collaborate closely with agencies to ensure the direction we travel in is aligned with their business interests.
By Rob Bassett
Sales Director (Hard Goods)


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Multi-award-winning vegan pizzeria Purezza is getting set to open its new location in Hove this summer
Hove will welcome its first 100% vegan restaurant this summer as popular Brighton eatery Purezza gets set to open its first location in the seaside resort.
Since it launched in 2015, Purezza has seen huge success and has since gone on to open the UK’s largest vegan restaurant in Camden as well as winning multiple awards for its plant-based pizzas.
As if that wasn’t enough, Purezza boasts its own vegan cheese factory where they make their own dairy and palm-oil-free mozzarella using all-natural ingredients and have written and released a recipe book worldwide.
The new Hove branch is set to open in August on the site of the now-closed Patisserie Valerie near Palmeira Square and will be spread across two floors with plenty of seating available as well as operating delivery services for the Hove and Portslade community.
The stylish eater will keep sustainability at its heart and is fitted out with reclaimed and upcycled furniture, and decorated with eco-friendly and organic paints.
As well as serving up a tasty array of its plant-based pizzas, which are available on multiple different bases with gluten-free options, the restaurant will offer a range of unique cocktails, tempting starters, and a full gluten-free menu.
Those looking to indulge in some tasty vegan food with a healthy twist can enjoy Purezza’s famous raw vegan menu which features raw tiramisu and a full raw pizza using a base made with seeds and nuts.
In a statement sent to Vegan Food & Living, Tim Barclay, co-founder and co-owner of Purezza said: “2020 was always set to be a big year
for Purezza, and whilst the Coronavirus crisis was an unforeseen challenge, it won’t affect our plans.
“Purezza is a growing brand, but our home has always been Brighton & Hove. Before looking at national expansion, we’re proud to be able to give some of our most dedicated customers a brand new beautiful space in Hove to enjoy.”
Purezza Hove will open its doors to the public in late August 2020.


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Last updated on July 3rd, 2019 at 07:15 pm
Popular ABC entrepreneur show “Shark Tank” has announced it will hold its first casting call in Milwaukee for the show’s upcoming sixth season.
Applicants who appear on “Shark Tank” pitch their business product, service or idea to a panel of The Sharks—self-made, multi-millionaire and billionaire businesspeople who can chose to invest their money in the best ideas. The Sharks are billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of AXS TC and owner of the Dallas Mavericks; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; Lori Greiner, “Queen of QVC;” technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John; and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary.
Local small business owners’ and entrepreneurs’ ideas will be evaluated on Monday, July 21 at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive in Milwaukee. Wristbands will be available beginning at 9 a.m., with interviews beginning at 10 a.m. The first 500 entrepreneurs to arrive are guaranteed an opportunity to pitch their ideas to the “Shark Tank” casting team. The casting call is sponsored by U.S. Cellular.
“At U.S. Cellular, we champion small business owners and offer them access to tools to help them be successful,” said Jeff Olson, director of business sales for U.S. Cellular in Wisconsin. “By working with ABC’s ‘Shark Tank,’ we are providing an unprecedented opportunity for people in our local communities to pitch their ideas to experts and have the chance to grow their business.”


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New hemp processing opens in Kentucky https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/oak-out-hemp-hempwood-factory-opens-kentucky
“Oak is out. Hemp is in,” says HempWood leader Greg Wilson, whose 15,600-square-feet factory is now officially open for business in Kentucky. HempWood is a reverse-engineered wood substitute with advantages over traditional oak hardwood, says Fibonacci, the company behind it. Those include a higher availability, a much quicker grow time of six months, and a 20 percent higher density. HempWood can be used in furniture, flooring, and other woodworking projects.
“We’re taking something that grows in six months and we’re able to able to replicate, if not out perform, a tropical hardwood that grows in 200 years,”
HempWood will be available in blocks, pre-sawn boards, flooring, and finished products such as cutting boards and skateboards at prices lower than oak.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Sealed Air Corp.
said Monday net income fell to $47.3 million, or 26 cents a share, from $79.7 million, or 43 cents a share in the year-ago period. Excluding items, net income in the latest quarter for the Elmwood Park, N.J. packaging giant totaled 39 cents a share. Revenue dipped to $1.17 billion from $1.25 billion. Analysts expected earnings of 35 cents a share on sales of $1.17 billion, according to a survey by FactSet Research. "Although we are hopeful that the stimulus measures being implemented by various governments around the world will speed the economic recovery, we are basing our planning on a very weak global economy in 2009," the company said.


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New Google Glass hardware preview offered by Google (images)
Google has posted a couple of images on its Google Plus page for Google Glass in which it shows the new wearable computing device.
Saying that it would rather “show” than “tell” the company shared these two images with the world, reminding Explorers that they’re going to get the new model when “they swap” later this year.
As you can see in these images, Google Glass has a mono earbud, but not much else is revealed about the hardware refresh – according to a post on the same Google Plus account, the company has also made the hardware “better.”
What we do know is that the new Google Glass will support prescription frames, and that Explorers will be able to invite up to three friends to get their own Glass gadget later this year.
Are you looking forward to buying Glass?


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Democrats call out Ted Budd on formula shortage vote
Published 12:07 am Thursday, June 2, 2022
By Elisabeth Strillacci
ASHEBORO — Members of the North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) held a press conference outside the office of Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) Wednesday morning, chastising him for his vote, along with 191 other Republicans, against a proposal to give $28 million in aid to the Food and Drug Administration to address an extreme shortage of baby formula.
In fact, the entire North Carolina Republican U.S. House delegation voted against the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, according to the NCDP.
The bill “provides appropriations for the FDA to address the current shortage of FDA-regulated infant formula and certain medical foods in the United States, and prevent future shortages, including by taking the steps that are necessary to prevent fraudulent products from entering the U.S. market.”
In response, Republican women in the House introduced a competing measure called “Babies Need More Formula Now,” which would make it easier for American parents to get formula from abroad.
NCDP First Vice Chair Floyd McKissick joined Budd constituents Clyde Foust of Randolph County and Deborah Napper of Greensboro, mother to four children including an infant, as they stood outside Budd’s Asheboro office to call out the GOP U.S. Senate candidate for voting against the emergency FDA funds.
“As a mom, I will do anything to make sure my kids have food to eat and a roof over their head,” Napper said. “My family has the resources to pay the extra cost to find what our daughter needs, but not every family is that lucky. It is terrifying to know that we could run out of formula or have to ration what we do have. It’s also bad enough to search several stores to find what we need to keep my baby healthy and full because Ted Budd and Republicans are pointing fingers instead of taking action. North Carolina families need a change.”
“It is appalling that my own Congressman is more interested in using North Carolina families’ struggles for his own political gain,” Foust said. “Because of Ted Budd’s vote against this bill, many families across North Carolina, low-income families and Black and brown mothers, will continue to be particularly hard-hit by the infant formula shortage.”
Budd did vote for a second measure, the Access to Baby Formula Act, which authorizes regulatory waivers under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during national emergencies and supply chain shortages.
He did not return a call requesting comment for this article, but has previously said “I was proud to vote to loosen federal restrictions for families to get formula for their infants and prevent future supply chain disruptions.”


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The legendary DARPA contractor will become part of the new robotics unit led by Andy Rubin
Google has completed the stealthy acquisition of Boston Dynamics – one of the world’s most innovative robot design companies, made famous by such DARPA-funded projects like the robotic pack mule BigDog and bipedal humanoid rescue worker Atlas.
This is the eighth acquisition made to support Google’s mysterious robotics unit, managed by former Android OS chief Andy Rubin. The price of the deal has not been disclosed – and nor has the true purpose of the unit.
The purchase is quite unusual for a company that has made its billions on cloud-based software and services. Some have linked Google’s sudden interest in robots to its widely-publicized driverless car project, which has been running since 2010.
“We are looking forward to this next chapter in robotics and in what we can accomplish as part of the Google team,” Marc Raibert, co-founder of Boston Dynamics, said in a statement.
Boston Dynamics was spun off from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1992. Using sensors, on-board computers and hydraulics, the company has been creating robots that run, climb sheer walls and jump over obstacles.
In the past, its projects were often funded by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – an organisation created in the middle of the Cold War to oversee research and development on behalf of the US Department of Defence.
For example, the Agency sponsored the development of the BigDog (pictured above) – a three feet long, 240 pound quadruped robot that can traverse rough terrain at four miles per hour, while carrying another 340 pounds on its back. This metal beast was designed for the Army, to act as a means of cargo transport in the areas with no roads.
More recently, Atlas (pictured on the left), the 330 pound humanoid robot, was demonstrated to navigate through rubble, independently climb over barricades and even balance on one leg. In the future, Atlas or its descendants could participate in search and rescue operations, capable of opening doors and operating equipment designed for humans.
According to the New York Times, Google will honour any outstanding military contracts with DARPA, but will not launch any new projects linked to the armed forces.
Before Boston Dynamics, Google bought seven robotics companies in the space of six months, including Schaft, a team from Japan that specialises in bipedal designs, and Bit & Dolly, a robotic arm manufacturer that supplied equipment for the Sci-Fi blockbuster Gravity.
According to Rubin, who himself owns seventeen patents, the new project is expected to run for a decade and involve both hardware and software development.
Whatever Google has planned for Boston Dynamics, it has got to be something important. Several of the companies it acquired have been focusing on humanoid robots – something that isn’t suitable for a data centre or a factory, but has plenty of applications in more social environments.
Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has announced that his company was testing package delivery using airborne drones with a view to launching an Amazon Prime Air service sometime around 2018.
And Google’s new Singapore data centre has a robot in the foyer – but it’s just an art project.
Are you a Robot expert? Take our quiz!


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The jet black chassis features the title’s ember orange logo, colored power and eject buttons as well as three emblems on the front each representing a game mode. It also packs a 1TB hard drive, available with the console for the first time in North America.
The included DualShock 4 controller is decked out in gray and orange and will also be available as a standalone item.
In addition, the bundle includes the standard edition of the game, along with the popular NUK3TOWN multiplayer map from previous Black Ops titles.
Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? It’s called Plugged In – and you can subscribe to it right here.
Published September 23, 2015 — 05:31 UTC


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Explained – The governments plug in grant
Electrification is on the rise with more and more manufacturers now offering either all-electric or hybrid versions of their cars with the goal of reducing tailpipe emissions.
However, with batteries being expensive and this being a relatively new technology, electrified models tend to cost more than their traditionally fuelled counterparts.
Therefore, the government offers a plug-in car grant (PICG) to help incentivise buyers into these models. Since 2018, only all-electric models have been eligible for money off, but this year’s Spring Budget saw further changes introduced. Here’s what you need to know…
How much is the grant?
Unfortunately, citing the increasing uptake of EVs, the government has knocked £500 off the grant, which now sits at £3,000.
However, various manufacturers have pledged to top that back up by offering a £500 contribution on EV orders. These include DS, Peugeot, MG and Renault, though these offers are for a limited time only.
What cars are eligible?
Since 2018, no hybrid vehicles are eligible for the grant, with rules effectively meaning only all-electric vehicles are included. A new rule has been introduced that also excludes vehicles that cost more than £50,000.
The government lists every eligible car on its website in case you’re not sure about a particular model though, at the time of writing, this has not been updated to exclude cars, such as the Tesla Model S and Jaguar I-Pace, which are now left out for being too expensive.
What about the van, taxi and motorcycle grant?
Nothing has changed on this front, meaning you can still get up £8,000 off vans, up to £20,000 off large vans and trucks, up to £7,500 off taxis, and up to £1,500 off motorbikes – providing they are zero-emission or have a set electric range, of course.


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Head of The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International business is leaving Disney to become CEO of TikTok and COO of parent company ByteDance.
Founder Yiming Zhang will remain as CEO of ByteDance. President of TikTok Alex Zhu moves to ByteDance as Vice President of product and strategy.
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join the amazing team at ByteDance. Like everyone else, I’ve been impressed watching the company build something incredibly rare in TikTok – a creative, positive online global community – and I’m excited to help lead the next phase of ByteDance’s journey as the company continues to expand its breadth of products across every region of the world.Kevin Mayer – TikTok CEO
Mayer oversaw the very successful launch of Disney+ last year. Such success in a streaming role, makes Kevin Mayer a great choice for short-form video app TikTok. This and a high-profile American running the app is a great move at a time where politicians and the public are raising concerns about the Chinese companies privacy and security issues.


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Your Kansas City antique store finds may contain a health threat
Buyers beware. Lead can be found in household items, from antique salt shakers to brand-new products sitting on store shelves.
In its continuing series "
Unleaded," the Missouri Independent and NPR's Midwest Newsroom are exploring the high levels of lead in children in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The latest installment reveals that consumer goods, both old and new, can still contain unhealthy levels of lead.
- Niara Savage, investigative reporting fellow, NPR’s Midwest Newsroom


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After opening Bodega Taqueria & Tequila in South Beach in 2015, featuring a taco joint in the front and a tequila speakeasy in the back, the Menin Hospitality-owned, Miami-based Bodega brand is launching a fast-casual taco spinoff. Bodega Taqueria will open three locations in North Beach, Wynwood, and Downtown Miami in 2021, with plans to open at least 10 more locations in Florida and other markets down the line.
While the food sold in the front of Bodega Taqueria & Tequila are a front for the speakeasy lounge, tacos and other innovative Mexican street food will be the star of the Taqueria spinoff concept.
“We looked internally [at the success of the taqueria front] and said, ‘we have something here that can work as a standalone,’” Jared Galbut, co-owner of Menin Hospitality said. “We can definitely do a taqueria without the tequila. And now we’re able to look at smaller 1,200-1,500 square-foot spaces and open in markets a lot quicker. It may take us six months to build out a taqueria, whereas it would take a year for the full concept.”
Menin Hospitality began as a family hotel business, formed with Galbut’s business partner, Keith Menin in 2008. Later on, they expanded into a true hospitality business by opening several restaurant/bar concepts. Today, Menin Hospitality owns and manages six hotels, Pizza Bar South Beach and the Bodega brand.
Bodega Taqueria's first locations will open in North Beach and Wynwood in spring/summer 2021, while the Downtown Miami location will open at the end of 2021.
Dubbing the aesthetic “garage chic,” Galbut said that each Bodega Taqueria will sell tacos out of an air stream trailer — a nod to the original Bodega Taqueria & Tequila, which has a half an air stream sticking out of the kitchen — with graffiti-spattered walls and picnic tables outside for customers.
“We have a roughed-up garage door on our property and the inside isn’t polished—it’s more like cinder blocks and rough concrete floors,” Galbut said. “We thought, ‘if you went to a garage, what would it look like?’ on a grander level.”
Besides the “rough around the edges” aesthetic and nod to the original Bodega concept, Bodega Taqueria is proud of its unique spin on Mexican street food. Galbut said that their chef and culinary director, Bernie Metz, has a Cuban background so Cuban influences find their way into his cooking. Much of the menu will remain the same from one Bodega to another and includes their famous barbacoa tacos, coconut shrimp tacos, and Californian burritos. The tacos range in price from $3-$4 each and the burritos range from $11-$15.
“The menus will be pretty similar, but when we get into a new market, we adapt it and hear what the customer base wants,” Galbut said. “We’ll add or subtract based on need.”
He also describes the service as somewhere between quick-service and fast-casual, where guests will be able to order from their phone and have minimal face-to-face interactions, or they can grab their food from the counter and sit down to enjoy it at a picnic bench.
Within the next 12-18 months, Galbut said they are aiming to add four additional Bodega Taqueria and Tequila full-sized concepts and an additional six taqueria standalones. The next markets they’re looking to penetrate in Florida include, Orlando, Tampa, St. Pete, Jacksonville, and Palm Beach. The next Taqueria and Tequila concept will open in Ft. Lauderdale in November.
“We have been in major expansion mode over the past year,” Galbut said.
Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @JoannaFantozzi


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Not only have its passenger vehicle gross sales risen by 28% to 219,416 (1 Jan-31 Aug) but the state-run OEM is up two locations to 18th most popular model. Its every day manufacturing of automobiles is deliberate to be lowered from mid-November to 480 automobiles from the current figure of round 650 vehicles.
Global wholesales of all Tata Motors’ industrial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range in Q2FY22 have been at 89,055 units, up 57 per cent over Q2FY21, Tata Motors said in a statement. The Hyundai Tucson 2022 is amongst the South Korean agency’s best-selling SUVs. Its modern and sporty design combines efficiency and technology for a base worth of $24,950 MSRP. Will you be happy after buying a 2022 Subaru Forester, Outback, or Crosstrek?
Eu Passenger Car Exports, Major Locations In Models
Ford has introduced improved charging occasions for the brand new 2021 Mustang Mach-E, the automaker’s long-range electrical car designed to tackle the Tesla Model Y. Volvo announced right now that every new 2021 Volvo model will come with a pace limiter preventing the automobile from traveling sooner than 112 mph.
This week, Stellantis announced major electrification news and unveiled the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid. …
The event offered an unforgettable opportunity for current and future leaders of the industry to discuss their ambitions and visions. TVS Motor Company on Tuesday announced that it has entered right into a strategic partnership with Tata Power to create an electrical two-wheeler charging infrastructure in the nation. Overall car retail sales declined 5.27% in September on a yearly foundation, dragged by a double-digit slump in sales of two-wheelers and tractors. Placing consumer satisfaction at the core of its strategy, ALD Automotive supplies fleet managers and drivers with innovative tools and providers to make simpler their everyday business and meet new challenges to come back. Marelli was one of 14 corporations to win the distinguished PACE award, which honors suppliers for superior innovation and technological development. The firm’s powertrain division took home the prize for its very high-pressure fuel system that boosts the effectivity of internal combustion engines.
Recently shaped automotive big Stellantis is the newest in a long line of automakers to decide to electrification within the coming years. The family of car manufacturers, together with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and others, are committing to building several new electrified fashions by 2025. BMW and Lexus have announced …


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It may sound hard to believe but Google, Motorola, and Phonebloks are teaming together to make a smart phone that is fully up-gradable. This is an aim they are taking to reduce electronic waste.
As announced by Moto X maker, both tech giants are finally revealing “Project Ara”, a modular hardware system that lets you build a phone with purchased parts. These parts can be swapped out and easily upgraded.
Project Ara is a unique attempt in reducing electronic waste. If you break your screen there is no need in replacing the phone, you can just pull it off it get a new screen. Want more storage and processing power? Buy bigger and faster modules. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a completely new phone!
This is going to be the biggest thing yet in the cellular industry.