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The YouTube star and American socialite Jeffree Star are always in the news. The former singer-songwriter tried for a while to stay out of the spotlight, but that didn't last very long.
Star just posted a picture of himself with his “NFL boo,” which has blown up the internet. Star's “NFL boo” hasn't been named yet, but you can bet that the internet will find out.
This time might be a little harder since Star's “NFL boo” doesn't have any hand tattoos that can be seen. Fans of the YouTuber who has made millions of dollars are already making guesses in the comments section and working hard to figure out who the mystery man is.
Who is Jeffree Star Dating Now?
Jeffree Star has teased several of his collaborators throughout the years, and 2023 is no exception. On social media in January, the 37-year-old beauty guru hinted at a new romance.
He first tweeted a photo of himself holding hands with someone he described as his “NFL boo” on what seems to be a private jet.
“Goodbye LA, time to spend time with my #NFL boo in Wyoming,” he posted at the time, referring to his new residence. After selling his Hidden Hills property in California, Star relocated to Casper, Wyoming in 2020. A few days later, he tweeted another photo showcasing how tall his new man is.
Goodbye LA, time to spend time with my #NFL boo in Wyoming 🏈 pic.twitter.com/wgOuPP4GZy
— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) January 27, 2023
“His team didn't make it to the #SuperBowl, but he's 6'6 and plays amazing in the bedroom,” he said in the tweet's caption. The name of Star's purported NFL man has yet to be revealed.
Who is Jeffree Star?
Jeffree Star is a YouTuber, makeup artist, and former singer-songwriter from the United States. He's well-known for his showy appearance, androgynous fashion sense, and celebrity squabbles. Following his popularity on MySpace, Star launched his music career as an independent singer.
READ ALSO:–Is Jenna Ortega Dating Anyone? A Deeper Look Into The Wednesday Star's Love Life!
He shifted his concentration to the pop and electronica genres, performing and producing original material. Early in his career, he became a trendy topic, finally signing with Akon's Konvict Muzik in 2010. Star never achieved the success he hoped for when he signed with Konvict Muzik, and he eventually departed music in 2013.
Since then, Star has devoted his entire attention to YouTube, where he has amassed over 17 million members. Jeffree Star Cosmetics, his e-commerce makeup brand, is promoted in videos on his channel. Star has generated millions of dollars from ad revenue and other endeavors thanks to his YouTube channel. So you can bet he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Jeffree Star: Past Relationships
Star was in a five-year relationship with Nathan Schwandt before he was said to be an NFL player. From 2015 to 2020, they were together. When they broke up, Star was “devastated,” but they are still good friends.
“I'll always care about him. Do we care about each other? No. But we love each other, and he will always be in my life,” Star said in an emotional YouTube video called “We Broke Up.”
READ ALSO:–Kirstie Alley’s Dating History: What is the Current Relationship Status?
Star was also linked to another YouTube star, Chris Crocker, from 2005 to 2009, and to basketball player Andre Marhold.

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These are great games to keep players entertained during the festive season, and we hope that they will add to the festivities for everyone
(PRWEB) December 24, 2008
Leading online casino and games portal, New Online Slots, has reviewed the latest online slots games to be released by software providers Microgaming and Real Time Gaming.
"As we're headed into the final stretch of 2008, it's good to know that there are some new games to see out the year, and we have provided in-depth reviews of these games, with recommendations of where they can be played," says Ryan D, Editor of New Online Slots.
Real Time Gaming has released five more games in its Real Series of Slots. "After Microgaming's shock withdrawal from the United States market last month, players in the US can still look forward to getting entertained at Real Time Gaming Casinos," says Ryan D. " Real Time Gaming continue to expand on its portfolio of games which is good news for players all over the world."
The most interesting and fun game in the new release is the coming to life on the reels of the famous wooden boy, Pinocchio Slot Machine. This is a 20 line game with free spins that can be re-triggered. The game has a maximum payout of 40,000 times the line bet and also has a random side jackpot that can pay out any time. "Other software providers have released games based on many different cult figures such as Spiderman and Elvis. Pinocchio is something different that is sure to be popular," says Ryan.
The second game in the release is the mystically themed Warlocks Spell, also a 20 line video slot. The game has the Potion Prize bonus feature, where the player can make their own potion, using ingredients they pick. Get the right recipe and win up to 100 free spins where all winnings are tripled.
The RTG release also includes Medal Tally, with an athletics theme, Golden Retriever for dog lovers and Crazy Vegas, with it's Elvis theme. All of these games can be played at top RTG casinos like Slots Plus Casino, where you can get a $500 bonus.
Microgaming has released its December game pack wit three new games to entertain players over the holidays.
The first game is the Christmas-themed Deck The Halls, which is a real feast of color and sound. The game these is perfect for the festive season with Christmas trees, reindeers, roast turkey, blazing log fires and gift stockings. No Christmas game would be complete without Santa Claus, who delivers the popular stacking feature in both the base game and in the Free Spins awards where wins are can be doubled up to a massive to 2.4 million coins.
A real standout game is the new My Slot, a real breakthrough in slot machine gaming from Microgaming. In this new concept, you get to design your own slot, using your own themes and sounds.
The next game is the Gun toting Sunset Showdown, which has a gamble feature offering players the chance to double or quadruple their winnings and round off a great Western adventure. The top prize is a possible 61 130.00 on this low volatility 97 percent payout slot.
The release is rounded out by the 20 line Reel Baron, with its aviator theme and a 100 000 max win during free spins.
Players can visit Platinum Play Casino to try these and over 300 other Microgaming games.
"These are great games to keep players entertained during the festive season, and we hope that they will add to the festivities for everyone," says Ryan.
In addition to hundreds of slots machine game reviews, New-Online-Slots.com provides information about online slots games. They rate some of the best slot machine casinos, and publish regular free articles for slots players covering many topics such as, game strategies and money management.


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The York County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to rename the York County Sports Complex after former County Administrator James O. "Mac" McReynolds who died of an apparent heart attack in October.
"Anybody that ever dealt with Mac outside in the community understands his ability to remember things — he had an 18-pound brain," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Shepperd.
During McReynolds' tenure, he oversaw projects such as the development of a multi-faceted recreational, cultural and commercial area at York County's waterfront; a AAA bond rating for the county; and the sporting complex off of Route 17 for thousands of York County residents, the resolution stated.
York supervisors also approved a special-use permit for a home-based meadery with one non-resident employee. Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from honey, water and yeast.
The meadery, called Artisan Meads LLC, would be located in a detached garage on 0.29 acres of land at 117 Whites Lane in Seaford. Interim County Administrator Mark Carter recommended the board approve the special-use permit because he said it would have "little if any impact on the surrounding area," according to a county document.
The applicants, John Ragan and Zeb Johnston, said there weren't any safety concerns and that the product with 12 percent alcohol would smell like honey. The garage would be used mostly to store tanks used for two months to ferment the honey, the applicants said. Then the mead would be bottled and aged.
The plan is to sell the alcoholic beverages to restaurants and wine stores through the Virginia Winery Distribution Co., which allows companies to sell their product online and deliver it directly to the local retailer, the applicants said.
The supervisors also approved a special-use permit for a home-based natural health consultant office with retail herb sales and customer visits. The natural health office would be located on 0.57 acres of land at 108 Bonito Drive in York County.
Somers can be reached by phone at 757-298-5176.


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IT started with a pair of "good butt pants" and over the past decade has transformed into one of WA's most successful fashion stories.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, local label Morrison is planning a catwalk spectacle to kick-start the Perth Fashion Festival - with an after-party to match.
Designer Kylie Radford was keeping tight-lipped but said she was designing new pieces.
"We started off thinking we would simply show our summer Restrospect collection, but it's been three years since we've shown at PFF and we got carried away in the excitement," she said.
Ms Radford said guests could expect plenty of classic Morrison and a big injection of bold print.
"We still have our basics and bestsellers like the good butt pants," she said. "Over the years the silhouette has changed - the leg used to be quite wide and now it's narrow.
"We'll also be showcasing our tropical print which has been hugely popular. Our customers are really enjoying wearing the full print - matching the top and bottom."
Since 2002 Morrison has grown into a nationally recognised brand.
In 2010 Radford and her husband, and business partner, Richard Poulson, were placed on the BRW Young Rich List with an estimated $42 million wealth.
"When we started we didn't have any expectations, and I guess we still don't," she said.
"Our focus has always been to remain a sustainable brand that we are proud of and we will continue to think like that."
This week the company shifted headquarters to a location overlooking South Beach in Fremantle.


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Microsoft's new Xbox night mode lets users dim controller's LED brightness
Tech giant Microsoft will be soon bringing a new night mode for Xbox consoles which will let its users dim a controller's LED brightness.
- United States
Tech giant Microsoft will be soon bringing a new night mode for Xbox consoles which will let its users dim a controller's LED brightness. According to The Verge, the American software company has already started testing this night mode with Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring on Friday (local time), and "it allows Xbox owners to dim their screens, controller LED brightness and even the Xbox power button."
The Xbox night mode allows for a lot of customization, including different dimming levels and an optional blue light filter. Microsoft will also allow the Xbox owners to dim the LED brightness on their controllers through this night mode and dim the Xbox power button light or turn it off.
Users will also be able to set an Xbox to switch to the system dark mode and disable HDR when the night mode is enabled, as per The Verge. Reportedly, this Xbox night mode will also be able to set a schedule, either a manual one or an automatic one that will enable it at sunset and disable it at sunrise.
The testing is currently undergoing by the company with Xbox Insiders, so as per The Verge users can expect to see it filter through the various testing channels in the coming weeks before arriving on all Xbox consoles soon. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Binance Coin is Going to Zero as $500 Million Sends BNB Price Lower While Green Crypto Ecoterra Just Raised $5.5 Million – What Does it Do?
Binance, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, has changed its initial decision to delist several privacy coins in Europe.
This comes after the exchange revised its operations to ensure compliance with European Union (EU) regulations.
Binance stated, "After carefully considering feedback from our community and several projects, we have revised how we classify privacy coins on our platform to comply with EU-wide regulatory requirements."
The exchange is bound by the laws and regulations of the European Union jurisdictions in which it operates. As per these regulations, the exchange is obligated to perform transaction monitoring for all the coins that are listed on the platform.
This reversal has led to assurances from various crypto projects on social media, confirming their continued listing on Binance.
In a bid to establish itself as a prominent hub for digital assets and cryptocurrency, the European Union is making progress in refining its standards for these assets. The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations, which were recently approved on May 31, are a part of this effort.
With these regulations, EU policymakers seek to create a transparent and conducive environment for digital assets, thereby making Europe an attractive destination for cryptocurrency and digital asset-related businesses.
Binance Coin Technical Analysis: Potential Downtrend Continues
In light of recent events, Binance Coin (BNB) has experienced a drawback after failing to break out from the 20-day EMA at $250.5 and the Fib 0.3872 level at $257.5.
The cryptocurrency has since retreated, breaking down below the Fib 0.236 level at $243.4.
Technical indicators suggest further downside for BNB, with key levels including a 20-day EMA of $250.5, a 50-day EMA of $273.4, and a 100-day EMA of $288.6.
The RSI stands at 35.01, unchanged from yesterday, while the MACD histogram has risen slightly to 1.9.
The market cap is currently at $37 billion, down 0.26%, and the 24-hour volume has decreased by 15.85% to $410 million.
The current price of BNB is $238.8, with a resistance level at the Fib 0.236 level of $243.4 and immediate support between $220.6 and $231.1.
Considering the current technical indicators, BNB is likely to experience further downside movement.
Traders are advised to stay cautious and monitor the key support levels at $220.6 and $231.1, as a break below these levels could indicate a more pronounced downtrend.
On the other hand, a recovery above the Fib 0.236 level at $243.4 might signal a potential trend reversal.
As Binance Coin faces difficulties from tightened EU regulations, a new green cryptocurrency called ecoterra is gaining attention with its approach to recycling incentives and environmental responsibility.
ecoterra: Encouraging Environmental Responsibility through Crypto Technology
Eco-crypto initiative ecoterra's presale is gaining momentum, collecting over $5.4 million so far.
The founders of ecoterra have networked with prominent sustainable tech companies such as Tesla and Audi at Berlin's premier Green Tech Summit.
The ecoterra team is working diligently to launch the beta version of its R2E application, which will be available on both desktop and mobile platforms.
The app will support countries using Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), opening up a substantial potential market.
With its user-friendly and intuitive interface, the platform intends to make recycling and carbon offsetting more accessible to people and businesses.
Scheduled for release by the end of the year, the alpha version of ecoterra's R2E application is part of the project's $ECOTERRA-powered web3 ecosystem.
This comprehensive solution is designed to encourage recycling through its R2E system, facilitate trade in recycled materials, and help users offset their carbon footprint.
ecoterra: A Potential Favorite for 2023's Best Green Crypto?
Industry observers are considering ecoterra as one of the most promising web3 projects this year. Analysts have ranked it as one of the top green cryptocurrencies to invest in.
The upcoming release of the demo version of ecoterra's R2E app is expected to fuel its presale growth, which has already been impressive since its launch just over two months ago.
The $ECOTERRA token, the foundation of ecoterra's blockchain-powered ecosystem, is currently priced at $0.00925 each.
However, investors will need to act quickly if they want to secure the token at a favorable rate.
Once the pre-sale reaches $5.7 million, the token price will increase to $0.01. After hitting the $6.7 million milestone, the token will launch on major crypto exchanges.
ecoterra's web3 application will leverage blockchain technology to encourage sustainable practices by rewarding recycling, simplifying carbon offsetting, and tracking environmental impact.
Through the platform, users will receive $ECOTERRA tokens as a reward for recycling, and they will be able to access a carbon offset marketplace to offset their emissions.
ecoterra will also introduce a recycled materials marketplace, which will allow businesses to purchase recycled goods using $ECOTERRA or other cryptocurrencies.
Additionally, ecoterra's Impact Trackable Profile will enable users to monitor their eco-friendly practices and progress, offering valuable insights for businesses seeking to improve their brand reputation and customer loyalty.
By utilizing these cutting-edge features, ecoterra intends to become a leading blockchain-powered platform for promoting sustainable practices in the future.
With the potential for significant gains and built-in utility, $ECOTERRA is attracting attention in the green crypto market.
As the world focuses on addressing climate change, ecoterra's unique approach to environmental stewardship through cryptocurrency technology is generating interest among industry analysts and investors alike.
Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com.


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SUSHI, spaghetti and sardines will all be served up in Marbella’s brand new market.
An eclectic, international gourmet market is launching with stalls from 14 different countries serving up traditional dishes.
As well as catering for foreign foodies, the market will also include Spanish seafood dishes along with a plethora of tapas dishes.
The market, being called Ambrosia, is expected to create more than 100 jobs in Marbella.
The launch is planned for July 24 and the market will be open from 9am until midnight.


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Business owners in the 1300 block of Foothill Boulevard said they are feeling frustrated and vulnerable after being burglarized three times in as many weeks.
The most recent burglary occurred at 1:30 a.m. Monday, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Det. Brian Tibbett. Suspects smashed the front glass door and glass display cases at All About Watches and stole several watches and pieces of jewelry.
The watch shop had been burglarized less than three weeks earlier when suspects broke in through the back door in the early-morning hours of June 16, smashed the display cases and stole at least four watches worth several hundred dollars each, according to sheriff's officials. An adjacent business, Lovely Nails, was broken into the same night, and a television set was stolen.
And on June 30 shortly before midnight, Lovely Nails and Cowgirl Princess were broken into. This time the nail salon was ransacked, and about 500 bottles of nail polish, a nail dryer, toilet paper and Styrofoam cups were stolen, according to manager Kim Tran.
Cowgirl Princess, a women's clothing boutique, was left largely undisturbed. However, the burglars did steal two pairs of boots and two pairs of shoes that were near the back entrance, said owner Kristina Zitkovich.
"They have come to the block three times in 2 1/2 weeks," Zitkovich said. "It is scary."
The business owners are doing their best to recover from the burglaries and warn others to remain on high alert. The morning after Lovely Nails was ransacked, the nail technicians were left without nail polish to use on their customers, Tran said. Zitkovich sent out a message via her customer e-mail list asking people for donations.
"The next day she e-mailed [her contact list], and some customers came to give me five, six, 10 [bottles of nail polish]," Tran said.
Tran said she worked at Lovely Nails for nearly 17 years without incident, even when she forgot to lock the door a couple of times. Since the break-ins, she makes sure there are always at least two employees on site during the evening.
Kari Avanezov, owner of All About Watches, said he continues to inventory his merchandise to determine what is missing. Insurance will cover a portion of his losses, he said, and the glass door and display cases will be replaced.
"I want the police to get them, that is what I want," Avanezov said.
Detectives continue to investigate, Tibbett said, and area businesses are being encouraged to take extra precautions.
"The immediate area has been combed for clues, and business owners have been spoken to," Tibbett said.


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Hamilton Thorne’s Sales and Net Income Rise in 2015
BEVERLY, Mass. — Hamilton Thorne Ltd. has reported a record $9.03 million in sales for the 2015 fiscal year, up 4 percent from the previous year.
The company attributed the growth to strong sales of computer assisted sperm analysis products and LYKOS clinical laser systems, as well as increased revenues from after-sale services and a growing contribution from its newly acquired Oosight product line from PerkinElmer, which allows the user to visualize and quantify structures within an unfertilized egg that are not visible with conventional microscopy.
Fiscal 2015 reported net income totaled $1.03 million, a 20 percent increase over the prior year. Cash flow from operations increased to $1.06 million, up 58 percent for the year, and total cash at December 31, 2015 increased to $4.3 million.
Hamilton Thorne provides precision laser devices and image analysis systems for assisted reproductive technologies, regenerative medicine and developmental biology markets.


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Indore, Aug 11 (PTI) Prices of pulses have begun to drop in Madhya Pradesh following the Centres decision to import lentils and on expectations of good production in the current kharif season. "The retail price of tuar (arhar) daal on July 15 was about Rs 118-130 per kg, but now it is selling at Rs 100-108 per kg," Madhya Pradesh Daal Udyog Mahasanghs president Suresh Agrawal said. In the last one month, wholesale prices of moong, urad and masoor daal too had come down, he told PTI. The Centre recently decided to import pulses, which would increase the supply. This, coupled with expectation of a good kharif production, led to fall in the prices, Agrawal said. PTI HWP MAS KRK MR SRE
Prices of pulses falling in Madhya Pradesh
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from


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Imagination Technologies is retrenching, getting rid of several product lines it picked up through a string of acquisitions and laying off 350 people, or roughly 20% of its workforce.
Imagination Technologies Group plc , a supplier to Apple and Samsung, has been squeezed by slowing smartphone sales, a key factor compelling the company to slash costs. In January it revealed plans to reduce its cost base by roughly $20 million this year, and today it said it is looking to cut another roughly $16 million in 2017, plus write off roughly $6.5 million in assets.
Moving forward, the company intends to concentrate on its PowerVR GPU line, its MIPS processors and Ensigma RF processing ICs. There are no planned reductions in these areas, the company stated. In fact Imagination said it is seeking to fill over 50 roles in its PowerVR business.
The company said its MIPS business is strong in networking, set top boxes and embedded processing and Ensigma remains attractive in WiFi and Bluetooth applications.
here on Light Reading.
A layoff of 150 was part of the previously announced cost cuttings; today's announcement adds another 200.
The company had previously announced its intention to sell its Pure operation by the end of this year. Pure produces radios for the consumer market. Imagination said its system on a chip (SoC) design business will be refocused and rescaled.
In the last six years, Imagination pulled off a short string of strategic acquisitions, including Caustic Graphics, multimedia IC specialist Nethra Imaging and CPU maker MIPS Technologies.
Longtime CEO Hossein Yassaie stepped down in February, simultaneous with the first announcement of retrenchments at the company.
— Brian Santo, Senior Editor, Components, T&M, Light Reading


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What daunting task? New chief takes Logan’s turnaround in stride
Jim Mazany, new CEO of parent company SPB Hospitality, points out that he’s walked this path a time or two before.
Logan’s parent fires its furloughed employees
The move comes after bankruptcy-court supervisors fired CEO Hazem Ouf and CFO Jim Lebs for paying sales taxes without permission.
More than half of the restaurant industry’s $491 billion in sales come from the Top 500 chains. And these giants grew at a modestly stronger rate, both in terms of sales and store counts, than the industry overall. Restaurant Business focused on the leading 250 performers to identify trends for our first-ever special report delivering lessons from Technomic’s annual Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. This special package includes lessons for all operators from the largest chains by segment, menu category and more.


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As Donald Trump raises political sympathy by using rhetoric against Ford Company, the Auto Industry’s output jumped 10.6 percent in July 2015. Mr. Trump’s remarks in Michigan, on July 12th 2015, questioned Ford Company for planning on building a $U2.5 billion dollars assembling plant in Mexico. The Republican Candidate suggested investments should be driven by national sentiments rather than by profits and economic opportunity. Judging by recent data released on Industry Capacity, the car industry seems to be doing business the right way since its index of industry utilization just jumped to 10.6 percent, whereas production elsewhere in manufacturing increased only by 0.1 percent in July 2015.
Generally speaking, and for Mr. Trump’s information, the largest increase in industrial output for the month of July of 2015 was seen in consumer goods thanks to production in automotive products. It is hard to believe that the car industry is building a plant that would not make economic sense for the company. In fact, Mr. Trump seems to ignore that the industry is doing so well that it shined among other manufacturing related business. Output in other industries such as Machinery, Aerospace and Miscellaneous Transportation, and Miscellaneous Manufacturing declined by 0.2 percent during the same month. Nonetheless, indexes measuring nondurable goods barely moved up in July. Apparel, Paper, and plastic and rubber products increased 1.0 percent each, while petroleum and textile products actually showed losses. So, clearly Mr. Trump is demanding an economic nonsense. It is hard to believe he manages his real estate business with his political standard.
The intersection of politics and economic fosters policy debates in which advocates, such as Mr. Trump, champion their opinions. However, what have remained steady along the years in the United States is the principle of free enterprise which leads the entire economy. Unless Mr. Trump’s remarks were intended to signal the willingness to installing a centralized economy in US, his opinion on Ford Co. business seem more like a statement of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
Likewise, “the index for business equipment edged up, as an increase of 3.5 percent for transit equipment was mostly offset by a decrease of 1.5 percent for industrial and other equipment”, reported the US Federal reserve in its monthly publication on Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization. Consumer durable goods index rose by 1.2 percent.


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Weddings are back on – and so is the honeymoon
- Luxury travel firm Kuoni reports increase in honeymoon enquiries
Honeymoons are back on the map for thousands of couples, with luxury travel company Kuoni reporting its had a strong upswing in honeymoon enquiries since last weekend.
With news that weddings and civil partnerships of up to 30 people are allowed to take place in England alongside an easing of travel restrictions means couples are now keen to plan their dream trip away.
New enquiries over the past week were at their highest level since lockdown and Kuoni has seen thousands of honeymoon searches online over the past few days.
About 73,600 weddings and same-sex civil partnership ceremonies were postponed according to the Office for National Statistics.
Alongside that, many thousands of honeymoon plans have also been thrown into disarray.
Over the past three months Kuoni has helped couples throughout the UK re-arrange their honeymoon plans and cancelling trips of a lifetime.
But following news that the FCO travel advice and quarantine measures have been dropped for some safe “corridors”, interest is growing in luxury short breaks in Europe and the UK as couples seek an immediate post-nuptial escape.
Kuoni has seem more couples asking about luxury “minimoon” escape this year, followed by a big long-haul adventure for travel in 2021 or 2022, with many hotels keen to entice couples with added-value upgrade offers.
Derek Jones, CEO of Kuoni, said: “Weddings are now back on albeit in a smaller way for now - and so is the honeymoon as couples start to re-organise their special day. Alongside that we’re helping more and more couples each week plan what is essentially the most important holiday of their lifetime and the past week has shown a clear upswing in demand and a renewed confidence to go ahead and book.”
“With smaller weddings of up to 30 possible in England this year, we’ve had couples come to us looking for a short escape this year to places including Spain, Italy and Greece, and deciding that they’ll do their “big trip” later and make it bigger and better than ever.”
Kuoni reports that many couples are upgrading their honeymoon plans for next year and even the year after, with many couples saying that they will now have longer to save and are either extending their stay, with multiple centre destinations, upgrading their accommodation to luxury pool villas and adding experiences such as balloon trips over the Maasai Mara, private champagne picnics on deserted islands or overnight stay in an Africa treehouse.
Most popular long-haul destinations for 2021 honeymoons are:
1. The Maldives
2. Sri Lanka
4. Kenya & Tanzania
5. South Africa
And for mini-moon escapes this year:
UK and Ireland
Kuoni Travel UK is part of DER Touristik, one of Europe’s leading travel groups. Kuoni has continued to set the pace in luxury worldwide travel in the UK market for the past 55 years and is regularly voted one of the best holiday companies in the country by readers of national newspapers and travel industry titles. The company excels in creating tailor-made holidays and honeymoons to more than 90 destinations around the world. Since 2008 Kuoni has grown its retail network across the UK and can be found in 48 locations on premium high streets and in selected John Lewis department stores. Each store is unique in design and showcases Kuoni’s Personal Travel Experts and personalised customer service.


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Clinique has introduced a new Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil designed to remove long-lasting makeup as well as products with a built-in sunscreen.
Clinique says that the cleanser is light enough for all skin types, even oily.
Just spread over dry skin and massage to dissolve makeup. Then rinse with warm water. Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil is $27 at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.
More shopping news
■ The 127 Yard Sale is Aug. 7 through 10 along 690 miles of U.S. 127 from just north of Addison, Mich., south to Gadsden, Ala. The annual sale includes yard sales at private homes and at businesses along the way. Communities in Kentucky include Covington, Frankfort, Harrodsburg and Albany. Go to 127sale.com for more info.
■ The North Limestone Community Development Corp. will host its next Night Market 7 to 10 p.m. Friday along the 700 block of Bryan Avenue. The event will include food and drink vendors, local retailers and music.
■ The annual Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Craft Fair features more than 75 vendor booths. Merchandise includes Shaker reproductions, pottery, metal works, basketry and more.
It's 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Shaker Village in Harrodsburg. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for 5 and younger. Admission includes entrance to the fair and access to activities at Shaker Village.
■ Save up to 75 percent off clothing and accessories at the Keeneland Gift Shop Summer Sidewalk Sale. The event started Thursday and continues 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the sidewalk next to the gift shop and the Keeneland Paddock. Brands include Peter Millar, Sail to Sable, Elizabeth McKay and Vineyard Vines.
■ At Bella Rose, 126 West Maxwell Street, save 10 percent on all regular-price merchandise on Aug. 7. Ten percent of sales will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Customers can enter a drawing for a $300 gift certificate and hors d'oeuvres will be served.


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Last October 31, 2019, Auro Chocolate and Jose Saguban made history for the Philippines as they won the first ever Top 20 Best Cacao Beans Award during the prestigious International Cocoa Awards (ICA) held in Salon du Chocolat Paris by the Cocoa of Excellence Programme (CoEx).
30 Oct 30 2019 ICA Awarding Night - Mang Jose Saguban received the Top 20 Best Cacao Beans Recognition together with the Auro Chocolate Team
ICA is a global competition organised by CoEx, recognizing the work of cocoa farmers and celebrating the diversity of cocoa flavours. For the 2019 Edition, CoEx received 223 samples from 55 cocoa-producing countries which were transformed into liquor and evaluated by the CoEx Technical Committee. among hundreds of samples, Mang Jose Saguban’s cacao beans was chosen as part of the Top 20 awardees. Winners were announced in Paris during Salon du Chocolat 2019 (SDC), the most anticipated and prestigious global event dedicated to celebrating chocolate and cacao.
Mang Jose together with the Reserve Collection - 70% Dark Chocolate Paquibato
Jose Saguban of Paquibato, Davao is one of Auro Chocolate’s original farming partners. The founders of Auro Chocolate, Jackie and Kelly Go and Mark Ocampo, first met Mang Jose in October 2015, and were impressed by his passion for cacao and leadership in the community. Mang Jose has been growing cacao since the 1970s and believes in planting cacao that he personally enjoys consuming and not just blindly following the advice of others. As a result, he has a lot of older varieties of cacao in his farm. While Auro’s founders saw the fine flavor potential of Mang Jose’s cacao, they also recognized that he needed a lot of training and guidance as he had limited technical expertise and post-harvest facilities. Mang Jose is currently exclusively supplying cacao beans to Auro Chocolate.
Since late 2015, Auro Chocolate has been working with Mang Jose and the Paquibato Tree Developer’s Cooperative (PTDC) on quality and post-harvest protocols that have been developed to maximize flavor. Auro Chocolate Team mentored and helped in preparing the data and samples that Auro Chocolate sponsored for entry into the competition. It was a joint effort with other members of the PTDC using Auro’s post-harvest protocols as a result of our partnership.
“We both screamed when Mang Jose’s Top 20 award was announced in front of global cacao industry leaders. It was the culmination of the long journey we have been on with Jose Sagoban of Paquibato Tree Developers Cooperative and all the other farmers who have placed their trust on the Auro Chocolate team since 2015. We are incredibly proud that we got to share the stage with Mang Jose that night, and feel inspired to continue taking the path less traveled to strive towards excellence so we can continue to help more farmers. ” - Kelly Go and Mark Ocampo, Co-Founders of Auro Chocolate
Mang Jose with the iconic Eiffel Tower of France
Upon finding out that Mang Jose’s cacao beans made it to the Top 50, Auro Chocolate decided to fly Mang Jose to Paris to personally receive his recognition. The trip was full of firsts not only for Auro Chocolate but most especially for Mang Jose, from his first time on an airplane to his first sip of red wine. The best surprise of the trip was when he also received the highest accolade of being part of the Top 20 Best Cacao Beans in the World - a first for the Philippines.
With Mang Jose’s win, Auro Chocolate hopes that it will inspire a new generation of farmers to continue their legacy. It is Auro Chocolate’s mission to empower farmers like Mang Jose to bring better recognition to more marginalized areas and people in the Philippines and to showcase the fine quality of our cacao on the international stage.


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There have been changes in the personnel of our company.
Tapani Renkola has been appointed CEO. Tapani Renkola has previously held the position of CEO of our company in 2005–2020. Jyrki Vainio, who held the position, is no longer employed by our company.
Lauri Hindström has started as a Business Director in our company. Lauri Hindström has previously served as CEO of Hermetel Oy and before that as Country Manager for Huurre Group.
In the future, you can contact Lauri Hindström (+358 40 485 3415 / email@example.com) or Tapani Renkola (+358 400 795 077 / firstname.lastname@example.org) and your customer-responsible salesperson, as before.


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September 3, 2014 |
MUMBAI: Asian Paints today said it has roped in Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone to endorse its brand, Royale Play. This is the first time that the Rs 127.15 billion revenue earning company has appointed a brand ambassador to market its product, which identified women as its target group, way back in 2004. "Deepika is today's modern youth style icon. I believe that she really embodies values that we wish to epitomise through our brand Royale Play ," Asian Paints President for Market Technology.
August 21, 2014 |
NEW DELHI: Movie companies are betting on Twitter and Facebook to woo audiences and rake in the numbers for their films. Last week, the cast of 'Happy New Year' - Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan , Sonu Sood and Boman Irani - changed their names on Twitter to their movie names. Actress Deepika Padukone changed her name to Finding Fanny for her upcoming movie. Twitter says Bollywood has been a big segment for the social media platform this year and it will continue to provide backend support for movie tie-ups.
August 20, 2014 |
The advertising world shares its most memorable and strange shoots with celebrities. These tales of agony, horror and comedy go way beyond the usual narratives — 'no available dates', hovering handlers and running 10-hours late. Here are advertising's close encounters of the celeb kind: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Extras Here's a celebrity endorser type that's fun to have on sets but also is most likely to run away in his vanity van with some extras for company.
July 29, 2014 |
By Kingshuk Nag When Rajnath Singh spoke in Hindi before a flummoxed audience at a UN function in Delhi earlier this month, he was only carrying forward the obsession of his party for the north Indian language. The home minister's utterances in his mother tongue came less than a month after the party found itself at the receiving end for a direction to ministries to use Hindi to communicate on the social media. The controversy was sought to be defused by asserting that directions were intended for communicating with audiences in Hindi-speaking states but the damage had been done.
July 21, 2014 |
NEW DELHI: Actress Huma Qureshi is not a fan of size zero and says being curvy is an asset for her as she feels men prefer women who are a little on the plus side. The 25-year-old actress recently posed for a magazine in which she proudly flaunted her curves, sending out a strong message on how women are often forced to conform to a certain type of body shape in showbiz. "I have always been very confident being curvy. I think it is all about feeling good and accepting yourself the way you are. There is no such rule that being skinny is the right way to go about.
July 20, 2014 |
From watches to sportswear to jewellery to apparel to even soap, the connection between Bollywood and fashion goes back a long way — perhaps more than 80 years back Leela Chitnis became beauty brand Lux's first brand ambassador (followed by the likes of Madhubala, Nargis and Waheeda Rahman). Today, in the digital age, even as Lux persists with the starlet formula — its latest endorser is Deepika Padukone — there's a relatively new segment of retailing that's reaching out to the Bollywood brigade.
July 3, 2014 |
By Nimisha Tiwari There's no denying the impressive reach and razor-sharp influence that Bollywood commands today — Not just within India but beyond the borders as well. Thanks to our desi filmmakers who take fancy to foreign locations, evolve their film scripts and happily shoot their film sequences for a large audience-base. The result, amazing cinematography, beautiful cityscapes and global fan-following. Truly, Bollywood has its tentacles spread across countries and how. But then who's complaining as the international tourism boards are able to reach out to their target Indian audiences (India is a prime tourism market for most countries, thanks to its encouraging economy)
July 3, 2014
Rashmi Henriques The influence of Bollywood in us Indians' life is prolific. The clothes we see Indian actors and actress' wear, the dialogues and even the exotic locations they visit — all finds prominence on our wishlist. Late Yash Chopra showed his love for Kashmir in his movies, Rohit Shetty showcased the streets of Goa and tea estates of Munnar on reel with much fanfare and recently Imtiaz Ali made the audiences fall in love with Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. And Sanjay Leela Bhansali took immense effort to recreate the lives of villagers of Kutch in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.
June 26, 2014 |
NEW DELHI: Hindi film director Ashutosh Gowarikar recently bought the rights to make a film based on Marc Levy's novel 'Seven Days for an Eternity'. He didn't even had to meet the French author for the rights, thanks to The Adaptation Company, a new entity that trades in content. Founded by Sunil Doshi, producer of films like 'Bheja Fry' and 'Mixed Doubles', one of the businesses of The Adaptation Company is buying intellectual property rights (IPR) of books, classic stories, foreign films and so on from multiple sources, and selling them to production houses to make films.
June 21, 2014 |
The style mantra of the current generation seems to be a riff on Mambo No5. Remember the lyrics that went "A little bit of Monica in my life/A little bit of Erica by my side/...A little bit of Jessica here I am/A little bit of you makes me your man"? With apologies to Lou Bega, today's Fashion 101 is a little bit of Kareena, Alia and, a lot of "just me". Once Indians mindlessly copied the style of their favourite stars, down to the last accessory. "Heroines like Hema Malini , Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi spawned trends in their times," recounts designer Anita Dongre . That, by extension, had meant good business for the designers who created these "looks".


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Port and Coastal Logistics Groups Announce Partnership
Alliance extends geographic reach for both companies and completes Port Logistics Group's national footprint. Port Logistics Group, the nation's leading provider of gateway logistics services, and Coastal Logistics Group, Inc. (CLG), a leading Southeast logistics provider, today announced a partnership that extends geographic reach and service offerings for both companies. The partnership will allow the companies to offer complete logistics solutions at all major U.S. import and export gateways.
Port Logistics Companies Form Strategic Partnership
Port Logistics Group, a provider of gateway logistics services, and Coastal Logistics Group Inc. (CLG), a Southeast logistics provider, have announced a partnership that extends geographic reach and service offerings for both companies. The partnership will allow the companies to offer complete logistics solutions at all major U.S. import and export gateways. Port Logistics Group and its partners operate more than 4 million square feet of warehouse space in and around the ports of New York/New Jersey, LA/Long Beach, and Seattle. Coastal Logistics Group, Inc. serves the Southeast gateway through locations in Savannah, Norfolk and Memphis.
Allcargo Acquires 2 Vessels for Coastal Operations
Allcargo Logistics has announced the acquisition of two additional vessels aggregating 24000 DWT. for its coastal shipping business. Post this acquisition Allcargo now owns a total of five cargo vessels making it one of the largest players in the logistics industry. The main criterion for this acquisition was to cater to the growing requirements not only of coastal shipping but regional trade and commerce as well. India has over 7,000 km of coastline. Considering India’s demography and strategic location as a global trade hub…
Sagarmala: Revolutionizing Logistics Through Port Led Development
Sagarmala, the ambitious program for ‘Port-led development’ in the country is all set to change the logistics sector performance by optimizing India’s logistics modal mix. The flagship program by the Ministry of Shipping will help in reducing the logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimized infrastructure investment. An overall cost savings of approximately $6 billion per annum by 2025 is estimated from the same. According to a study conducted under the Sagarmala programme, there lies a significant potential for moving raw materials and finished products using coastal shipping and inland waterways which is 60-80% cheaper than road or rail transport.
US Senators from 12 States Seek Offshore Drilling Exemptions like Florida's
Twenty-two Democratic U.S. senators from 12 states on Thursday joined the chorus of local representatives seeking exemptions from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's newly proposed offshore drilling plan, after his surprise move on Tuesday to shield Florida. Zinke surprised lawmakers, governors, and industry groups on Tuesday night by announcing that Florida would be removed from the Interior Department's proposal to open up over 90 percent of federal waters to oil and gas leasing.
A.P. Moeller Strategizes Purchase of DSL's Assets
The transport unit of Danish oil and shipping group A.P. Moeller, Maersk Logistics, said on Thursday it planned to buy certain activities and assets of global logistics company Distribution Services Ltd (DSL). "The deal is not yet closed and the amount would be undisclosed," Maersk Logistics said. DSL, with headquarters in both the U.S. and Hong Kong, has 200 operating offices in 60 countries and 1,500 employees. Maersk Logistics would acquire the activities, assets and related operations of DSL's storage and warehouse operations, ocean transport intermediary activities and consolidation business, it said. The takeover would significantly…
India Bullish on Logistic Costs Saving through Sagarmala
Augmenting operational efficiency of ports & optimizing logistics evacuation can give boost to Indian trade and help seize the big opportunity of growth in Indian cargo traffic at ports which is estimated to increase to 2.5 bn MMTPA by 2025, says a report prepared under the Sagarmala port-led development programme of Ministry of Shipping. The Origin Destination study on cargo traffic projections & logistics bottlenecks emphasis on the need for creation of efficient infrastructure at requisite demand and logistic chain centres.
Shreyas Takes Delivery of Container Vessel
Shreyas Shipping & Logistics Company has taken the delivery of the Independent Spirit of 1,300 Teu capacity, built in 1991, on December 15, 2006. The purchase of Independent Spirit will enable the company to enhance the fleet capacity to meet the growth in its logistics business. Shreyas Shipping & Logistics is a container feeder shipping company in India. The company has six ships, out of which four ships, OEL Aishwarya, Orient Independence, OEL Patriot and OEL Victory are deployed in west coast Colombo, coastal and Shreyas India Pakistan (SIP) service. Source: Myiris
Wilhelmsen Appoints Hole Business Director
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has appointed Vidar Hole to the position of Business Director responsible for the Maritime Logistics Services portfolio. Hole will drive the design, development and launch of new offers in line with the company’s strategy and identified market and customer needs, across its range of logistics services. This includes developing new services, with particular focus on more complex logistics projects to ensure that they respond to customers’ needs. In addition…
Hutchison Ports Acquires 50% Stake in TMA
Hong Kong's Hutchison Ports has acquired a 50% shareholding in Amsterdam-headquartered terminal and logistics operator TMA Logistics. TMA has a variety of general cargo terminal operations together with warehousing, shipping, logistics and project cargo activities at three sites in Amsterdam and one in Antwerp as well as at Hutchison Ports Amsterdam (former known as Amsterdam Container Terminal). Commenting on the acquisition, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director, Hutchison Ports…
Columbia Group Announces Two New Companies
The ownership of Columbia Coastal Transport, a container barge operator on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, announced the addition of two new companies to its Columbia Group of Companies. Palmer Industries, Inc., a logistics company in Port Newark, has been acquired and will be named Columbia Container Services at a grand opening ceremony to take place on July 1, 2003. Also added to the Columbia Group of companies is Columbia Intermodal, a full container trucking company based in Port Newark. Principals of the newly acquired companies include Bruce Fenimore, President, Greg McGinty, Managing Director and John Armstrong, Vice President.
TMA Names Greg Cox 'Supporter of the Year'
'Blue Champion' Chairman Greg Cox of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has been a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 1995 and on September 9, 2013 was appointed to serve on the California Coastal Commission. Over the last 7 years The Maritime Alliance has briefed dozens of elected and appointed officials about Blue Tech and the Blue Economy. Every so often we encounter folks who just get it -- they immediately recognize the economic and social value of maritime to the region and the nation.
China to Build 2,500 Ships for Indonesia
Indonesia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Kadin) to import 2,500 short sea service ships from China starting this year. Natsir Mansyur, Vice Chairman of Kadin's Trade, Distribution and Logistics division informed Xinhua, the officeal China News Agency, that Kadin has signed the agreement with China and a total of 2,500 coastal and short sea ships worth US$5-billion will be delivered gradually within 5 years starting 2013. Transporting goods in Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago with 17,000 islands, is very costly due to poor logistics and bad infrastructure.
After Florida, more States Press US for Offshore Drilling Exemptions
Governors and other officials from several U.S. coastal states ramped up pressure on the Trump administration on Wednesday to exempt their waters from an offshore drilling plan, hours after the Interior Department granted Florida's request to opt out. The backlash could complicate President Donald Trump's efforts to expand oil and gas production offshore. A proposed leasing plan unveiled last week aims to open up all U.S. coasts to drillers over the next five years. Alaska and Maine are the only two U.S. states whose governors have expressed support for the plan.
India for Optimum Utilization of Shipping Sector
The Ministry of Shipping, India has prepared a Vision Document for “Coastal Shipping, Tourism and Regional Development” for optimum utilization of the shipping sector and coastal resources. The document envisages increasing the share of Coastal/Inland water transportation, development of coastal shipping as part of an end to end logistics supply chain, integration of inland waterways with the coastal routes and development of regional centers to generate cargo for coastal traffic.
BOEMRE Awards $1.1M to Texas
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has awarded two Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grants totaling $1,162,302 to the Texas General Land Office and to Brazoria County, Texas, respectively. The grants will fund a project to develop a Coastal Impacts Technology Program (CITP) for conservation research, and will assist in the management of the CIAP Program in Brazoria County. Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP provides funding to the six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing states to conserve and protect the coastal environment. CIAP is an ongoing program with grant funding that is allocated based on the offshore energy revenues collected by the United States.
Maritime Experts to Debate Coastal Shipping, IWT Prospects
The opportunities and challenges faced by India’s coastal shipping industry as the country strives for a more optimal modal mix among various modes of transport will top the agenda at the upcoming 3rd edition of Coastal Shipping and IWT Business Forum 2015 which takes place at the Marriott Hotel, Kochi, Kerala on 7 August. The Business Forum comes in the backdrop of a renewed thrust given to the fledgling sector by the Narendra Modi government that came to power last year. Investor-friendly policies are being framed by the shipping ministry led by Nitin Gadkari to revive coastal shipping. The government has taken the bold step to incentivize shippers for using coastal shipping and IWT with the aim of shifting cargo away from road and rail.
Columbia Coastal Transport Joins MARAD’s VISA Program
Columbia Coastal Transport, LLC, has been notified by Maritime Administrator, Captain William G. Schubert, that its application was approved for MARAD’s Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) program. Its acceptance into the VISA program allows Columbia Coastal to receive top-tier award priority for Department of Defense peacetime cargo. Columbia Coastal has also completed the contingency contracts for both the Military Traffic Management Command and Military Sealift Command which dictate terms and rates in the eventits vessels are utilized in time of war. “All of Columbia Coastal’s 14 barges are committed into the VISA program,” said Mr. Donovan Murray, General Manager Government Affairs at Columbia Coastal.
Top 20 Cruise Ports: Apply Now
The January/February 2018 edition of Maritime Logistics Professional will focus on today’s cruise shipping trends, how cruise lines are achieving a greener signature, and many other aspects of the global cruise markets. Additionally, MLPro will feature the World’s Top 20 Cruise Ports. To enter your port, apply at https://cruiseports.maritimeprofessional.com/. Contact MLPro editor Joseph Keefe with questions at 704.661.8475 or at keefe@marinelink. This edition will also feature bonus distribution at Seatrade Cruise Shipping in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Enter your port now.
Indian Maritime Development Can Create 10 Million Jobs
Indian minister for shipping Nitin Gadkari has said port and shipping sector has potential to create nearly 4 million direct jobs and 6 million indirect employment opportunities over the next 5 years. Recalling Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s thrust on port led development, Mr Gadkari said his Ministry has drawn up projects with investment potential of Rs 1,20,000 crores, (US $ 18 billion) which will be showcased at the India Maritime Summit to be held in Mumbai from April 14 -16.
New Platform for Managing Liquid Terminal Product Movements
Oceaneering International, Inc. announced that its TerminalSmart platform can now be used to manage all liquid terminal product movements across the entire facility from the dock to tanks and pipelines. Proven at the dock where it has been used by major oil and gas companies and liquid storage terminals to significantly improve efficiency during a period of unprecedented growth in vessel transportation traffic, the platform now serves as the hub for all terminal logistics, from facilitating key performance indicators (KPIs) to warning users about scheduling conflicts.
Cochin Port Begins Coastal Shipping of Cars
Cochin Port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, has begun coastal transportation of cars, with carrier ship M V Dresden carrying 500 vehicles reached with first consignment. The first call of a Car Carrier ship, M. V. Dresden wad scheduled at Cochin Port yesterday evening (September 26, 2016). The ship is a foreign carrier of Cyprus registration, which has obtained license for coastal run between the ports in India, and is of 177 m length and 7 m draft. The Car Carrier has the circuit of Ennore-Cochin-Kandla-Cochin-Ennore…
DP World Santos Appoints Dallas Hampton as New CEO
The Brazilian terminal DP World Santos will now be run by the new CEO Dallas Hampton, , an Australian executive with degrees in Business Administration, Logistics and Occupational Safety and with vast experience in the ports and logistics sectors. The modern private port terminals, situated on the left bank of the Port of Santos, announced that Ernst Schulze, who served as Chief Executive Officer for nearly six years, is stepping down to assume another opportunity at the DP World group.


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In an apparent effort to shore up support for its Windows software, Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday announced at a developer conference here that it?s bringing back the Start menu and will offer certain versions of its operating system for free.
The Start menu, which Microsoft eliminated when it released Windows 8 in 2012, will return to Windows in an update, the date of which was not announced. Meanwhile, the company said it will start offering Windows at no charge for smartphones, ?Internet of things? devices such as smart thermostats, and tablets with screens smaller than 9 inches.
The Start menu change will make it easier for consumers on PC desktops to find their applications, said Terry Myerson, the company?s executive vice president of operating systems. And by making Windows available for free, Microsoft hopes to broaden the number of devices using it, Myerson added.
?These are exciting times for us and exciting times for developers,? company CEO Satya Nadella said.
The moves also represent a change of direction for the company. Its business model was built around charging for its software, particularly Windows. And the Start-less interface in Windows 8 was meant eventually to replace the traditional computer desktop.
The changes come as Microsoft struggles to compete in a rapidly changing technology market in which it is no longer the dominant player. The traditional PC market has shrunk, and Microsoft has found little enthusiasm among consumers or its corporate customers for Windows 8. Windows Phone is a distant third in market share behind Google?s Android and Apple?s iOS. And Linux and Android are finding widespread use among other consumer electronics devices.
?They are absolutely on the defensive, with their own customers and developers,? said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis, a technology research firm. ?But they admit it.?
Many of the other announcements at Microsoft?s conference, which largely attracted software programmers, focused on new tools or technologies for building Windows applications. But many of these will also affect consumers. Among them:
The company announced a new version of the Windows Phone software that will roll out later this month. It includes a Siri-like intelligent assistant called Cortana that responds to voice queries and commands. The new software also will add a notification center that?s similar to those found on the iPhone or Android devices and a new keyboard that allows users to type words by swiping from one letter to another without picking up their fingers.
The new version of Windows Phone essentially has the same code at its base as Windows for PCs. That means developers now can create apps that will run on Windows-based smartphones, tablets and PCs. In certain cases, consumers will be able to purchase one app that they can use on their laptop and on their handheld devices. The company is working on technology that will allow users to run these new ?universal? apps on the Xbox One game system as well. Company officials demonstrated using the Khan Academy app on the Xbox One.
Microsoft is releasing a new version of the Kinect for Windows PCs based on the Kinect that Microsoft created for the Xbox One.
The upcoming version of Windows for PCs will allow users to run apps designed for the ?modern? Windows interface as traditional windowed applications in Windows 8?s desktop interface. The new feature should make it easier for those users who prefer the desktop environment to avoid having to flip back and forth between it and the touch-screen-focused modern interface.
The company showed off a new version of Office that?s designed for the modern, touch-based interface. The current version of Office for Windows 8 is a desktop app, but the company has already been working on redesigning the software for touch-screen devices. Just last week, Microsoft released versions of Word and other Office apps for Apple?s iPad. It didn?t say when it will release the touch-based version for Windows.
Several of the moves represent Microsoft?s effort to play catch-up with competitors and with the changing market, Greengart noted. Android ? Windows Phone?s chief rival ? is already free for competitors. Apple debuted Siri more than two years ago. And it would have been good if the touch-screen version of Office had been ready to go when Microsoft introduced its second generation Surface tablets last year, he said.
But the company is still a significant player in the technology market, and it?s clear that new CEO Nadella is thinking creatively about how to rejuvenate it, Greengart said, adding that Nadella?s vision ?isn?t about the desktop (PC) ? the vision is about thriving in a world that (Microsoft) doesn?t control.?
Source: MCT Information Services


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Dec. 5-A Johnstown woman was arraigned on Saturday for endangerment after a child in her care was lost in Walmart and tried to leave the store with a cart full of toys, Richland Township police allege.
Police charged Kwakiyah E. Brown, 21, of the 200 block of Cooper Avenue, with endangering the welfare of children.
According to a complaint affidavit, police said employees at Walmart in Town Centre Plaza found the child trying to leave the store with a cart full of toys. The child said he could not find his mother.
Police said no one responded when employees announced over the store intercom system that they had found a lost child. Police said they were with the child about 10 minutes before Brown arrived to take custody, the affidavit said.
Security footage reportedly showed Brown shopping alone for nearly two hours while the child was selecting toys. Brown failed to notify employees the child was missing and made no attempt to locate the child, the affidavit said.
Brown was arraigned by on-call District Judge Susan Gindlesperger, of Stonycreek Township, and freed on $10,000 unsecured bond.


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Lakeshore businesses struggling through coronavirus impacts at start of summer
Many businesses along Lake Michigan depend on the summer months to survive.
16 News Now brings us an update on how COVID-19 is limiting their summer success.
Regardless of their side of the river, business owner in both St. Joseph and Benton Harbor say the pandemic couldn't have come at a worse time.
"Most people are at about 20 percent of where their numbers would normally be," said Phoenix Coffee Shop owner, Japhy Bartlett.
Bartlett says most small businesses in the Benton Harbor Arts District will lose money during the off-season, making summer earnings a priority.
"Normally we'd start to be profitable in the spring. Of course, quarantine crushed all of that. Now because we're already behind, we kind of need a crazy summer to come out even," he said.
Bartlett says these set-backs add to Benton Harbor's challenging business environment in particular.
"It's not great for down here. We've been working on overcoming local prejudice and people to come to Benton Harbor. St. Joe is obviously a huge tourist destination and that's starting to flow into Benton Harbor," he said.
Business owners on the other side of the river say they've struggled to keep up with their typical numbers, but sales are improving.
"During the week, I'm seeing a steady incline in business. On the weekends, it's kind of a whole other animal. There's a lot of people downtown," said Broad Street Cafe co-owner Vikki Groenendal.
Groenendal says the Broad Street Cafe is making half as much as they normally do, even with weekend surges.
With many big events in the area cancelling, she says it could get even worse.
"Just for the downtown purposes. So many events have been cancelled this summer, and we depend on those to keep the businesses open and running," Groenendal said.
While some are better off than others, the clock is ticking for these businesses to make enough to get through the off-season.


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By Samantha Errico
What this drink lacks in booze, it makes up in bud.
Former Blue Moon brewmaster Keith Villa has entered the marijuana industry by creating a cannabis-crafted beer.
"An opportunity like this only comes around once in a blue moon," Villa joked to Cheddar Wednesday.
As more states push for marijuana legalization, the famed beer-maker and his wife Jodi created CERIA to introduce a line of non-alcoholic craft beverages infused with THC.
CERIA's Grainwave, a Belgian-style white ale with THC, hit Colorado dispensaries last Friday and sold out in just one day. Each 10 oz. bottle contains five mg of THC; two bottles is a standard serving and each Grainwave goes for approximately $9 per bottle.
"In this space, I don't think anyone's ever created a brand from that ground-up specifically for cannabis beer," Villa said.
In compliance with the Colorado Retail Marijuana Code, companies are prohibited from mixing alcohol and marijuana. Therefore, to be considered as non-alcoholic, CERIA filters its alcohol content to a level below .5 ABV (alcohol by volume).
CERIA created "the taste of a great beer with the effects of cannabis," Villa said.
Consumers must be at least 21-years-old to purchase the product, and all CERIA bottles are child-proof.
Villa assured viewers that a American Light Lager and an IPA would follow the Grainwave in the first half of 2019. The upcoming year will also mark CERIA's expansion into California and Nevada.
"And then after that to every state where it is legal," Villa said.
For full interview click here.


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Yandex.Ukraine's accounts blocked – company
Accounts of Yandex.Ukraine LLC in Ukraine have been blocked, the press service of the company told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.
"As president's decree No. 133 took effect all our accounts that Yandex.Ukraine LLC could use to send remuneration to partners of the Yandex advertisement chain have been blocked. All funds are stayed on accounts created for partners, but we cannot send them to the accounts of partners," the press service said.
The company is looking for a lawful decision to send the funds and continue cooperation.
"It is important for us to implement commitments," the company said.
Earlier Yandex.Ukraine denied statements of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in particular, that the company did not respond to relevant inquiries.
"We worked and are working strictly in line with legislation. We always react to the inquiries of the SBU and other law enforcement agencies of Ukraine meeting the rules. Yandex is not a social network. It does not have own social network that could spread content mentioned in the SBU's statement," the company said.


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The competing Android and iOS operating systems accounted for 85 percent of all smartphones shipped in the second quarter of 2012, according to analyst firm IDC.
Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker service indicated that while the market share for iOS devices declined from 18.8 percent in the second quarter of last year to 16.9 percent this year, Apple saw a 27.7 percent rise in the number of units shipped — an increase from 20.4 million to 26.4 million across the quarter.
Android devices continue to dominate the smartphone market, according to IDC. The number of shipped devices more than doubled from 50.8 million to 104.8 million year-on-year, giving the Google-developed operating system a 68.1 percent market share.
Devices running Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 and Windows Mobile operating systems also shipped in increasing numbers, with 5.4 million moved this year as opposed to 2.5 million for the same time last year.
However, the market share for Windows Phone 7 only rose from 2.3 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
The losers in the smartphone market were Nokia's Symbian, which dropped 62.9 per cent, and RIM's Blackberry OS, which fell 40.9 percent over the last year in shipped units.
IDC's senior research analyst Kevin Resto called the mobile OS market a "two-horse race" between Android and iOS. While there was still room for some competitors to gain share, he said it would become increasingly difficult to do as smartphone penetration rises.


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By Jennifer Creevy2009-02-06T07:00:00
A chill fell on the high street in more ways than one this week. As the big freeze bit, Icelandic investor Baugur filed for its home country’s equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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Some highlights from News.com's coverage of the Senate hearings on Net neutrality:
- Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said at the hearing that he plans to introduce a bill that "will make sure all information (transmitted over broadband networks) is made available on the same terms so that no bit is better than another one." The provisions would bar broadband providers from favoring one company's site over another (for example, he said, J. Crew over L.L. Bean), from giving their own content preferential treatment and from creating "private networks that are superior to the Internet access they offer consumers generally."
- Referring to a recent Washington Post report in which a Verizon executive said Google and others shouldn't expect to enjoy a "free lunch" on its pipes, Sen. Byron Dorgan said such reasoning was flawed. "It is not a free lunch...(broadband subscribers have) already paid the monthly toll...Those lines and that access is being paid for by the consumer."
- "We risk losing the Internet as a catalyst for consumer choice, for economic growth, for technological innovation and for global competitiveness," Vint Cerf of Google said.
- Vonage CEO Jeffrey Citron told senators that his company, a major voice over Internet Protocol provider, has firsthand experience with impediments caused by lack of network neutrality. The firm has accused several smaller telecommunications companies of blocking its services. He urged the committee to consider laws that would supply "legal recourse" for companies that face such discrimination.
- "The fact is that our regulations and our laws need to be modernized to reflect the realities of technology today to create more incentives for companies to invest so that we have those broadband networks that are higher quality, that are faster, that give consumers more competition," said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who introduced a generally pro-business, deregulatory broadband bill last summer that has not yet been taken up for debate.


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Briggs & Stratton’s 706,000-square-foot building expected to be ready in April 2019.
Zilber Property Group has purchased a 145-acre site in Germantown for the development of Germantown Gateway Corporate Park, which will be anchored by a 706,00-square-foot distribution facility for Briggs & Stratton Corp.
Zilber Property Group plans to begin construction on the Briggs building immediately. It will be complete by April 2019. Briggs, a small engine manufacturer, will lease the buidling from Zilber to accommodate distribution operations for Briggs engines and other products.
Read the entire article at BizTimes.com.


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Bitcoin’s premium in South Korea has been reduced by a sudden sell off that significantly affected bitcoin’s price in Korean Won (KRW), but not in USD at the time.
It looks like at around 9AM euro time, there was a huge market sell off on Upbit, South Korea’s biggest exchange which handles $20 billion in trading volumes a day.
In just one minute, which we have highlighted above, 182 bitcoins were sold, worth $10 million.
Another big South Korean exchange likewise showed a significant fall in price while US markets were not affected at the time.
Bitcoin’s price in South Korea fell by seven million won at 9AM euro time, from 77 million won to 70 million.
That translates to $6,200, however as can be seen above, there was no sharp drop and then some recovery in western exchanges as there was in Korea.
That recovery in Korea then gave way to a more global movement with bitcoin down by about $2,000, while in South Korea it went to that 70 million after it bounced to 75 million following the first sharp drop.
That means there’s still a considerable premium as 70 million won is worth $62,600, while the global price is currently at $56,500 as can be seen above.
The premium thus has been reduced, but it’s no where near being wiped out yet. So we’ve got a very interesting situation because there has been no drastic change in the USDKRW exchange rate to explain this movement.
In addition the fact KRW pairs were affected while USD pairs were not affected at all, at least initially, suggests someone has found a way to arbitrage this huge premium.
If that is the case, then the dollar price of bitcoin should rise because they have to buy the bitcoin in usd – or euro, which is irrelevant as either would be insta-arbed – and then they have to sell it for krw, finishing off by converting the krw into usd.
That’s the easy part, the hard part is by how much should it rise de minimis? South Korea is a very big bitcoin market, so we have to estimate it makes up maybe 10% or perhaps even 20% of bitcoin’s price.
The premium there is 15%, so arguably it should add maybe as little as $2,000 or at most $5,000. In the reverse, it should wipe out completely the premium in KRW, making bitcoin there $10,000 cheaper.
That’s a lot, so bringing in more complications because how much would this reduction in price there increase demand?
Also, is this some guy with dollar/krw vans coming and going, or is there a pipeline that eventually – once the huge current premium is arbed – will keep insta arbing it. If the latter, how much will this new efficiency add to the price?
Finally, presuming rationally everyone should expect price to increase as this arber presumably is going to come and buy bitcoins, how much will speculation or frontrunning add to that price increase?
Fortunately this isn’t the first time we find ourselves in this sort of situation, although it is the first time we find ourselves in this identical sort of situation where different fiat pairs are concerned.
Once upon a time (2016 or early 2017?), Bitfinex was in big trouble, everyone wanted out, so they bought bitcoin and any other crypto to get out as soon as possible instead of waiting for snail fiat.
That created a big Finex premium for bitcoin of at least $100 but at times $200 and even $400 when price was maybe $2,000.
Eventually the situation was sorted out so we had a big spectacle of watching the arb race in real time, with it over in about 2-3 hours.
If we recall, and obviously you can look at the charts for full detail, price fell on non-finex exchanges at first. Why? Why did the global price fall if we are arbing Korea?
Well, because price fell on Finex – in Korea – so bots etc on other exchanges still reacted to it. Then price went speedily up, but not nutsily and all ended pretty quickly.
So, obviously we may be completely wrong as there can be other things that affect the price, but in isolation and if Korea is indeed being arbed then this should get above $60,000 with the situation then ending, but the big unknown here is whether Korea is really being arbed or this was just some guy instead of some system/pipeline.


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Some of the most nimble thumbs and strategic minds in the world are gathered in Anaheim this weekend.
And they have come to "slay it."
Major League Gaming is the world's largest competitive video game league. Thousands of spectators are expected at the Anaheim Convention Center to witness both amateurs and pros compete at three different video games: Halo: Reach, StarCraft2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops. Millions of fans around the world will watch the games thanks to online video streams.
Eric Hewitt (alias: Ghostiyami) is captain of Team Carbon, the 15th seed for Halo.
"It doesn't get better than this," Hewitt said.
His teammate Leland Jones (gamer tag: Mimic) said it appeals to his competitive nature.
"To find something where I can play the best people in the world ... is pretty cool," he said.
The Anaheim competition is the third stop on the gaming tour. The top 16 individuals are seeded for StarCraft. The top 16 four-man teams are seeded for Halo and Call of Duty.
The competitors have travelled to Southern California from around the world -- Australia, Korea, Sweden. But come Sunday, the winner could come from the amateur ranks. That is part of what makes the weekend so exciting for so many players. That, and getting to play video games all weekend long.
Friday evening, many teams were practicing. Some wear headsets to block out the noise and help them stay focused. Some were dressed in matching collared shirts, others in team T-shirts with nicknames on the back. Some teams had shirts with the name of their corporate sponsors on them. Video gaming is big, big business.
To make sure spectators can see all the action three giant stages have been mounted with video screens and live, color commentary. In addition to watching the games, attendees can meet some of the pros, and check out some of the latest video game products.


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According to users and analysts, the impending exits of both of IBM Corp.’s plug-compatible mainframe rivals from the S/390 market focuses more attention on the real high-end server battle: the one between IBM’s big-iron boxes and Unix systems made by vendors such as Sun Microsystems Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co.
Two weeks ago, Amdahl Corp. said it plans to quit the mainframe business because the cost of staying competitive with the 64-bit zSeries 900 systems that IBM announced last month was too high when compared to the projected returns on that investment. The move by Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Amdahl came just seven months after Hitachi Data Systems Corp. in Santa Clara, Calif. announced that it would stop selling mainframes to new customers and would focus on Unix systems going forward – a strategy similar to what Amdahl has in mind.
Analysts said the planned departures of Amdahl and Hitachi from the mainframe business should allow IBM to avoid hardware price reductions, especially for higher-end S/390 systems that Unix servers still can’t match on performance and scalability. But growing competition from a new generation of powerful Unix servers could temper IBM’s moves in the lower end of the mainframe market, industry watchers noted.
“I think that for the last couple of years, IBM’s competition … was not coming from plug-compatible vendors but primarily from Sun and [other Unix vendors],” said Dan Kaberon, Parallel Sysplex manager at Hewitt Associates LLC in Lincolnshire, Ill.
That’s because technologies such as partitioning, sophisticated I/O and workload management capabilities, as well as support for more processors and larger memory capacities, are pushing high-end Unix servers ever closer to mainframe-like performance, said Jonathan Eunice, an analyst at Illuminata Inc. in Nashua, N.H.
“In terms of raw memory or storage or processor [support], Unix servers are, in fact, better than mainframes,” Eunice said. “The strong point for the mainframe is in handling integrated workloads where you need not only a lot of computing power but also transaction handling and I/O at very sustained rates.”
“Unix is in a very good position to expand from its midrange franchise,” agreed Jean Bozman, an analyst at International Data Corp. in Framingham, Mass. “Any workload can run on either a Unix server or a mainframe. The difference really is the higher level of reliability and security available on mainframes.”
Areas where mainframes still clearly hold the edge over Unix servers include their ability to handle multiple workloads, the way S/390 hardware and software are tuned to take maximum advantage of each other, the availability of superior middleware and the overall maturity of big-iron technology in enterprise applications, Eunice said.
The growing sophistication of Unix servers comes at a time when mainframe server growth seems to be flattening out. Stamford, Conn.-based Meta Group Inc. estimates that the net growth of installed mainframe capacity will be about 19 per cent this year, compared with 33 per cent a year ago. And while Unix server prices have been creeping ever closer to what users are charged for mainframe hardware, it still costs a lot more to run software on S/390 systems.
Because of that, the performance level at which it becomes more cost-effective to run applications on a mainframe instead of a Unix server has risen from about 500 MIPS two years ago to nearly 1,000 MIPS today, said Carl Greiner, a Meta analyst.
“You have to be a pretty big shop to buy a mainframe,” he add. “You’re not going to find many new organizations and dot-coms looking at mainframes as an alternative.”


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Chip makers’ stocks have enjoyed a pretty good run in 2019. Samsung Electronics’ admission it’s having an ugly quarter should put paid to that.
The world’s largest chip maker delivered a rare profit warning Tuesday, saying earnings this quarter would be even worse than market forecasts—and the forecasts were dismal. Analysts had predicted Samsung’s worst slump since 2014, with operating profit down by more than 50% from a year earlier. The Korean company blamed weak global demand for the two products that delivered nearly 80% of last year’s operating profit: memory chips and smartphone screens.
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Woodlawn Press Winery, a new microwinery located in the Cooper Center, is holding its grand opening Friday.
The microwinery — originally called Dominion Press Winery before the owners went with a more local name — is believed to be the first of its kind in the county. Much like microbreweries, microwineries like Woodlawn Press make their wine in-house and sell it locally. And because they are not a “farm winery” as defined by the state, they are able to source their grapes completely from the West Coast (primarily California) and stock a wider variety of wines, including various fruit wines.
Friday’s grand opening is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and customers can try up to five different wines that they’re interested in for free, said owner Andrew Rosado.
Woodlawn Press has about 1,600 bottles ready for opening, said Rosado, who owns the microwinery along with wife Bonnie Evangelista. They will stock a variety of reds, including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Whites will include Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. Wine accessories and paraphernalia will also be for sale in the store.
Hours for the rest of the weekend will be announced on social media, and Rosado said he expects the microwinery will be open from Thursday through Sunday moving forward.
You can follow Woodlawn Press Winery on Facebook here, and on Instagram here.


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Negri Firman PR & Communication wins prestigious Italian brand, Costume National
Negri Firman PR & Communication is proud to announce its new collaboration with Costume National, the prestigious Italian brand founded and designed by Ennio Capasa.
Negri Firman will be responsible for Costume National’s global communications, starting with their upcoming Spring Summer 2014 womens show in Milan on 19th September 2013. This event is a particularly important milestone for Costume National, as it marks the brand’s return to Milan, after more than 20 years showing in Paris.
Agency: Negri Firman PR & Communication


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Just couple of months after the project for light Android One OS emerges at Google I/O conference and now it is possible that the new operation system will make its debut in India on 15th of September. Then will be the upcoming event of the Internet giant. The rumors are that during the conference Google will show a new device which will hit the Indian market just after it will be announce.
The bad news is that the rumors are suggesting that the new Android One smartphone will be more expensive than 100 dollars. In June Google announced that the devices will be sell under the hundred bill threshold. The new smartphone is expected to hit the market sometime in October, but previous reports hints out that is possible for potential debut one month earlier.
The new rumors are that the budget device manufactures like Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice are preparing new phones based on Android One for early September. The bad news is that the price will be more spicy – they will cost between 115 to 165 dollars range. Which is considerably above the announced in June “bellow 100 dollars” tag. Sources of the online blog pocketnow.com pointed out that the price increase is because of Google’s demands for additional hardware and better applications.
The 100 dollar price tag is very important for developing markets such as India. Tech companies are trying to get growth in the vast untapped consumer base in the country. But the ordinary Indians are very price sensitive. It is very important for the manufactures and tech giants to have cheaper as possible devices if they want to succeed in this big market.
Plausibility of the rumor? When you have big event in India it is very possible to see some cheaper devices and Google would not make one without some market debut. And the company definitely hinted out for such move. So the short answer is “Maybe Yes!”, but it will be a little disappointing if Google delays the cheaper than 100 dollars smartphones.
Image credit: Pittaya Sroilong


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Industry InsightsFrom the experts
Federal agents arrested employees of NY company Aventura technologies on charges of supplying the US military with Chinese products labeled as American.
Amazon has a 3rd party problem. The world’s largest digital retailer has found itself in the spotlight after multiple incidents involving counterfeit, expired, and unethically sourced goods.
As the long-awaited 5G standard makes its commercial rollout across the country, businesses, and federal agencies are reckoning with matching security, legal, and supply chain concerns. Why is the world rushing pell-mell into the eye of the 5G storm? What benefits is the technology expected to bring?
CISA recently released a report providing recommendations on combating emerging threats to the federal technology supply chain.


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Shares in Blinkx, the video search engine that has floated on London's AIM market, rose by more than 40% on the first day of trading.
The company's share price leapt from 45p to 64p, something that increased Blinkx's valuation to £170m and subsequently prompted a number of mainstream media journalists to dredge up the words 'dotcom' and 'boom'.
Blinkx indexes more than 12m hours of video content, and claims to be the world's largest video search engine. The Times says Blinkx had about 1.1m searches a day last month and about 700,000 unique users daily.
According to Blinkx CEO Suranga Chandratillake:
"Judging from the level of corporate activity among the large internet and content brands both in the US and internationally, it's clear to us at this stage that video is the web's next area for significant investment and development."
Blinkz has a five-year exclusive licence to use Autonomy’s IDOL software, which underpins its video search engine, though this excludes China.
Unlike other video search engines, it indexes words and images within videos, as well as the associated tags - this is an attraction for advertisers and investors, though the company does not expect to post a profit this year.
Wiki launched for video SEOs


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Despite Apple’s optimism of its Apple Pay app becoming the “killer of cash”, its lacklustre performance in the Chinese market has people speculating on its future. Can Apple Pay compete with China’s mobile payments giants, such as Alipay and WeChat pay? Moreover, does Apple Pay have to sacrifice Apple’s exclusiveness in order make gains in China?
On 28th of October, Apple released the new Macbook. After the conference for the new product, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, indicated that Apple Pay has been gaining popularity world-wide. Cook also stated his company was “going to kill cash … [since] nobody likes to carry around cash”. Moreover, Cook also told reports that he himself mainly uses Apple Pay for purchases.
When Apple Pay entered the Chinese market in February it was met with rapid growth. However, in recent months after its hype died down, its growth has slowed to a standstill. The inability of Apple Pay to corner the Chinese market is due to Alipay, WeChat pay and Baidu Wallet.
Cashless mobile payments aren’t a new concept in China
Though China isn’t a pioneer in the internet industry, its large pool of manpower and reliance on the online sphere, have allowed Chinese internet companies to outperform their counterparts in the US.
Alipay and Taobao are some of those companies. Taobao and Alipay started to expand nearly a decade ago, and through extensive targeting of consumers, the latter companies were the first to introduce the notion of cashless forms of payment to China. Accordingly, the market for cashless mobile payments has seen rapid growth in China, and Chinese firms such as Alipay and WeChat pay, have been able to effective place their stake in the market. Putting foreign competitors such as Apple pay, at a disadvantage when entering China’s cashless mobile payments market.
Is Apple Pay’s exclusiveness hindering its growth?
In order to “kill cash”, you need an alternative and the usual substitute for cash was credit cards or bank cards, however in this new age of the internet, payments through mobile phones are the new trend.
Accordingly, Apple Pay’s cashless payment method is exclusive to its products. Consequently, less than 20% of Chinese users own an iPhone, meaning that Apple has failed to reach 80% of China’s mobile phone users.
Nonetheless, Alipay and WeChat pay have been able to effectively target the 80% of Chinese users who don’t own an iPhone. Moreover, since Alipay and WeChat pay are exclusive to any certain mobile phone, the latter apps may be installed on iPhone’s as well.
Additionally, Apple Pay requires merchants to upgrade their equipment, so there are compatible with its high-tech purchase interface, unlike Alipay and WeChat pay, which don’t require any upgrades. Therefore, Alipay and WeChat pay are far more convenient methods of cashless payment, for both consumers and merchants.
Apple pay’s biggest competitors
Alipay is China’s number one cash less payment method, due to its versatility, which allows users to utilize the app for a myriad of personal as well as commercial purposes. Alipay is so comprehensive that it allows consumers to pay utilities, book tickets or order takeout through its interface.
The second most used cash less payment method in China is WeChat pay. Since anyone with a phone number can register to WeChat, its user base is primarily middle aged and elderly users, who aren’t as tech savvy as millennials. WeChat pay offers an easy to use inference and is often an alternative to those who didn’t have access to Alipay originally.
In light of the fierce domestic competition for China’s cashless mobile payments market, Apple Pay has showed up to late to the race, as it lacks partnerships or affiliations with popular Chinese ecommerce or online platforms.
Without proper insight and understanding into China’s mobile payments market, Apple has stumbled its way into a fiercely fought over market, which it’s unready and unable to tackle. If Apple pay seeks to succeed in China, it must surrender itself to the Chinese economic model of mobile phone payments. The latter model would mean Apple pay must give up its exclusiveness for inclusiveness, in order to garner as many consumers as it can.
Strategies Apple can undertake to corner China’s cashless payment market
Apple Pay’s main competitor in China is not Cash. Instead, it is competing with two other cashless mobile payments giants.
In order to effectively compete with Chinese companies, it needs to launch a successful promotion strategy to attract numerous Chinese consumers to its side. If it can entice Chinese consumers by offering promotions to partners, who then go on to offer discounts to consumers using Apple Pay, or it can open its own stores and offer discounts directly to consumers.
Therefore, if Apple Pay wants a large stake in China’s cashless mobile payments market, it needs local partners and affiliates, to vouch for it and help make the app an everyday necessity. Subsequently, in order to do that, it needs to offer its local partners generous allowances and give up its exclusiveness in favour of inclusiveness.


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I’ll say this about Netflix (nflx): It’s as good at managing Wall Street as any company I’ve seen. A quarter ago, for example, it said net income would growth at 50% “in 2007 and beyond.” Then, in its third quarter, reported Monday, it performed a great sleight-of-hand by raising estimates for this year and next, but in doing so lowering its annual net income growth rate to around 30%.
Then, to head any wawyard analysts off at the pass, CEO Reed Hastings masterfully downplayed the slowing growth during the earnings conference call, by saying “purists will note” that next year’s forecast of $55 million to $60 million “is not 50%” above the upwardly revised 2006 guidance of $42 million to $48 million. “Our response,” he continued, “is [that] $55 to $60 million is more than 50% above the $30 to $35 [million] we expected to generate this year. Whichever side you agree with, you can probably agree it’s a nice argument to be able to have, and we’re excited about another year of great subscriber revenue and earnings momentum.” Nice argument to have – yes — but it’s not the growth promised a mere quarter ago!
But wait, there’s more: Netflix also said it will stop offering net income guidance, preferring instead to focus on earnings per share, which would bring it “more in line with how financial markets track earnings.” Earnings per share, of course, are also easier to jigger to meet or beat expectations.
Overall, and on the surface, the quarter was a headline-grabber for the way it handily appeared to beat analyst estimates and the company’s own guidance. But in reality, revenue came in pretty much where analysts had expected them to be before the second quarter, when Netflix gave third quarter guidance that was lower-than-expectations. Earnings, meanwhile, were helped by a lower cost of revenues (revenue-sharing expenses, amortizing its DVD library, amortization of intangible assets and and postage and packaging expenses – in other words, everything but its core DVD rental business) and interest income, largely on cash raised in an offering last spring.
In fact, it appears increasingly that Netflix is relying on everything but its core DVD rental business to make money. That’s evident by the disparity in margins, with the gross margin rising to 38% from 37% a quarter ago while net margin slipped a few notches to the mid-single digits. The latter two are no surprise considering that average revenue per subscriber continued to slide while subscriber acquisition costs continued to rise.
Digital downloading won’t come a moment too soon. But more about that, the company says, next quarter. Can’t wait. The beat goes on.