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Satoshi Nakamoto is now the 33rd richest person in the world on Bitcoin's 12th birthday. Nakamoto has surpassed the names of Len Blavatnik, He Xiangjian, and Sheldon Adelson. A news publication on utoday says that Satoshi Nakamoto is now the 33rd richest man alive on the earth on Bitcoin's 12th birthday.
At the end of 2020 and when the New Year in 2021 is approaching, we held an AMA in English Telegram from 20:30–21:30 on December 30th,2020(UTC+8). Cocos-BCX Operations Supervisor Amanda was in the [COCOS Community AMA] live broadcast sharing, talk about the 2020 annual summary and 2021 New Year plan.
OKEx, the cryptocurrency exchange has now begun a new system for derivatives for trading users. The real-time settlement is based on traders on their platform that includes options, futures, and swaps letting traders make withdrawals when they want to. A news post on Coindesk claimed that OKEx, a cryptocurrency exchange, has
Michaël van de Poppe who is a popular trader from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, has made a startling prediction for Bitcoin steadily reaching the $40000 mark shortly. A news post on Cryptoglobe claimed that popular crypto market trader and analyst Michaël van de Poppe predicted that the Bitcoin could easily go
Tezos is planning to launch its own NFT platform known as Kalamint next month itself. The NFT or non-fungible tokens as they are called, allow users to create, sell, as well as buy NFTs. A news publication on Beincrypto claimed that Tezos, which is an Ethereum competitor and decentralized smart contract
True Tribe garment supply chain is live with SUKU's blockchain solution. A producer of handcrafted activewear with recycled waste went live thanks to blockchain solution SUKU. A news article on Cryptoninjas claimed that True Tribe, a producer of handcrafted active wear from recycled plastic waste, has formed a SUKU partnership. SUKU
Thailand's oldest bank, the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), has avoided Ripple and partnered with Lightnet, which is a fintech company for cross border remittances. A news article on Bitcoin News says that Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), which is the oldest bank in Thailand, has avoided Ripple but partnered with Lightnet. The
The global strategists at Morgan Stanley feel that Bitcoin can replace the US Dollar as the world's reserve currency. A news article on Bitcoin News stated that strategists at Morgan Stanley have warned that Bitcoin can replace the US Dollar as the world's reserve currency. They have warned not to assume


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Kenyans were Tuesday left bracing for hard times ahead after it emerged that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s memorandum to Parliament rejecting MPs’ position on petroleum tax came with new and higher levies on a wider array of goods and services.
The revelation came even as the National Assembly agreed to the proposals, including a doubling of excise tax on money transfer charges in exchange for a halving to eight per cent of the proposed valued added tax (VAT) on petroleum products.
If Parliament passes Mr Kenyatta’s proposals, mobile money transfer charges will now attract excise tax at the rate of 20 per cent from the current 12 per cent, while mobile calls and data will be levied at 15 per cent from the current 10 per cent in a move that could reverse the recent decline in mobile call costs.
At the heart of the President’s quest to introduce new taxes and increase old ones are the huge financing obligations in this year’s budget, including the Sh870 billion that must be spent on debt servicing to avoid default.
Mr Kenyatta also introduced a special “anti-adulteration” tax, to be charged at the rate of Sh18 per litre of kerosene, in a move that will push the commodity’s retail price much closer to diesel.
Both the ruling Jubilee Party and opposition MPs yesterday pledged support for the new tax measures, meaning they are likely to get parliamentary approval and define Kenya’s economy in the short term.
Mr Kenyatta said the measures are required to help mitigate a funding shortfall of Sh48.6 billion once the VAT on fuel is halved to eight per cent.
“The proposed amendments in the Finance Bill under Clause 18, which seeks to amend Section B of Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Value Added Tax Act, 2013, effectively extending the exemption for a further two years shall, together with the additional expenditures in the Appropriation Act, 2018 result in a major financing gap of the budget,” Mr Kenyatta wrote in a memorandum to the National Assembly.
“The amendments that I have proposed reduce the financing gap but do not eliminate the gap. To this end, the National Assembly needs to effect a reduction in the expenditure as contained in the Appropriation Act, 2018 by at least Sh55 billion.”
The controversial tax, which has significantly increased transport costs and is expected to cause a general rise in inflation, was expected to generate an extra Sh35 billion in the fiscal year ending June 2019.
Budget revised (Expenditure) Sh bn
Expenditure has been revised downwards by 2.9 per cent.
The levy, whose collection started this month, is now expected to rake in half the amount once the rate is reduced to eight per cent from 16 per cent. Besides the new tax measures, Mr Kenyatta has proposed bold moves aimed at reducing government expenditure, with the twin actions having the net effect of cutting the total budget by Sh55 billion.
From the initial Sh3.02 trillion, total spending is now projected to stand at Sh2.97 trillion after the cuts whose biggest victims are the national government’s development expenditure as well as disbursements to county governments. For consumers, the changes represent additional pain after the President declined to make even deeper budget cuts to ease the burden on ordinary folk as proposed by a section of parliamentarians.
Low-income households will be particularly hard hit by the introduction of the special levy on kerosene, a move Mr Kenyatta said is meant to curb fuel adulteration.
The tax will lift kerosene price above the Sh100 per litre mark for the first time and have it retail close to diesel and petrol, which are currently retailing at Sh115.4 and Sh125.5 per litre respectively in Nairobi. Rampant adulteration of diesel and petrol has been blamed on the significant gap between the price of kerosene and petrol and diesel. The higher tax on cash transfer charges ropes in all personal and business transactions conducted through the formal financial systems including bank and mobile money platforms.
Mobile telephone firms and banks, among other affected institutions, are expected to raise their charges in the wake of the sharp jump in taxation – in a move that once again hits the poorest segments of the population hardest.
The long-term drop in calling rates and data prices is expected to be halted by the move to hike excise taxes on the services to 15 per cent from the current 10 per cent.
In his memo, Mr Kenyatta laid an emphasis on generating more revenues from consumption taxes, adding that the measures are a continuation of the tax reforms that the country has been undertaking in recent years.
World Bank pushes G-20 to extend debt relief to 2021
World Bank Group President David Malpass has urged the Group of 20 rich countries to extend the time frame of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative(DSSI) through the end of 2021, calling it one of the key factors in strengthening global recovery.
“I urge you to extend the time frame of the DSSI through the end of 2021 and commit to giving the initiative as broad a scope as possible,” said Malpass.
He made these remarks at last week’s virtual G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.
The World Bank Chief said the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the deepest global recession in decades and what may turn out to be one of the most unequal in terms of impact.
People in developing countries are particularly hard hit by capital outflows, declines in remittances, the collapse of informal labor markets, and social safety nets that are much less robust than in the advanced economies.
For the poorest countries, poverty is rising rapidly, median incomes are falling and growth is deeply negative.
Debt burdens, already unsustainable for many countries, are rising to crisis levels.
“The situation in developing countries is increasingly desperate. Time is short. We need to take action quickly on debt suspension, debt reduction, debt resolution mechanisms and debt transparency,” said Malpass.
Kenya’s Central Bank Drafts New Laws to Regulate Non-Bank Digital Loans
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will regulate interest rates charged on mobile loans by digital lending platforms if amendments on the Central bank of Kenya Act pass to law. The amendments will require digital lenders to seek approval from CBK before launching new products or changing interest rates on loans among other charges, just like commercial banks.
“The principal objective of this bill is to amend the Central bank of Kenya Act to regulate the conduct of providers of digital financial products and services,” reads a notice on the bill. “CBK will have an obligation of ensuring that there is fair and non-discriminatory marketplace access to credit.”
According to Business Daily, the legislation will also enable the Central Bank to monitor non-performing loans, capping the limit at not twice the amount of the defaulted loan while protecting consumers from predatory lending by digital loan platforms.
Tighter Reins on Platforms for Mobile Loans
The legislation will boost efforts to protect customers, building upon a previous gazette notice that blocked lenders from blacklisting non-performing loans below Ksh 1000. The CBK also withdrew submissions of unregulated mobile loan platforms into Credit Reference Bureau. The withdrawal came after complaints of misuse over data in the Credit Information Sharing (CIS) System available for lenders.
Last year, Kenya had over 49 platforms providing mobile loans, taking advantage of regulation gaps to charge obscene rates as high as 150% a year. While most platforms allow borrowers to prepay within a month, creditors still pay the full amount plus interest.
Amendments in the CBK Act will help shield consumers from high-interest rates as well as offer transparency on terms of digital loans.
Scope Markets Kenya customers to have instant access to global financial markets
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 20 – Clients trading through the Scope Markets Kenya trading platform will get instant access to global financial markets and wider investment options.
This follows the launch of a new Scope Markets app, available on both the Google PlayStore and IOS Apple Store.
The Scope Markets app offers clients over 500 investment opportunities across global financial markets.
The Scope Markets app has a brand new user interface that is very user friendly, following feedback from customers.
The application offers real-time quotes; newsfeeds; research facilities, and a chat feature which enables a customer to make direct contact with the Customer Service Team during trading days (Monday to Friday).
The platform also offers an enhanced client interface including catering for those who trade at night.
The client will get instant access to several asset classes in the global financial markets including; Single Stocks CFDs (US, UK, EU) such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google, BP, Carrefour; Indices (Nasdaq, FTSE UK), Metals (Gold, Silver); Currencies (60+ Pairs), Commodities (Oil, Natural Gas).
The launch is part of Scope Markets Kenya strategy of enriching the customer experience while offering clients access to global trading opportunities.
Scope Markets Kenya CEO, Kevin Ng’ang’a observed, “the Sope Markets app is very easy to use especially when executing trades. Customers are at the heart of everything we do. We designed the Scope Markets app with the customer experience in mind as we seek to respond to feedback from our customers.”
He added that enhancing the client experience builds upon the robust trading platform, Meta Trader 5, unveiled in 2019, enabling Scope Markets Kenya to broaden the asset classes available on the trading platform.

domain: news


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Our lead news story this week is about "Bank Transfer Day" — the consumer movement in which bank customers are urged to close their accounts at megabanks and establish new accounts at community credit unions or small local banks. The impetus was the new "debit card fees," which some banks were about to start charging for customers who like to use their debit cards for purchases. (Read the story here — along with the reasons the banks may not care about losing your puny account, peasant.)
Now several banks are making an about-face, including Regions (which has branches in New Orleans) and SunTrust, which is even going so far as to refund the debit card fees they've been charging customers since June.
Learn more about Bank Transfer Day here — or get a musical lesson in how to move your money from the cheerfully dorky The Disclosures (who have also recorded "98 Problems — But a Bank Ain't One):


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The Chase: Guest criticises Mark Labbett's high offer
Mark Labbett is famed for appearing on ITV’s The Chase, where he is known as The Beast. He has documented his weight loss transformation as he has notably slimmed down.
Posting on Instagram this week, Mark shared a face to face shot of him looking trim.
“Leaner, meaner lockdown with good folks of muscle foods,” he stated in a sponsored post.
“At this rate, I will be the skinniest Chaser.”
Fans praised his weight loss efforts and commented on his new frame.
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One wrote: “Well done, you have done amazingly! Weight loss has taken years off you! Wish I had a bit of your willpower.”
“Looking good Mark,” another social media user commented.
A third added: “Wow, what a massive change. You have done so well Mark, you should be mega proud.”
Mark’s weight loss goals have been achieved through a long process.
The Chaser first opened up on his weight loss during an appearance on Loose Woman in 2019.
At the time, he revealed he first changed his diet plan because he was concerned about his health.
“It was the diabetes,” Mark told the presenters, “my colleague Paul Sinha also got the diagnosis and he rapidly lost two stone and he went from being diabetic to pre or non-diabetic.”
He explained he was worried about his health as Type 2 diabetes can be a dangerous condition.
To help him slim down, Mark cut sugar from his diet and revealed he had shed three stone and counting.
Cutting down the amount of sugar in a diet plan can help weight loss, according to experts at Healthline.com.
They stated: “Studies have consistently shown that reducing your intake of sugary drinks can help with weight loss.”
While it does not need to be cut out completely, cutting back on sugary drinks, processed foods and sweet treats could help promote weight loss.
“I’m waiting for my next check up and I’m hoping the figures are going to be better,” Mark added.
“I’m still eating very well – I’m just cutting out sugar because of the Type 2 diabetes.
“That and running around after an active two-year-old.”
Mark previously revealed he had lost four inches off his chest and six inches off his stomach in just six months.
Source: Read Full Article


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If you’re not already aboard the Gears of War 4 hype train, you might have an excellent chance to jump on soon enough. Microsoft has begun building hype over one of its most treasured franchises for Xbox by releasing small details about the game, which is launching on October 11, 2016. Those that tuned into Microsoft’s E3 press event last year got a small taste of what Gears of War 4 would look and play like, but this Sunday will be the first official TV spot for the game.
If you tune into AMC during the season two premiere of Fear the Walking Dead, you’ll be treated to a Gears of War 4 TV spot. Over at , there’s a countdown timer up and running specifically for this debut trailer for the game. Microsoft took to Twitter via its @Xbox profile and made sure Xbox fans were aware of when they could see the first trailer for the game.
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Yes, that is not a typo. Researchers have discovered that those given a small piece of apple to eat before going shopping bought more fruit and vegetables than those given a cookie or nothing.
Have you ever wondered when you try that free sample in the supermarket, do you then decide to buy it because you feel bad if you don’t? Or is it because you truly want it? It should come as no surprise, that this is something that food companies are very interested in.
Published in the Journal Psychology and Marketing, researchers wanted to find out the effect of consuming either something healthy (such as apple) or something indulgent (such as a cookie) on the items that are then purchased.
Apparently it has already been shown that those given some chocolate before shopping ended up buying more Pepsi, both of which the authors considered an indulgence. In other words, the snack will have a significant effect on what you choose to buy.
It turns out that eating some apple before shopping led to an increase in the amount of fruit and vegetables bought compared to the controls and those that had the cookie.
I wonder if this works on children too?


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AUGUST 2020 – Given Rita Winn’s decades of advocacy and leadership in the profession, it’s fitting she be named this year’s Pillar of Pharmacy by the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy.
Rita has more than 30 years of community pharmacy and retail experience, including 22 years at Lovell Drugs where she served as General Manager and Chief Operation Officer until her recent retirement. She continues to work as a Director for Lovell.
While at Lovell Drugs, Rita was always looking to pilot new technologies, products and programs to promote the profession. As a result, the pharmacy was an early adopter of the pilot phase of PrescribeIT and represented the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (NPAC) on the PrescribeIT User Working Group. When the Lovell family retired the business and sold its shares to Rx Drug Mart, Rita was instrumental in guiding the family through the ownership transition. She continues to work part time for Rx Drug Mart as a Director on the Lovell Drugs Board providing guidance and support.
Aside from her community pharmacy experience, Rita has served on numerous industry organizations, including the Canadian Pharmacists Association and Ontario Pharmacists Association. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Board for the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, where she chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee. Rita is popular conference speaker, where she has presented on topics such as pharmacy business, workflow and human resources. She also speaks regularly to community groups, including senior centres and other allied health professionals.
Her pharmacy advocacy is also evident through her participation in critical moments for the profession. During the Bill 102 negotiations, for example, Rita worked behind the scenes to create educational videos for pharmacists, while also collaborating with associations and other stakeholders on discussions with the Ministry of Health around the reporting framework and creation of professional allowances. Then, as the co-chair of the Pharmacy Coalition in Ontario, she worked tirelessly to educate pharmacists about the new funding realities and engaged them in a campaign to make the public aware of changes coming due to the funding cuts.
Rita is also one of the editors of CFP’s Pharmacy Management in Canada textbook where she used her extensive experience in retail and pharmacy business to find expert writers, while authoring several chapters herself too.
In light of restrictions due to COVID-19, Rita will be honoured via a virtual event later this year. Check back for details to come.


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Volkswagen Group of America will install electric vehicle charging stations at Oklahoma Walmart stores
Drivers passing through Oklahoma soon will see more public locations where they can recharge their electric vehicles.
Electrify America, a unit of Volkswagen Group of America, announced this week it will work with Walmart Inc. to install electric vehicle chargers at more than 100 Walmart store locations across 34 states, including four to five stores in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma officials said they expect each of the Oklahoma Walmart locations will be along major interstate corridors designated by Oklahoma as alternative fuel corridors.
Officials also said they expect each location will be capable of providing ultrafast charging capabilities to drivers, regardless of the model of electric vehicle they drive.
Each of the Walmart locations will include enough chargers to handle four vehicles at a time, and officials estimate it will cost between $40,000 and $100,000 to install each charger.
They also said they expect the chargers, designed to provide consumers with a simplified "Plug-Pay-Charge-Go" experience, to be installed and operational by June 2019.
Finally, they welcomed the announcement, noting it further accelerates the state's friendliness to electric vehicles, especially as newer models with increased ranges make it possible for such vehicles to travel the nation's interstates.
"We think we have a good argument here for expanding electric vehicle charging, considering how we are situated when you look at our interstate corridors — they create a major crossroads," said Eric Pollard, the Central Oklahoma Clean Cities coordinator at the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments.
"We've gone to thinking from about how you get your daily charge to, what if I need to travel to Dallas or Tulsa? What will that highway charging look like, who is going to pay for it and who will own the stations?
"So we are moving from thinking about inner-city trips to ones covering longer distances. Our pitch was, if you want to connect the country, you need to focus on Oklahoma," Pollard said.
Shop and charge it
In the release issued by Electrify America, its top executive observed the chargers it will bring to Walmart stores in Oklahoma and elsewhere are a good fit for the retailer's shoppers.
"Our ultrafast charging systems will provide consumers with a quick and convenient way to charge their vehicles in the time it takes to make their Walmart purchases," Mark McNabb, president and CEO of Electrify America, stated in a release.
Walmart officials agreed.
"Providing this service is the right thing to do for our customers, our business and the environment," stated Mark Vanderhelm, Walmart Inc.'s vice president of energy.
Electrify America stated in the release it plans to invest $2 billion during the next decade in electric vehicle infrastructure and educational projects, planning to deploy more than 2,000 chargers across 484 sites on highways in 39 states and in 17 specific metropolitan areas.
Electrify America will spend those funds as part of a $14.7 billion settlement its parent, Volkswagen Group of America, made with the U.S. government to end an investigation into allegations it cheated to meet emissions standards on its diesel vehicles.
Another $2.7 billion that is part of that settlement established an environmental mitigation trust, which states and territories can tap to invest in transportation projects that will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
Each state and territory's share from that fund was calculated based upon the numbers of Volkswagen diesel vehicles involved in the cheating scandal that were registered within each jurisdiction.
Officials said Oklahoma's share of that fund is $22 million, and that Oklahoma's Department of Environmental Quality and other officials are still developing plans on how to use those funds.


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Bowling Green has 35 hotels, and one of them will be sold by the Warren County Master Commissioner at a public auction next week.
When you drive past exit 22 on I-65 in Bowling Green, you'll find no shortage of hotels on Scottsville Rd.
"A board member, Leon Volkert, has always called I-65 our river of gold. He's exactly right because so many visitors use that thoroughfare and so many of them stop and spend the night with us," said Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Vicki Fitch.
One of those hotels was once a Best Western, and is now no longer part of a national chain, but operated by a court appointed manager.
It will go up for public auction next week, and Fitch says the area is prime for buyers interested in the property.
"A lot of people that are interested in building a hotel or buying a hotel are looking to see not just what the occupancy is, but what the average daily rate is that is charged in that community," said Fitch.
Fitch says Bowling Green typically houses hotels with moderately priced rooms.
"We're probably not the right place to have too many high luxury rooms, or too many lower priced or super economy rooms. We need a good mix and it seems that we have that," said Fitch.
Fitch says the hotel on more than 7 acres with an attached Denny's restaurant has been a popular spot for tourists.
"Those are a good mid-range priced room for us, and there are quite a few hotel rooms in that property, so when we get lots of sporting events here, alot of times that's good for some of the softball tournaments that come in. They have an indoor pool. They have an outdoor pool, so there are some advantages to having that property in our community," said Fitch.
According to the auctioneer's web site, the hotel is being auctioned by order of the Warren County Master Commissioner.
The auction will be conducted by Top Dollar Auctions on site at the hotel at 4700 Scottsville Rd. on Friday, July 26.


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Maharashtra government to produce ethanol, CNG from cashew apple
Amidst rising chorus for green fuel, the Maharashtra government has proposed to produce ethanol and compressed natural gas (CNG) through cashew apple and cashew apple cake. The government has shortlisted the coastal districts, Ratnagiri and Sidhudurg, large-scale producers of cashew nuts, to set up two pilot projects. The government has established a ten-member committee chaired by the Director (Marketing) to make recommendations in two months.
The committee also consists of Director (Horticulture), representative of Konkan Agriculture University, representatives of Praj Industries and Primove Industries and promoters of cashew processing units from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
Maharashtra’s annual production of cashew seeds is of 2.5 lakh tonnes while it produces 22 lakh tonnes of cashew apple. It is also one of the leading producers of cashew nuts with 60,000 tonnes of annual production.
A government official told DNA, “Cashew apple can be used to produce ethanol after fermentation and that can be used as auto fuel. Besides, cashew apple cake is raw material for the production of CNG, biogas, poultry feed and confectionary items. After setting up two pilot projects in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, the government will assess the commercial viability of ethanol and CNG and take a call on its commercial production.”
Harish Kamble, promoter of Swami Samarth Cashew nuts industry, estimated that the state can produce nearly 4.5 lakh litre of ethanol from 22 lakh tonnes of cashew apple annually. However, he said the study is still underway to estimate production of CNG from cashew apple cake.
Kamble said due to lack of processing facilities, cashew apple worth nearly Rs 450 crore is wasted annually. “The commercial production of ethanol and CNG will help local producers and thereby transform the economy of the Konkan region,” he noted.


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KANALCOIN NEWS – Streaming service, Twitch, is rumored to be giving discounts to its customers who register using cryptocurrency. Twitch will later give a 10 percent discount to every customer who pays using cryptocurrency.
Twitch itself is an Amazon subsidiary with a service that has provided its users with the opportunity to stream live since 2011. Usually, the Twitch service is very popular among gamers who do live broadcasts.
In fact, in 2017, the Twitch platform surpassed the streaming service YouTube Gaming. Twitch has more than 27,000 partner channels, 15 million daily active users, and 2.2 million monthly streamers.
The cryptocurrency payment system that will be used by Twitch will collaborate with one of the crypto payment management companies, Bitpay.
Bitpay itself is a company from Atlanta, United States that manages cryptocurrency payments. Typically, Bitpay will serve payments in the form of bitcoin (BTC), bitcoin cash (BCH), ethereum (ETH), ripple (XRP), and four stable coins under the United States dollar (GUSD, USDC, PAX, and BUSD).
Customers who pay for streaming services on Twitch using cryptocurrency through the Bitpay service will get a 10 percent discount. This was conveyed directly by Bitpay through its official Twitter account.
“Escape from the COVID quarantine and live the life of The Sims. Pay for a Twitch subscription with Bitpay and save 10%. Subscribe now,” Bitpay wrote on its Twitter account.
Head of Marketing for Bitpay, Bill Zielke, praised Twitch as a big service industry that follows the trend of paying using cryptocurrencies.
“Twitch is the first major industry to jump on this trend,” said Zielke.
In fact, Twitch is not the only gaming website and streaming service that uses cryptocurrency in the payment process for its subscriptions or is compatible with blockchain technology.
Companies such as Take Two (Disintegration and Outer World) and computer giant Microsoft have also implemented cryptocurrency payments in their services.
Bitpay admits that they are very happy because big companies like Twitch want to accept the concept of payments using cryptocurrencies. According to Bitpay, this breakthrough will help the public, especially gamers, to become more familiar with and familiar with cryptocurrencies.
In addition, Bitpay believes that over time the game industry and cryptocurrency will synergize to support each other. All game platforms will be compatible to make payments via blockchain technology.
Bitpay believes that practical and fast transactions made using cryptocurrencies will be an added value for the two industries to work together in the future. For Twitch subscribers, the way to pay for subscriptions using cryptocurrency seems quite easy. Customers simply register then select the payment menu “pay with Bitpay at checkout”.


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BMW is Again Australia's Leading Luxury Car Brand
MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – Jan 4, 2013: BMW Australia today announced an all-time sales record for 2012 to again claim the title of Australia’s top-selling premium car brand.
BMW, the world’s leading premium car brand, has been segment leader for 19 of the last 22 years in Australia.
BMW delivered 18,413 luxury cars and Sports Activity Vehicles in 2012, an increase of 5.2% compared to 2011.
BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Phil Horton said 2012 saw the BMW brand go from strength to strength in Australia. “ Despite highly competitive market conditions demand for BMW in Australia is stronger than ever,” said Mr Horton.
Sales highlights for BMW include:
Mr Horton said core volume BMWs continued to perform strongly alongside recently-launched new models. “ In spite of new competitor entrants the BMW X5 remains the performance benchmark and the most sought-after vehicle in its class,” said Mr Horton. “ It is also especially satisfying to see BMWs flagship model, the BMW 7 Series, again outsell its competitors,” he said.
Mr Horton said the result bodes well for the brand in 2013. “With a number of exciting new models on the near horizon, as well as the unveiling of our brand new i Car series, 2013 looks set to be another landmark year for BMW,” said Mr Horton.


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Expected to generate around seven billion euros this year, ITB Berlin 2019 returns with a stark increase in Middle East participation, as Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority and Expo 2020 Dubai make their debut at the show
In its 53rd year, ITB Berlin – taking place from March 6 to 10 this year – The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show – will bring together some 10,000 companies and organisations from 180 countries. The ITB Berlin Convention will be relocated to the CityCube to make space for the burgeoning Travel Technology section, which will expand by 20 per cent this year. The newly launched ITB Virtual Reality Lab will get a lot of attention this year as well as the TTA segment – technology, tours and activities. We speak to head of ITB Berlin, David Ruetz, who tells us that the demand from the Middle East has been especially high this year.
What new attractions and destinations will be on offer this year?
This year’s focus is on Malaysia, the official partner country, which is organising a big spectacle and colourful programme. Bulgaria, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland will celebrate their 50th anniversary as exhibitors at ITB Berlin. St. Helena Island is a newcomer to the show, also known as the British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean where Napoleon was exiled and died. The ITB Berlin Convention will address key topics under the following headings: overtourism, global warming, sustainability, new customer expectations in the luxury travel market, and future mobility. There is also an emphasis on Adventure Travel and Sustainable Tourism. Hall 4.1b will be focusing on these trends and we will launch an ITB Virtual Reality Lab in hall 10.2. This is where top-speakers will give exciting insights into the importance of augmented and virtual reality for the travel industry.
Trend-wise, do you notice any changes in last year’s twin focus on luxury and travel technology?
Whereas luxury travel is concerned, we are seeing a trend towards seclusion and exclusiveness. These values are currently more in demand than traditional symbols of wealth. Customers want to experience something that is genuinely out of the ordinary. That can range from an underwater hotel to an exclusive treehouse.
As far as travel technology goes the market for tours and activities at destinations is currently booming. That is why we have devoted a new segment to this topic: TTA – Technology, Tours & Activities.
What are some key global highlights of the latest ITB World Travel Trends Report?
Cruises continue to be a massive boom market, with far higher growth figures than the global travel industry. In recent years, this market’s growth has been twice as strong, in fact in double-digit figures. The main growth driver is Asia, where demand has more than trebled since 2007. In Asia, over 27 million cruise trips were undertaken in 2017 alone.
A special analysis also showed the high impact millennials are having on the global travel industry – particularly luxury travel. People born between 1980 and 2000 account for around half of the customers in this segment.
Oman is the partner country for ITB Berlin 2020
Finally, the global tourism industry also benefits from the halal and Muslim travel market, yet another growth driver.
We are currently seeing huge growth in traveller numbers from Asia, where in 2018 outbound trips grew by an impressive eight per cent. A large percentage of those were undertaken within Asia. China reported the highest growth figures. Year by year, the number of people travelling from China increased by 13 per cent. In Europe, trips to Turkey are booming again. In recent years, this market has been very weak. Outbound trips from Latin America account for a large share of foreign trips from the Americas.
How many new exhibitors have signed on so far? Up or down from last year?
In 2019, as at the last event, we are expecting some 10,000 companies and organisations from 180 countries. In addition to regular exhibitors, some of whom will have larger displays at ITB Berlin, there are many who will be taking part for the first time. We have created more floor space in order to satisfy demand. For instance, the ITB Berlin Convention is relocating to the CityCube, the multi-purpose congress and trade fair venue. That has allowed us to expand Travel Technology by 20 per cent and devote an exclusive area of three adjacent halls to this topical segment, which was fully booked back in December.
What kind of participation can we expect to see from the Middle East this year, and what market segments?
Demand from this region has been especially high this year. That is reflected in the large number of bookings for Hall 2.2. New exhibitors there include the Saudi-Arabian General Investment Authority and Expo 2020 Dubai. Dubai itself has increased its participation in ITB Berlin. Oman, the partner country of ITB Berlin 2020, will be represented in larger numbers, as will Fujairah, the latest emirate to join the UAE. Egypt also has a larger stand in Hall 4.2, which is where Palestine can be found. Jordan will be represented nearby in Hall 4.1. Finally, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are presenting their tourism highlights in Hall 2.2. The United Arab Emirates can also be found in the Hotel Hall (Hall 9), alongside Lebanon and Iraq.
TTN is the most established trade publication in the Middle East distributed on a controlled circulation basis to members of the travel and tourism industry.
Published monthly by Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group, the region’s foremost trade publisher, TTN is aimed at professionals in the industry, from travel agents to airline and hotel personnel.
TTN provides in-depth and extensive coverage of relevant issues in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in other parts of the world. Travel related news, analysis, and new appointments together with information on up-coming exhibitions, marketing and promotional campaigns are presented in an innovative and striking colour tabloid.
Every issue also contains a collation of international and regional news and topical features of interest to readers.


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Brose agrees to investments in China
Michael Stoschek (left), CEO Brose group, and Jianyi Xu, Vice-Governor of the Jilin province, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding about setting up the first own Brose plant in China
Michael Stoschek, President and CEO of the Brose Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday alongside Jianyi Xu, Vice-Governor of the Jilin province, who was on a visit to Coburg. Together with other high-ranking economic politicians, Xu was able to inform himself about the Brose Group and the automotive supplier’s production processes.
“These investment activities underscore our commitment in this automotive market with its vast growth potential,“ said Michael Stoschek. Asia is an expanding market with the Chinese automotive production alone increasing at an annual rate of about 5%. The significance of foreign business for Brose is great; the Group expects sales generated abroad in the coming year to exceed revenues made on the domestic market. The Brose Group expects its volume of business in China to reach some 300 million euros by 2010.
By setting up this new plant in the automotive region around Changchun in north-east China, the corporate group will create about 250 jobs and it will produce seat adjusters for the first time in China. This investment decision came about after intensive discussions with local authorities.
The plant in Changchun will be preceeded by a new purchasing office which is scheduled to be opened in October 2004.
Telefon: +49 9561 21 2332
Fax: +49 9561 21 1704


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Oct 29, 2014 Hurricane Sandy was a "secret disaster" for the Red Cross. Let's do the numbers.
Oct 27, 2014 Big name retailers are holding off - and competing with - Apple Pay.
Oct 27, 2014 New apps connect retailers and restaurants with food charities and composters.
Oct 22, 2014 Salmon are returning to the Columbia River at levels not seen in nearly a century.
Oct 21, 2014 Where is McDonald's place in the low-cost, fast food market?
Oct 15, 2014 Avocado growers in Mexico are eyeing a larger market in Asia.
Oct 8, 2014 A startup that bridges the gap between local farmers and customers.
Oct 3, 2014 What SNAP benefits and food pantries can tell us about food insecury in the U.S.


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4 min. read
8 Women Taking Over FinTech
We are in awe
The bad news? European FinTech has a noticeable lack of women in charge. Despite being one of the most progressive emerging sectors, a 2019 report shows women make up only 30% of the FinTech workforce and 12 percent of FinTech founders.
The good news? More and more women are bridging this gap and joining FinTech firms across Europe. According to analysis of European data, Spain is the shining example with a doubling of the number of women in FinTech to 57% in 2019. Hot on their heels, Europe’s second-largest FinTech hub, Lithuania, boasts 60% of the sector’s firms having at least a third of their employees as women.
Financial services no longer cater exclusively for wealthy white men, continuously evolving with advances in revolutionary technologies. The following list showcases the women making waves in the most highly-valued FinTechs across Europe.
Amber Skinner-Jozefson | Chief Executive and Managing Director of Oakam
Ascending to the top role after only a year as the Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Amber Skinner-Jozefson leads the UK-based disruptive FinTech company Oakam. The FinTech adopts innovative technology to extend credit to the financially neglected and underbanked.
She is particularly interested in the application of new technologies to unlock the potential of and within people, as well as democratising access to wealth-building tools to alleviate poverty and empower underrepresented communities.
Karin Fuentesová | Founder and CEO of Digitoo
After 13 years in the accounting sector, Karin Fuentesová grew tired of the time wasted on mundane tasks. And so she decided to fix the problem by founding Digitoo, a FinTech which automates manual bookkeeping processes.
In 2021 the Prague-based company raised 900k EUR in seed funding, the first pre-seed investment of this amount in a company led by a single female founder.
Sofie Quidenus-Wahlforss | Founder and Chief Executive of omni:us
Starting her first business aged 21, a book scanner used to digitise 3 million books across 125 countries, Sofie Quidenus-Wahlforss founded her latest venture omni:us in 2015. The Berlin-based FinTech aims to streamline sectors like insurance with AI that is capable of reading handwriting and analysing vast swathes of business data.
Featured on the Forbes 2018 global list of Top 50 Women in Tech, Quidenus-Wahlforss knows her stuff. She now sits on the German Government advisory board for advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
Marie Assé | Co-Founder and CEO of Clustdoc
Bouncing around various product roles in banking and FinTech, Marie Assé went on to found her own startup Clustdoc in 2019. Based in Paris, Clustdoc is a client onboarding automation platform used by financial services in 70+ countries to streamline routine client-facing processes.
So far Assé has raised $850k in pre-seed funding from InReach Ventures, January Ventures, and Google for Startups.
Camilla Giesecke | Chief Expansion Officer of Klarna
A former J.P Morgan analyst, Camilla Giesecke joined the Swedish “buy now, pay later” startup in 2017. Rising swiftly through the ranks, she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer within eight months. After four years as Klarna CFO she is now taking the lead as Chief Expansion Officer and will be driving Klarna’s international expansion.
June Felix | Chief Executive Officer of IG Group
With almost three decades of experience in the digital and finance sectors, June Felix now serves as CEO of IG Global, a UK-based top global online trading and investment service.
In 2013, June was awarded the Edison Award for Innovation and later was selected into the Most Influential Women in PaymentSource and SourceMedia. She now sits on the panel for Women for Women International and supports Pan Asian Women’s Association.
Aiga Senftleben | Co-Founder and General Counsel of Billie
Aiga Senftleben co-founded the FinTech Billie in 2016, another leading provider of “buy now, pay later” payment methods for businesses. As a licensed attorney, she is responsible for the Legal and Compliance and People departments at Billie.
Dedicated to the issues of equality and diversity, the Berlin FinTech has 35% of women in the leadership team and at management level thanks to Senftleben. Her studies and measures have also pushed the start-up to become one of the few companies in Germany to close the gender pay gap.
Sara Koslinska | Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Limitless
A serial entrepreneur, Forbes 30 under 30 and recognised Founder of the Year CEE by Global Startup Awards, Amsterdam- based Sara Koslinka is helping millennials reach their financial goals.
Her micro-investment app, Limitless, helps millennials to invest their money sensibly by taking away the large barriers of normal investing and helping banks engage with a sometimes hard-to-reach audience.
If these women don’t close the gender gap in tech, we don’t know what will. To read more about women dominating the tech industry, check out 7 women in MedTech you need to know about here.


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Huawei already announced the Honor 5C smartphone, but this one is available at the moment only on the Chinese market. However, the producer plans to bring the new product in other markets too like U.S, and for that needs the FCC approval that arrived yesterday on May 13th.
Thereby the phone named NEM-L22 gets certified for Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), and also for 4G LTE connectivity. As you already know, Huawei Honor 5C comes with a 5.2 inch Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080 pixels), with an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 650 processor clocked at 2.0 GHz, and with a Mali-T880MP2 graphic processor.
We’re getting 2 GB of RAM memory, 16 GB space of internal storage and a 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and f/2.0 aperture. There’s a 8-megapixel front-facing sensor for selfies and as you might expect, a fingerprint scanner on board. Honor 5C arrives in a metallic body, and in China is priced below the $200 verge.


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Woman nabs $800 in products at Coos Bay store shopping spree, donates all to charity
COOS BAY, Ore. -- How many items could you grab at a grocery store in three minutes?
A Coos County woman found out after she took on the challenge at McKay's Market to give back to those in need.
Laura James had three minutes to grab whatever Western Family brand items she could to fill four shopping carts.
"A bunch of food for the kids and I got diapers for the baby closet," said Laura James of Coos County.
She won the shopping spree through a Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club auction.
Laura is donating everything she grabs to South Coast Family harbor, a local organization that helps people.
"We serve about 40 families that we give food to when they're in need,” Laura said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to get some extra food in the pantry."
Laura could only grab two of each item, so she enlisted a fellow Rotarian and past shopping spree winner to coach her.
"Make a route and put little markers on the floor, then she really nailed it," said the club’s Tom Bennett, who won a previous shopping spree and also gave back to families in need, which spurred the store to match his contribution.
After three minutes of speed shopping, Laura gathered close to $800 worth of food and products, and McKay's is once again matching her donation.
Their Coos Bay store hosts the shopping sprees twice a year.
Those in need of assistance can apply at the South Coast Family Harbor office on Hull Street.


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What you need to know
- At MWC 2024, HMD Global formally introduced its new path forward as it becomes "HMD" (Human Mobile Devices).
- HMD announced it is bringing a Barbie Flip Phone to the market this summer, alongside the return of an "iconic" Nokia phone.
- The company is also focusing on improving the repairability of smartphone screens and launching its first "HMD" branded device later this year.
HMD Global is moving forward with its 2024 ambitions of simply becoming "HMD" (Human Mobile Devices) as its MWC 2024 kicks off with several teasers.
According to a press release, the company made good on its interest in expanding its partnerships, which is why the company stated it's working with Mattel to create a Barbie-inspired flip phone. Interested consumers will find a boost of nostalgia as the device is said to be a "retro" flip phone that breaks the norm of Android phones.
The Barbie flip phone is said to launch this summer.
Additionally, HMD teased that Nokia isn't gone (just yet). As the brand shifts into its "Human Mobile Devices" era, consumers will "continue to see Nokia phones, and we will bring back an iconic phone this summer." The company adds that "new brands" are on the horizon this year, as well.
MWC 2024 also held HMD's new primary goal, which is "about making phones that are affordable, beautiful, desirable, and repairable." Specifically, the Finnish brand is targeting the repairability of smartphone displays, effectively "reducing the number of steps it takes" to fix one.
James Robinson, HMD vice president of Europe, Americas, and Enterprise, stated, "We’re excited to make that process as easy as possible, starting this summer."
The new process HMD referenced will likely become clear during its formal announcement later this year. Moreover, the company hopes to achieve this goal without asking too much from consumer wallets.
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For HMD's smartphone ventures, it looks like it's eyeing this summer to launch it. Consumers are said to be looking for a device that "is a platform for innovation" as HMD works to make technology more accessible around the world.
Early February held HMD's teasers for its plans in 2024 alongside its efforts to create its own "distinct" line of devices. It was also during that time that HMD mentioned it was looking to collaborate and secure "several licensing partnerships." The company stated it was done creating more Nokia phones. However, its MWC announcement seemingly shows its interest in returning an old device to the modern age.
Meanwhile, HMD's phone leaked as we got an alleged look at a rendering of the device's matte black finish and dual camera array.
Nickolas is always excited about tech and getting his hands on it. Writing for him can vary from delivering the latest tech story to scribbling in his journal. When Nickolas isn't hitting a story, he's often grinding away at a game or chilling with a book in his hand.


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- Stride has grown to 2.7 million users amid the country's explosion of gig workers.
- CEO says many gig workers are eligible for free or cheap health care, but not enough are taking advantage.
- Stride recently signed deal with Gopuff, in addition to partnerships with Uber, Instacart, DoorDash.
The explosion of the gig economy during the pandemic has pressured companies in the sector to start offering benefits to workers. That's given rise to startups like Stride that are trying to modernize the provision of health care and other benefits, and adapt it to the needs of an increasingly part-time and disparate workforce.
Stride, a startup that has deals with companies like DoorDash and Amazon, recently closed a new $47 million funding round. The financing was led by King River Capital with participation from new investors such as Mastercard and Allstate. Stride has now raised $97 million in total. The company wouldn't disclose its valuation.
The service works essentially as an online benefits portal for gig workers, where they can shop for health care plans, log expenses and track their earnings to find tax credits and savings. The company has grown along with the popularity of gig work; Stride says it now has 2.7 million users.
The software is designed to combat what Stride's CEO and co-founder Noah Lang says is one of the biggest challenges for gig workers: They often don't realize they are eligible for many benefits that make things like health care affordable.
For example, with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in March, many Americans were given subsidies that effectively made some health care plans cost less than $10 a month, Lang says. And in states like California, where drivers have access to health care stipends from companies including Uber and Instacart, the cost of health care premiums are covered for most drivers, he added.
Lang says the rate of gig workers getting health care is improving. Stride's data show three times as many workers are signing up for health care than last year. But he argues that's still not enough. A Stride study found that a third of gig workers reported not having health insurance, with the vast majority saying they believed it was too expensive.
"A lot of gig workers are first generation immigrants and don't speak English as their first language," Lang said. He added that the Trump administration undercut many federal health care programs, which confused many people about what benefits they could take advantage of. "Getting through that noise, as a gig worker, is hard," he said.
As part of the funding announcement, Stride also announced it struck a deal with Gopuff, the Softbank-backed convenience store delivery service, which will offer the software to its fleet of drivers. That adds to a group of companies Stride has partnered with, including Uber, Instacart, DoorDash and Amazon.
The startup is ramping up its business at a time when the number of gig workers has soared. Over the next seven years, the number of Americans who are expected to classify themselves as independent (so-calledworkers) will reach 90 million, according to a survey from Edelman Intelligence. That includes driving a car and warehouse work, but also jobs such as graphic design. And many of these workers are cobbling jobs together: 70% of gig workers are working for two or more companies, and 28% are working for three or more, a figure that has increased from pre-pandemic times.
With the regulatory environment moving away from requiring companies to classify workers as employees, Lang argues there's an even greater need for benefits to be flexible and portable. For the gig companies, helping their workers get benefits "creates a more stable workforce longterm and it's absolutely better for the gig economy," he said. It's also, he adds, the right thing to do.


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The Las Vegas Convention Center has 3.2 million square feet of display space, but it's not nearly enough for everyone that wants to participate in the 2014 SEMA Show. Therefore boatloads of trucks, Jeeps, tuners and others have been squeezed out into the surrounding parking lots. Here's a sample of those on the fringes, who may not get as much publicity as the big guys in the big halls.
SEMA -- short for Specialty Equipment Marketing Association -- is the biggest aftermarket auto event in the world, held in Las Vegas each fall. The show fills multiple convention halls and shows off everything from high-performance OEM specials to custom wheels and graphics from local shops. Get the full rundown on what automakers and suppliers are up to at the industry's biggest trade show at our SEMA Show home page.


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A German consumer rights group said on Monday (12 February) that a court had found Facebook's use of personal data to be illegal because the US social media platform did not adequately secure the informed consent of its users.
EU regulators have forced tech giants to comply with the bloc's strict data protection rules. But when Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin took over as top EU privacy watchdog in 2014, she said the mostly American companies were ignorant about Europe’s strict standards and thought "the world is uniform".
Europe’s powerful data protection regulators are banding together to coordinate how they investigate and sanction misbehaving companies before a major overhaul of the bloc’s privacy law takes effect in May.
Consumer advocates have urged the European Commission to propose legislation allowing for collective EU lawsuits after the bloc’s top court rejected a class action against Facebook on Thursday (25 January).
Facebook Inc said on Wednesday (17 January) it would conduct a new, comprehensive search of its records for possible propaganda that Russian operatives may have spread during the run-up to Britain's 2016 referendum on EU membership.


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On 28 August 2017 ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/suryalakshmi-cotton-mills-to-hold-agm-117071800205_1.html
With a sound tax system and real time governance coupled with availability of surplus cotton, the year 2017-18 will be a good year for cotton... ...http://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-2017-18-will-be-good-year-for-cotton-textile-industry-sima-2489621
Think of mainstream Indian fashion and chances are images of Western wear or heavily embellished wedding lehengas come to mind. Yet far from the... ...http://www.mydigitalfc.com/fashion-and-style/indian-threads-109
Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) today hailed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates announced for the textile industry. Union Finance... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sima-hails-gst-rates-announced-for-textile-industry-117060300726_1.html
Sales rise 15.84% to Rs 137.10 crore ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/ambika-cotton-mills-standalone-net-profit-rises-32-38-in-the-march-2017-quarter-117052900390_1.html
In 1971, what started as a dream from...
Cereals, Pulses, Dairy, Veg, Fruits,...


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- For most borrowers, student loan payments won't be due until 2022.
- Experts weigh in on the best ways to spend the extra cash until then.
Life without student loan payments has come to feel normal for many.
Borrowers, after all, haven't needed to make a payment on their debt since March 2020, or for nearly a year and a half.
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But when the White House announced its most recent extension of the break last month, it said that it would be the final one.
That means borrowers have just four more months without having to pay those bills.
The typical student loan payment is around $400 a month, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.
More from Personal Finance:
New York extends eviction protection for renters until Jan. 15
The 6-month health insurance subsidy for jobless Americans is ending
Child tax credit cut food hardship for 3.3 million families so far
CNBC spoke with some experts about the best ways to handle that extra cash before next year.
1. Add to your emergency savings
The pandemic has taught us how important it is to have a healthy savings account to fall back on.
People should try to build up at least six months' worth of expenses in cash should they have to live through a period of unemployment, he said.
To get the best return on your cash, keep your money in a high-yield savings account, experts say.
It's worth shopping around with different banks to find the best offer. The average online savings account rate is 0.45%, while it's just 0.13% with traditional brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions, according to DepositAccounts.com.
"It may not seem like much, but $100,000 earning 0.50% is $500 a year," aid Allan Roth, founder of financial advisory firm Wealth Logic in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
You'll just want to make sure any account you put your savings in is FDIC-insured, meaning up to $250,000 of your deposit is protected from loss.
2. Address credit card debt
With interest rates on most federal student loans at zero, it's a good time to make progress paying down more expensive debt.
The average interest rate on credit cards is currently more than 16%.
However, make sure you have enough in your emergency savings account before you address credit card debt, said Ted Rosman, an industry analyst at Creditcards.com.
That's because your credit limit shouldn't be relied on as a safety net.
"Many people had their credit card limits cut unexpectedly over the past year as lenders got especially worried about risk," Rossman said.
But assuming you have an adequate cash cushion, knocking down credit card debt can save you a lot of money.
Rossman provided an example: If you're carrying $5,500 in credit card debt and make only the minimum payments each month, you'll be stuck paying for more than 16 years and shell out an extra $6,163 just in interest, assuming your getting dinged the average fee.
If you dedicate an extra $400 per month for just the next four to that balance, however, it'll trim almost three years off that schedule — and you'll save $2,162 in interest by doing so.
Morgan Hopkins, a director of political strategies at a national nonprofit, has paid off more than $17,000 in credit card debt during the payment pause for student loan borrowers.
And that's opened other doors for her.
"I'm able to save more, invest more in retirement," Hopkins, 32, said. "It's such a relief."
3. Consider still paying your student loans
If you have a healthy rainy day fund and no credit card debt, it may make sense to continue paying down your student loans even during the break.
With interest temporarily suspended, any payments will go directly toward your debt's principal, potentially shortening your repayment timeline.
"You could continue making payments each month by contacting your servicer, or save the money and make a lump sum payment on your highest-interest loan before interest accrues again when repayment restarts," said Anna Helhoski, student loan expert at NerdWallet.com.
That's because months during the government's payment pause still count as qualifying payments for those programs, and since they both result in forgiveness after a certain amount of time, any cash you throw at your loans during this period just reduces the amount you'll eventually get excused.
4. Other options
Some borrowers may want to invest the extra cash. They'll likely thank themselves later for doing so. The S&P 500 Index is up more than 20% for the year.
Another possibility: If you're financially comfortable during the pandemic and it doesn't make sense for you to continue paying down your student loans, then donate the extra cash.
If the charity is registered as a 501(c)(3), you'll even be eligible for a tax break.


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Tags: mikeroweWORKS.comBureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The price of finished goods declined 0.6 percent since May 2010 and increased 2.8 percent since June 2009, according to the latest Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Capital equipment dropped a slight 0.2 percent since May and ...
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Timberland has also revealed its latest eco-innovation, the Timberloop Trekker -- a new city hiker for spring 2022 designed for circularity. With sneaker-like comfort and a progressive outdoor look, the Timberloop Trekker has a unique sole construction whereby the outsoles can easily be removed at the ReCircled facility and each part put into its own unique recycling stream.
The brand will introduce a digital, ship-from-home option later in the summer for its take-back programme. Following the US launch, the programme is slated to expand to EMEA later this fall, and to the APAC region in spring 2022.
The take-back programme provides the robust infrastructure needed to fuel Timberland’s circular design and development cycle. It also supports the brand’s bold vision, announced last fall, for its products to have a net positive impact on nature by 2030, through a commitment to regenerative agriculture and circular design, the company said in a press release.
“This take-back programme is a critical step in pursuing our 100 per cent circularity goal, while at the same time addressing the ever-increasing consumer demand for responsible design and progressive retail options,” said Susie Mulder, global brand president for Timberland.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the Timberloop Trekkers to market next spring. Timberland has been using recycled materials in our footwear for years, but this design innovation puts us on the path to true circularity, where nothing goes to waste. And with ReCircled, we now have the mechanism in place to close the loop,” said Chris McGrath, vice president of global footwear design for Timberland.
In Timberland’s journey to have a net positive impact on nature by 2030, circularity will help the brand achieve zero waste/impact. Timberland aims to tip the scales past zero to net positive by sourcing 100 per cent of its natural materials through regenerative agriculture.
Timberland had earlier introduced eco-innovations such as regenerative leather, Community Cotton fibre and GreenStride comfort soles.
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Autogrill SpA (AGL.MI)
Thu, Jul 12 2018
MILAN Shares in Italian travel caterer Autogrill fell almost 6 percent on Thursday with strong volumes changing hands on the Milan market as traders cited expectations of weak half-year results.
MILAN Italy's Autogrill said on Tuesday it was always looking for opportunities to boost the group's value after a report the travel caterer was considering listing its U.S. unit HMSHost.
MILAN, June 19 Italy's Autogrill said on Tuesday it was always looking for opportunities to boost the group's value after a report the travel caterer was considering listing its U.S. unit HMSHost.
MILAN Kepler Cheuvreux replaced insurer Generali with caterer Autogrill in its list of top Italian stock picks on Tuesday, citing worries over political risk in the euro zone's third largest economy.
MILANO, May 24 Italian travel retailer Autogrill does not plan to break up the company, Chief Executive Gianmario Tondato said after a shareholders' meeting on Thursday.
MILAN, May 24 Revenue at Italian travel retailer Autogrill fell 2.7 percent in the first four months of 2018 as a weakening dollar curbed the value of sales at U.S. airports.
MILANO, May 24 Italy's Autogrill is open to assess possible partnerships including for its improving domestic business, Chairman Gilberto Benetton told a shareholder meeting on Thursday.
March 8 Autogrill CFO Alberto De Vecchi told a post-result conference call:
MILAN, March 8 Italian travel caterer Autogrill improved it earnings per share guidance on Thursday to include the impact of the U.S. tax reform, pushing its shares up more than 3 percent.
* SAYS 2017 CONSOLIDATED EBITDA EUR 399.0 MILLION VERSUS REUTERS SMARTESTIMATE OF 404.1 MILLION EUROS


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Augmented reality (AR) beauty apps have made trying on makeup so easy that consumers no longer need to even step into a store. Technologies like AR makeup and virtual try-ons are the future—and the cosmetics industry is taking notice. Industry leaders are partnering with and buying up small startups in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs to gain expertise in AR, artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.
This raises a concern for both startups and large potential buyers: Is the intellectual property (IP) behind AR technology being properly protected with patents, trademarks, service marks and trade secrets making these startups more valuable and more attractive for potential purchase or partnerships from the large company point of view?
ModiFace is acquired by L’Oréal
Modiface, a company whose pioneering smartphone app allowed consumers to scan their face and virtually apply a product in real-time, was one of the first companies on the AR scene. Due to the success of its business, ModiFace no longer builds its own apps. Instead, ModiFace recently partnered with several established cosmetics brands to integrate its shopping and virtual try-on technology into the brands’ online and physical shops. ModiFace's technology is behind the makeup mirrors appearing at MAC stores and the virtual try-on tool in the Sephora app. The company also recently worked with Benefit Cosmetics to release an eyebrow try-on tool.
ModiFace—and its IP—was acquired by L’Oréal earlier this year, guaranteeing that consumers will see more AR technology not only in apps but in stores. In April 2018, it was announced that ModiFace had partnered with Pinterest to build a machine learning system to decode skin tone in images. Now, when consumers search "makeup ideas," Pinterest invites them to pick a skin tone range to narrow their search.
A quick search for patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reveals that ModiFace currently owns seven U.S. patents. Savvy business owners in the cosmetics field will expect this number to rise.
MatchCo and Giaran are acquired by Shiseido
MatchCo specializes in developing software that allows consumers to create customized foundation products to match their skin tones. Giaran, a startup that develops AI technology, enables consumers to apply and remove makeup virtually so they can see how they look before they make a purchase.
As of April 2018, a search for patents owned by either MatchCo or Giaran showed no U.S. patents, although their patents could be recorded under another entity name. Regardless, this number will certainly be expected to go up, as well. This number will certainly be expected to go up, as well.
YouCam Makeup Partners with Perfect Corp.
YouCam Makeup has become one of the most popular AR beauty apps in the world. YouCam allows consumers to use 3D face scanning technology to create a virtual makeover. YouCam's most popular feature, however, is the selfie makeover tool.
Like ModiFace, YouCam has also built out the business side of its app, forging partnerships with cosmetic giants like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder, to introduce the brand's products through in-app purchases. YouCam is also making deals with professional makeup artists, such as Kristofer Buckle, to offer comprehensive new looks that consumers can virtually try on.
Just recently, Perfect Corp., a beauty app developer, announced it offers 1-on-1 beauty consultations through its Perfect Corp. suite of apps, many of which are powered by YouCam’s AR technology to apply virtual looks during those appointments.
Service marks can be used to protect new services delivered through AR technology. Additionally, Perfect Corp. is already protecting the look of a display screen with a design patent, which is another tool in the IP arsenal that can be used to protect the appearance of products. For example, head to Google Patents (like Google Image, but for patents) and search for U.S. D810,117. In the digital world of apps and AR, obtaining design patents can be a solid strategy to grow and protect valuable IP rights.
With these digital trends taking over the cosmetic industry, it will be important for innovative cosmetic technology startups to build their patent and trademark portfolios around AR technology if they want to look more appealing for acquisition and partnerships. Startups of this sort would also do well to remember that service marks—which act like trademarks for services rather than products—can be used for protecting beauty consultation services through AR apps. Additionally, trade secrets need to be handled a certain way to achieve trade secret legal status.
IP Checklist for Cosmetic Technology Startups
- Were utility patent applications filed for potentially commercial AR inventions before any public disclosures were made of new products?
- Were design patent applications filed for graphical user interfaces before any public disclosures were made of new technologies, digital products or apps? Were trademark applications filed for potential AR products?
- Were service mark applications filed for beauty consultation services through AR apps?
- Are potential trade secrets being properly managed and secured?
- Are IP and confidentiality clauses in your employee and collaboration agreements?


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Developers can now download and install the Release Candidate of tvOS 15.6. Here's how to do it.
Apple has released tvOS 15.6 public beta 3 to members of the Beta Software Program. If you want to try it out, this is how to get it on your Apple TV.
The Apple TV may not have the traditional backup method you're used to, but it's still possible to keep your Apple TV content safe and in sync. Here's how.
Apple makes it really easy to check out upcoming versions of tvOS. But what if you want to go back to the latest commercially available version? We'll show you how.
Here's how to move apps to your Top Shelf, force quit problematic apps, and delete third-party apps taking up extra space.
In tvOS, you can sync your Home screen across all Apple TV devices signed in with the same iCloud account thanks to One Home Screen.
Apple is making changes to tvOS 15.4 that will make it easier for people to connect to captive Wi-Fi networks in hotels and offices, among other places.
Despite it not launching with the initial release, Apple has re-enabled SharePlay in the iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, tvOS 15.1, and macOS Monterey 7 developer betas.
In a statement to The Verge, Apple confirmed that tvOS 15 will launch alongside iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and watchOS 8 next week.
In the release notes of the sixth beta of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple has revealed that SharePlay will be missing from the initial release of its new software versions.
Apple has sent an email to people enrolled in the Beta Software Program, encouraging them to try one of the new public beta releases.
While I was disappointed with a few things about what we saw at WWDC21, it still brought some extra shine and polish to most platforms.
Apple is making it easier and quicker to sign in to apps on Apple TV by making Face ID available to developers.
Apple unveiled the latest version of tvOS for the big screen at WWDC 2021. Here's what you may have missed from this year's keynote.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!


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An agarwood shop near the Tuan Chau tourist area in Ha Long, home to the world famous eponymous bay, was once popular with Chinese tourists before the pandemic. But it’s been closed for a while.
Some other stores are experiencing the same fate.
Although Vietnam reopened international tourism in mid-March, Chinese visitors have yet to be able to travel abroad as China persists with its zero-Covid policy, including lockdowns and restrictions entry requirements.
A store specializing in the sale of agarwood products for Chinese tourists in Ha Long city is closed at the end of August 2022. Photo by Le Tan
Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, which borders China, has long been a favorite destination for Chinese visitors.
Without Chinese tourists, local cruise lines suffered heavy damage.
“Before Covid-19, 70% of my customers were Chinese and we made four to five trips a day,” said Pham Tham, operator of the Tung Duong tourist boat service.
“However, there is only one boat trip carrying domestic tourists on normal days and the boats stand idle the rest of the time,” Tham said.
Van Cuong, who owns two tourist boats in Ha Long, said September to the end of the year is the busy international tourist season in Ha Long, but business is slow.
In 2019, Ha Long welcomed 2.9 million international visitors and 60% of them came from China.
More than a thousand kilometers south of Ha Long, the seaside town of Nha Trang has also been hit hard by the shortage of Chinese and Russian tourists.
The escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war since March has prompted countries to close their airspace and suspend international flights. Due to travel restrictions, there are almost no Russian tourists in Nha Trang at the moment.
Some restaurants and hotels in downtown Nha Trang have closed or are simply deserted.
According to a survey by VnExpressdowntown rents before the pandemic reached hundreds of millions per month (1 million VND equivalent to $43).
Although rents have fallen by more than 60%, there are no tenants and many restaurants and hotels are deserted.
Foreign tourists walk past the deserted backpacker area in Nha Trang. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Toan
In 2019, Nha Trang welcomed more than 3.5 million international visitors, mainly from China and Russia.
At the time, Cam Ranh International Airport handled more than 30 flights daily from China and six charter flights from Russia.
Hoai, a restaurant owner in Nha Trang, said he cleaned his restaurant last summer in hopes of welcoming tourists again during the peak summer season.
However, business was not as good as expected and he had to close the restaurant to cut costs.
Vietnam has allowed quarantine-free entry and resumed its pre-pandemic visa-free policy for 24 tourist markets from mid-March with a maximum stay of 15 to 30 days.
So far this year, the country has welcomed 1.44 million foreign tourists, just 28 percent of the annual target of five million.
Restaurant and hotel owners in Nha Trang and Ha Long are desperately waiting for visitors from China and Russia and some have been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy.
“China is still closing its border due to Covid-19 and we don’t know when tourism activities between the two countries will return to normal,” Cuong said.
“We were really stressed as the domestic tourism season passed and all the boats stood idle,” Cuong said.
Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, director of the tourism department of Khanh Hoa, said India is one of the most potential tourism markets after the pandemic and the new source of Indian visitors could be a temporary solution in the absence Chinese and Russian tourists.
But Thanh said it would take more time and better preparation to tap into the Indian market effectively.
Ha Long is also looking for ways to diversify tourist markets with an eye on India.
Last month, more than 200 Indian tourists visited Ha Long Bay and other attractions in Quang Ninh.


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The IT behemoth
While the Microsoft CEO
In this exclusive initiative, Microsoft will bring together 100 participating startup companies for the programme over the next 18 months and will invest $100,000 during the course. As per the company sources, more than 50 startups have already been signed up at launch.
In a statement to the media, Microsoft India President
The programme launched under the orbit of Microsoft for startup will help organisations undergo the digital transformation through adopting SaaS solutions. At the same time, the companies will also help early-stage startups develop their customer base and enhance their revenues. As part of the programme, the selected startups will also gain access to "speed-contracting sessions" with potential customers at Microsoft's own events.
The startup companies will be eligible to gain Azure credits, comprehensive training programmes, and other technical guidance during this 100X100X100 programme. Microsoft has also partnered with TiE Mumbai and TiE Delhi to conduct the initiative. The IT giant is determined to help entrepreneurs in India by leveraging its Azure platform, enterprise sales team, and its vibrant partner ecosystem.
The programme is expected to attract Series A-B-C startups, which are already benefiting from the Microsoft ScaleUp initiative. 100X100X100 will also be a part of the same initiative. Going forward, the company is expected to make further announcements on the digital transformation front as CEO Nadella has commenced his three-day India visit from Mumbai today.


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The launch of new, luxurious highrise developments with EV charging facilities in Malaysia begin!
Daniel Lim, Deputy Chairman of property developer Triterra, is now a firm believer that there's no business quite like family business
Three-part Instagram Live series will feature a line-up of Malaysiaâ€™s leading musical talents.
Stonor 3 KLCC proves that luxury living is compatible with sustainability.
Luxury property brand Odin has launched the showroom and an owner's club for their new property in Niseko, Hokkaido.
Datuk Joseph Lau talks about Perdana ParkCity's commitment to creating communities that are desirable and lifetime homes for its residents.


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India: Facebook and startup accelerator TLabs have entered into a partnership to support the mobile startup ecosystem in the country.
India: Announcing its 10th cohort of startups, Microsoft Accelerator that focuses on growth-stage startups continued its narrative to undertake and accelerate B2B startups for its four-month long accelerator programme.
India: Startup accelerator, Cisco LaunchPad has invited India-based tech startups focussed on B2B/B2B2C segments to apply for its second cohort.
India: Nudge Foundation has launched an incubator called N Core for non-profit start-ups working to solve poverty-related problems.
India: Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced the top three winners of its first edition of the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge (QDIC), which was launched in December 2015, in association with NASSCOM.
India: IT services company Infosys has announced to invest $4.6 Mn (INR 31.6 Cr) in Bengaluru based early-stage venture capital firm Stellaris Venture Partners. This investment is towards the first close of Stellaris’ fund and is in the form of Limited Partner (LP) interest, being routed through its Innovation Fund.
India: ‘If we don’t disrupt ourselves, someone else will’. This is the ideology behind the Target Accelerator Program – a four-month engagement program – where selected startups get to work with the business teams at Target to develop, scale, and test their products in a live retail environment.
India: Infosys Ltd has invested an undisclosed amount to pick up a stake in TidalScale, a California-based start-up founded by Infosys chief executive Vishal Sikka’s former SAP colleague Ike Nassi.


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Computer Products has agreed to acquire a profitable Wisconsin supplier of its growing industrial automation business in Pompano Beach.
The Boca Raton maker of power supplies and industrial computers agreed on Wednesday to acquire Heurikon Corp. of Madison, Wisc., for $12 million in cash, notes and additional payments depending on the business' performance.
Heurikon, which has annual sales of about $22 million, will operate as a separate subsidiary. The company's computer boards are used to run traffic control systems, stock exchanges, high-speed printers and an industrial computer made by Computer Products' growing measurement and control division in Pompano Beach.
Heurikon founder and President Christopher M. Priebe will be named computer group president and corporate vice president of Computer Products.
This is the largest acquisition by Computer Products since it reversed its financial decline in 1989 and began building cash reserves. The company reported cash and short-term investments of $38.3 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30.
If completed, the acquisition would allow Computer Products to boost its revenues in 1992, when it is expected to lose $11.7 million in sales from its defense electronics business.
Computer Products announced in October that it would sell that business and reorganize its much larger commercial power supply business.
Power supplies are used by manufacturers of office and telephone equipment to convert alternating current supplied by wall sockets to the precise direct current required by solid state electronics. The devices generated 70 percent of Computer Products $107.5 million in sales in 1990, but declined by 20 percent in the first three quarters of this year.


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Cloud consultants experienced in AWS management tools have new avenues to promote their skills. Amazon Web Services recently added four tools to its AWS Service Delivery Program, which the cloud provider unveiled in November 2016.
The program aims to help customers identify AWS Partner Network companies with expertise in specific skill or service areas. The AWS management tools added to the program are AWS CloudFormation, Amazon EC2 Systems Manager, AWS Config and AWS CloudTrail. According to an AWS blog post, 11 companies have been named Management Tools Service Delivery launch partners.
Among those companies is 2nd Watch, a managed public cloud provider based in Seattle. The company has obtained AWS Service Delivery launch partner status for AWS CloudFormation, AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config.
"Customers looking to leverage and understand how to use AWS Config, CloudTrail or CloudFormation will be able to find us [via the AWS partner portal] and understand we have more than just the basic knowledge of these products and how to use them," said Jeff Aden, executive vice president of strategic business development and marketing at 2nd Watch.
Jeff Adenexecutive vice president of strategic business development and marketing, 2nd Watch
Aden said those three tools are commonly implemented across 2nd Watch's customer base.
Companies that become an AWS management tools delivery partner can promote their offerings through channels such as the AWS Service Delivery website, the Partner Solutions Finder and the services partner page, according to AWS.
Other launch partners for the AWS management tools delivery designation include Cloudnexa, Cloudreach, Cloudticity, Cognizant, Datapipe, Flux7, Foghorn Consulting, Logicworks, REAN Cloud and Stelligent.
NAYA Tech, NuoDB in reseller pact
NAYA Tech, a database consulting and managed IT services company based in Sunnyvale, Calif., has entered a reseller relationship with NuoDB, a company that provides an elastic SQL database for hybrid cloud applications.
Yair Rozilio, CEO and founder of NAYA Tech, suggested NuoDB's technology will have applicability across multiple industries, noting that NAYA Tech has an opportunity to offer its services to both enterprise customers and startups. Specifically, the company plans to focus on industries with a pressing need for an elastic, cloud-centric transactional database.
"We'll focus first on independent software [vendors] offering SaaS solutions that require immense scale, and also expand into other areas such as the financial and communications sectors," Rozilio said.
Rozilio said NuoDB suits two types of customers for which NAYA Tech can provide services. For customers with existing applications that need greater scale, elasticity or lower cost than their current databases, NAYA Tech offers a migration-as-a-service turnkey solution. In this model, the company takes a customer's existing database architecture and applications and migrates them to NuoDB. For customers looking for the appropriate database technology to power next-generation data architectures, NAYA Tech offers design and implementation services, Rozilio explained.
NAYA Tech plans to train dozens of its core database technology consultants on NuoDB, Rozilio said. He said those consultants include solutions architects, database administrators and developers experienced with relational and NoSQL database technologies.
Stephen Fahey, senior vice president of sales at NuoDB, based in Cambridge, Mass., said the company has worked with a number of international resellers and consultants, but noted its relationship with NAYA Tech represents its first reseller agreement based in the U.S.
BackupAssist rolls out ransomware protection
BackupAssist, a Windows server backup and recovery vendor, introduced CryptoSafeGuard, a new ransomware protection product for the SMB market. The company sells its products through resellers and managed service provider partners.
CryptoSafeGuard, which combines with the vendor's backup software, aims to protect customers from ransomware infections, complementing existing security products such as firewalls "by providing an extra layer of protection to the backup," said Linus Chang, CEO of BackupAssist.
"We are not trying to replace existing [security] solutions. We are actually providing an extra safety net," he said.
"Recently, [ransomware] has evolved into a threat for all businesses," and the threat is growing exponentially every year, said Troy Vertigan, BackupAssist's vice president of sales and marketing. "Businesses have a higher chance ... of being taken down by ransomware more than the risk of a flood or a fire," he noted.
Customers of the company's BackupCare subscription service will have access to the CryptoSafeGuard through version 10.1 of BackupAssist's software.
Hurricane relief for partners
ConnectWise, a company that offers remote monitoring and management, professional services automation and other products for service providers, is raising funds to assist partners affected by Hurricane Harvey. In a blog post, ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini said the company aims to "help our partners survive as entrepreneurs and reestablish their successful businesses." The company plans to raise $750,000 and will match donations to ConnectWise.com/HelpNow.
- Datatec Ltd., the parent company of Westcon-Comstor, has closed the sale of the distributor's North America and Latin America business to Synnex Corp. The deal also includes the sale of a minority share in Westcon-Comstor's EMEA and Asia-Pacific business to Synnex. Datatec's plan to sell the Westcon-Comstor assets was disclosed in June 2017.
- In other acquisition news, VRP Consulting, a Salesforce consulting firm and digital transformation services provider based in San Francisco, has purchased CodeSWAT, a Salesforce consultancy in Santa Clara, Calif.
- SolarWinds MSP, an IT service management technology provider, revealed it has purchased SpamExperts, an email security company. SpamExperts currently offers services for email archiving, as well as spam and virus filtering. SolarWinds MSP said the acquisition will expand its SolarWinds MSP Mail technology.
- Data protection company StorageCraft launched a $100,000 Recovery Guarantee for qualified partners. The guarantee covers the recovery of virtual or physical machines, either on premises or in the cloud, according to StorageCraft.
- The NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars have tapped TierPoint LLC to provide colocation and other managed data center services. TierPoint in 2015 acquired its Jacksonville, Fla., data center and has since completed an infrastructure and security upgrade, according to the company. Shifting from AFC South to AFC North territory, TierPoint also announced it will build a second data center in Baltimore. The planned 35,000 sq. ft. facility will see an initial investment of more than $10 million.
Market Share is a news roundup published every Friday.
Learn more about AWS tools for enterprise cloud management
Read about AWS Config and the compliance management use case
Gain insight into the NuoDB database and its background