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- Which 2020 Democratic candidates post the most cringe? 4 Years Ago
- The new ‘Hunger Games’ book paints President Snow as a hero—and people are not happy Tuesday 9:03 PM
- Influencer called out for ‘troubling image’ with Kenyan child Tuesday 8:18 PM
- Professor arrested for spending $185K of grant money on iTunes and strippers Tuesday 7:28 PM
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- Apple’s iCloud encryption plan halted amid FBI pressure, report Tuesday 10:57 AM
- Glenn Greenwald charged with cybercrimes in Brazil Tuesday 10:48 AM
Audio companies can throw all the advertising campaigns in the world at music fans, but the true die-hards among them will never budge from a truth buried deep within their sonic hearts: Nothing trumps a good vinyl record spinning on a finely-tuned turntable.
It was a sad day when Panasonic closed the Technics brand in 2010, at the too-young age of 45 (the last turntable model they released still goes for quite a bit on eBay), but it was an arm of the company that refused to stay asleep.
When the conglomerate announced the rebirth of the music aficionado’s choice brand, just shy of a year ago, the excitement of Technics’ return was, from fans, hampered by a cautious attitude. While Technics announced new products to accompany a vague high-resolution audio format—the same format is rumored to be behind Sony’s release of a $1,200 Walkman—there was no mention of what they really wanted to hear.
The die-hards and DJs were only interested in one product to return: The industry standard-setting Technics turntable.
Their wishes have now become a reality: Panasonic announced yesterday, at their annual IFA festival in Berlin, that a new line of Technics turntables are on the way.
The reaction on Twitter was, to understate it a bit, quite positive:
Panasonic has remained vague on the specifics, but is very reassuring of the fact that the new Technics line of turntables will use the latest in direct-drive motor technology to bring the best analogue sound possible to an industry steeped in binary.
The company gave the The Wall Street Journal a release timeframe of some time between April 2016 and March 2017, and while that seems like a long wait, it also means they’re putting a lot of work into this lineup.
Vinyl fans: Rejoice.
Joey Keeton is an entertainment writer who reviewed streaming movies, comedies, and TV series for the Daily Dot. He's also written about podcasts, bizarre web culture, and politics.


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Reliance Jio Details 5G Plans at Qualcomm Event, Promises Testing at Jio Scale
Reliance Jio has detailed its 5G plans which will be supported by Qualcomm, the company’s president revealed while speaking at the Qualcomm 5G Summit. Jio, which started its public rollout in 2016 as the first 4G-only network in India, offering voice and data over the same LTE connection, has now moved into 5G, and it’s expected to launch a value-for-money 5G smartphone that could help bring about Mukesh Ambani’s goal of a 2G-mukt-Bharat (2G free India). The telco, which catapulted itself into being one of India’s top telecom companies offering liberal free trials and extremely low rates, recently became the first provider to cross 40 crore subscribers. In the last few months, it has also drawn huge amounts of funding from the likes of Facebook and Google, and when 5G launches, it could well see a fresh round of growth.
Speaking at the keynote of Qualcomm’s 5G Summit, Reliance Jio Infocomm President Matthew Oomen said that Jio has developed a fully indigenous 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) product. Qualcomm also said that Snapdragon will support OpenRAN 5G, along with Jio and various other telcos.
“Our long-standing collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies will accelerate the development of a full suite of 5G products and solutions, as Jio continues to support and drive open technologies in RAN,” said Oommen. “From Silicon to software all the functions of a Software-defined RAN will get tested at Jio Scale. These standards-based open RAN technologies along with the new Qualcomm 5G RAN Platforms will help to bridge the gigabit digital gap to deliver the Inclusive Digital Platform that is so much a necessity today for lives and livelihood in India and beyond.”
“Qualcomm Technologies aims to deliver cutting-edge technology for virtualized, flexible and interoperable 5G infrastructure across the globe. We recently achieved over a 1 Gbps milestone on the Reliance Jio 5G NR product, leveraging our Qualcomm 5G RAN Platforms, and we look forward to expanding our efforts with Reliance Jio to enable flexible and scalable 5G RAN deployments,” said Durga Malladi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, 4G/5G, Qualcomm Technologies.

domain: news


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[Dearborn, Mich.] Ford Motor Co.'s Ford Division confirmed it is trimming spending on broadcast and print ads starting in the second quarter, saying it wants to curtail costs. But the amount of the cutback couldn't be determined. Ford said the cuts aren't linked to its massive ignition-switch recall; last fall's fumbled, $100 million Taurus launch; or sales incentives.
[Sacramento, Calif.] Packard Bell Electronics is close to hiring M&C Saatchi, New York, as its ad agency, foreshadowing a major move into traditional advertising by the No. 1 home PC seller. "No contract has been signed, but it's...going to happen," an executive said. Packard Bell has relied on co-op advertising; its ad account has been dormant at Kovel Kresser & Partners, Santa Monica, Calif. Separately, Packard Bell is reviewing its public relations account; incumbent Bohle Co., Los Angeles, hopes to keep the business but has cut 16 jobs.
[Paris] Talks between BDDP Group and London-based WPP Group about a sale of BDDP will continue this week, with BDDP owners hoping to strike a deal by next month. Because of a conflict between WPP client Unilever and Procter & Gamble Co., a client of Wells Rich Greene BDDP, New York, observers expect the New York agency to be spun off once a deal is completed, possibly to current WRG management.
[New York] Cosmair's L'Oreal this summer will introduce Belle Color hair coloring with $20 million in advertising from Publicis/Bloom. The line is from L'Oreal's European Garnier division, set to introduce makeup, skincare and haircare brands in the U.S. next year (AA, April 29). Those brands haven't been assigned U.S. agencies yet.
[New York] Comedy Central has wooed away one of ESPN's most popular "SportsCenter" anchors, Craig Kilborn, to host a show that will be the cable network's flagship program. "The Daily Show" will be a spoofy late-night news program, launching in July. A multimedia ad push for the show will hit in late June, created by agency Holland and the network's in-house creative team. Mr. Kilborn's departure last weekend is forcing ESPN agency Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore., to revise some new commercials that began hitting last week for "SportsCenter."
[San Francisco] Partizan/Midi/Minuit, London, won the Grand Clio for a spot created with Bartle Bogle Hegarty for Levi Strauss & Co., San Francisco. Cliff Freeman & Partners, New York, chalked up the largest number of Gold Clios, six, for its work for Little Caesars Pizza and Sauza Conmemorativo tequila. TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif., picked up five Gold Clios, including one for its regional campaign for Sunkist California pistachios.
[Omaha] ConAgra's Beatrice Cheese division is introducing an on-pack game this summer with the top prize of $1 million. The promotion kicks off with a free-standing insert June 2. Ebel Dunnell, Merrick, Chicago, handles. The promotion dovetails with Kraft Foods' huge in-store summer push for all its cheese brands beginning Memorial Day (AA, April 29).
[Kalamazoo, Mich.] Pharmacia & Upjohn is sponsoring a baseball "Rogaine Hair Raising Play of the Week" on ESPN. A similar car racing "Finish of the Week" will run on The Nashville Network beginning May 19, as promotional support for its hair regrowth product. Additional sports media are planned.
[Washington] The FBI on May 3 said it had received an anonymous letter threatening to bomb TV and radio stations airing alcohol ads, as well as breweries and their delivery trucks, Electronic Media reports. At press time, the National Association of Broadcasters was warning TV and radio stations via fax of the threat. The FBI said the letter blamed broadcasters for children's deaths in accidents involving alcohol.
J. Steve Davis to president-CEO, Young & Rubicam, New York, from exec VP-general manager, J. Walter Thompson USA, Chicago. Mr. Davis succeeds Ed Vick, who was promoted to chairman-CEO, Y&R Advertising, last month; JWT hasn't named a successor to Mr. Davis....Cruise Line International Association, New York, is expected to select either Harris Drury Cohen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., or Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, New York, as first agency for its $10 million to $15 million account this week....Joe Cronin adds the title of vice chairman, Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide, a new position. He is president-CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising/Pacific, Torrance, Calif....U.S. Department of Defense, Washington, is accepting solicitations for its Joint Recruiting Advertising Program, which it reviews every five years. The $10 million to $20 million account is held by Bates USA, New York....True North Communications, Chicago, acquired Harrod & Mirlin, Toronto. The $42 million agency will operate autonomously....Frito-Lay's chips made with Olean began testing April 22 in Grand Junction, Colo.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Eau Claire, Wis. The Max versions of Lay's, Ruffles, Tostitos and Doritos are handled by BBDO Worldwide, New York. The theme is "One taste and you will be a believer."...Some member states of the Multi-State Lottery Association, Des Moines, are seeking an ad agency for a project campaign. Agencies interested said the effort will include radio and TV for 22 states but the association defined it as small project....Mike Harper, 68, retired last week as RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. chairman and will be succeeded by Steven F. Goldstone, 50....First Brands Corp., Danbury, Conn., consolidated $40 million of national broadcast media buying at McCann-Erickson Worldwide, New York, from McCann and Young & Rubicam, New York; and Leo Burnett USA, Chicago.


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Baby piggy banks pay a high price price for in cost of life crisis after almost a third of parents cut back on pocket money during last year.
Average amount what goes in pockets of under 16s dropped 23% every week to £4.99. year from £6.48 in 2021, according to research from lender Halifax – the lowest amount since 2001.
UK has highest inflation among the G7 countries, with reaches 40-year high of 9.4% in June in response to rising food and energy prices.
bank last week of England says it expects inflation rise up to 13% by October. He warned of the recession lasts longer than a year because it has raised interest rates for sixth time in a row last a week to tame inflation.
two fifths of parents still give a pocket money to their children and third of they expect their offspring to do more around house to earn It.
Bye parents have reduced pocket moneymany told the lender what they were willing to do changes to their lifestyle to do sure they can still be higher up their children means.
Half of parents say they will donate expenses on their own leisure activities, such as going to the pub or eating out, or giving up purchases such as cosmetics and designer goods (45%). Just over two-fifths said they would stop spending on own hobbies and quarter would spend less on weekly supermarket shop.
Emma Abrahams, lender head of economy said: “As household spending continues to rise a bit parents have to make difficult choices as they adapt to the conditions in which they face – from cutting down in family bill for groceries, to pass on date or somethingwanted private purchase in shops”.
Children spend their pocket money on video games and sweets (both at 39%), followed by toys (30%), clothes (29%) and hobbies, for examples of books (28%).
Only the fifth of parents (22%) say they children likely to save your pocket money.
Halifax interviewed 629 parents of children aged eight to 15 years in June.
In 1987, when the creditor undertook first pocket money interview, children got average of £1.17 every week. amount remained relatively stable throughout the 1990s and then doubled between 1998 and 2000. money followed his example, but fell during financial crisis, from £8.01 in 2007 to £6.13 in 2008. By 2019 it rose to £7.71 before falling back again during the pandemic up to £7.55 in 2020 and £6.48 in 2021.
Chris Payne father of a six-year-old man and triplets (four-year-old girls), said: “How parent of four and running full-time in emergency services sector financial planning is important for us – and part of it how large pocket money we give our children.
“Like others, we bear the brunt of of rising costs, which means adjusting our lifestyle to accommodate new ways of life, but we have not changed the approach to pocket money”.
Abrahams said: “We know finances can cause anxiety for households. Pocket money it’s a luxury that only a few can afford. parents can offer their children as well as, for a lot, it’s impossible option. Open and honest conversation with your children about what you can afford give can improve their understanding and relationships with finance in in future”.


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UPDATE: A correction has been posted. The Washington Post appears to have gotten the story wrong.
The RIAA has taken their campaign to a new level:
In an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.
Sony BMG, the only major label yet to take steps to ditch DRM, seems to agree:
Sony BMG’s chief of litigation, Jennifer Pariser, testified that “when an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song.” Copying a song you bought is “a nice way of saying ‘steals just one copy,’ ” she said.
In decades past, people had to re-purchase their music libraries on cassette and then on CD. It’s as if the record industry wants to pretend that people must re-purchase their music libraries again in a digital format for their computers when they already own it on the digital compact disc format. This also seems to suggest that the RIAA would consider it illegal to create backup copies of legally purchased digital audio files.
If these things aren’t considered fair use, then what is? The RIAA doesn’t have a very strong case.
Lawyers for consumers point to a series of court rulings over the last few decades that found no violation of copyright law in the use of VCRs and other devices to time-shift TV programs; that is, to make personal copies for the purpose of making portable a legally obtained recording.
Let’s hope that Canada doesn’t follow in the footsteps of the United States with new heavy-handed copyright measures which would allow for RIAA-style lawsuits at home.


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Tokyo, Japan : After a successful launch in Japan, Japanese tech start-ups bitgrit and Atrae brings their professional job ‘matching’ app in India. The Yenta app will allow professionals and employers to ‘swipe right’ to the profiles of their interest.
Under the initiative, the company is also inviting data scientists from around the world for an online competition — ‘SwipeToSuccess’ — to submit their optimization models for the app. Starting today, the competition will be accepting the optimization algorithms for the next 69 days — until October 31, 2020.
The top five submissions will be rewarded with cash prizes totaling US$10,000 (nearly ₹7.4 lakh).
Global data science platform bitgrit has collaborated with Atrae, a Japanese internet company, to launch their professional job ‘matching’ and networking application — Yenta app — to bridge the talent gap in India. The joint initiative will allow professionals to connect and engage with hiring managers for jobs in India and Japan.
Under the initiative, the company is also inviting data scientists from around the world for an online competition — ‘SwipeToSuccess’ — to submit their optimization models for the app. The idea is to build a model to predict the level of compatibility of a pair of users based on their profiles — and ensure that the app recommends the most linked and suitable profiles to the users.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of yenta in India as our first base for global expansion in collaboration with bitgrit. India’s data science community is inevitably going to grow in the future. With this competition, we aim to tap the potential of data scientists and expand the services provided by the Yenta app across India,” said the CTO of Atrae Corporation, Toshiyuki Oka.
The competition will kickstart on Monday (August 24) and will be accepting optimization algorithms for the next 69 days (till October 31, 2020). The top five submissions will be rewarded with cash prizes totalling USD10,000 (nearly ₹7.4 lakh).
Commenting on the launch, TetsuroMasunaga, Co-founder & CEO of bitgrit said “We are pleased to partner with Atrae for the expansion of their yenta app to India and this online AI competition to improve the app’s profile-matching algorithm. This partnership will strengthen bitgrit’s data science community and provide a platform to showcase their domain skills in emerging technologies.”
The mobile application, which was first launched in Japan in 2016, aims to connect professionals in the IT space. It currently has users from over 20,000 companies where professionals can network, get a job, engage with industry experts and founders for partnerships. The cross-industry platform will enable employers to spot and hire skilled talent and also interact with other business owners. The professionals and employers registered on the Yenta app can ‘swipe right’ on a suitable match and chat with them if the other user also likes the profile. “You swipe right on profiles you’re interested in, and if the other person is also interested and swipes right on your profile, you can message, meet up, and submit a review for each other,” Oka explained.
The ongoing pandemic has created a massive job loss as businesses came to a grinding halt. As per the data by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the urban unemployment rate in India stood at 9.15% in June — higher than rural unemployment. “This initiative is even more relevant now with the coronavirus-induced economic crisis that has severely impacted businesses, thereby triggering unemployment on a large scale,” Masunaga added.
The application is available for both iOS and Android users. The details of the competition can be viewed here.
About bitgrit – Founded in 2017, bitgrit is a global data science community-based in Tokyo with over 29,000 data scientists. The AI-driven platform aims to develop data-driven solutions across industries like hospitality, tech, and financial services. The startup has campus ambassadors and partnerships with over 30 universities in India – including the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
About Atrae – Atrae is a Tokyo-based People Tech Company that was formulated in 2003 with a vision to create businesses that expand people’s possibilities through technology.


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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Research In Motion Ltd. may be experiencing solid demand for its popular Blackberry handheld -- one of the first gadgets that got people hooked on e-mail out of the office -- but it also appears to be facing perhaps its toughest competitive challenge.
Research In Motion RIMM saw its shares tumble nearly 10 percent Wednesday on concerns the Canadian company may have to ultimately pay stiff licensing expenses as a result of a 10-month patent suit. Such costs would hamper Research In Motion's ability to compete in an increasingly crowded market and make the company, which continues to burn through money, less attractive to a prospective buyer, analysts said.
The stock closed down 3 percent to $24.49, after trading as low as $22.71.
On Tuesday, a U.S. federal court in Virginia allowed Research In Motion to continue selling its handheld devices in the U.S. market.
But the court also ruled against Research In Motion and issued an injunction that would prohibit it from making, using or selling its Blackberry in the U.S. The court stayed the injunction until the company's appeal of the verdict has been decided.
"We view this negative since it is unusual for a judge to grant an injunction and stay that decision in case like this where monetary damages are clearly defined," wrote Bear Stearns analyst Andy Neff, who lowered his rating on Research In Motion to "underperform" late Tuesday.
In May, Research In Motion was ordered to pay $53.7 million in damages, nearly double what it was ordered to pay in November of last year shortly after NTP Inc. filed a complaint that certain products infringed on patents held by NTP related to the delivery of e-mail to wireless devices.
NTP thus finds itself in a position to wield leverage to exact favorable licensing terms, said Neff. "While this legal outcome has little near-term impact, it raises several concerns including onerous licensing terms along with uncertainty surrounding RIM's ability to license its technology in the face of a legal cloud."
Based on estimated net cash at the end of RIM's fiscal 2004 year of around $6, along with income on net cash, the stock would trade at a pricey 93.3 times fiscal 2005 operating earnings of 18 cents, Neff surmised. This reflects much of the upside in light of the potential for emerging competition over the next years or two, Neff said.
Research In Motion's competitors include privately held Good Technology; Palm Inc.
In the short term, Neff believes that there are "favorable" reports about demand for Research In Motion's products. He's maintaining his estimates for the fiscal 2004 -- earnings of 5 cents on sales of $463 million.
Research In Motion is scheduled to report second-quarter results in late September. For the three months ending Aug. 31, Neff estimates the company could earn 2 cents on sales of $112 million.
Takeover speculation has subsided, noted Tim Long, an analyst at CS First Boston: "The stock has fallen precipitously over the past couple of days as speculation of an acquisition by HP or potentially IBM fade.
"We view an acquisition as unlikely (especially at these levels)," Long wrote. Moreover, an acquisition of Research In Motion comes the burden of potentially high litigation costs.
Long views a price of $36 -- floated in published reports to be a potential takeout price -- to be "excessive" for a company that's burning cash. RIM's shares traded as high as $29.16 last week on the buyout rumor.
Receive this column via e-mail. Sign up for Bambi Francisco's Net Stocks at CBS.MarketWatch.com. You can also subscribe to Bambi Francisco's Net Sense, a weekly commentary. See the latest column: Is the tide turning away from cable? and Ten red flags in this bull mania.


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SIM-swap fraud is on the rise and could see you lose tens of thousands of euros, police in Spain have warned.
The fraud sees a criminal get hold of a victim’s bank account details.
The fraudster then gets a copy of the mark’s SIM card by posing as them in phone shops, before putting it into a mobile device.
They will then use the victim’s bank details to transfer money or purchase items or even request loans worth tens of thousands of euros.
Often, lenders will send an SMS to the client’s phone with a code before authorising said transactions, which the fraudster will receive on their device having cloned the mark’s SIM.
“We don’t have a precise number of reports, but each year, there is a significant increase in cases,” Carlos Vico of Guardia Civil’s cybercrime unit told El Pais.
“The first cases surfaced in the US but it has been gaining ground here since 2015.”
“The phone is almost always the second factor in the two-step verification process,” Carles Garrigues, a professor of computer science at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, also told the Spanish daily.
“And password theft can be done by what is known as ‘phishing’ – the king of scams.”
Explaining the phishing phenomenon, Vico added: “You think you are connecting to [Google’s email service] Gmail, but it is really a different page. The situation gets serious when the criminals manage to get the password to their victim’s email, which is often linked to a number of services.”
Tricksters can also access a victim’s data through the use of fraudulent apps that secretly extract information from smartphones.
This can also be done via WiFi signals.
Vico advised extra caution when downloading apps, ensuring that users carefully read the conditions and licenses.
Vodafone says it follows a strict protocol when it comes to handing over copies of SIM cards, and that this can only be done by showing the four-digit user access code to the phone, or the user’s ID card, billing address and the last four numbers of the user’s bank account.
“We won’t issue a duplicate without ID,” says a Vodafone spokesman.
Vico told El Pais that the tricksters range from computer-science students to organised gangs, who can use social-engineering techniques to access the people’s personal details.
He added that getting a copy of someone’s SIM, however, is often as simple as persuading staff that the original has been lost.
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Car sales in Europe plummeted to an 18-year low in August, their lowest level since 1994, with no sign of an immediate revival as the recession continues to spread gloom across European markets.
The crisis has forced major auto makers to lay off workers and shut down production lines in order to stay afloat.
Compounding the woes of European car companies is the price war with low-cost imports from India, South Korea and Thailand.
In major European markets such as France, Germany and Italy, new car registrations touched new lows in August.
Sales were almost flat, with 0.1 percent growth in the UK translating to 59,433 new passenger car registrations in August, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The data showed a decline of 4.7 percent in the sale of cars for business purposes while private car sales rose 12.2 percent.
The SMMT pointed out that August sales are traditionally flat in the UK.
August accounted for just 3.1 percent of the total 2012 volume, out of the projected 1.97 million units for the full year.
Germany, Europe's biggest car market, shrank by 4.7 percent in August, with Germans buying 10,645 fewer cars than in the same period a year ago, noted the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK).
Car sales in France recorded a sharp decline for a tenth consecutive month, with sales registering an 11.4 percent drop to 96,115 units in August, according to data released by the French industry association.
Reflecting trends elsewhere in Europe, Italian car sales were down 20 percent.
The only exception was Spain, where new car sales rose by 3.4 percent mainly due to an anticipated sales tax rise in September. It was the first increase in seven months, with an estimated 10,000 buyers bringing forward planned purchases to beat the tax change, according to the Spanish ANFAC automakers' association.
Spanish dealers' association Faconauto told Reuters that sales will drop sharply in the coming months, as the new sales tax kicks in.
Best-Selling Brands Suffer
Among the brands, Ford witnessed a 17 percent drop in sales in France and 22 percent in Spain. With sales falling month after month, the company forecast a full-year loss of $1bn in its European operations.
Rallying support for his company's plans to navigate the bad times in Europe, Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally invited 2,500 dealers to a preview of its new models in Amsterdam, and said it plans to sell one million SUVs across Europe in the next six years.
"Over the past five years, the SUV segments are the only ones to have grown in Europe and it is forecast to continue," said Ford's global marketing chief Jim Farley.
The company plans to introduce a Kuga crossover and an Ecosport compact SUV in European markets.
Seeking support for his plan for investment in Europe, very similar to the one implemented in the US some time ago, Mulally told his dealers: "The most important thing we can do is acknowledge the current reality and develop a plan to deal with it."
Ford has also unveiled plans to export engines from its Indian plant to combat the rising cost of local manufacturing, and thereby offset losses.
Ford sales in Europe slumped nearly 12 percent in the year to August, in a market which is down around 7 percent overall due to the worsening economic crisis.
In France, new car registrations by market leader Renault fell 30 percent in August, with the exception of its low-cost Dacia, which recorded a 21 percent rise. Head of the French auto industry think tank Cetelem, Flavien Neuvy, told Reuters that there is no sign of recovery on the horizon.
With an 11 percent drop in domestic sales in August, France's PSA Peugeot Citroen, the second largest car maker in Europe, is likely to press ahead with plans to shed 8,000 jobs, despite calls from French President Francois Hollande for a rethink.
Adding to its woes, France's CAC 40 benchmark index dropped PSA Peugeot Citroen from its CAC 40 blue chip index. The company was a founding member of the index 25 years ago.
The company's share price has taken a beating during this recession, and it has been replaced by Belgian chemicals group Solvay on the CAC 40.
The only possible silver lining is growth in the small car market, as more customers choose smaller vehicles to save money and cut fuel costs.
Yet Asian companies are emerging as winners in this segment, leaving their western counterparts behind. The South Korean Kia and Hyundai have already established their presence in Europe, with Hyundai's market share touching 5.9 percent in August, against 1.2 percent recorded in the same month in 2011.


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There were more expectations like the launch of the JioPhone in collaboration with Google, a dedicated operating system for India and a lot more. But every AGM of RIL has an underlying theme; and the theme of the 2021 AGM was “Big Oil to Green Energy”.
Reliance Industries – Build-up to the AGM
Aramco deal to finally see the light of day
The $15 billion deal to sell a 20% stake in the Reliance O2C business was first announced at the 42nd AGM in 2019. A lot has changed since then. COVID-19 happened, global oil prices crashed and deal valuations had started looking steep. Even as Aramco was dragging its feet, Reliance went ahead and executed its debt reduction plans by hiving off stakes in the retail and digital Jio businesses. Now, the Aramco deal may be about to fructify.
The induction of Yasir al-Rumayyan on the board of Reliance Industries is indication that the Saudi Aramco stake in Reliance O2C is happening. Reliance has also confirmed that the deal with Aramco would happen during the current year. In fact, Ambani also made a cryptic call to shareholders to keep an eye on the international forays of RIL in the near future. That could be the space to watch out for.
Big shift to green energy
In a way, the stake sale to Aramco will provide the fuel for the shift to green energy. Over the next 3 years, Reliance plans to invest up to Rs75,000cr into new green energy initiatives to undertake a quantum shift in how Reliance approaches the energy business. Broadly, the intent is that by 2035, the Reliance group as a whole becomes carbon neutral.
Out of the Rs75,000cr budgeted, RIL will invest Rs60,000cr to set up 4 giga factories with focus on production of solar cells, solar modules, fuel cells, energy storage batteries, green hydrogen etc. In line with the Modi government’s green energy initiatives, RIL proposes to build 100 GW of solar capacity by 2030. The shape and colour of the energy conglomerate could be substantially different over the next decade.
Digital goes JioPhone and Jio goes 5G
Any Reliance AGM is almost incomplete without big bang announcements on digital. The much-anticipated “JioPhone Next”, in collaboration with Google, will see launch in Sep-21. It promises to be the cheapest smartphone with the maximum number of features including voice assistant, translation facility, read-aloud, high-end camera, augmented reality filters etc. While details are awaited, it is being touted as a breakthrough product to push 30 crore Indians from 2G to 5G in one single leap.
Ambani has one more sweetener for shifting from 2G to 5G. It also announced a 5G partnership between Jio and Google Cloud. This will enable 5G mirroring connections in India with download speeds in excess of 1GB per second (1GBPS). RIL has secured regulatory approvals and trial spectrum for 5G trials. This could be the missing link that RIL will fill to transport telecom users from 2G to 5G rapidly.
Positioning Reliance Retail among the global Top-10
Reliance Retail is expected to grow 3X in 5 years positioning it among the top-10 global retailers. While the company will expand its store footprint inorganically, there are also a number of organic shifts. Google Cloud and WhatsApp interfaces will be extensively leveraged to expand the retail footprint. Reliance Retail will also heavily invest in scalable warehousing to create the right logistics ecosystem. Above all, the real drive will come from the integration of the wholesaler, supplier, retailer chain as part of the retail cloud network.
To cut a long story short, it has been another ambitious rollout at the 44th AGM. How much of this would translate into enhanced valuations, is something for the markets to decipher. But one thing is clear that the green energy shift should surely be value accretive.


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Encinitas, CA (PRWEB) June 28, 2012
According to the 2012 State of Pet Health Report recently released by Banfield Pet Hospital, instances of many chronic diseases in dogs and cats have increased dramatically since 2007. Among the chronic diseases that have increased at an alarming rate in recent years are arthritis and kidney disease. Instances of arthritis have shot up by 38% in dogs and 67% in cats since 2007. Chronic kidney disease has increased by 15% in cats.
VetDepot’s Chronic Disease Infographic highlights the correlation between obesity and chronic disease rates in pets. Since 2007, the percentage of overweight or obese pets has increased 37% in dogs and 90% in cats. These percentages are of concern in the veterinary community because animals that are overweight or obese are at an elevated risk for suffering from a chronic disease. Of the pets that have been diagnosed with diabetes, over 40% are either overweight or obese. 40% of dogs that suffer from high blood pressure and 60% of dogs that have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism also suffer from being overweight.
Despite the rise in chronic disease, only 36% of dog owners and 28% of cat owners reported that they would take their pet to the veterinarian to manage an existing chronic condition. Pet owners should speak with their veterinarian about any concerns they have regarding their feline or canine companion’s health because early detection is important in treating and controlling chronic disease. Pet owners that are concerned about their pet’s weight should also consult with their veterinarian to develop a weight loss plan. A weight loss plan for pets typically includes more activity, less treats, and properly portioned pet food or a weight control pet food depending on the individual animal.
About VetDepot: VetDepot offers the very same pet products available from your local veterinarian with savings of up to 60%. All VetDepot products are backed by their 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. VetDepot is LegitScript certified, has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is committed to low everyday prices and excellent customer service. Check out their website at http://www.vetdepot.com or call their toll free customer service line at 866-456-0400. Give your pet the BEST!™
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/vetdepot/chronic-disease/prweb9650588.htm.
Copyright©2012 Vocus, Inc.
All rights reserved


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Google has launched a new analytics tool called Google Squared, which takes a spreadsheet-like approach to finding information on the Web.
It essentially searches the Web to find the types of facts you might be interested in, extracts them and presents them in a meaningful way, said Google.
If your square isn't perfect at the beginning, it's easy to work with Google Squared to get a better answer.
The launch comes nearly a month after the search firm unveiled the idea for the product at Google's Searchology . At the time, there was talk that Google Squared would rival the 'computational knowledge engine' from Wolfram Alpha, but initial users of Google's version have expressed disappointment with the results.
Google agreed, pointing out that the technology behind Google Squared is by no means perfect.
Google said its engineers are continuing to work out the search engine's bugs.
Meanwhile, Google's new functionality comes as Microsoft released its own search engine, Bing.com, which touts more features, such as more video previews in the browser page, but with guided results formatted in sleek, streamlined panes.


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China’s imports, exports surge as global economy reopens
China’s imports grew at their fastest pace this year in September, while exports extended strong gains as more trading partners lifted coronavirus restrictions in a further boost to the world’s second-biggest economy.
Exports in September rose 9.9% from a year earlier, customs data showed, broadly in line with analysts’ expectations and up from a solid 9.5% increase in August.
The strong trade performance suggests Chinese exporters are making a brisk recovery from the pandemic’s hit to overseas orders.
As the global economy restarts, Chinese firms are rushing to grab market share as their rivals grapple with reduced manufacturing capacity.
“The big picture is that outbound shipments remain strong, with easing demand for COVID-19 related goods such as face masks being mostly offset by a recovery in broader demand for Chinese-made consumer goods,” Capital Economics Senior China Economist Julian Evans-Pritchard said.
“A jump in imports suggests that domestic investment spending remains strong.”
China’s factory activity has also picked up as international trading gradually resumes.
But some analysts warn exports could peak soon as the demand for Chinese-made protective gear recedes and the base effect of this year’s massive declines wears off.
Imports surged 13.2% in September, returning to growth from a fall of 2.1% in August and much stronger than expectations for a 0.3% increase. The import strength was broad based for almost all of China’s main trading partners.
Imports from Taiwan surged 35.8% in September from a year ago, while purchases from the United States rose 24.7% on-year. Imports from Australia, however, fell 9.5%.
Recovery at home
Wang Jun, chief economist at Zhongyuan Bank, said the data showed government support for the economy has kicked in as the epidemic comes under control.
“This has boosted domestic demand, especially investment-led demand, which buoyed imports,” Wang said, adding that the yuan’s recent appreciation was positive for imports and people’s spending power.
The Chinese yuan rose to a 17-month high against the dollar.
The rise in imports pushed the trade surplus for September down to $37 billion, compared with $58.93 billion in August and lower than an expected $58.00 billion.
Across products, China bought more soybeans, grains, semiconductors, copper and steel products in September, customs data showed. Analysts expect imports to stay on an improving trend, underpinned by strengthening domestic demand.
Zhang Jun, chief economist at Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities, said higher purchases of U.S. agricultural and energy products as China implemented the Phase 1 U.S.-China trade deal, and the resumption of logistics services in the United States and Europe contributed to China’s import strength.
Top U.S. and Chinese trade officials reaffirmed their commitment to a Phase 1 trade deal in a telephone call in August.
China’s trade surplus with the United States narrowed to $30.75 billion in September from $34.24 billion in August.
Source: World Economic Forum


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The S&P 500 Index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) gained 35 points, a solid 1%, on Aug. 26, setting another all-time high, driven upwards by huge gains from tech giants Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB).
The massive uplift from these four companies, which finished the day with a combined market cap approaching $1.5 trillion, helped buoy the market on a day that saw more stocks lose than gain.
Salesforce reports huge earnings beat, adding to Dow addition momentum
Shares of the customer relationship management software giant jumped an incredible 26% today, after it reported that second-quarter sales increased 29% surpassing $5 billion for the first time and it boosted expectations for the rest of the year. The huge earnings beat comes only one day after it was announced that the company will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) on Aug. 31, as part of a big shakeup of the index.
Combined, Salesforce shares have gained an incredible 31% this week. I bet the Dow folks wish they'd pulled the trigger on pulling the tech giant into the mix a little sooner.
Netflix subscriber survey sends shares surging
The streaming giant added almost 26 million subscribers in the first half of 2020, an incredible number that was almost certainly juiced by the millions of people around the world stuck at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Well, investors got what looks like great news today, when a note from a Piper Sandler analyst reported a recent survey that indicated that most of those customers would stick around post-coronavirus. Netflix shares surged 12% on the day.
Facebook surges despite Apple ad risk; Adobe moving higher
In a company blog post today, social media giant Facebook said that Apple's bupcoming iOS 14 release would negatively affect its advertising business on the company's devices. The latest version of iOS includes a number of anti-tracking features that make it more difficult for Facebook to deliver ads through other apps. According to the post, testing indicates the loss of personalization results in more than a 50% drop in ad revenue.
In response, Facebook's shares surged 8%. Not what you'd expect from a company that counts on advertising for the vast majority of its cash flows and has a huge portion of its most active users connecting on Facebook and Instagram apps on an iPhone.
Facebook wasn't the only head-scratcher tech giant moving higher today. Shares of Adobe gained more than 9%, a huge move for a $230 billion=plus market cap company that didn't make any big announcements.
Discount retailers Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) and Dollar General (NYSE: DG) both report quarterly results on Aug. 27, along with specialty retailers Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) and Gap (NYSE: GPS).
The discounters are expected to report sales that have held up better than specialists in the beauty and apparel segments, since both sell consumer staples including food and cleaning supplies. But all four will help give investors more data about what's happening out in the real world -- not just last quarter, but also in the weeks since the quarter ended, and since the $600 federal boost to weekly unemployment payments expired.
While a vaccine and treatments for the coronavirus remain the key to moving forward in a meaningful way, every retailer that reports gives us a little more information about the here and now, and that can be handy information to have.
Find out why Netflix is one of the 10 best stocks to buy now
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Tom and David just revealed their ten top stock picks for investors to buy right now. Netflix is on the list -- but there are nine others you may be overlooking.
*Stock Advisor returns as of August 1, 2020
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


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Research In Motion (RIM) and NTP have settled their long-standing legal battle, with RIM paying NTP $612.5 million to settle all of NTP's patent claims against it.
NTP has granted RIM an unfettered right to continue its business, including its BlackBerry business, according to a RIM statement. All terms of the agreement have been finalised and the case against RIM was dismissed by a court order on Friday afternoon.
The case had threatened to shut down service to most of the millions of BlackBerry users in the US. NTP was seeking an injunction against RIM in the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. At a hearing last week, Judge James Spencer did not rule on the injunction but slammed the companies for failing to settle the case. RIM had said it had a workaround for the RIM service that would steer clear of NTP's patents.
The agreement relates to all patents owned and controlled by NTP and covers all of RIM's products, the statement said. It eliminates the need for any further court proceedings or decisions, RIM said.
At the hearing last week, RIM's lawyers, including Henry Bunsow, argued an injunction would hurt the economy because BlackBerry devices play a "crucial role" in important industries, such as hospitals, utilities and banks.
NTP lawyers said RIM had continued to use NTP's technology even though a jury ruled for NTP in its claim for wireless email patents in August 2003.
In August 2003, the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled in favour of NTP, based in Arlington, Virginia, and ordered RIM to pay damages of $53.7 million.
In December 2004, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected an earlier injunction issued by the Virginia district court. The district court issued the original injunction in August 2003 but stayed the ruling pending appeal.
(Grant Gross in Washington contributed to this story)


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Belmont FC have recently been successful in receiving a grant to assist with the purchase of a defibrillator.
Training in the use of the defibrillator will take place at the clubhouse on MAY 16th at 5.30pm until 6.30pm.
All parents are encouraged to attend.
We hope that we will never have to use this device but in the event that it is required the more people that are able to operate it the more chance we have of effectively using this life saving device.
These devices are very automated with step by step by step instructions.


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I am an extremely long-time Android user. The last time my main mobile device was Apple-made was when I was rocking a jailbroken, second-generation iPod Touch in 2008. But I’ve been testing out the new iPhone SE 2020 and my commitment to Android has been waning. And now, an upcoming iOS 14 feature that was stealthy announced at this year’s WWDC might be the straw that breaks this camel’s back: the ability to set third-party apps as your default for browsing and mail.
Initially reported by Bloomberg’s historically on-point Apple reporter Mark Gurman, long before Apple’s WWDC keynote today, the feature is a small one, but one that speaks directly to my interests. Basically, instead of forcing you into Apple’s default mail app when you try to send a message, or into Apple’s Safari browser when you click a link in another app, Apple will let you swear off its default apps entirely and set the defaults to be things like Gmail or my browser of choice, Firefox. It’s another step down the path that the historically walled-garden Apple has been walking down for years, following in Android’s footsteps by, for instance, finally allowing third-party keyboards back in 2014.
I originally swore off Apple devices for the same reason I jailbroke my old iPod Touch: I found Apple’s walled garden approach to software annoying in practice and offensive in principle, so I opted for Google’s far more hands-off approach to customization and third-party apps. But more than ten years down the road — post-Snowden, post-Cambridge Analytica, post-endless high-profile privacy scandals of all sorts — my priorities have substantially shifted. I’ve become much more interested in the protection of my personal information than I am in some abstract commitment to app choice. And privacy is something that Apple is kind of uniquely suited to provide.
Apple’s ever more explicit focus on privacy (which you have almost certainly noticed as Apple pushes it harder and harder) isn’t necessarily altruistic. It’s an outgrowth of the company’s business model. Apple’s business is based around selling services and hardware. Google, by comparison, fundamentally makes a lot of its money by targeting ads, and while it insists that it does not sell your data, the reality is more complicated than that. Apple’s software features increasingly lean towards on-device processing that make sure your data doesn’t need to leave the phone. What’s more, iOS features that let you hide your email are increasingly appealing to me, along with the company’s steadfast opposition to helping law enforcement get through its encryption.
But the way the iPhone, for now, still pressures you into Apple’s own browser and email apps has always stuck in my craw, both philosophically but also practically, as a pretty committed Firefox user. It’s kept me from making a big jump that is otherwise more and more appealing with every passing day. It may not be a huge deal for everyone, but it might be what convinces me to finally bite the bullet and make a big change.
The best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories. Read the Story
Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.


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During an exclusive meet-up with Graham for her go90 series The Ashley Graham Project, three fans got to spend the day with the plus-size supermodel who brought them through her workout routine before teaching them how to make her favorite healthy smoothie.
Ashley Graham is one of the best known plus-size models in the industry, and she’s telling women the secret to her success: confidence. “The runway isn’t just about showing fashion, it’s about gaining confidence,” she says. Wearing denim-on-denim, Graham is the first to give her walk a go before the three women rock the catwalk themselves.
The top model doesn't workout to lose weight or her curves. She does it to stay healthy, energetic, flexible, and strong — because she loves the skin she's in.
The plus-size supermodel recently served good face at the Harper's Bazaar Celebration of "ICONS by Carine Roitfeld" wearing a super-sexy smoky eye that's actually easy to copy.
Social media influencer Karyn Johnson wants to know why the photo she posted of Ashley Graham on Instagram was taken down.
It's pretty clear as to why so many have gravitated towards the Addition Elle slo-mo video more than others shot in the same style.
Ashley Graham thinks NYFW runways are missing plus-size girls this season. That includes Rihanna's Fenty x Puma show.
Model and businesswoman Ashley Graham released the newest line of her Ashley Graham Collection lingerie, sold online by plus-size retailer Addition Elle, which also hosted its New York Fashion Week show on Sept. 11, in which model-of-the-moment Jordyn Woods walked.
Huffine has just unveiled her latest project: a size-inclusive capsule collection for lingerie and swimwear line Fortnight, called CH x Fortnight.
The pre-destroyed clothing trend of the ’90s is back, thanks to celebrities wearing one particular new version: the Harlow Destroyed BFF Tee.
Ashley Graham took to social media, asking people not to make comments about health on her page, especially if it's not about their own bodies.
Appearing in 'Love' magazine, Ashley Graham takes nearly everything off — except for a jacket draped over her shoulders.
Callie Thorpe is a plus-size advocate and fashion blogger, and now the size-24 beauty has something else to add to her resumé: being featured in Vogue.
By tying each neck string to its opposite back string, you convert the top into a crossback top that distributes pressure evenly on the shoulders and back.
Ashley Graham is currently one of the largest names in fashion known especially for her influence on the body positive movement. With a new book, an inspiring Ted Talk and her own swimsuit line Swimsuits for All, she is a role model for women of all ages and sizes. But she hasn’t forgotten to give credit to the woman behind the self-love that she preaches — her mom.
Supermodel Ashley Graham's name is synonymous with beauty, empowerment, and sexiness. But in a recent episode of What Would You Do? she was called "huge" and "too big" to her face.
Supermodel Ashley Graham has been breaking stereotypes on what models are supposed to look like for years now. From being the first so-called “curvy model” to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition to not being shy about sharing pictures of her cellulite, she has inspired many women to embrace their bodies what matter what their shape or style.
Strapless bras are notoriously troublesome — They pinch. They sag. They fall. And they frustrate — but Ashley Graham has a simple solution: Size down!
This year’s Rei Kawakubo-themed Met Gala has proved to be one of the most fashion-forward in its nearly 70-year history.
Coach Rob wants to be the male version of Ashley Graham. "That’s my goal. That’s how successful I want to be."
New mom Brook Power is a new mom, and she’s Playboy’s 2017 Playmate of the Year. Playboy has crowned its 2017 Playmate of the Year — and here’s why you should care: Brook Power is not only the first Native American model to snag the title, she’s also a new mom. On the cover, Power poses topless in a tropical setting with a carefully positioned parrot, and in one interior shot, she leans against rocks in a waterfall, topless and wearing sheer, gold embroidered pants.


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Wonderful Pistachios, America’s fastest-growing snack brand, launched its first ever multimillion-dollar integrated marketing campaign specifically for its Wonderful Pistachios No Shells brand. The campaign entitled, “Sometimes, Naked Is Better,” has some cheeky fun by covering up famous nude figures in classic works of art with outrageous clothing. In the end of each scenario, the artwork and its subjects are displayed in their original, ideal form, driving home the point that naked is often better. At least when it comes to classic art and snack nuts.
The campaign will kick off with a “Sometimes, Naked Is Better” digital video starring Venus de Milo, one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture, which is permanently displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The video humorously brings to life what happens when Venus is off the clock. After working 13-hour days, 6-days a week, Venus de Milo has little time for anything but the essentials, so naturally Wonderful Pistachios No Shells offers her an easy-to-eat snack solution that keeps her fueled on the go.
The “Sometimes Naked Is Better” campaign was created by Wonderful Pistachios’ in-house creative team, Wonderful Agency, led by Chief Creative Officer Darren Moran. “Some people like to undress their Wonderful Pistachios themselves and that’s great,” said Moran. “But if you’re on the go, or a statue that long-ago lost its appendages, having a pistachio that’s already naked is just all-around better. And you don’t have to be an art lover to appreciate that.”
The new creative campaign will also be supported by public relations, digital and social media support, in-store display, and a large-scale digital advertisement in Times Square. It will be targeted to consumers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as well as online platforms geared towards epicurean, travel and outdoor activities throughout the summer.
Wonderful Pistachios’ new campaign comes on the heels of the recent unveiling of its dramatic packaging refresh for the No Shells brand. The convenient product now features cart-stopping bright green packaging and will bring all the great unique taste and health benefits of pistachios, but without the need to crack open the shells.
“Wonderful Pistachios No Shells are popular among our consumers looking for a little convenience in their snacking and to easily use in recipes to add a little crunch and protein to their meals,” explained Adam Cooper, vice president of marketing, The Wonderful Company. “Our No Shells brand has grown 40 percent over the past year to $150 million in retail sales. We are optimistic that the eye-catching new packaging and new dedicated campaign will accelerate the growth in this segment.”
Wonderful Pistachios No Shells are available in Roasted & Salted and Lightly Salted and are conveniently already-shelled for easy snacking and use in recipes, adding extra flavor to any meal. Wonderful Pistachios fans can soon find the new Wonderful Pistachios No Shells packaging in a new grab-and-go 0.75 oz. “The displays for these new bags have a small footprint that are great for placement at checkout,” continued Cooper. “And we know 80 percent of shoppers are looking for healthier options at the register.” Wonderful Pistachios No Shells are also available in 2.5 oz.,6 oz., 12 oz., and 24 oz. sizes in-stores nationwide.
About Wonderful® Pistachios & Almonds
Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds is the world’s largest vertically integrated pistachio and almond grower and processor. Grown in California’s Central Valley, our high-quality nuts can be found in the produce department of grocery stores across America.
Known for our iconic Get Crackin’ campaign, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds is part of The Wonderful Company, a privately held $4 billion company. For more, visit: www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Wonderful Company
Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Wonderful Company is a privately held $4 billion global company dedicated to harvesting health and happiness around the world through its iconic consumer brands. The company’s 8,500 employees worldwide are dedicated to bringing consumers everywhere the freshest, most wholesome pistachios, almonds, citrus and pomegranates; bottling the finest water and wines; and creating colorful bouquets that are sure to touch the heart. This commitment is reflected in the company’s market share: Wonderful Pistachios is America’s No. 1 tree nut brand and one of the top-selling salty snacks; Wonderful Halos is the No. 1 mandarin orange in America; POM Wonderful is the No. 1 100% pomegranate brand in America; FIJI Water is America's No. 1 premium bottled water brand; Teleflora is the No. 1 floral delivery service through local florists; and JUSTIN Wine has the No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon in California. A 2016 Nielsen study evaluating the familiarity, quality, and momentum of more than 2,500 leading brands revealed that Wonderful Company products dominated the top 10 lists of consumers across all generations, more than any other consumer goods company.
The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including nearly $200 million invested in environmental technologies and sustainability research, $45 million in charitable giving and education initiatives every year, $80 million toward the construction of a new charter school campus in California’s Central Valley, and innovative health and wellness programs, including two new, free primary care clinics for employees and their dependents.


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Interesting insight from Brian LaRue of ADOTAS about GM’s news yesterday that they yanked a portion of their ad spend on Facebook. Including insight from Friend2Friend CEO, Roger Katz:
“It sends a huge message about the new GM and their willingness to walk from things,” he said. Katz considered the $10 million cut a ceremonial gesture (“It’s a very small sliver” of GM’s total ad budget, he pointed out), and he suggested the company’s timing — right around the time of both Facebook’s IPO and the TV upfronts (“We’re not talking about ESPN,” he noted) — had some significance. “The fact they’d come out and talk about it this week is an interesting message,” he said. “I’m expecting that this kind of announcement is pretty nuanced.” “Facebook is not the place people go first to buy a car,” Katz acknowledged. But he insisted that Facebook is simply too large and too full of opportunity to retreat from. To not cultivate audiences there in some ways is, he said, “mind-blowing,” and he pointed out, “These brand pages are the first branded communities at scale.”Read the whole article here.


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Mobile Phones: Xiaomi Mi 11
News & Reviews: Xiaomi Mi 11 Malaysia
Last Updated: Jan 16, 2021
Based on a statement by ithome.com, it seems that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 will most likely be unveiled around Q1 2021 after the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 11. While not much is known in regards to the exact tech specs and release date of the smartphone in question, it does give us a better idea on what to expect when it is officially released in the global market.
Last Updated: Jan 06, 2021
Last month, Xiaomi have released the Mi 11 with the Snapdragon 888 chipset, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, 120Hz refresh rate, and more. But this device would not come with the charging adapter in the box just like the iPhone 12 series.
Last Updated: Jan 05, 2021
Based on a statement by Zhang Guoquan on his weibo account, it seems that charging the Xiaomi Mi 11 using the 65W GaN charger might cause the smartphone to be stuck in a boot loop. With that being said, Xiaomi mentioned that they are currently working on a fix to stop the smartphone from getting stuck in a boot loop while charging using the 65W GaN charger.
Last Updated: Jan 01, 2021
It seems that the Xiaomi Mi 11 was recently tested by DisplayMate, and the smartphone managed to achieve a grade of A+, which is the highest grade in the DisplayMate ranking system. To elaborate, the smartphone managed to earn either a Very Good or higher rating on the majority of the tests that were conducted.
Xiaomi Mi 11 release: SD888 chipset, 120Hz screen, and 108MP triple-camera setup, starts from ~RM2,477Last Updated: Dec 28, 2020
Finally, the Xiaomi Mi 11 has arrived as the first device with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. Not only becoming the first to come with the chipset, but it is also the first Chinese phone to have the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Let us find out what are the other tech specs of Xiaomi's latest flagship!
Last Updated: Dec 26, 2020
Based on an image uploaded by Digital Chat Station on Weibo, it seems that the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 11 series smartphones will most likely not come with a charger out of the box. Other than that, there is not much information in regards to whether all of the smartphones in the series will not come with a charger, so you might want to stay tuned to the official launch that’s happening on 28 December 2020 to find out more.
Last Updated: Dec 25, 2020
When you think there wouldn't be any more surprising rumours dropping before the imminent Xiaomi Mi 11's launch, think twice. Today, the brand has announced that the upcoming flagship will be the first Chinese phone to come with Corning Gorilla Glass 7. With that said, the first smartphone that is being launched with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset is now having another "first" (Mindblown!).
Xiaomi Mi 11 will come with computational photography technology for better low-light camera performanceLast Updated: Dec 24, 2020
It's just a few days to go for us to witness the arrival of the Xiaomi Mi 11 series that is going to be the first in the world to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. Before the launch happens on 28 December, Xiaomi might have already been impatient and keep sharing more details of the smartphones on the Internet. After posting up the official Geekbench test results of the device, the company now hints at the camera will bring great low-light performance.
Last Updated: Dec 23, 2020
With the launch of the Mi 11 series just around the corner, Xiaomi has officially posted the Geekbench test result of the Mi 11 today to hype the fans up. Other than that, the company has also shared some WiFi features that will be coming together with the series. Let's see what we can expect from the upcoming devices before the launch happens on 28 December.
Last Updated: Dec 14, 2020
Based on a statement by gizmochina, it seems that there could be a possibility that Xiaomi Mi 11 series will most likely be unveiled on 29 December 2020. Unfortunately, there’s no official information in regards to when the smartphone will be available in the Malaysian market, so you might want to stay tuned for that.


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This article has been archived and will not be updated. For the latest information about our programmes and initiatives, please refer to www.hpb.gov.sg or www.healthhub.sg.
MORE SINGAPOREANS OPTING FOR WHOLEGRAIN FOODS
HPB’s partnership with industry and education on importance of
wholegrain drives preference for healthier choices
Singapore, 7 February 2013:
The Health Promotion Board’s research has revealed positive trends in consumption of wholegrain and selected nutrients among Singaporeans. The research is part of HPB’s ongoing surveillance of the Singaporean diet and is a key barometer of how eating habits have evolved over time.
Issued by Health Promotion Board
- With HPB’s efforts to increase the availability of wholegrain options at key touch points, Singaporeans are now choosing to eat more unrefined carbohydrates from wholegrain foods such as wholemeal bread, oats and brown rice. According to the research, the proportion of Singaporeans reporting that they eat at least one serving of wholegrain foods a day has increased from 8.4 per cent in 2004 to 27.0 per cent in 2010, as compared to the amount of refined carbohydrate staples in the diet, such as white rice, noodles and white bread, which has decreased by 11 per cent between 2004 and 2010. This is a positive trend as increased wholegrain intake is associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes1.
- Through targeted initiatives such as the Healthier Hawker Centre and FINEST Food programmes, HPB has worked on making wholegrain options readily available. New products like wholemeal mee kia and wholemeal mee pok are now easily available to hawkers so traditional dishes are now healthier without compromising on taste. More people are also buying wholegrain products. In 2009, wholegrain bread and rice constituted nine per cent of all rice and bread sales. There has since been a two - fold increase in wholegrain bread and rice sales, accounting for 20 per cent for all rice and bread sales in 2012.
- Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Officer, HPB said, “Rather than fight social trends, HPB’s strategy is to drive holistic and multidisciplinary efforts to nudge the population towards healthier choices through sustained programmes such as the ‘Healthier Hawker Centre’ programme within communities, coupled with making wholegrain bread and rice readily available at key touch points. As Singaporeans eat out more, we want to make sure that affordable and healthier versions of their favourite dishes are available. This means working across the entire value chain, from the development of healthier ingredients, to the distribution and supply of these ingredients, to the front-end food preparation by our food vendors to serve healthy and tasty dishes. The research findings suggest that the recent national public health efforts in promoting wholegrain intake have had positive effects, which support this strategy and encourages us to continue nudging consumers towards healthier eating habits.”
- Other research findings included an increase in the proportion of Singaporeans using unsaturated oils in home cooking, and a decrease in the proportion using oils with high saturated fat content. Unsaturated oils are more ‘heart healthy’ in comparison with saturated fat equivalents, and in 2010 six in ten (59.0 per cent) people reported usually using unsaturated oils, an increase of nine percentage points since 2004. Research also indicates that healthier cooking oils remain a popular choice, with Healthier Choice cooking oils accounting for around 60 per cent of all oil sales in 2012, increasing from 40 per cent of all oil sales in 2009.
- However, while wholegrain consumption and healthier oil may be up, more Singaporeans are consuming refined sugar in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages. Research has shown that over the six years, the number of Singaporeans taking sweetened beverages has increased by 13 percentage points. Almost a third of young adults aged 18 to 29 years (29.3 per cent) consumed on average, one sweetened beverage every day.
- HPB is working with the industry to reduce sugar content of beverages and rolling out campaigns to cater this trend. For example, HPB has launched Singapore’s first Let’s Drink Water Campaign in an effort to urge school-going children and youths to inculcate the habit of replacing sweetened beverages with water In addition, HPB has been working with the industry to reduce the sugar content of popular beverages through our Healthier Choice Symbol Programme. Since 2009, there has been a significant increase in the number of reduced-sugar drinks bearing Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS), from 19 beverages to 351 beverages in 2012. One industry leader that HPB has been working with is F&N. Over the last decade, the sugar content of F&N’s portfolio of drinks has been reduced by 15 per cent.
- The research findings have also shown that fewer Singaporeans now have inadequate intakes of key vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron and vitamin A. Concurrently, there are now more Singaporeans consuming excessive calories. Six in ten Singaporeans consume excessive quantities of energy, while seven in ten consume excessive quantities of saturated fat. Key sources of saturated fat include oil used for stir-frying, coconut milk based dishes, and snacks such as biscuits, pastries, cakes, and titbits.
- Henceforth, all new applicants and those renewing the Healthier Choice license agreement are required to carry the front-of-pack Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labelling. GDAs are guidelines on how much energy and nutrients are required for a healthy, balanced diet. The GDA label on a food product details the amount and percentage GDA of calories and nutrients contained per serving of the product.
- Response from HPB’s industry engagement has been positive. Major drinks manufacturers such as F&N and Pokka have committed to including GDAs on the labels of their beverages while major supermarket chains such as Cold Storage, NTUC FairPrice, Shop & Save, and Giant will incorporate GDA labelling on several categories of their house brand products within this year.


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New Trinity Leeds restaurant now open with every pizza a fiver for two weeks
The new pizzeria is hugely popular in London and has now arrived in Leeds
Take a look inside this awesome new pizzeria which has launched at Trinity Leeds.
The popular London chain Franco Manca has opened in our city and we got to have a sneak peek at what is on offer.
Our team visited the new eatery for a lunchtime treat and here’s the photos of the food on the menu and how the restaurant looks inside.
The new venture is opening in the former Pintura site and for their first two weeks every pizza will cost only £5, and Franco Manca has pledged to support local homeless charities and shelters in their opening weeks.
Emiliano Ruzzu, Franco Manca’s Leeds Head Pizzaiolo, said: "We’re thrilled to be opening the doors of our very first Leeds-based pizzeria.”
You can find out more about the chain by visiting their website.
Visit our dedicated Leeds News page for the biggest talking points from across the city.
LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp group to keep you up to date with the latest news! Click here to join and follow the instructions on your phone. Your number won't be shared with anyone else in the group.


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PayPal’s Q2 net profit drops, but its crypto ambitions grow
After the second-quarter earnings were lower than analysts expected, PayPal’s stock price fell 8% on Wednesday.
Earnings per share adjusted for 1.15 US dollars, while analysts survey expected it to be 1.12 US dollars.
Revenue reached US$6.24 billion compared to the expected US$6.27 billion.
PayPal Holdings, a digital payment platform provider company, founded in 1998, is a significant leader in digital finance.
It provides buyers and sellers with a platform to facilitate payment transactions. PayPal Holdings’ product portfolio includes PayPal, Venmo, Xoom and One Touch.
In the second quarter, net profit fell 23% year-on-year to US$1.18 billion. The company added 11.4 million new net active accounts, which brings the total number of active accounts to 403 million.
According to a statement, revenue for the quarter, ended June 30, increased 19% year-on-year.
The pandemic triggered a surge in online shopping and helped drive record payments in 2020
Total payments increased by 40% to 311 billion U.S. dollars. Payments for the Venmo application, which started supporting cryptocurrency services in April, increased by 58% to 58 billion U.S. dollars.
The mobile payment company vigorously promoted crypto payments last year. It allows U.S. users to use cryptocurrency to buy, sell and settle accounts.
As PayPal’s network includes 32 million retailers, the company’s crypto ambitions have made the company a competitor to Coinbase, the country’s most popular crypto exchange.
What will Supper App Wallet have to offer us?
In today’s PayPal’s second-quarter 2021 investor update conference call, CEO Dan Schulman stated that the initial version of the company’s Super App Wallet is “code complete.” Furthermore, the president of PayPal said that the company plans to fully promote this wallet in the United States in the next few months.
The super app wallet will be equipped with options like high-yield savings, early access to direct deposit funds, messaging functions, and some additional crypto functions. Shulman said that each wallet would be “unique, driven by advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.”
The post PayPal’s Q2 net profit drops, but its crypto ambitions grow appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.


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Ralph Lauren is bringing holiday flair to the Roblox metaverse. Featuring winter-themed activities like ice-skating, as well as a digital clothing collection, “The Ralph Lauren Winter Escape” kicks off today and will run through Jan. 3.
The activation, designed with video game developer Funomena, is Ralph Lauren’s first on Roblox, an increasingly popular gaming platform amongst brands dipping their toes into the metaverse. Nike, Chipotle and Hyundai are a few marketers that have recently debuted Roblox experiences to court younger, digitally minded audiences.
In Ralph Lauren’s winter wonderland, users will be able to ice skate with friends, drink hot chocolate from Ralph’s Coffee Truck, toast marshmallows and take part in a holiday treasure hunt to unlock exclusive accessories — all against the backdrop of a snowy alpine landscape. A holiday tree decorated by the user community will also stand at the center of the world, offering more opportunities to unlock rewards.
“Our community developers have created a unique experience with custom textures for a realistic nature backdrop where anyone can try exclusive fashion items and even influence what this environment looks like based on their participation and daily voting results,” said Christina Wootton, vice president of global brand partnerships at Roblox.


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Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn announced plans to design containerized data centers that come with renewable energy generation capabilities, such as photovoltaic panels.
While famous for manufacturing consumer electronics for U.S. companies – Apple’s iPhone and iPad and Amazon’s Kindle are the most prominent examples – Foxconn, which operates massive manufacturing plants around the world, has been expanding its business in the data center market.
It produces HP’s containerized data centers called EcoPod. In April, it announced a deal with HP to co-develop and manufacture servers targeted at the so-called “hyper-scale” market. Hyper-scale customers are companies like Facebook, Amazon, Google and Yahoo, which operate huge data centers globally and buy massive amounts of custom-designed servers.
Also in April, Foxconn announced that 21Vianet, a data center service provider in China, had retained it to build data centers for it. When that announcement was made, a Foxconn official said the company was going through a transformation with the goal of leveraging its technology development and manufacturing experience.
Foxconn now also reportedly has its own containerized data center product line, which it is upgrading with renewable energy sources, according to a report by CIOL, an Indian business technology publication.
Containerized data centers, also referred to as modular data centers, are used for rapid deployment of IT infrastructure. Customers deploy them when they need to quickly expand existing data center capacity or to add data center capacity temporarily – near oil fields or in areas of military operations for example.


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Phone Explodes News
There are many instances of mobile phone explosions across the world, but there have been instances when these devices have saved lives as well
Official reports indicate that Hassan “probably died from smoke inhalation” and not from shrapnel.
We have heard of cases of smartphones exploding while they are being charged or there is some irregular usage. The latest company to have its product in this category is Xiaomi.


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Montblanc brand has unveiled a new version of its luxury smartwatch, called Summit 2 +…
Considered the world’s first smartwatch to feature 4G LTE, Summit 2+ has an eSIM integrated option that gives it the ability to make voice calls over a 4G LTE network without having to pair with a smartphone. The watch can be set to the same number as your phone, and this functionality is already offered on models by other brands like the Apple Watch. Montblanc, on the other hand, is the first brand to introduce this story into the luxury market.
All other details of the Summit 2+ model are almost identical to those of its predecessor, introduced two years ago.
New Montblanc Summit 2+ runs on the Qualcomm 3100 Wear platform, powered by Google Wear OS. Like many mechanical models of this brand, the Summit 2+ comes with an oversized corona that fantastically emphasizes a 43.5mm diameter housing. It has a 1.28-inch AMOLED screen that is covered with a piece of rounded sapphire crystal to keep it from scratches.
Battery capacity is increased to 440 mAh, while the watch is available in three different versions – black, steel, pink gold, along with a PVD coated bronze-steel version.
“Designed to be your strong daily companion, this watch will connect you to the world, giving you the opportunity to be active and connected at all times,” said Montblanc Brand CEO Nicholas Barecki.
The Summit 2+ model will cost you about $1,170, which is about twenty percent more expensive than the original version, and will be available for purchase from the end of this month.


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Recently, the Android 11 Beta version has been released, which is the talk of the town these days. This is being discussed everywhere, the new features about the interface, the original fonts, the new emojis, the built-in screen recording option, etcetera. The thing which has excited the users the most is the new emojis. There has been an addition of 117 new emojis to the emoji keyboard. The unique number of emojis is a surprise package for the users. There is no doubt that Unicode has done something more than expected.
Pinched Fingers to a triangular point gesture is common among Saudis and other Arabs. The meaning of Pinched fingers in Saudi Arabia and other Arab Countries is Hold off, Relax and Wait a little while.
There are some emojis that have been liked by the users a lot, for instance, the smiley face that has tears on it and the hand that presents the pinched fingers. The users can have the opportunity to use these new emojis by copying from the internet because most of the platforms do not support these. The only application which can do so is Twitter.


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The vast majority of cashiers perform their duties according to an employment contract – 85 percent. defendant. More than every third third (36 percent) explains that they receive bonuses every month for the results – says the latest report "Cash on the labor market, profit, development and expectations" of zarobka.pracuj.pl.
– Although you are at the lowest levels in the hierarchy, they build our impressions in relation to the brand. The cashier's job is demanding, often physically heavy. However, market reports show that cash payouts are steadily growing and employers are introducing career development programs – stresses [1
Cashier law in Poland is highly feminized. According to the experts in zarobki.pracuj.pl, 8 out of 10 cashiers are women. Interestingly, the ladies dominate among food managers (61%) and their deputies (66%).
According to data from the site zarobki.pracuj.pl, their average monthly salary is 2000 PLN net. The best paid specialists, on the other hand, receive salaries of almost half as much – PLN 2900 net. For comparison, the average salaries of the seller in the automotive industry net are 3100 PLN and the grocery store manager is 4600 PLN.
Higher salaries are offered by stores in the largest cities and the most developed regions, as well as large retail chains.
Due to the high turnover on the cashier's position, the employee's benefit is an internship that exceeds 2-3 years in one place.
Higher wages are offered by cashiers, eg. IT, car and RTV household appliances.
The minimum wage increases from 2019 years.
Product coupons are by far the most popular (38 percent). According to employee statements, companies are less likely to choose social benefits (28 percent), life insurance (25 percent) and private healthcare (18 percent).
PAYMENT PLUS. WHAT USES FOR MACHINING TRADE NETWORKS? [BIEDRONKA, LIDL, IKEA, CARREFOUR, KAUFLAND]
What are the expectations of the cashiers? Cashiers are one of the most characteristic groups of male workers. As reported by Pracuj.pl, they expect stable and clear employment rules. They want comfortable and fast recruitment, honest relationships with managers and a healthy work environment.
As shown in the Pracuj.pl report "On the track for good work", male workers pay special attention to the amount of compensation. Only 35 percent. The respondents want to change their position to higher, but 77 percent. would change jobs if they were to receive higher compensation in a new place.
If the opportunities for development in the cashier's work were expressed for Pracuj.pl Kinga Jagiełło-Kulesza head of the HR department of Jeronimo Martins Polska.
What did she say? – Depending on company and industry, it may look different. Usually, it begins with the cashier's or seller's cashier's position, and later you can be marketed to the leading seller – treasurer, and then the trustee. The higher the level, the more opportunities for development. You can choose a specialist or management route. In the Biedronka chain, the store manager can be promoted to the head of fresh goods sales, as business and sales manager, later as chief executive, who oversees the work with several dozen stores, then – the director of the distribution center, as regional director. This position is also associated with various opportunities – for example, you can change specialization, become a director in the purchasing department, etc. Much depends on the company's structure or current business needs. By working in sales outlets you can get competencies that can be used in other areas, including in marketing. Such a person can, for example, go to the personnel department or become an internal coach and educate himself – says Kinga Jagiełło-Kulesza.
CORRECT INSURANCE IN THE FOLLOWING HOUSE IN THIS FOLLOWING GALLERY >>>


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Fans of Bandai Namco are in for a treat, as the company has announced a multitude of titles would be coming to the West. These titles include “Tales of Berseria,” “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven” and other titles that should please most gamers, specifically those that own a PS4 or a Vita.
“Tales of Berseria” is the first game in the “Tales of” series to feature a female protagonist and will be coming to the PS4 and PC, though no official release date has been announced. This will be the second “Tales of” game to come to the PS4, the first being “Tales of Zestiria.”
“Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven” is the latest fighting game based on the popular anime and manga. This is the first game in the series to come to a current-gen console, as the last one based on “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” came out on the PS3. “Eyes of Heaven” has a 2016 release window, with no official release date as of this writing.
The PlayStation Blog has confirmed that “God Eater: Resurrection” and “God Eater 2: Rage Burst” are coming to the PS4 and PS Vita in the summer of 2016. There hasn’t been a “God Eater” game that’s come to the West since the original game that came was on the PlayStation Portable (PSP), so this should please fans of the series.
“Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs-Force” is a Vita exclusive and will be coming to the West sometime in 2016. The game will have players controlling legendary Gundams in fast-paced two-on-two battles. Players can also partake in missions from “mobile Suit Gundam” to “Mobile Suit Gundam Universal Century,” which should please fans of the anime and manga.
GameSpot has also revealed new details about the already announced “One Piece: Burning Blood.” The fighting game will not only come to PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360, but will also come to the PC as well. In addition to that, Bandai Namco has also announced a limited Marineford Edition, which comes with a figurine of Whitebeard and his grave, along with an artbook of the game.
It looks like 2016 will be a big year for Bandai Namco and fans of the game publisher. This isn’t including other games coming next year like “Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth” or “Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4.”


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VR/AR Health Risks
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are gaining momentum as promising new technologies. They can potentially expand the field of human knowledge by changing how people learn, work, play and entertain themselves.
High-tech VR and AR headsets are popping up everywhere – from the expensive ones from Samsung, Google and Facebook, to the generic cardboard headsets for the lower market.
In fact, some tech experts even proclaimed 2016 as “The Year of VR.” Surprisingly, there has been almost no discussion on the health and safety risks associated with strapping a VR headset over your eyes. There could be health risks when people are immersed in a fully imagined environment, possibly affecting their physical and emotional well-being. Here are some of them:
The immersive nature of virtual and augmented reality can induce stress or anxiety after wearing a full occlusion headset for more than a few minutes.
Depending on what images they are seeing, virtual reality can bring in waves of emotions more than just looking at photos or watching videos. For example, virtual reality footage of the war in Syria can cause the viewer to feel fearful, stressed and shocked.
It can take a while to get over this anxiety because the viewers experience everything as if they were there in the scene.
Some people who use VR headsets complain of dizziness and nausea. Its realistic simulated motions can affect a person’s perception of time and space and can induce fatigue, nausea or wooziness.
In fact, a UCLA Keck Center for Neurophysics study showed negative side effects of VR among lab rats, including “cybersickness” and abnormal patterns of activity in rat brains. Scientists also noted that 60 percent of the rats’ neurons simply shut down in virtual reality environments.
It is recommended that users take frequent breaks from virtual reality to avoid nausea. They can adjust the fit of the headset, tighten or loosen straps, as well as fixing the focal distance or eye distance.
3. Eye strain
VR headsets can cause severe eye strain among users. They strain their eyes in order to focus on a pixelated screen that uses a single refractive optic element. Headsets do not usually addresses the optic issues with near-to-eye devices, and they quickly become uncomfortable after a few minutes.
Headset designers must find a way to maintain a large field of view (FoV) for the users. Humans typically have field of view of 200 degrees, involving 140 degrees of binocular vision for depth perception, and 60 degrees for peripheral vision. Headsets today are at 35 degrees FoV, giving the user the experience of merely “watching” the content. Increasing it to 60 degrees FoV or more can make users feel completely immersed in the displayed content and it becomes experiential.
Headsets should also mimic how human vision really works, to provide the most comfortable viewing experience for both 2D and 3D content. In physiological terms, headset makers need to solve this tension known as the “accommodation/convergence conflict,” and eliminate eye strain.
4. Radiation exposure
Wearable technology like VR headsets potentially exposes the user to harmful electromagnetic frequency radiation. These devices make use of a wireless connections like Bluetooth or WiFi to connect with your smartphone or computer; and are equipped with smart sensors that allow you to be immersed in the VR experience.
Some virtual reality headsets uses smartphones, which emit radiation. Numerous studies have already pointed out how cell phone radiation can affect the human reproductive system, disrupt sleep, or cause mood swings. Now, VR headsets work together with cellphones and can wirelessly connect to WiFi–this means that they too emit radiation, and could in fact, pose long term health risks.
EMFs have been cited as a form of carcinogen—a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue–in previous studies. This essentially puts it at par with more commonly known source of carcinogens, such as cigarettes.
Researchers from the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a federal inter-agency group under the National Institutes of Health, conducted experiments on mice that showed how the subjects exposed to electromagnetic radiation could be more susceptible to cancer.
In another study, the World Health Organization (WHO) mentions cell phones as “possibly carcinogenic.” The study also implies that increased proximity to the devices increases the level of radiation exposure. This particular finding makes wearable even more worrying, given that they are specifically designed to be worn constantly near the body.
It’s best to take a little time to read the included safety manuals if it’s your first time using VR. Be aware of the health risks of VR and decide if it’s something you want to expose yourself to.
Do you have know of other health risks from using VR or AR headsets? Share them in the comments below.


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Young-Williams Animal Center invites you to join us at our 14th Annual Mardi Growl presented by Merchants of Beer on June 26th on the performance lawn at World’s Fair Park. While we continue to monitor the pandemic guidelines, we’re excited to celebrate one of our favorite traditions with you this summer.
This year, we’re mixing things up! Instead of our regular pet parade, we’re hosting the first ever pet show to raise awareness for the life-saving efforts of Young-Williams Animal Center and support for Knoxville’s pet-friendly communities!
Our pet show will have all the fun of our parade while keeping participants and festival goers safe. Registration is $15 per pet and we’ll have seven fun categories to compete in. During the festival, guests can visit with more than 80 vendors, enjoy a bite from local food trucks, grab a drink, enjoy live music and more.
Our vision is to find a home for every pet, and whether you’re a sponsor, vendor, or participant of Mardi Growl, you will help continue much-needed services for nearly 10,000 animals.
Voted the 2017 “Best Non-Profit Fundraiser” by the readers of Knox News, Mardi Growl is Young-Williams Animal Center’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Interested in being a sponsor or vendor? Email Grace at [email protected] for more info and opportunities to support Mardi Growl.


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Here’s the latest reason why entrepreneurs should consider launching their products at the fall DEMO conference in San Diego:
Two winners, as selected by a panel of individual judges, will be awarded a significant amount of media publicity, totaling $1 million in ads — to be taken out at established magazines and other publications.
The judges (industry leaders we’ll be announcing shortly) will pick one winner from among the “enterprise” products that are launching at DEMO, and a second from among “consumer” technology products.
The ads will be taken out over six months, and be placed in the most relevant media publications owned by IDG, which owns the DEMO brand, and which partners with VentureBeat to produce the conference. IDG publications participating in the prize include leaders such as CIO magazine, Computerworld, InfoWorld, Network World, PC World among others. VentureBeat will also participate.
The campaign will include print advertisements, web banner placements, text link promotions, email newsletter promotions, and video ads. The package includes the development of creative content that is to be featured on IDG media properties – another huge value proposition to the winning companies. The campaign would extend from October 2009 through March 2010.
Of course, this is in addition to all the other goodies that DEMO launch companies get (some of which I’ve been talking about lately; see the bottom of this post), including the ability to present in front of an unmatched group of reporters from national and international press, a slick high-definition video, to demonstration coaching, press help, and the highest production values, including 100 percent reliability of Wifi service during the conference.
The deadline to apply for the launch or AlphaPitch programs at DEMOfall is July 30. Companies interested in participating in DEMOfall should visit the DEMO website to get application information. DEMOfall will take place September 21-23 in San Diego, CA, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.
Here’s the official release, with more details.
Alumni companies that have launched products at DEMO include the following: Adobe Acrobat, Sun’s Java, Netscape Navigator, Palm Computing, WebEx, Salesforce.com, TiVo, E-Trade; VM Ware, Google’s first foray into mobile search, to name a few.


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The Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory is in Wagga for the first week of school holidays, giving children the chance to make free chocolate freckles.
Every year in the July holidays the Sturt Mall welcomes the factory to lure more customers in.
One of the factory workers, Tegan Foley, said the children make their freckle, then go shopping allowing the chocolate to set and then come back to pick up their goods.
“It gives them an opportunity to come make a free freckle and see what we’re all about,” she said.
“Maybe if they like it, they can come over to us in Junee.”
The chocolate workshop also gives parents a little break.
Mother of two young boys, Patria Williams said her sons look forward to the chocolate workshop every year.
“It’s really good, it’s free and the kids look forward to seeing these sorts of things downtown,” she said.
“Being in Wagga, I can’t get out to Junee, so it’s nice to be able to have them here.”
The chocolate fun will continue until this Friday July 13, 10am to 4pm.