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Better Regulation Report gets it right, says Chamber, now a whole of government commitment to implementation is needed
Canberra Business Chamber has welcomed the Better Regulation Report tabled in the Legislative Assembly today by Minister for Business and Better Regulation Tara Cheyne, and called on Chief Minister Andrew Barr to ensure a whole of government commitment to making the regulatory reform agenda a reality.
Chamber CEO Graham Catt said: “It is clear and very pleasing that the government has listened to local businesses, and we commend the Minister and the Better Regulation Taskforce on this report.”
“The Report recognises the feedback and frustration that we hear consistently from our members, including a need to focus on how regulation is implemented and a lack of business experience and understanding amongst regulators and the ACT public service generally.”
“Unfortunately, feedback from small local businesses is that when dealing with government many interactions seem to be based on mistrust and a misunderstanding of business realities rather than a desire to support the entrepreneurs who drive our city’s economic growth and create jobs,” Mr Catt said.
“For small business, one of the most significant statements in the report is the commitment to move from a ‘why should we help?’ mentality, to a ‘how we can help?’ culture,” said Mr Catt.
There are 31,500 businesses is the territory, and 97% of them are small or family enterprises employing less than 20 people. ACT businesses provide around 150,000 jobs, almost two thirds of Canberra’s total employment.
Mr Catt said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, and the key to recovery, growth, and employment. They aren’t big companies, but people who had a passion or a great idea, and took a risk to deliver goods and services to the rest of us. We need a ‘think small first’ approach so we have regulatory requirements based on their operating model, and not on compliance with rules and processes that were originally developed to regulate large corporations.”
“Right now, small businesses are struggling with massive cost increases, shortages of supplies, and the ongoing skills and labour shortage. At the local level we can make an enormous difference by fixing what might seem like small things, because lots of these small things add up to lots of time, cost, and sadly often impact people’s mental health and wellbeing.”
“If the ACT Government can effectively implement the reform agenda outlined in the report, it will make a real difference to the Canberra business community. For that to happen, there needs to be a whole of government commitment to making it easier to start up, grow and run and a business from every minister, every portfolio, and every directorate, led from the top by the Chief Minister.”
“The Chamber, our members and the Canberra business community all stand ready to help make this opportunity a reality,” said Mr Catt.
The Canberra Business Chamber’s submission to the Better Regulation Taskforce can be downloaded at https://www.canberrabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Better-regulation-taskforce-submission.pdf
Media Contact: Kate Holland, COO
CBC Office: 02 6247 4199


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Press Release Distribution
nursery Press Releases+ XML/RSS
By Kathryn Marmion
Princeton Montessori School will hold an Open House for interested parents of children from eight weeks through Middle School on Sunday January 29, 2012, from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.
By Delhi Help
Getting your child into nursery class of a well reputed school to give a strong foundation to their education system is not easy, so here are tips that will certainly help your child to be where you want him to be.
By KoalaKids UK Ltd
Kiddieko introduce the new Hauck range of products to their website.
By Stephen Pinson
As of November 1, 2011 UniProdUSA and its inventory and assets has been sold to Stephen Pinson of Cincinnati, Ohio. UniProdUSA LLC is maker and importer & distributor of BedBag, a disposable Pickup Truck bed liner.
Sixty five percent of nurseries in England, Scotland and Wales have seen their occupancy drop in the past six months, National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has found in a recent survey of the sector.
By American Business Services
Treehouse Kids Co., Greater Cincinnati's premiere one-stop shop for quality, upscale baby and children's furniture, bedding and decor, announces its Ragazzi Fine Furniture Winter Sales Event (25% Off All Product Models Jan 6 - Feb 6, 2012)
By Mama Bracelets, LLC
Online retailers Mama Bracelets and Baby Bellissimo work together to bring new mothers simply stylish ways to get ready for new additions to their families with Bellissimo nursery decorating products and Mama Bracelets jewelry.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has today welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement that government will invest a further £650m to extend free nursery education to more two year olds.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is working with Professor Kathy Sylva and University of Oxford to carry out a new practice-based research project with nursery practitioners.
By Esplin PR
A unique Social Media training course, ideally suited to those child nurseries who want their online footprint to grow and prosper is now on offer from business training specialist, Explosive Learning Solutions (ELS).
The head of the national Violence Reduction Unit was a guest speaker at a recent event held by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) in Scotland and has just been confirmed as a speaker at the organisation’s conference in 2012.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has welcomed the Nutbrown Early Education and Childcare Qualifications review but expressed concern over the lack of private sector workforce representation on the review expert panel.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is working in partnership with The Safer Food Group to offer fully accredited basic food hygiene training to nurseries for just £8.
National Day Nurseries Association is holding two special national member consultation events to discover the views of nursery staff on the government’s proposed changes to the code of practice for free early education and childcare sufficiency.
By Shady Grove Nursery
Shady Grove Nursery and landscaping opens its garden Center and launches website
By The Parenta Group
Young people in Kent have an opportunity to start a career in childcare via the Foundation course offered by leading childcare training provider Parenta.
By Cheryl D. Jones
Now through the Thanksgiving holiday, the Greenwood Nursery Facebook Fan Page will be hosting its fall weekly give away their Fans. Winners announced Sunday evenings on the Greenwood Nursery Facebook Fan Page, www.facebook.com/greenwood.nursery.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is pleased to announce Helen Gration as its new Regional Chair for Yorkshire and the Humber.
Earthwormjobs.com Announces the Promotion of Sonya Smeal Hunt and Danielle Bauer
By Liberty Marketing
Hollies Nursery, a day care nursery based in Cardiff, South Wales, has just been voted the best nursery in Wales by parents at the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Nursery of the Year Awards.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today announced that it is working in partnership with supermarket chain ASDA to offer nurseries a dedicated online shopping experience within the ASDA business website.
By Stephanie Goins
With the Transportation Theme Wall Sticker kit, you can create a colorful boy’s room full of trains, planes, cars and trucks…. in a matter of minutes! Repositionable wall stickers are now available through My Wonderful Walls.
By Trifle Shoppe
Ever wondered if work at home mums can make a living with an online business? Online shopping has definitely changed its face, as these mums have proved! Meet 7 amazing designers who have used their creative skills for business at home with bubs.
4little1s.com NOW stock the Saplings range of nursery furniture
By Bonnie CHAN
----DATE: November 17th-19th, 2011 ----VENUE: China Import & Export Fair Complex (Guangzhou) -The Largest Complex in Asia
By Shannon Anspaugh
Boyka’s DeCock Farms and Greenhouses has recently had the honor of being voted “Best of the Best” in the category of “Best Farmers Market” in the Macomb Daily newspaper. This honor was bestowed the family owned business in May.
By King Edward's School, Bath
King Edward's Junior School encourages families to spend time together on a cycle ridge as part of National Family Week
By Capita Conferences
Capita's 12th National Children's Centres Conference has been updated to address emerging strategic policies and reports influencing Children's Centres' development and survival, including Graham Allen MP's Early Intervention Review.
By Esther Storvold
Enjoy a stunning set of 4 of our most popular fairies for 50% off the regular price!
By Dean Bender
Funds to Help Equip Newborn Nursery at Hospital’s New Rowley Birthing Center
By Trevor Ginn
(St Albans, UK) Online nursery retailer Hello Baby (www.HelloBabyDirect.co.uk) has launched a second app for iPhone - the Baby Namer.
By Higgenbotham Auctioneers
Higgenbotham Auctioneers International (HAI) has been retained to liquidate Polk Nursery. HAI successfully auctioned the real estate in March 2010. The liquidation auction will take place at 10am, Friday, March 18 at 361 Denton Ave., Auburndale, FL.
By Emma Murphy
Credit management and collection company Daniels Silverman warns of increased financial pressure for day-care nurseries during 2011 and advises businesses involved in childcare to prioritise the collection of fees.
Toddler training pants are featured with a waterproof outer layer for absorption of wee at the very first beginning, so it will not completely damper their nice apparel.
By Hunter Douglas (M) Sdn Bhd
Decorating for newborn or a child on the way can be one of the most exciting tasks. While satisfying, parents can often be overwhelmed by choices. They don’t need to be. It’s all about baby steps.
By Erica Mooney
The Aussan Natural™ Baby line is designed to offer an effective solution for baby-safe cleaning. The products are 100% Natural, and completely safe to use around children, adults, and women who are pregnant.
By Shooting Star PR
Lincoln-based public relations agency Shooting Star PR has won the contract to handle all PR and publicity for Childcare Expo 2011.
From humble beginnings three years ago, the online nursery furniture, baby bedding and baby gifts retailer 4little1s.com was started. From a blank piece of paper around a kitchen table in Surrey and a glass of wine .......
By Dustin Mansfield
Sierra Gold Nurseries announces the launching of the retail portion of their website.
By Broadway Events
Childcare Expo 2010, sponsored by Morton Michel, is your opportunity to find exactly what you are looking for, all under one roof. The event is to be held on September 28th-29th at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
By Desert Chronicle
It is essential that this generation of children realize that Grandparents are our heritage as well as essential members of our families and communities.
By Landscape Materials Information Service
The Landscape Materials Information Service is an organization of industry professionals who have developed an interactive search engine designed to easily locate landscape materials via the internet.
By Marie Melsheimer
Bend, Oregon charitable foundation, founded by Brooks Resources Corporation and its predecessors, allocates monies for needed community services
4littleart offers a number of wall art pieces designed to bring delight to any childs Nursery or Bedroom. Each hand finished piece is the perfect personalised gift. www.4littleart.co.uk
By Presidio Trust
On Wednesday, May 12 the Presidio Trust and its partners, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service, unveil the Seed and Plant Lab, the first phase of a new Presidio Stewardship and Sustainability Center at Fort Scott.
By Either/Or Media.
Used both for interiors and exteriors, more and more people are choosing the beauty of bamboo
By Julie DeVorss
Green Valley Nursery & Landscape (GVN) is rewarding it’s customers and Young Life during April 2010
By Little Elly
With new locations opening all over Bangalore, Little Elly now has 18 Branches in Bangalore alone. Exciting Summer Camps are offered at all locations during this Summer.
By Gemma Hammond
Humphrey’s Corner has become a pre-school favourite amongst children and parents alike. Now available online the entire range can be found at Humphrey’s very own site.
By mimijumi, LLC.
OB/GYN Lisa Masterson and pediatrician Jim Sears review the newest must have baby products for mom. Mimijumi highlighted as best bottle for transition between and after breastfeeding.
Page updated every 10 minutes

domain: news


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Public health groups lashed out at High Court order that stopped Biocon, Mylan from selling biosimilar versions of breast cancer drug Herceptin.
Roche has sued Mylan, Biocon for launching biosimilar version of the original breast cancer drug, Herceptin, and DCGI for allowing the launch.
Canmab is considered a breakthrough in biosimilar drugs and is expected to treat about 35,000 breast cancer patients in the country.
Biocon’s launch of the world’s first bio-similar of Trastuzumab, a critical breast cancer drug, is unlikely to benefit patients in a big way.
Biocon Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said that Q3 FY14 has been a very eventful quarter, with several research milestones across our novel molecules and biosimilars portfolio.
Drug major Mylan Inc today said it has launched breast cancer drug Hertraz Herceptin in India.
Bangalore-based Biocon and US generic drugmaker Mylan have challenged Delhi High Court’s interim order which barred them from using Roche’s data.
Pharma major Ranbaxy Laboratories today reported a drastic drop in net loss at Rs 158.48 crore during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013.


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Netflix's stock climbed to new high after shareholders cleared the way for its board of directors to make the Internet video service's stock more affordable.
Marriott International Inc. says its flagship hotel unit will offer guests access to Netflix Inc.'s streaming-video service on TVs in its guest rooms.
Netflix has acquired the satirical comedy "War Machine," with Brad Pitt set to star as General Stanley McChrystal.
Netflix will debut in Italy and Portugal in October as the Internet video service accelerates its international expansion.
A few dozen people crowded into a meeting room at Amazon.com's Seattle headquarters last month for one of the nice perks of working at the giant online retailer: a free concert.
YouTube's legacy extends beyond its pioneering role in the Internet's video revolution. The 10-year-old site provided a stage for exhibitionists, narcissists and activists to broadcast their opinions, show off their talents, ...
The opening months of this year saw the first rumblings of a seismic shift in the Australian television market, with the introduction of three video-on-demand (VoD) subscription services: Stan; Presto; and Netflix.
Netflix shares surged Friday after news reports that the streaming television giant was in talks to begin operations in China.
Internet video service Netflix is telling the Federal Communication that it should reject AT&T's purchase of satellite TV company DirecTV unless some changes are made.
Streaming television is now mainstream, although it has not caused many people to "cut the cord" for traditional pay TV. Not yet, anyway.


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(SK Telecom Co.)
SK Telecom Co., South Korea's top mobile carrier, said Wednesday it launched a cloud gaming service in partnership with Microsoft Corp., joining other telecom operators to compete for the growing local cloud gaming market.
The mobile carrier's 5GX Cloud Game service is powered by Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, allowing gamers to stream and play the US tech titan's Xbox console titles on Android smartphones and tablets.
Microsoft officially released its cloud gaming service simultaneously across 22 countries, with South Korea being the only Asian country in the global launch.
SK Telecom said it aims to garner 100,000 5GX Cloud Game users by the end of this year and 1 million users in three years, targeting the 3 million console and high-graphics mobile gamers in the local market.
The subscription-based service currently offers around 100 games, including popular third-person shooter Gears 5, and will add sports titles from Electronic Arts Inc. by the end of this year.
The service makes use of local high speed 5G networks to stream games on mobile devices, ensuring low latency and seamless gameplay, though it is still available through Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, according to SK Telecom.
The telecom operator's move comes as rivals have already pushed out cloud gaming services to capture mobile gamers.
Major mobile carrier LG Uplus Corp. was the first to release a 5G game streaming service last year, offering US tech giant Nvidia Corp.'s GeForce NOW.
Telecom operator KT Corp. has opted to develop its own cloud gaming platform by partnering with Taiwanese cloud gaming company Ubitus Inc.
KT's GameBox service has racked up over 40,000 users since its release last month, and the company opened the platform to other mobile carrier users earlier this week. (Yonhap)


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The Android ecosystem rightfully gets a lot of slack for being unable to deliver operating system updates to everyone in a timely manner, but there’s more to Android updates than just OS support. App updates can keep a phone chugging along even after the updates have stopped, and Google’s do-it-all super app, Google Play Services, contains a ton of app APIs and features and enables the really important stuff like Play Store transactions and advertisements.
Google just announced Play Services is dropping support for an old version of Android, and while OS development might stop at just three or four years, Play Services goes back way longer than that. Google announced Play Services is dropping support for Android 4.4 KitKat, which is now 10 years old. Support isn’t really being artificially cut off, either. Google says KitKat’s active device count is “below 1 percent,” so there’s not much reason to support it anymore.
These devices will stop getting Play Services updates after July, and then it’s anyone’s guess as to how much longer they will work. At some point, Google will change something, and your device will become a brick. Old, unsupported Android devices can’t log in to a Google account, which is a prerequisite for opening half of the apps that come with your phone. You’ll be locked out of the Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, and other Google products, with no way to see these old versions again. Luckily, someone saw all this coming and took screenshots of every old version.
Besides killing off 10-year-old phones, this is also the first shutdown that will take out the early Android watches, which also launched with KitKat. If you actually have anything this old that you still use, it’s probably time for an upgrade.


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Valpey-Fisher being bought by CTS for $18M
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- Rodney H. Brown
Hopkinton’s Valpey-Fisher Corp. has agreed to be purchased by Indiana company CTS Corp. in an all-cash deal worth approximately $18 million, according to a release.
CTS will pay $4.15 per share in cash for all shares of Valpey-Fisher (Nasdaq: VPF), which will become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CTS once the sale closes. That close is expected to happen in January of 2012, assuming it meets Valpey-Fisher shareholder approval. The boards of both companies have already given their blessings to the sale, the release states.
Valpey-Fisher makes precision crystal oscillators for timing functions in devices or components used in the telecommunications, computer, defense and aerospace, instrumentation and industrial markets. According to CTS chairman and CEO Vinod M. Khilnani that expertise will fit well with CTS’ Electronic Components business unit. In addition, Valpey-Fisher operates an ultrasound division.
Valpey-Fisher, founded in 1931, has 60 employees, according to Michael J. Kroll, vice president, treasurer and CFO of the company. While most of those are in Hopkinton, the company does have “a small engineering facility” in New Hampshire, he said. Kroll said that he didn’t see any layoffs coming from the acquisition, and that the company would likely be adding employees in the future as it takes advantage of CTS’ larger sales and distribution footprint.
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Advance Notice: Briefs
Nessel joins other AGs in pushing feds for fairer labor practices
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined attorneys general from around the country in urging the federal government “to protect workers from harmful anti-competitive labor practices.”
Nessel was a signatory to a letter — along with 17 other attorneys general — that pushes the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to explore a variety of practices that “depress wages and limit job mobility and opportunities for advancement,” according to a statement from Nessel’s office.
Nessel and the other attorneys general from the District of Columbia, as well as states like California, Minnesota and Hawaii, say the FTC crack down on practices such as non-compete agreements that can limit employees ability to take a new job and exploring how workers are impacted by mergers and acquisitions.
The signatories to the letter say the FTC has the enforcement authority to greatly limit such agreements.
“In an era where wages continually decline and workers’ protections, like prevailing wage, are routinely stripped, we must begin reviving antitrust regulation in labor markets,” Nessel said in a statement. “We must do this to protect workers from harmful anticompetitive practices such as targeting low-income workers by forcing them to sign non-compete agreements and ultimately limiting their earning potential.”
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.


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(18/10/22) Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has
entered into a strategic partnership with La Vie
Hotels and Resorts in Australia to provide bespoke tailor-made hotel
management services for independent luxury hotels across the Asia
Through this partnership, SLH will complement La Vie’s bespoke management solutions for independent upper-upscale
and luxury boutique hotels with global distribution, sales and
marketing support. The qualified hotels will gain recognition and
affiliation as members of SLH’s exclusive brand portfolio.
From left – Craig Bond (La Vie), Jerry Xu (La Vie), Mark Wong (SLH) and Shellia Chang (La Vie)
Mark Wong, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific,
Small Luxury Hotels of the World said: “As a hotel owner and
operator, La Vie understands the needs and constraints of an
independent hotel. Hence, our winning combination of “Act Local.
Think Global.” will offer entrepreneurial management and
distribution solutions that are relevant and effective for
independently spirited hotels.”
The first luxury hotel to join the SLH brand will
be the Islington Hotel Hobart in Tasmania,
Australia, which is celebrating its 175th year this year.
acquired the historic 11-room hotel earlier this year and will be
bringing it back to its former ‘stately’ charm.
collaboration project within the Asia Pacific pipeline, includes
a new-build in the stylish Surry Hills district of Sydney
which is scheduled to open in December.
Jerry Xu, CEO and Founder of La Vie Hotels and
Resorts, said, “We are delighted to be aligning with SLH and feel
the value they will add to our boutique properties will be
immeasurable. The Islington Hobart lends itself perfectly to SLH’s
clientele and we look forward to adding a few more properties to
SLH’s portfolio over the coming months.”
GLENDALE, AZ — Earlier this year, the city of Glendale announced that VAI Resort was set to open in late Spring of 2023, but now the entertainment resort is set to open in late 2023 per its latest press release. This giant business venture is expected to create more than 1,800 […]


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Voice chat is huge. That’s why the release of Skype for the iPad a couple of weeks ago was such a huge milestone in the tablet’s history and why other voice chat services pop up on mobile devices left and right. One of these “other” services is a name that’s just as big in gaming circles as Skype is elsewhere, and that’s TeamSpeak. TeamSpeak is one of several services that specializes in game chat, in other words providing voice chat functionality to games that don’t that or that have rather poor implementations of such. TeamSpeak is normally used for team based games (duh) such as online first person shooters like Call of Duty and online role playing games like World of Warcraft.
Now the company has made an entry into the mobile space with apps for both iOS and Android. Screen real estate if often a huge issue when playing games and having the chat client on a separate device altogether makes a world of sense to anyone who’s ever used the computer version of the software. This release also backs up what I wrote about a few days ago with mobile devices becoming gaming accessories, as this is just another example of devices working together.[iTunes via TouchArcade| Android Market via Droid Life]


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Wesfarmers shares bolted to record highs yesterday. The Aussie conglomerate has now soared 24% since the start of 2021.
The post Why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is trading at record highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia. –
The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price bolted to record highs during Wednesday’s session.
Shares in the Aussie conglomerate hit a record high of $62.765 during intraday trading yesterday, before closing at $62.55.
It’s been a magnificent year thus far for the Wesfarmers share price. Shares in the company have soared more than 24% since the start of 2021, making them among the top performers on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
Let’s take a look at what’s been fueling the Wesfarmers share price.
Wesfarmers operates household banners such as Bunnings, K-Mart, Officeworks and Target.
With a spate of COVID-19-induced lockdowns over the past 12 to 18 months, many of these businesses have benefitted from a surge in consumer demand for home office and home improvement products.
In addition to enjoying the tailwind of soaring customer demand, the conglomerate has also embarked on an ambitious growth strategy.
Wesfarmers has focused on investing in new growth platforms and selling unwanted assets. One example of this new strategy was reflected by the company divesting its coal business and expanding into the burgeoning lithium sector.
In addition, Wesfarmers has also made its intentions clear about expanding into the beauty and pharmaceutical sector. This was illustrated by the company’s $687 million offer for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API).
Wesfarmers shares price dividend yield
In FY20, Wesfarmers paid shareholders a final dividend of 77 cents per share, in addition to a special dividend of 18 cents.
The conglomerate’s interim dividend for FY21 was booked in at 88 cents per share.
As a result, Wesfarmers has paid a total of $1.83 per share over the past 12 months.
Outlook for the Wesfarmers share price
Many investors will be tuning in the August reporting season for greater insight into how Wesfarmers has been performing over the past financial year.
Recently, noted broker Goldman Sachs released a note on what investors could expect from Wesfarmers this reporting season.
According to analysts, the conglomerate is expected to produce full-year revenue of $34,132.1 million and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $3,508 million.
In addition, the broker expects Wesfarmers to reveal a $1.84 per share dividend.
Wesfarmers is slated to report its earnings on Friday 27 August.
Should you invest $1,000 in Wesfarmers right now?
Before you consider Wesfarmers, you’ll want to hear this.
Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Wesfarmers wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.
*Returns as of May 24th 2021
Here’s why the Coles (ASX:COL) share price is up 7% this last month
Should you buy Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) shares in August 2021 for the dividend yield?
Is it a good time now to buy Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) shares?
ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: ASX grinds to a halt following new all-time high
Motley Fool contributor Nikhil Gangaram has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.


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The world of cryptos includes something known as non-fungible tokens, which go by the acronym NFTs.
If you’re unfamiliar with them, they’re a bit bizarre but quite simple. Here’s what our April Global Market Perspective noted:
Investors’ manic behavior has expanded to include non-fungible tokens, paying large sums of money for essentially a picture of something.
Getting more detailed, “a non-fungible token is a unique identification code that is affixed to a [digital] asset using blockchain to distinguish it from all other [digital] assets.”
Our April Global Market Perspective provided more insight with this chart and commentary:
The chart shows the performance of one of the most unseasoned of all collectibles, the non-fungible token (NFT), which first hit the market in December 2017… In addition to rocketing prices, NFTs surged into the culture at large with tokens tied to everything from basketball and football players to Passover and a Saturday Night Live skit. Capping the rage is a “digital collage” of bizarre, post-apocalyptic images called Everyday, which sold for $69.3 million through Christie’s on March 10.
Well, the NFT craziness has persisted, as the May Global Market Perspective followed up by showing this NFT and saying:
Apparently, NFTs are still a thing. Paris Hilton, who is famous for being famous, garnered a bid of $1,111,211.00 for this Iconic Crypto Queen token on [April 25]. The absurdity of it all is not lost on everyone. “Each market frenzy seems crazier than the last,” says MarketWatch.
As for one of the latest developments, on June 10, Barron’s showed this image under the headline:
‘Covid Alien’ CryptoPunk Sells for $11.75 million in Sotheby’s Sale
The reason for pointing out investors’ interest in non-fungible tokens is to emphasize the level of financial mania that has been reached.
Follow the link below to see how our monthly Global Market Perspective employs Elliott wave analysis to forecast what’s next for cryptos, global stock markets, rates, metals, energy, forex and much more — over 50 of the world’s biggest markets in total.


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RAMP ROMP: Corporate honchos did the catwalk for Provogue in Mumbai
They once distributed whistles to their female audience at a fashion show.
Hrithik Roshan has walked the ramp for them. A post-coke Fardeen Khan is now their brand ambassador. So how do they top that?
Professional models were also there
Clothing brand Provogue answered that question when they held a fashion show against the backdrop of the historic Gateway of India in Mumbai last week - and got corporate honchos to do the catwalk for them. The likes of Anil Ambani, may not have made it.
But those who did - Citibank MD Sanjay Nair, Thomas Cook CEO Ashwin Kakkar and others - made for a spunky presence on the ramp.
Preeti Vyas Gianetti, CEO of Vyas Gianetti Creative, was miffed at the low female CEO presence, but even that didn't spoil her fun.
"I was surprised to get so many compliments," she said after the show. "Maybe, I do have another career choice now!" Maybe she does.
Get real-time alerts and all the news
on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from


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Each year Gartner releases its Supply Chain Top 25 to highlight leaders in planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics. While not the most talked-about list, the companies that join its ranks tend to dominate their respective industries.
Apple has topped the list for so many years they’ve joined Unilever, Amazon, P&G and McDonalds as Supply Chain Masters, an honor that reflects their ability to weather hectic market conditions.
Matching Apple’s supply chain prowess might seem like a pipe dream, but in 2021 we worked with a client whose product might actually level the playing field, or at least help less established companies achieve similarly superb supply chain visibility.
Chorus came to us with an abstract idea for an artificial intelligence system that would enable organizations to spot wasteful gaps in their pipelines. The client needed us to flesh out the product definition and provide a robust roadmap detailing a phased approach to a costly business problem.
“Something like two percent of the world’s raw materials are unaccounted for,” says O/M lead product designer, Ted Schaller. ”When you’re talking trillions of dollars worth of goods, that’s an incredible amount of money.”
Consider the life of a single IV pump. Its raw materials are sourced from all over the world, transported to different fabrication centers in various places, turned into tubing, casing and electronic components, shipped to different areas, transported on different vehicles to a factory that takes those pieces to create the IV pump which is then delivered first to regional warehouses, then to statewide warehouses before finally landing in various hospital systems and private clinics. It’s not hard to imagine the chances of something slipping through the cracks at any one of these transitions.
With Chorus, all pumps could be tracked not just as final products but as every single component that makes them viable. For the initial live testing of Chorus, the company focused on helping Japan effectively distribute and reallocate Covid vaccines at the height of the pandemic. Given the stakes, it was absolutely critical to exercise utmost quality control. Even the slightest misstep could greatly impact public health.
The underlying software behind Chorus is an AI system that’s able to map out the intricacies of a product’s journey, packaged in technology that’s about a quarter of the size of an Apple air tag.
Of course, the thought of slapping a sticker on anything — or anyone, without their consent — brings up major ethical concerns. We discussed ethical AI best practices with Chorus, who entered the conversation with a strong sense of their responsibility to bake in guardrails against misuse. We brought our past expertise working with AI based products and Inclusive Design principles to help guide the team during the design process.
We’re learning on a daily basis how we, as designers, can advance the best possible outcomes of every AI project we take on. Inclusive design necessarily involves the impact of advanced technology on humanity. Every client relationship involves a good deal of trust, and we believed enough in Chorus to help them secure their second round of funding.
Our process included rapid iterations of lightweight interface designs and abstract concepts to illuminate the technology’s potential — and prove value to investors.
We interviewed industry leaders and customers throughout the process to validate our recommendations. These insights helped us make structural changes to their current system and outline how Chorus could tackle first-, second- and third-order problems.
First order challenges can be tackled in the immediate future, like giving visibility into asset location, missing assets, asset condition, temperature tracking, and providing the inability to intervene when loss occurs — or at least adjust for it in the future.
Second order problems addresses system-wide inefficiencies to better orchestrate a supply chain across multiple companies.
“The ability to see end-to-end gives smaller companies a better sense of verticalization like Apple has,” says Schaller.
Finally, the third order involves systemic change. How could Chorus help inform systemic change; how could it inspire and support new companies and industries?
“These are global impact changes well outside the scope of what Chorus is trying to do, but shows what the Chorus technology unlocks,” says Schaller.
Final deliverables included UX/UI to communicate how Chorus could be built as well as projected scenarios exploring the type of insights the product could collect in 5–10 years, the type of visibility it would have, and what kind of data integrations they could support down the road.
Proof of concept is absolutely critical in unstable and uncertain economic times. Especially when it comes to emerging and unproven technologies. At O/M, we welcome the opportunity to partner with and guide new clients from initial product offering to successful acquisition, supported by accessible, inclusive, and responsible design.
To learn more about OM or to inquire about our design services, contact us at email@example.com


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In a surprising move, Dollar General, one of the nation's leading discount retailers, is undergoing a significant transformation under the leadership of CEO Todd Vasos. The company has recently admitted that its heavy reliance on self-checkout technology has been detrimental to its business, prompting a strategic shift toward having more workers in its stores.
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This shift reflects a broader trend in the retail industry, as many giants are re-evaluating their use of self-checkout systems and acknowledging the importance of human assistance in customer interactions. Dollar General's quarterly earnings call unveiled their decision to increase staffing across stores nationwide, signaling a departure from the self-checkout trend that had gained momentum in recent years.
Vasos admitted, "We started to rely too much this year on self-checkout in our stores," recognizing that the system's convenience does not outweigh the importance of a friendly and helpful human cashier.
Hiring more workers
The company is committing a substantial $150 million to boost labor hours, reallocating $50 million from the "smart teams" unit to cover the expenses associated with this shift. The "smart teams" initiative, designed to manage inventory, will now be repurposed to enhance customer service at the checkout counters. This move aligns with Vasos's vision of having dedicated employees to greet, assist, and facilitate the checkout process, ultimately improving sales and inventory management.
The problem with self-checkout
Dollar General's decision to reduce its reliance on self-checkout comes after a 1.3% decline in same-store sales in the most recent quarter. The company attributes this downturn to an increase in shrinkage or missing inventory, which has impacted profit margins. This admission is a cautionary tale for other retailers that have similarly embraced self-checkout as a primary means of serving customers.
The issue extends beyond Dollar General, as recent analyses reveal that shoppers are 21 times more likely to make errors at self-checkout than at staffed lanes, resulting in "partial shrink." Additionally, according to a LendingTree study, nearly one in seven shoppers have confessed to purposefully stealing items at self-checkout, with almost half expressing a willingness to repeat the act. This alarming trend has prompted a broader reassessment of the impact of self-checkout on both customer experience and shrink rates.
Many retailers are reconsidering self-checkout
Major retailers such as Costco and Walmart have started responding to these concerns with changes to their self-checkout systems. Costco, for instance, now requires staff to check membership cards in the self-checkout lanes and assist with scanning items. In a bold move, Walmart announced the removal of self-checkout from at least three stores in New Mexico, opting for traditional staffed registers instead.
The growing consensus among retailers is that self-checkout should serve as a supplementary option rather than a primary transaction method. Dollar General's shift toward increased human staffing aims to rectify immediate issues and underscores a commitment to prioritizing customer satisfaction and personalized service.
This change in approach is also a response to evolving customer preferences, challenging the assumption that technology-driven convenience always aligns with consumer desires. Dollar General's acknowledgment that a friendly and helpful employee can enhance the overall shopping experience reflects a deeper understanding of the nuanced dynamics between technology and human interaction in retail.
Dollar General's bold move signals a broader reckoning within the industry. The narrative is shifting from the allure of seamless technology to the recognition that shoppers want humans to assist them in shopping. This is perhaps mutually beneficial, as large companies report missing inventory, possibly stemming from self-checkout.
The entire retail industry is walking back its efforts in having less staff with automated checkout systems. It could be a great time to work in retail as more jobs are available. This move can help eliminate some money stress from both the company and potential employees while giving customers what they want. It's a very rare win-win-win scenario.
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A recent leak from trusted insider Valorant Kingdom Laboratories has hinted at the possibility of a movie based on the popular game. The leader claims that the film, which is reportedly being developed by Tencent, will be released in 2025. While the exact details of the project are still unclear, the leak includes a link to a YouTube livestream scheduled for October 13, 2024 that could show a trailer for the upcoming movie.
Valorant creators Riot Games have previously had success with their Arcane series based on their flagship MOBA game League of Legends. Given the positive reception to Arcane, fans were curious about the possibility of similar adaptations of other gaming franchises, including Valorant. The leak suggests that Riot Games and Tencent are exploring the idea of bringing Valorant to the big screen.
The leaker also mentioned that the movie will be different from Arcane and will be similar in style to the cinematic released for the Chinese release of Valorant. Since Riot Games is owned by Tencent, a company with its own animation and comics division, they likely have the resources to produce a high-quality film adaptation.
While the leaked information looks promising, Riot Games has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a Valorant movie. It is not yet known which studio will be involved in production if the project actually moves forward. Fans of the game will have to patiently wait for official announcements and updates from Riot Games and Tencent.


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Amazon Cloud Host stops hosting WikiLeaks site
(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc has stopped hosting WikiLeaks’ website, which posted thousands of classified U.S. government documents this week, U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman said on Wednesday.
The move comes after Lieberman’s staff made inquiries to Amazon on Tuesday as reports surfaced that WikiLeaks had asked Amazon to host its website on the Amazon servers after hackers targeted the WikiLeaks site.
A representative for Amazon was not immediately available for comment.
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IAG Cargo posted revenues of 1.02 billion euros for 2016, a 6.6 percent drop from 2015.
The Georgia Ports Authority handled 3 million tons of cargo in January, with bulk cargo at the Port of Brunswick more than doubling January 2016 figures.
The Agriculture Transportation Coalition, National Industrial Transportation League and National Retail Federation expressed concerns over a threatened work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports by members of the International Longshoremen's Association.
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The Israeli ocean carrier will launch its ZNP loop in April 2017, connecting ports in Southeast Asia and China to Vancouver, Canada.
Meanwhile, a judge in STX Offshore’s Korean bankruptcy proceedings has ordered the troubled shipbuilder to put its shipyard up for sale along with its profitable cruise ship subsidiary based in France, according to multiple media reports.
The recent announcement on Japan’s three major ocean carriers - MOL, NYK Line and “K” Line - merging container operations has left the industry wondering if more consolidation is to come.


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Donald Mustard, founder and creative director Infinity Blade III developer ChAIR Entertainment updated his Twitter a few hours ago with a simple statement: Infinity Blade 3 update out now. Fixes stuff. Fairly straightforward, no? …but there’s a catch.
The update for Epic Games‘ latest iOS release does indeed fix a whole bunch of stuff:
- Fixes crashing experienced by some players on iPhone 5S.
- Server optimizations for cloud saves, purchase of in-game currency (IAP), and decreased initial load times for the game.
- Fixes several spots where players could potentially get stuck.
- Adds “Enable Cloud Saves” option. Please note: This effectively turns all cloud saving off by default. Players who do not update will no longer be able to use cloud save.
- Availability of the Imagine Dragon axe for players with devices low on memory.
- Fixes funky looking textures on the Worker of Secrets
The problem, of course, is that this update will only be applied if you’ve already upgraded to iOS 7. If you haven’t… then you’re stuck playing the current version of the game, in all its buggy glory (complete with “funky looking textures”).
ChAIR explains that the issue is Apple‘s fault – the studio can currently only support the latest operating system, but we’re promised another update is due “next month” when Apple allows iOS 6 support to return.


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Italian team unveils its new Dallara LMP2 livery aiming to participate in the legendary 24 Hours alongside its full ELMS campaign with Belicchi / Lacorte / Sernagiotto
Treviso (Italy), November 30, 2016. Scuderia Villorba Corse reinforces the will to be at the start of the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans with the new Dallara LMP2 alongside its full ELMS campaign. Italian team led by Raimondo Amadio has been working on its “Road to Le Mans” racing programme since 2015 but for 2017 season the project is expanding and it will be exclusively based on Italian business realities. In addition to team, car manufacturer and racing drivers Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto and Andrea Belicchi, from now on this “made in Italy” project also involves pharmaceutical brand Cetilar which will partner the whole “Italian Spirit of Le Mans” campaign. Thanks to this new partnership Cetilar becomes the main sponsor of Villorba Corse and the team is already able to unveil its new car livery. Villorba Corse will submit registration for the 24 Hours of Le Mans as soon as entries will be opened.
Team principal Amadio says; “For Villorba Corse 2017 will be the most important and exciting season in last decade. We are going to undertake a crucial challenge that leads our team to a very high level of professionalism in motorsport. We are proud to announce Cetilar as our primary and solid partner in this process. We will work at our best to get the most from the upcoming season, which, de facto, for us has already begun”.


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Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has been the focus of intense international scrutiny lately.
Several countries have raised security concerns about its products, and Germany has considered blocking it from its next generation mobile network.
The company is also accused of stealing trade secrets in the US, and its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou is under house arrest in Canada.
Ms Meng appeared in court for the first time in March. She has counter-sued the Canadian government over her arrest and detention.
What are countries worried about?
There are fears that China is using Huawei as a proxy so it can spy on rival nations and scoop up useful information. Huawei has said it is independent and gives nothing to the country's government, apart from relevant taxes.
Critics question how free any major Chinese business can be from Beijing's influence. They point out that its media-shy founder Ren Zhengfei was a former engineer in the country's army and joined the Communist Party in 1978.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Ren said the US' actions would not "crush" the company.
"If the lights go out in the West, the East will still shine," he said.
Huawei is keen to portray itself as a private company owned by its employees with no ties to the Chinese government beyond those of a law-abiding taxpayer.
Mr Ren said he would rather "shut down" Huawei than spy for the Chinese authorities.
Timeline of highs and lows
October 2012: A US congressional panel warns that Huawei and rival ZTE pose a security threat, following an investigation
July 2013: The company denies claims made by a former US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief that it spied for the Chinese government
October 2014: The company says a ban on bidding for US government contracts is "not very important"
19 July 2018: A UK government report says it has "only limited assurance" that Huawei's broadband and mobile infrastructure equipment poses no threat to national security
30 July: Huawei overtakes Apple to become the world's second-biggest smartphone-maker, according to market analysts
23 August: Australia says Huawei and rival firm ZTE will be excluded from its next generation 5G network, citing security fears
28 November: New Zealand excludes Huawei from its 5G network
1 December: Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou is arrested in Vancouver, Canada
7 December: At a court hearing, it is revealed that Ms Wanzhou is wanted in the US on fraud charges relating to the alleged breaking of US sanctions on Iran
24 December: BT confirms that Huawei equipment is being removed from the heart of a communication system being developed for the UK's emergency services
4 January 2019: Two Huawei employees are punished after posting a new year message on the company's Twitter account using an iPhone
12 January: Huawei sacks an employee who was arrested in Poland on suspicion of spying. The company said Wang Weijing acted on his own
15 January: In a rare interview, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei denies Chinese authorities have ever asked his company to help spy on its clients
16 January: The Wall Street Journal reports that the US is investigating Huawei for "stealing trade secrets" from American business partners
17 January: The University of Oxford confirms it has suspended new donations and sponsorships from Huawei
24 February: Huawei releases the Mate X smartphone with a folding screen
25 February: The boss of the UK's GCHQ intelligence operation says Chinese tech "threats" must be better understood
28 January: US formally charges Ms Meng with fraud and Huawei with circumventing American sanctions on trade with Iran
1 March: US extradition process for Ms Meng begins. Huawei puts full-page adverts in the Wall Street Journal telling Americans: "Don't believe everything you hear"
4 March: Meng Wanzhou sues Canada over the way it handled her arrest. Also, China accuses two Canadians detained in retaliation over Ms Meng's arrest of stealing trade secrets
7 March: Huawei sues US government over the ban on federal agencies using its products
How independent is Huawei?
Huawei can lay claim to being one of the biggest spenders on research and development. It invested more than $13.2bn (£10.2bn) in 2017 and has said the figure will be even higher for 2018.
It has said that building futuristic 5G networks without its technology and innovations would be like the Premier League without Manchester United.
But critics fear that the Chinese government could order the firm to modify its devices to help hack attacks, eavesdrop on conversations or gain high-level access to sensitive networks.
There are questions about whether China would allow a technology firm that has been deeply embedded in rival nations' infrastructure to remain independent. Huawei is now the second biggest smartphone-maker in the world.
Which countries have taken action?
- In November 2018, New Zealand barred Huawei from supplying a local mobile network with 5G equipment
- The US and Australia had already closed the door on Huawei's involvement in their next-generation mobile networks
- Canada is carrying out a security review of Huawei's products
- UK service provider BT is removing Huawei kit from the core of its 5G network, and from infrastructure to be used by the emergency services
- On 7 December, the EU's technology commissioner Andrus Ansip said countries "have to be worried" about Chinese manufacturers
- The interior ministry of Germany says it opposes banning any suppliers from its 5G networks, but the country is now thought to be reconsidering
The UK has not enacted a ban on the use of Huawei equipment. However, the firm's products are regularly subjected to security testing by the UK's GCHQ intelligence agency.
The co-operative agreement between the UK and Huawei includes a facility nicknamed the Cell in Banbury, Oxfordshire. There, staff employed by Huawei but answering to GCHQ, look for security flaws in the company's products.
The last report GCHQ produced said it found "shortcomings" in products that meant it could only give "limited assurance" that the firm posed no threat.
Huawei has previously agreed to a series of technical demands by GCHQ that would harden its products against attackers.
In its latest guidance, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre said the dangers posed by Huawei tech were "manageable".
Why was a Huawei executive arrested?
Ms Meng was arrested while transferring between flights in Vancouver, although her detention was not revealed by Canadian authorities until four days later, the day of her first court appearance.
Details of the charges were also not revealed at the time, after she was granted a publication ban by a Canadian judge.
But at a bail hearing at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, a Canadian government lawyer said Ms Meng had used a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014.
The court was told she had publicly misrepresented Skycom as being a separate company.
China has demanded Ms Meng's release, insisting she has not violated any laws.
In a statement, Huawei said it was not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms Meng, adding: "The company believes the Canadian and US legal systems will ultimately reach a just conclusion.
"Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations where it operates, including applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the UN, US and EU."


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Officials from various security forces of La Guaira will be deployed in commercial areas and neighborhoods hard this radical week in a special biosecurity device, in order to reduce the rates of covid-19 infections in the region.
For this, 1.500 officials will be active between state police forces, Civil Protection and special bodies, in order to carry out control and compliance tasks with biosafety measures, permitted commercial activities and the flow of people walking on the street, said José Manuel Suárez, governor (E) of La Guaira.
The biosecurity device began in the Maiquetía parish, one of the main commercial areas of the Guaireño coast, where more than ten shops in the footwear, furniture and electrical appliances sector that were not authorized to work during this radical week were closed.
The governor of La Guaira indicated that the businesses allowed to work this radical week are: markets, bodegones, supermarkets, bakeries and all commercial activity related to the food sector, as well as the areas of health, transportation, hardware stores and others.
He called on the population for the mandatory use of face masks, use of antibacterial gel, social distancing and avoid the crowding of people, "we are working to prevent the spread of covid-19, it is everyone's job to neutralize it and not allow its spread ”.
Beaches, rivers and spas will be closed during this week, the beach kiosks that are near the main avenue will only be able to sell take away food.


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BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union regulators have hit Google with a 1.49 billion euro ($1.68 billion) fine for abusing its dominant role in online advertising.
The EU's competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, announced the results of the long-running probe of Google's AdSense advertising business case at a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
It's the third time the commission has slapped Google with an antitrust penalty, following multibillion-dollar fines resulting from separate probes into two other parts of the Silicon Valley giant's business.
Last year Vestager hit the company with a record 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine following an investigation into its Android operating system. In 2017, she slapped Google with a 2.42 billion euro fine in a case involving its online shopping search results.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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When: Fri., Dec. 11, 6-9 p.m. 2015
AAI will be having its annual Art Jam at the Jacoby Storehouse during Arts! Arcata. AAI students have created a number of items for the holiday season. They will be selling those items in the storehouse on the first floor. The items include bottle cap pins, wooden stickers, lamps, surrealist stickers, heating pad dolls, & laser-cut puzzles with beautiful illustrations.


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Tech giant Apple was recently awarded a patent for a waveform design for its light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system with closely spaced pulses, according to a report.
- The patent covers an optical device with a light source, a scanning mirror, a detection sensor, and other characteristics. Timothy Arcuri also mentions that the distance to the target scene may range from tens of centimeters to hundreds of meters.
- A UBS analyst says the patent could put the company one step closer to the Apple car.
- Fully autonomous vehicles depend on sensors with a long-range to detect objects at a distance of hundreds of meters away. This suggests an automotive application for the patent.
- UBS maintains a Neutral rating and $115 price target on Apple.
Apple (AAPL:Nasdaq) shares are up 1.19%.


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EA Not Developing Any Games for Nintendo's Wii U
Electronic Arts appears to be shunning its promise of an "unprecedented partnership" with Nintendo as the publishing giant confirms it has no games in development currently for Wii U.
"We have no games in development for the Wii U currently," EA spokesperson Jeff Brown confirms to Kotaku. However, he did not rule out the future chances of EA developing for Nintendo's latest console. The development should be read in the context of EA's recent announcements that its upcoming Battlefield, Star Wars and Madden games not be coming to the Nintendo Wii U.
EA was one of the major launch partners for the gaming device and this news is definitely a huge setback for Nintendo, especially when the console-maker is planning to launch a renewed marketing strategy to boost interest in the Wii U. Nintendo is expected to launch the summer line-up of Wii U games this Friday.
Ever since the launch of the console, EA has developed many games for Wii U including Mass Effect 3, Need for Speed Most Wanted, and versions of FIFA and Madden. Brown says that early run of EA games on Wii U represented EA delivering on its E3 2011 partnership.
As Kotaku notes, the Battlefield and FIFA publisher's then CEO John Riccitiello was called on stage by the Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata during Nintendo's Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing in 2011. "What Nintendo's new console delivers speaks directly to the players of EA Sports and EA Games," Riccitiello said at the time. "Nintendo's new console will produce brilliant high-definition graphics and new gameplay opportunities. We look forward to seeing great EA content on this new platform."


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The European Union threatened Monday to take retaliatory measures against the United States for electric car subsidies that favour domestic manufacturers.
The 27-nation bloc is upset about Washington’s “Inflation Reduction Act”, which will see vast spending on green energy initiatives and includes tax breaks for US-made electric cars and batteries.
Brussels says those benefits for American electric vehicle makers would put e-cars made in the EU at an unfair disadvantage on the lucrative US domestic market.
EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels said they believed Washington was not hearing Europe’s worries.
“I’m not sure whether they are aware of our concerns,” German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said.
He added: “We should do everything to avoid a tit-for-tat scenario or even a trade war.”
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.FOX Networks, the leading international ad network operated by Fox International Channels (FIC), announced it is now reaching 84% of U.S. Hispanic Internet users. Up five-fold over the last 12 months, the growth in combined reach is due to .FOX Networks’ success in signing on publishers of Web sites that cater to the U.S. Hispanic audience.
“Digital dollars are growing faster than any other media in every market, and we believe that .FOX Networks offers the most comprehensive ad network for reaching the right audiences and communicating a brand,” said Hector Costa, senior vice president, managing director, .FOX Networks. “We are pleased that the combination of our ad network, our team and our technology is having a real impact on the international advertising industry.”
As one of the only ad networks to offer on-line Display, on-line Video, SEM and creative execution support, .FOX Networks provides significant value to advertisers via its vast expertise in online advertising technologies and quality inventory accessible to advertisers outside the U.S. In addition, .FOX Networks is the only ad network that has been using Rightmedia’s Yield Manager, the most cutting-edge and broadly used media exchange tool in the advertising business, for over three years now.
.FOX Networks continues to partner with some of the market’s largest advertisers including All State Insurance, US Navy, Alltell Wireless, Afalc, Farmers Insurance and many more.


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AppLovin, a mobile games company that fuels many of the world’s most popular mobile games through its game studios and marketing technology, today announced it has agreed to acquire Machine Zone, best known as the developer of top-grossing mobile games including Game of War: Fire Age, Mobile Strike and Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire. Terms of the acquisition are subject to approvals and were not disclosed.
AppLovin will combine talent, games and technologies with Machine Zone to bring new immersive mobile games to the market while continuing to help game developers successfully market and monetize their games. Collaboration will begin now and will eventually include AppLovin moving its headquarters a mile away to the Machine Zone office in Palo Alto.
“We have been impressed with Machine Zone’s masterful storylines and strong community of engaged players and have seen first hand the depth of their talented team,” said Adam Foroughi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of AppLovin. “Machine Zone has amassed an enormous following for their games, and we are excited to bring together our two creative brands and market leading technology platforms to continue to entertain their millions of fans around the world.”
Machine Zone, the mobile gaming platform that pioneered bringing the free-to-play, massively multiplayer online (MMO) game genre to mobile, has a track record of delivering some of the world’s most successful mobile games. Machine Zone leverages its proprietary real-time engagement (RTE) engine to serve its diverse community of mobile gamers with highly engaging experiences.
“Machine Zone connects millions of people across the globe, providing them with a compelling gaming experience and engaged community,” said Kristen Dumont, Chief Executive Officer of Machine Zone. “Combining our expertise and unmatched success in midcore games with AppLovin’s impressively successful portfolio of casual games and leading mobile marketing platform is a win-win for both of our companies and will create an unmatched experience for players worldwide.”
The acquisition of Machine Zone represents a significant step forward for AppLovin as it continues to execute on its mission of being the dominant mobile gaming company. AppLovin also recently announced a strategic investment in Redemption Games, which joined AppLovin’s global mobile gaming ecosystem of partner studios that includes PeopleFun, Belka Games, Clipwire Games, Firecraft Studios and Geewa, as well as its in-house studio, Lion Studios.
LionTree Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor and Fenwick & West, LLP as the legal advisor for AppLovin.
AppLovin is a mobile games company that fuels many of the world’s most popular mobile games through its game studios and marketing technology. Since 2012, the company’s platform has been instrumental in driving the explosive growth of mobile games around the globe, resulting in a richer mobile game ecosystem and better games for people everywhere. AppLovin is headquartered in Palo Alto, California with several offices globally. Learn more at applovin.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200514005454/en/


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If a faster processor and bigger battery trump a sexy metal design, then choose the HTC Butterfly S, otherwise skip it for the HTC One.
Pricing not available
Barnes & Noble answers Amazon's Kindle challenge with the promising $249 Nook Tablet and a price cut on the Nook Touch e-reader.
The overall energy efficiency of U.S. homes has improved since the 1970s, but those advances are partially undercut by more numerous appliances and electronic gadgets.
This post was corrected after Yahoo clarified the new data center will be in Lockport, N.Y., just outside of Buffalo.
A new data center in Lockport, N.Y., is part of a strategy that Yahoo believes will allow it to end carbon offset purchases to reach carbon-neutral status.
Google's decision to purchase controversial carbon offsets is flawed, but it doesn't obscure legitimate efforts to measure and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
But will already cash-strapped consumers take the opportunity to donate to clean-air projects?
The Green-e Climate certification aims to verify voluntary carbon offset purchases, while an industry coalition lobbies crafters of federal carbon regulations.
Car rental firms join the carbon-offset bandwagon.
Carbon offsets are supposed to absolve the pollution guilt of people and companies. Now, a London-based organization introduces a standard.


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NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — 50 Cent has been crowned the King of Hip Hop by the ultimate arbiter of such things, Forbes Magazine, brushing aside competition from last year's titleholder Jay-Z.
Forbes based the awarding of this prestigious title on the metric of the rapper's income last year, which topped nearly $150 million last year. Part of 50 Cent's windfall was from the sale of his share of VitaminWater's parent Glacéau to the Coca-Cola company, a deal which was worth a total of $4.1 billion. Other successes for the rapper included proceeds from his G-Unit clothing line and record label as well as his involvement in films and video games.
Fitty's not content to rest on his laurels either and the rapper has entered into a partnership with South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe in a mining venture.
Other "hip-hopreneurs" as Forbes calls them, have had good years too. Shawn "Jay-Z" Colvin signed a major 10-year, $150 million dollar deal with Live Nation, released a platinum-selling album and got married to Beyonce but only came in second on the Forbes list.
Diddy snuck in at third after pocketing $35 million from various ventures, including his Sean John clothing line, two reality television shows, his Bad Boy record label and his premium vodka line Ciroc. We suspect that Diddy may have swayed the judges this year though after he teamed up with 50 Cent and Jay Z to release "I Get Money (The Forbes 1, 2, 3 Remix)"
Not one to be left off of such a list, Kanye West comes in at #4 after clearing $30 million from the proceeds of his third album, Graduation, his songwriting efforts and a busy touring schedule.
Showing that you don't need to be alive to make the list, Tupac brought in about 15 million this year — a year in which his still-living former business partner Suge Knight was forced to sell his mansion after filing bankruptcy. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers


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A few days ago, Honor, announced that it was going to hold a press conference in Hong Kong where it will unveil a new technology. This tech has now been released and it is a Wi-Fi signal booster. At this conference, Xiong Junmin, vice president of the Honor business department, said that Honor has covered a huge vacuum this year in terms of innovation, quality, and user experience. The company has released a couple of new technologies which includes AI photography, GPU Turbo, Kirin 980, etc. He further said that the company has now achieved 150% growth in foreign markets and has maintained the number one position in the Internet mobile phone brand for nine consecutive quarters.
Gizchina News of the week
At the conference, Honor launched a full network aggregation technology which it called “Link Turbo”. According to the official introduction, when you connect to a public Wi-Fi or use your mobile phone for some heavy data operations it is very common to observe that the network connection is excellent but the output is poor. Link Turbo’s full-network aggregation technology intelligently link off-flow mode, detects network congestion and automatically switches instant applications to 4G channels. This allows users to chat, shop, and download without delay.
More importantly, Link Turbo has obtained more than 20 core patent licenses and has also achieved end-cloud collaborative network aggregation. When your network is congested, you can use a large bandwidth and stream videos seamlessly. It also improves latency and provides a dual network security. It is reported that part of the capabilities of Link Turbo can be achieved first on the Honor Magic 2 but its full operation is expected to come with the Honor V20 later on December 26.


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Nine rare CryptoPunks non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were sold for $16.96 million in total via legendary British auction house Christie’s today, as per a tweet.
A project called 1729, which offers users Bitcoin rewards for completing various tasks and tutorials, has announced a new contest for artists who are interested in portraying a bright, highly technological future of Africa.
An exploit in non-fungible token (NFT) platform Meebits, created by the developers of “OG” collectibles CryptoPunks, allowed one user to cheat the system and get an ultra-rare NFT—which he immediately sold for 200 Ethereum (around $765,000 currently).
Owners of the Hashmasks NFTs will be entitled to royalties from the sale of this unique collection.
Partnering with Crypto dot com, Lega Serie A marks its entry into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with plans to drop a set of collectibles commemorating the 74th Coppa Italia final match between Atalanta and Juventus.
A marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) launched by Travala dot com Co-founder Matt Luczynski will debut heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury’s NFT collection as it bids to become the go-to-market to buy, sell, trade, and bid on NFTs, and deliver a knockout blow to competing platforms.
American food company General Mills has released its first nonfungible tokens (NFTs) with Dunkaroos, as per a tweet earlier this week.
On May 3, photographer Jesse Frohman will launch an auction for over 100 images from the last photo session with legendary Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain—all in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT).
Smart contract-focused crypto project TrustSwap today announced a partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects to capitalize on the non-fungible token (NFT) boom and plant 1 million trees in return, as per a release shared with CryptoSlate.
Popular American talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres auctioned off her first non-fungible tokens (NFTs) collection for a total of $30,955 on marketplace Bitski today.
Californian startup Hitch is collaborating with South African artist Daniella Attfield to create a unique non-fungible token (NFT) art piece that benefits the climate, it said in a release shared with CryptoSlate.
Refinable is the first NFT marketplace on Binance Smart Chain (BSC), which has recently started to close the gap on Ethereum in terms of market valuation.
A group of anonymous university students calling itself “Strategic Meme Group, Incorporated” has begun selling Donald Trump’s tweets as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on a special platform dubbed Drumpfs.
Tech giant IBM and intellectual property specialists at IPwe yesterday revealed the IPwe Platform and the Global Patent Marketplace, a blockchain-based platform that would allow tokenizing and trading patents in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The latest mania surrounding non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is seemingly cooling off as sales revenues have decreased nearly by half in just one week, blockchain data and news outlet PANews pointed out today.
Japanese videogame maker Atari says it plans to launch its own non-fungible token (NFT)-based virtual world, as per a report on news outlet Reuters today.
Waves.tech, an ecosystem of next-generation technologies built on blockchain toolkit Waves, has concluded the highest sale of a non-fungible token (NFT) outside of Ethereum, it said in a release shared with CryptoSlate.
An audio-visual collaboration between Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and Foo Fighters lead Dave Grohl will drop in NFT form on the Gemini-owned Nifty Gateway on April 15.


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Lloyds TSB business survey finds economy recovering
Scotland's economy is continuing to recover with businesses reporting the most positive results in three years, according to a survey.
The latest Lloyds TSB Scotland Business Monitor found a third of firms reported increased turnover in the three months to the end of May.
But rising costs and falling consumer confidence were still a concern.
Donald MacRae, chief economist at Lloyds TSB Scotland, said the economy was "slowly strengthening".
A recovery in the middle of 2010 was followed by a relapse in growth early in the year, attributed largely to the severe winter weather.
However, the latest figures showed that 33% of the firms surveyed enjoyed increased turnover in the three months to the end of May.
A total of 36% reported static turnover, while 31% experienced a decrease.
Expectations of improving trade over the next six months were at their highest level for more than three years.
Just over three out of ten - 31% - of businesses said they were hopeful of boosting turnover over that time.
However the report warned this was around a fifth of pre-recession levels, indicating a "fragile" recovery.
And cost pressures remained a concern for Scottish firms, with 62% experiencing increases in the last quarter, the highest level recorded in almost three years.
Low levels of new car and house purchases in the first quarter of the year were also said to be an indication of falling consumer confidence.
Mr MacRae said: "These are the most positive business monitor results in three years and contrast sharply with the previous quarter which was badly affected by the severe winter weather conditions.
"Our economy is slowly strengthening as company turnovers increase and the employment situation improves.
"However the economy remains fragile as consumer spending is constrained by low confidence as a result of rising inflation, which is squeezing disposable incomes."


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Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America both threw their support behind Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]’s “Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007,” a proposal to establish a single national hotline where consumers can file complaints against any financial institution. Currently there are five different federal agencies who regulate the banking industry, each with its own system for collecting and addressing complaints.
“To most consumers, a bank is a bank,” said Jeannine Kenney, Senior Policy Analyst for Consumers Union. “Consumers should not need to wind though a byzantine maze of federal regulators in order to get the help they need. When it is too hard to complain, not only are consumers left without recourse, but regulators don’t get a clear picture about what is going wrong in the marketplace,” added Kenney.
The bill is currently stuck in committee.
“Consumer Groups Call for One-stop Complaint System for Reporting Banking Problems” [Kanas City infoZine]


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How will the 3D work on 3DS?
There are a variety of ways that this effect can be achieved. The 3DS system will likely employ technology that sends two individual images to the left and right eyes of the player. With each screen displaying the same image slightly off-set, the system will force the brain to interpret depth in the same way it does with natural depth perception.
Nintendo has not revealed which company is supplying the 3D screen technology, but it's expected that Sharp, the current provider of LCD screens for the Nintendo DS, is supplying the 3D displays for the 3DS portable. The company revealed, just a week after Nintendo's 3DS announcement, its portable 3D screen technology.
Nintendo has ensured that gamers will have the ability to turn on and off the 3D effect. Off the record sources indicate that the system will have user control over the 3D effect to make it more or less intense.
What else will the 3DS be able to do?
Apart from standard DS compatible capabilities and its 3D stereoscopic display, not much is known about the 3DS system's extra abilities. Reports in Japan suggest the system will feature an analog stick similar in function to current generation console controls, as well as vibration for in-game "rumble." There is also the potential for accelerometers – similar tech to what's in the Wii remote for motion-sensing capabilities.
Which companies are making games for 3DS?
Nintendo has not revealed the publishers or developers who are currently developing on 3DS hardware.
Several publishers and developers have reported interest in working on 3DS, including SEGA, Tecmo, Square Enix, and Level-5.
Is the 3DS backward compatible?
According to Nintendo, the 3DS will be backward compatible with the Nintendo DSi. To ensure compatibility, the system will most likely retain internal and external cameras of the Nintendo DSi and have the ability to download software straight to solid state storage inside the handheld, as well as feature the standard D-pad and buttons input, touch screen functions, and microphone, and have two screen display.
Just as the Nintendo DSi removed the Game Boy Advance slot from the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite design, do not expect GBA cartridge compatibility with 3DS.
Standard DS games will likely not have the ability to be displayed in stereoscopic 3D on the 3DS. DS games will likely only be displayed in standard 2D.
What will the 3DS look like?
Nintendo has not revealed the look of the 3DS. As previously mentioned, expect a similar formfactor of the Nintendo DSi to ensure compatibility with previous Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi titles.
A submission by hardware manufacturer Mitsumi revealed what could possibly be developer hardware for the 3DS. In this submission, it appears that the top display will be a widescreen, 16:9 aspect ratio, with the lower screen retaining the standard 4:3 aspect ratio.
Will the 3DS improve the Nintendo online experience?
Nintendo has not revealed anything related to the local or Wi-Fi capabilities of the 3DS.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata did, late last year, go on the record admiring the Kindle strategy of persistent online for handheld device. With Kindle, Amazon had partnered with Sprint to allow free use of the phone service provider's data network for downloading of books. It is not known whether this strategy will be a part of the 3DS experience.
When will more information be revealed on 3DS?
Nintendo will kick off its full announcement of the 3DS at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, Ca. June 14-17, 2010. Nintendo's press conference -- expected to at least reveal more details on the system, kicks off at 9am on June 15th.
Got a question not covered here? Hit us up in the comment field below.


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According to a recent report, The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is continuing its initiatives to strengthen the economic relations between Thailand and Hong Kong with the founding of InnoSpace Thailand, Thai Access to International Markets Competition, and SME Idol – incubating projects for SMEs that profit from The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Development Plan.
This is the expansion of Hong Kong’s multi-lifestyle product brand to Thailand.
The establishment of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in February 2019 marked an important milestone between Thailand and Hong Kong economic relations.
Based on remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, the office has opened a wide array of opportunities.
In 2018, a total of 44 projects worth 20.3 billion baht originated from Hong Kong investors, up from 41 projects worth 7.15 billion baht in 2017.
Working in conjunction with HKETO, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is working to promote two-way trade between the two regions which benefited numerous Thai and Hong Kong companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
HKTDC’s Director of Thailand and South Asia stated that since the establishment of the regional headquarters in Bangkok, HKTDC has brought more than 8,000 Thai businesspeople to Hong Kong every year.
Apart from various activities facilitated by HKTDC, such as international exhibitions, conferences, business missions, and research database, collaborative projects are key to sustainable growth for Thai SMEs as listed below:
InnoSpace Thailand: a 500-million-baht public-private venture. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Cyberport, both sides utilise strategic access to ASEAN market in Thailand, venture capital network in Hong Kong, talents and experiences of Hong Kong Cyberport project to groom start-ups from both regions. The project is located in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) in Rayong Province.
Thai Access to International Markets: Active since 2014, the joint project with Thailand’s Office of SMEs Promotion provides Thai designers with an O2O platform to sell their products to over 50,000 international buyers. Short-listed designers, having won votes, can sell their products, share experiences, and ultimately win an air ticket to DesignInspire in Hong Kong to interact with top designers from around the world.
SME Idol: Being held for the 2nd consecutive year, the project is a collaboration with Thailand’s Office of SMEs Promotion, SME Development Bank, and Community Development Department. It aims to coach SMEs on e-commerce, international sales contract, logistics, negotiation and sales in the China market as well as trade fair preparation. Target businesses are home decor, spa, scented and household products.
Thailand – the tourism hub
Eyeing Thailand as a tourism hub and a potential market for mass products, HKTDC worked with HKAD to launch a multi-lifestyle product brand with 100 per cent Hong Kong design in Thailand in 2016.
The project promotes Hong Kong design products, opening up distribution channels for Hong Kong products in Thailand and the region.
The agency achieved 1,000 per cent sales growth within three years since its opening. Its product range began with gifts and mid-priced goods before expanding to newer and more innovative products such as watches and action figures.
The key drivers for Thai consumers’ decisions were found; they are design and quality, with prices a lower priority. HKAD complements Thai retailers by offering value-added services such as product display, marketing, and events which resulted in significant sales growth in Thailand.
Going forward, it is hoped that a vibrant start-up ecosystem can be built through the InnoSpace Thailand platform as well as bringing smart manufacturing to Thailand to be in line with the Thailand 4.0 aspiration.
HKTDC hopes to serve more Thai companies in the future.


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World Wide Web Creator Discusses Future of Digital Publishing
Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, prompting the rise of e-book publishing. Berners-Lee recently delivered the keynote speech at the International Digital Publishing Forum’s Chicago-based Digicon conference, where he discussed the future of digital publishing.
Vision of publishing
Industry portal Publishers Weekly reports that in his speech, titled “Realizing the Vision of Publishing Technology Being Web Technology” he delivered key insights. The legendary inventor described the World Wide Web’s history as a convenient, if disruptive publishing platform, before discussing how it could serve as a future enabler of innovative publishing technologies.
Berners-Lee compared the World Wide Web to his earlier invention, open source e-book initiative project Gutenberg, which was founded in 1971. Shedding insight into the World Wide Web, he said that “setting up a website is like setting up a bookstore.” Going on, he described the Web’s “massive shift from static Web links to being a Web where every online page could be programmed like a computer,” stating that the Web has evolved from a place for “scientists, geeks, and people with lots of data.”
Experiencing a Future trajectory
He went on to talk about how the evolution of the web could influence digital book publishing going forward. Berners-Lee cited W3C’s Open Web Platform, which facilitates the running of all kinds of content on various platforms. Explaining, he said that this type of platform enables interoperability, adding that one day “the kind of coding you see in e-books may also be used in cars, on screens of all kinds,” through this tool.
Berners-Lee said that this, along with yet to be conceived technology, could allow people to turn the walls of conference halls and classrooms into screens. This would enable the displaying of content from devices such as smartwatches to a mass audience, changing the way we interact with said content. Adding further, he said that “print books will be here forever,” but with Web technology, “people will be able to take them everywhere. This is challenging and exciting.”
He shed further light on the future of digital publishing in an interview with Publishers Weekly. When asked if he could have predicted how his invention would change the world, Berners-Lee responded: “Nobody could have expected today’s world [of technology]. The Web allows you to do any crazy idea and you’re only limited by your own creativity… There is a universality on the web. It can be used for any genre. You can browse. It’s flexible. It unleashes the shackles put on publishing by paper.”
Talking about online publishing, Berners-Lee cited the vital role played by bloggers and bulletin boards in the Web’s earliest years. Elaborating, he said: “They were a big part of the web, so empowering the individual was always there. The Web levels the playing field, and yes, that means you also get a lot of junk… the Web challenges all business models, but it creates new ones.
“We used to have shelves of technical manuals, but no more. So the Web saved a lot of trees. But in general there are now other models to sell content through apps, subscription and advertising-based models.” Challenging claims that the internet shortens peoples’ attention spans, Berners-Lee said: “The Web changes how we think, but I don’t think it’s making people stupid. The Web changes the things we have to do. We do things more quickly now. We don’t have to memorize things anymore. There is a way for people to become experts more easily.”
About Higher Ways Publishing
Higher Ways Publishing was established in 2003 by Hayim Oshky and Mike Walden, it helps authors and publishers transform brilliant ideas into commercial success. Headquartered in Tel Aviv Israel and California, they are a market leader in digital and hard-cover publishing for the health, fitness and relationship industries. Higher Ways Publishing have assisted many authors in expanding their online presence in the growing digital marketing world.


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Inside the Oshawa assembly plant for General Motors
Donald Trump’s tariff battles with Canada, Mexico, China and Europe have inflated the cost of steel, making it more expensive to build cars in North America, but General Motors’ decision to close factories and lay off thousands of people is more about tactics than the balance sheet, say trade observers and automotive industry experts.
“It’s very understandable, given all the hype associated with the trade agreement, and, you might say, the troubled relationship between your prime minister and our president, that it’s some sort of reaction to the tariffs on steel and aluminum,” said Michigan business professor Marick Masters. “But I think it’s more of a strategic adjustment by General Motors to prepare itself for a future in which it’s trying to get ahead of the technology curve.”
The company is placing a substantial bet on a future dominated by three high-tech trends that have been upending the world of the internal-combustion engine: electric vehicles, mobility services like ride-hailing apps, and cars and trucks that are capable of driving themselves.
“But I think it’s more of a strategic adjustment by General Motors to prepare itself for a future in which it’s trying to get ahead of the technology curve.”
— Marick Masters, Wayne State University, Michigan
And they’re doing it at a time of relative economic health, a departure from the traditional peak-and-trough timelines that tend to predict waves of deep, widespread job cuts, said Maryann Keller, a New York-based automotive-industry consultant.
As unmistakable as the coming future is, it’s still a relatively long way off for an industry that still manages to sell more than 19 million vehicles in North America each year.
“It’s unusual for a company in this kind of market to make announcements where they are essentially shedding capacity. I think that is a pretty profound statement from GM that they choose to do it at this time,” Keller said. “If they’re in a race, General Motors is running way ahead of the pack. They may run way ahead of the pack and run off a cliff, because nobody can see the future that clearly, but they have defined it and they are preparing for it.”
When news emerged that the company was planning to shut down its flagship Canadian plant in Oshawa, Ont., putting more than 2,500 people out of work, social media set its sights on Trump’s “America First” strategy for bringing manufacturing jobs back to U.S. soil.
But that argument all but evaporated when the company announced that as part of its plan to save US$6 billion by the year 2020, it was also shutting down production at four other U.S. plants – several of them deep in Rust Belt states that helped elevate Trump to the presidency in 2016.
“The U.S. got hit harder than we did,” said one Canadian government insider. “This is about a global restructuring in the industry towards electric and (artificial intelligence)-driven autonomous vehicles.”
“If they’re in a race, General Motors is running way ahead of the pack. They may run way ahead of the pack and run off a cliff, because nobody can see the future that clearly, but they have defined it and they are preparing for it.”
— Maryann Keller, automotive industry consultant.
Nor is the restructuring aimed exclusively at blue-collar workers. GM is also slashing salaried and salaried contract staff by 15 per cent, which includes a quarter of its executives. The US$6 billion in savings includes operating-cost reductions of US$4.5 billion and lower capital spending of almost US$1.5 billion a year.
That didn’t seem to placate Trump, who famously promised Ohio supporters their jobs were “all coming back” during a 2017 rally not far from GM’s Lordstown facility, where production will grind to a halt in the spring.
Trump described being “very tough” in his conversation with General Motors CEO Mary Barra.
“I said, ‘You know, this country has done a lot for General Motors. You better get back in there soon. That’s Ohio,’” he said. “I have no doubt that in a not-too-distant future, they’ll put something else. They better put something else in.”
Whatever that “something else” turns out to be, it’s a safe bet it won’t run on fossil fuels – a leap of faith that Keller described as a bold venture into unknown territory.
“I really do believe that this is a company that is identifying for itself a very different business model. This is their statement about the future – it may be completely wrong, but I don’t think that politics has much to do with it,” she said. “There is fear, frankly, in terms of what this revolution means for traditional auto companies. I’m not about to hang crepe and say it’s going away. It’s not going away.”


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With the China International Affiliate Conference scheduled to take place this October—should you be making plans to go?October 15-17th will mark the inaugural China International Affiliate Conference, held in Tianjin near Beijing. According to the CIAC website, the conference has been organized in order to bring together “the advertisers, entrepreneurs, affiliate networks, market analysts and enterprise decision-makers from China mainland and the overseas countries.” Although this event is brand new, it offers a unique opportunity to network and business relationships outside of already established markets and definitely should not be overlooked.
Exploring new markets, meeting new people, and working with partners outside of existing networks can provide a great source of revenue. During my time in the UK, I was able to work with a number of US affiliate networks and bring their UK traffic to offers. This ultimately gave me an advantage over my peers in the UK.
New offers and traffic sources from the Asian market could be your opportunity to do the same, helping you establish a competitive advantage amongst your online marketing peers. If you’re able to find a new market where your competitors lack a presence, then you may be able to get a leg up on them.
In a recent example of successful entrance into new markets, Greycroft Partners Venture Capital company, along with Hiro Maeda and Ryota Matsuzaki, just bet millions investing in Skimlinks to fund their Asian expansion. Is it time that you do the same?
Going to this conference will allow you to make connections, discover new opportunities, and establish business that you can bring back to the US.
If you’re interested in the China International Affiliate Conference, you can find out more at http://www.cn-iac.com.
- 50-70 International Network Marketing Enterprises
- 4-6 International famous E-commerce training experts
- 4-6 Chinese Network marketing technical experts
- More than 1000 attending enterprises in E-commerce industry from China mainland
- Estimated number of Attendees: 1500”