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Mozilla Firefox's newest browser, Firefox 4 has gotten off to a roaring start with 7 million downloads in 24 hours, topping its main browser rival, Internet Explorer 9.
Mozilla released the fourth major version of its popular Firefox browser on Tuesday morning; and by Wednesday it had reached the 7 million downloads mark. In contrast, Microsoft's latest Internet Explorer browser, IE9 had only 2.5 million downloads in its first 24 hours.
That said, IE9 is limited to computers running the Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems, which have less than 30 percent of the market compared to Windows XP's nearly 70 percent share, according to netmarketshare.com.
The latest version of Firefox is the fastest yet, claims Mozilla. It is available on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux in more than 80 languages.
According to research company StatCounter, Firefox has made significant share gains over the past few years in terms of competing with Microsoft Internet Explorer. While IE is still the champion with 45 percent share, Firefox's second place 30 percent share is up four percent from 2008. IE is down 15 percent, having to compete with not only Firefox, but Google Chrome, Apple Safari and mobile browsers as well.


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Posted: August 20, 2012
By: T. Scott Gilligan, NFDA General Counsel
Funeral homes trying to squeeze out profits while facing an increasing rate of cremation and poor preneed returns are often confronted with a dilemma when deciding whether to accept credit cards. Like all merchants, they appreciate the quick payment that credit cards provide, thereby helping cash flow. On the other hand, the payment of a 1.5 percent to two percent swipe fee to VISA, MasterCard or American Express takes another chunk out of the funeral home's bottom line. For a funeral that costs $10,000, a two percent swipe fee costs the funeral home $200 out-of-pocket.
The credit card dilemma gets even stickier with the payment of cash advances. If a funeral home allows a consumer to pay for cash advance items with a credit card, the funeral home is losing money unless it marks up the cash advance items. In those states where marking up cash advance items is prohibited by state law, the funeral home has no way to recoup the swipe fee on cash advance items.
Many funeral homes, especially those accepting credit card payments on cash advance items, have asked whether they may impose surcharges on consumers paying with credit cards. In other words, could the funeral home require consumers electing to use a credit card to pay a 1.5 percent to two percent surcharge to recoup the swipe fees paid to VISA, MasterCard or American Express? The answer has always been no, but that may soon change for funeral homes in 40 states.
The reason that funeral homes have not been able to impose credit card surcharges is found in the contractual restrictions that VISA and MasterCard impose upon merchants. In providing credit card processing, VISA and MasterCard require that merchants agree not to impose any type of surcharge on consumers who elect to pay by credit card. Therefore, while merchants may offer discounts for payment in cash (like gasoline stations do), it is a violation of the standard VISA and MasterCard contracts to impose a surcharge on credit card users to recoup the swipe fee. Although American Express does not directly restrict the use of surcharges, it does prohibit merchants from offering less favorable terms to consumers who use the American Express card. Therefore, it indirectly prohibits credit card surcharges.
All of that may soon change. A seven-year-old class action antitrust suit against VISA and MasterCard has reached a proposed settlement. Under the tentative agreement, VISA and MasterCard will pay out $6 billion, reduce swipe fees for eight months (which nets another $1.2 billion for merchants), and eliminate the restrictions on merchants imposing credit card surcharges. If approved, the settlement will free up many of the country's seven million merchants, including funeral homes, to impose a surcharge on credit card customers.
Before redrafting funeral home contracts to add credit card surcharges, there are two matters to keep in mind. First, the ten states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas) all have state laws prohibiting merchants from imposing credit card surcharges. For the most part, these laws have been superfluous since VISA and MasterCard did not allow surcharges pursuant to their contracts. However, assuming that the VISA and MasterCard restrictions will soon be eliminated by the class action settlement, these laws will come to into play. Unless the laws are repealed, funeral homes in those ten states will still not be able to impose surcharges on consumers using credit cards.
The second caveat is that the proposed settlement in the class action lawsuit must still be approved by the federal district court. The court has scheduled a hearing in October to determine whether the settlement is fair to the seven million merchants that comprise the plaintiffs' class. Several powerful players in the plaintiffs' class, including the National Association of Convenient Stores, the National Cooperative Grocers' Association, Wal-Mart and Target, oppose the settlement because they do not believe it goes far enough to protect merchants and to compensate them for past acts.
Although the $7.2 billion in damages and reduced swipe fees is significant, opponents to the settlement point out that these amounts represent only about two months' worth of the $50 billion in swipe fees that VISA and MasterCard collect on an annual basis. More significantly, opponents argue that the settlement will not prevent VISA, MasterCard and other credit card issuers from raising swipe fees in the future.
Assuming that a settlement is worked out and businesses are able to assess credit card surcharges, all merchants, including funeral homes, will have to make decisions on whether to impose surcharges and how much to charge. Whether there will be consumer backlash against credit card surcharges is still to be determined. Also unknown will be whether merchants will choose to offer different surcharges on different credit cards. For example, a merchant may elect to impose a higher credit card surcharge on a credit card with a higher swipe fee and lower charges on cards with lower swipe fees. How this will play out in the market remains to be seen.
NFDA will continue to advise members on the status of the proposed settlement in the VISA and MasterCard antitrust suit. In the meantime, NFDA members with questions regarding this matter may contact Scott Gilligan at 513-871-6332.
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THE CONSTANT evolution of the GT3 ranks means that each year beings something new to Mount Panorama – be it an evolution of a previous car or something Bathurst is yet to see.
Secure your Tickets and Camping for the 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour here.
The potential for a host of new machinery to tackle Australia’s International Enduro in 2020 is significant, so here’s a look at some of the cars we may see on the Mountain come first practice on January 31, 2020.
What new car would you most like to see on the Mountain next February? Let us know on our social accounts!
ACURA / HONDA NSX
PERHAPS the most anticipated GT3 car yet to be seen on Australian soil – the NSX quickly became a fan favourite on its arrival into international motorsport and there is significant desire from fans to see one tackle the Mountain. With Acura / Honda likely on board for the full 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli, the chances have never been better that we’ll finally see one of these JAS-prepared cars in Bathurst next year.
ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE AMR GT3
2019 MARKED something of a swan-song for Aston Martin on the Mountain and indeed, in top-level GT3 racing worldwide as it was the last real hit-out for the first generation Vantage GT3 Car and its howling V12 mounted up front. Competitive to the end, the old Vantage GT3 was fast throughout the weekend and even after being excluded from the Shootout, was able to lead the race until the closing stages. New-spec car replaces V12 for turbocharged V8 with new aero and a new shape, but that same Aston magic. Expect several on the grid next year.
THE MOUNTAIN suits McLaren with the 650S GT3 still the fastest ever car at the 12-Hour over one lap, and powered the brand to that famous victory in 2016. The wild-looking 720GT3 took over this year and actually made headlines in Australia with 59Racing’s Fraser Ross steering one example to its first ever global GT3 win at the Australian Grand Prix.
PORSCHE 911 GT3R (EVO)
EVOLUTION rather than revolution for Porsche as the already successful 911GT3R gets a 2019-spec performance upgrade (Remember, the car that won the race this year was in 2018 specification). Like many before it, the GT3R proved an all-round performer at Bathurst with excellent fuel economy, strong race pace and one-lap speed as it required so the upgrade should be better again.
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3 EVO
TROFEO Motorsport have been regulars in the 12-Hour over the years and this year Wall Racing ran their Gallardo entry as well. With the sports car media broadly tipping Lamborghini to commit to the full 2020 ICGT calendar, the potential of those entries, should they return, being joined by at least one gun international combination is tasty, and could give Lamborghini their best shot yet at a Bathurst win.
AUDI R8 LMS GT3 ULTRA EVO
AUDI SPORT Customer Racing Australia rushed back from Bathurst to bolt the 2019 ‘EVO’ package onto their existing R8’s following the 12-Hour this year, and were rewarded with the Australian Enduro title to boot. Audi are not only the most successful brand on the Mountain since the 12-Hour went GT3, but are the most successful round in GT3 racing, full stop. The ‘EVO’ is just another step in the brand’s remarkable Customer Sport program evolution.
MERCEDES AMG GT3 EVO
AS REPORTED recently, Mercedes-AMG are working hard to ensure the Evolution upgrade for their GT3 racer – always one of the most competitive cars on the Mountain – is homologated in time for January 1, 2020 – meaning we could see the current-spec car racing in Bathurst next February. The mighty Merc finished second in 2018 and third (and fourth) last year.
LAMBORGHINI SUPER TROFEO EVO
NEW FOR CLASS B in 2020, the Super Trofeo is Lambo’s version of a one-make racer. Think Porsche’s Carrera Cup car but with a raging bull on the front. Like the Porsche, will slot in between GT3 cars and GT4 cars on raw pace and should be particularly user-friendly over the distance. There’s already several cars in Australia which will hopefully make for a great class fight.
AUDI R8 LMS GT4
AUDI are yet to see their GT4 machine try and emulate its GT3 big-brother on the Mountain but should this car add to the diversity in the GT4 class, there’d no doubt it’ll be competitive.
McLAREN 570S GT4
McLAREN have given their 570S GT4 car a push in local competition this year and the car has performed well. Given the success the brand has enjoyed in outright competition at Mount Panorama, it would be great to see how the 570 goes in the race-within-a-race fight, too.
MERCEDES AMG GT4
WE ALMOST had one racing in 2019 and there are hopes that Mercedes AMGs baby GT car (in name only – it’s the same size as the GT3!) will arrive on the Mountain in 2020 to add to an increasingly diverse GT4 class fight.
FORD MUSTANG GT4
MUSTANG has already made its mark on Mount Panorama, but not in the 12-Hour and having a pony car in the race would not only be great – but after the demonstration effort twelve months ago, would also likely be wildly popular with fans as well. Big, front-engined V8 on the Mountain? What’s not to like?


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Now that we have an official name for Android Q, we’re getting very close to the official release of the new operating system. It’s definitely hitting soon, but with an important caveat — just because Google releases Android 10 doesn’t mean that you’re going to get it (unless you own a Pixel device). Here’s what you need to know.
Google has finally unveiled the name of its upcoming Android update. While it was tentatively called Android Q and expected to be named after a sweet fruit or dessert, Google announced it was ditching its playful tone and giving it a much more standard tech name.

While the news is no fun, it's just a name after all. The thing we're more interested in is its features. Here's what we know about it.Read more
As mentioned above, if you’re on a Pixel phone, you’re set. Expect to see Android 10 sometime in late August, when Google is likely to release the final version (based on past releases). If you’re using any other manufacturer’s Android smartphone, however, your results may vary wildly. Just scan through Android Authority’s timeline for Android Pie if you want to see how crazy the delays can get.
While we have no idea when each manufacturer is going to launch Android 10 for their various devices — ahh, fragmentation — it’s possible to make a few educated guesses based on how this process has gone previously. PhoneArena’s Peter Kostadinov has crunched the timelines and come up with a few suggestions for both Samsung and Motorola:
If you’re expecting to pull down Android 10 for your fancy-new Galaxy S10 or S10+ in August, think again. Unless Samsung performs a holiday miracle, you probably won’t be able to try out its customised version of Android 10 until early 2020.
Looking back at Android Pie and the latest Samsung handsets available at the time, the S9/S9+ and Note 9, Samsung rolled out the operating system between December of 2018 (international versions of the S9/S9+) and March of 2019 (unlocked versions of the Note 9).
Going forward, Kostadinov doesn’t expect the timeline to change for Android 10:
International: Late December 2019 / Early January 2020
As for the upcoming Galaxy Note 10, that is expected to ship with Android Pie come its August debut.
It will probably receive Android 10 along a similar timeframe as the Galaxy Note 9 and Android Pie: around February/March of 2020 for everyone but owners of the international version of the device, who might see Android 10 in mid-January.
And, yes, your slightly older Galaxy S9/S9+ and Galaxy Note 9 are also expected to get Android 10, slightly after the release of the operating system for Samsung’s newest Galaxy-class smartphones.
The company took some time to roll out Android Pie to its various devices — starting in November of last year with the Moto One Power, and ending in July for the Moto Z2 Force and Moto Z3. To this, Kostadinov said it best: “Motorola is all over the place when it comes to software updates.”
Accordingly, here are his estimates for when various Motorola smartphones might get to play with Android 10:
Moto Z4: January/February 2020
Moto Z3/Z3 Play: March/April 2020
Moto G7 smartphones: February 2020
Moto G6/G6 Play: March/April 2020
Moto Z2 series: May/June 2020
If you compare the timelines, you’ll note that the estimates for some of these phones are pushed out a bit for Android 10 versus Android Pie. That’s because Motorola will probably prioritise updating newer devices, like the G7, over older devices like its Z2 series of smartphones.
This makes sense to us, even though it doesn’t make waiting any more fun.
The sixth and final Android Q Beta is now available to download on select handsets. It's a feature-packed update that brings some significant improvements to the OS, including new gesture controls and an improved Google Camera. Here's how to get it on your phone right now.Read more


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The iconic Czechoslovak scooter Čezeta (known as “the pig” by the locals) is coming back as an electric scooter! The trio behind the revival has already applied for EU authorization and they are done with the prototype. They even have 20 or so preorders in line. We are eagerly waiting for more news about this interesting scooter!
Read this great story from Radio Praha for more information.
Also visit the main webpage for the brand new electric Čezeta.


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The Russia-Ukraine war issue has had substantial repercussions in the cryptocurrency universe to the point that it has been called the world’s first “crypto war”.
On the Ukrainian side, the government itself began accepting donations of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins in an attempt to increase its war budget. Quickly Ukraine’s wallets ramped up to accept other altcoins such as Polkadot and Dogecoin, eventually reaching several million of dollars in funds.
Of those funds, Ukraine has already spent $15 million on military equipment. There is no information on expenditures allocated for humanitarian work.
On the other hand, much has been speculated about the possibility of Russia turning to cryptocurrencies as a way to circumvent sanctions imposed by the United States and its allied countries.
However, there has been no official announcement on the matter, and CZ itself assured that it was almost impossible for Russia to effectively use cryptocurrencies to keep its economy afloat:
“The truth is, crypto is too small for Russia. If we look at the crypto adoption today, there is probably about 3% of the global population with some kind of crypto exposure (i.e., owning some crypto). Of those, most only have a small percentage of their net worth in crypto. Less than 10% on average. So, there is probably only less than 0.3% of the global net worth in crypto today. This percentage applies equally to Russia.”
Russia is also turning to china
After Visa and MasterCard announced that their operations in Russia would be suspended, many Russian banks claimed on Sunday that they would soon begin issuing cards using the Chinese UnionPay card operator’s system combined with Russia’s own Mir network.
Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, as well as Alfa Bank and Tinkoff, made announcements about the transfer to UnionPay on Sunday.
Many enterprises have found it difficult, if not impossible, to source parts, make payments, and transfer items to and from Russia as a result of international sanctions, the loss of aircraft and transportation links due to the war, and financial limitations on SWIFT and capital controls.
Furthermore, the possibility for international consumer reaction against any company seen as supporting Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship has accelerated the exit of corporations from Russia.


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RightClinic (formerly known as TreatmentSaver), a London, UK-based cosmetic treatment company, raised £250k in funding.
Venture capital firm Forward Partners made the investment.
The company intends to use the funds to expand into new verticals and hire new people.
Founded by Dr Ganesh Rao, RightClinic operates a marketplace that allows visitors to find and book laser eye surgery and cosmetic clinics throughout the UK. It also features independent reviews from real people and offers from a number of UK clinics.
The company recently graduated from Newcastle accelerator Ignite.


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Proposition 65 continues to brew nanny-state havoc.
Legal Insurrection readers may recall our January report that a judge in California was going to decide whether coffee should carry warnings stating that it contains chemicals known to the state to cause long-term health effects, per the rules enacted after passage of Proposition 65 in 1986.
The long-running lawsuit claimed Starbucks and about 90 other companies, including grocery stores and retail shops, failed to follow a state law requiring warning signs about hazardous chemicals found everywhere from household products to workplaces to the environment. The warning pertains to the trace amount of acrylamide found in delicious, caffeine-filled brews, which “is a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm”.
The ruling has officially come down, and it is everything a nanny-stater would want.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said Wednesday that the coffee makers hadn’t presented the proper grounds at trial to prevail.
“While plaintiff offered evidence that consumption of coffee increases the risk of harm to the fetus, to infants, to children and to adults, defendants’ medical and epidemiology experts testified that they had no opinion on causation,” Berle wrote in his proposed ruling. “Defendants failed to satisfy their burden of proving … that consumption of coffee confers a benefit to human health.”
What does this ruling mean for businesses that sell coffee?
California businesses will be required to provide a “clear and reasonable” warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a Prop. 65 listed chemical. The state offers a few suggestions for what that means, including posting signs at a workplace, distributing notices at a rental housing complex or publishing notices in a newspaper.
Penalties for failing to do so could be up to $2,500 per person exposed each day over eight years, according to The Associated Press.
A look at the actual science shows that the data tying low doses of acrylamide to adverse health effects isn’t quite settled, either.
When coffee beans are roasted, the compound acrylamide is produced as a by-product. “Acrylamide is ubiquitous in our food chain. It’s a product of high heat and prolonged cooking, particularly with carbohydrates,” says Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. It’s found in fried potatoes, for example, as well as in cigarette smoke and some products such as adhesives. “It’s a chemical to which we have frequent exposure.”
Some studies have found an increased cancer risk in mice and rats who were fed acrylamide, but those studies used doses between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than levels that people would be exposed to in food. There have not been strong studies in humans to demonstrate the carcinogenicity of acrylamide.
Crunching the numbers, you would have to drink 64 liters of coffee a day to achieve the level of exposure the test rats experienced. Nevertheless, under the stringent rules of Proposition 65, here is a sample of some of the new decor you will see in California’s coffee shops!
I will simply point out that this sign will be ignored, just as the same signs for alcohol are. Legal Insurrection readers would be unsurprised to discover Californians like to drink, to the point there is a proposal to extend bar open times to 4 am statewide!
Normal people are treating this ruling with all the seriousness that it deserves.
California has deteriorated into a tragic dump, with streets covered in trash, graffiti, human waste, and needles, but a liberal judge worries about the dangers of coffee. #ProgressiveInsanity #MoonbeamMania https://t.co/URP4Z0qqSU
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) March 30, 2018
Coffee in California must have cancer warning. Great. Isn’t gov’t activism wonderful? Now kids will debate which is worse: coffee or tobacco… https://t.co/MHh7xrnrRl
— John Stossel (@JohnStossel) March 30, 2018
But, perhaps the best analysis comes from a natural toothpaste manufacturer that is forced to comply with the Prop. 65 label rules.DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.


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Playtonic Games rolled out a parade-of-characters video for Yooka-Laylee today, introducing us to more than just Laylee and Yooka. In fact, the game's probably six months away from launch, and they're already talking cameos.
That begins with Shovel Knight, who is approaching John-Ritter-in-the-early-1980s levels of overexposure. By my count this is his sixth game cameo (including an amiibo). But ho-a-yo-a-ho-ho-ho-you only live once, I guess.
By the way, is that a snake named Trowzer? Yes. Yes it is.
Yooka-Laylee, the love note to 3D platformers by developers who worked for Rare, makers of Banjo-Kazooie, is due to launch for PlayStation 4, Wii U, Windows PC and Xbox One sometime in March.


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What you need to know
- Foxconn has started offering workers incentives to try and encourage employees to come back to work.
- It is laying on free meals, accommodation, and shuttle-buses to ease labor shortages.
- It has also significantly increased its pay bonus for returning and newly-hired employees.
Foxconn is deploying a series of incentives for workers as it seeks to address labor shortages caused by the coronavirus outbreak in China.
As reported by DigiTimes, the iPhone-maker has laid on free meals, accommodation, and shuttle-buses as it seeks to encourage employees to come back to work. According to the report:
Foxconn Technology is providing a series of incentives to encourage the return and recruitment of more employees for its major assembly plants in Shenzhen and Chengzhou, China, seeking to fulfill as many shipments of iPhones as possible to Apple, according to industry sources.
The sources said strict travel and traffic controls and fears of being infected with the coronavirus have discouraged many employees from returning. But Foxconn has offered free shuttle-bus commuting, meals and accommodation for workers in addition to thorough disinfection operations at plant sites, the sources.
The report also states that Foxconn has raised its extra bonus of CNY3,000 ($426) to CNY5,000-7,000 for both returning recruits and new employees.
The report claims that other manufacturers in the region have been forced to employ similar measures in order to get people back to work following the COVID-19 outbreak. Most recently, it was reported that Foxconn was cautiously restarting production at its main factories, it has previously warned that revenue for the year will be hurt by the epidemic. Foxconn reopened its main Zhengzhou plant two weeks ago, but only 10% of its workforce turned up.
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A Reddit hack has plastered popular subreddits with pro-Trump messages
Reddit is investigating a series of vandalized communities which have been plastered with pro-Trump messages. Compromised moderators may be the source of the attacks.
Go beyond the Wall in Apple Arcade's Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows
"Game of Thrones" fans can now explore the lands beyond the Wall on their iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
Review: The Porsche Taycan can stream Apple Music, no phone or data needed
The 2020 Porsche Taycan is a sweet ride, but it's also the first to fully integrate Apple Music into its own infotainment system — without your phone or data.
Apple-themed Pride shirts you'll love to wear
Apple's iconic rainbow logo has often been associated with the LGBT+ movement. Show your support by wearing an Apple-themed Pride t-shirt, including the one we like the best.


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13 foreigners climb a mountain enter China, is repatriated immediately!
90 year old of Chinese Academy of engineering academicians, orthopedics expert Lu Shibi passed away


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In Southeast Asia, only a small percentage of transactions are cashless, and about six out of ten people do not have sufficient access to a bank account. As a result, there are enormous prospects for Southeast Asia's developing fintech trends to assist in resolving this problem.
The only payment mechanism regularly gaining traction in the majority of ASEAN economies is eWallet platforms, which are expanding in acceptance and popularity. The COVID-19 lockdowns' greater reliance on eCommerce has been a major factor in their growth.
As the old banking system transitions to a new era of digitalization, the Southeast Asian digital payments sector is undergoing something of a revolution.
Southeast Asia is going through a digital revolution like other places worldwide. The number of Internet users increased by 400 million in the first year of the epidemic, and 70% of ASEAN citizens are currently online.
Even if the COVID-19 pandemic has abated, the crisis has caused a rise in eCommerce as well as a desire for transfers and contactless payments. As more fintech choices and digital banks emerge, a new Google-led study predicts that the Asian digital payment market will reach USD 7.28 trillion in transaction value by 2027.
The region's digital economy is booming, with eight out of ten Southeast Asian consumers already using the internet, according to research by Bain & Company and Facebook. Online retailers in the region have a tremendous opportunity to grow as a result of the economy's fast digitization.
The Asian Development Bank has determined that the most important component in Southeast Asia's post-pandemic economic recovery is the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). More digital payments are desired by 75% of the region's MSMEs, and more digital loans is desired by 50%.
The resulting convergence of variables has facilitated the development of digital financial services in Southeast Asia. In nations like Indonesia and the Philippines that have sizable, dispersed, and frequently remote populations, digital finance is proving to be highly revolutionary.
Individual customers have traditionally received priority in the development of digital financial services over small enterprises. The integration of MSMEs into Southeast Asia's developing digital financial landscape will be essential for the region's economic future as more people use virtual wallets, with banks playing a major role in attaining this goal.
By enhancing merchant payment capabilities and integrating mobile wallet payment flows across online and offline channels, they can cater to the particular demands of MSMEs and promote the micro commerce that accounts for the majority of the region's economic activity.


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What recession? New research from Parks Associates has found that the number of US consumers planning to purchase a smart TV has nearly doubled in less than a year.
The Consumer Decision Process: Summer Update shows that this growth means that a quarter of US broadband households intend to purchase an Internet-connectable CE device in 2011. In particular, more than a tenth of broadband households plan to purchase a smart TV in the second half of 2011, up from 6% in the first half.
These households represent half of the homes planning to make a purchase which is estimated to be in the region of $1,000 for each device.
“Advertising campaigns from manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, and VIZIO have boosted consumer awareness and interest, making connectivity a must-have feature for new CE products," commented Tricia Parks, CEO, Parks Associates. "Younger consumers especially want the extra benefits on their new TVs of going to the web for social networking and on-demand video or subscription entertainment options.”
However when it came to rating the significance of connectivity in particular devices, users said that they rated a web-enabled technology in PVR, DVR or TiVo devices as more important than similar functionality in flat panel TVs.
The research also showed that consumers had strong preferences for entertainment and social networking options on connected devices such as Blu-ray players, game consoles, and smart TVs. Preferred features include the ability to stream and download movies and TV shows as well as access to Facebook and online music.
The survey also shows 19% of broadband households intend to purchase a tablet in the second half of 2011. Among tablet intenders, men are more likely than women to purchase 3G tablets and buy 3G data plans for their new devices. Apple was the preferred brand by far, with the iPad capturing over 40% of planned tablet purchases for the rest of 2011.


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The 34th Annual Great American Beer Fest is upon us, and Northern Colorado breweries are ready for their shot at more medals but most seem to agree that GABF – the biggest national beer fest with more than 1,500 breweries and 7,000 entries vying for 90 medals and top honors – is more is more about networking and camaraderie.
Crow Hop Brewing Co-owner Michael Noonan said the main goal is marketing. “The real reason for the fest is to get to people who haven’t tried your beer.” The Loveland brewery, whose Rado’s Red Ale won a gold medal last year, said he will be returning to this year’s festival to meet new people and learn new techniques. Though Noonan wasn’t eager to divulge their GABF entries, he assured me that Rado’s Red Ale would be there to defend its title.
The Brewers Association– the mind’s behind GABF – estimates that nearly 60,000 people will attend the festival this year, due to a surge in craft brewing popularity. Craft brewers reached double-digit (11 percent) volume share of the marketplace for the first-time ever in 2014. That growing popularity has seen a surge of new breweries popping up all over the country, making this year’s competition harder than ever before. There were 3,464 breweries in America at the end of 2014, according to The Brewers Association, with more than 550 being opened last year.
This means competition for the likes of Noonan and other Colorado brewers. “It’s less likely that we’ll win now than we did in the earlier years,” Brad Lincoln, co-founder of Fort Collins brewery Funkwerks, said. The 5-year-old brewery that specializes in saisons earned the gold medal in the Belgian-Style Fruit Beer category for its Raspberry Provincial last year, but Lincoln feels competition in the more specialized categories that Funkwerks brews will be bigger than ever. “We used to have so few categories to enter, it felt like we were competing against ourselves.”
Win or lose, Lincoln said, GABF is all about networking – presenting new faces and techniques and filling their taproom with curious craft beer lovers for weeks after the festivals. “We’re just going to go, have a really good time, drink a lot of great beer, meet a lot of cool people and if we win a medal, great. If we don’t, whatever,” Lincoln said while sipping Funkwerks gold-winning Raspberry Provincial, which was submitted to GABF to defend its title this year. Funkwerks’ four other entries to the festival – Barrel Brett Trois, Deceit, Saison and Oud Bruin.
Another first year winner, Wiley Roots brewing will be returning to GABF seeking a second medal in its third year at GABF. The Greeley brewery earned a bronze medal for their Super 77 Wheat in 2013, just months after opening. They went home empty-handed last year, but co-owner Miranda Carbaugh is hoping that time, experience and experimentation will be the key to winning their second GABF medal. “This year we are really excited to have people try the full range of what we can do,” she said. But more important, Carbaugh feels, is the feedback she gains at the fest and the beer, of course. “Every year we get really great feedback, from judges and other people there. And I just love trying all the different beer!”
In addition to Super 77, Wiley Roots submitted Midnight on the Run Barrel-aged Imperial Chocolate Porter, Blood Orange Carousel Gose, Apumpalyptica Imperial Pumpkin Ale, and Red Wiley Amber Ale. Carbaugh said she and husband Kyle are excited to have people try the full range of what they can do, and to receive feedback from the festival’s Professional Judge Panel, even if they don’t win.


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The KARATCOIN BANK The Karatcoin Bank in Miami and owner Harald Seiz in May 2018 model »Cryptocurrency« to completely new contours. The gold-covered KBC but back to a serious shortcoming to share the previous crypto currencies such as Bitcoin, Etherium, etc. with the traditional Fiat currencies à la Euro, US dollars and yen: the lack of coverage by a real Karatcoin Bank is the first crypto bank in the US. It is a fully licensed and operational bank based in Miami. By obtaining the license, the bank can provide secure services to customers that are backed by KBC. In this document you'll find out exactly how the KCB coin will be used to generate fees and profits for the world's first licensed Crypto bank based in Miami, Florida.
Karatbars International has announced the opening of the cryptocurrency bank KC Bank, which fully operates under U.S. licensing in Miami. MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA, June 15, 2018 / EINPresswire.com / -- Cryptocurrency bank KC Bank to open in July! New cryptocurrency bank provides boon to Karatgold Coin
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This is "Karatcoin Bank Opening In Miami KBC Coin - Karatbars News MP4" by Gerhard on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Dec 29, 2018 - KaratCoin Bank is the core of the future payment system. It will provide crypto bank accounts for the crypto industry; e.g, for cryptocurrency exchanges, for merchants and servicers and, in particular the KaratCoin Bank Coin and the KaratGold Coin. These accounts are also provided for CashGold transactions. As the world's principal crypto-bank it will manage … Открытие собственного банка KaratCoin Bank Karatbars International объявила об открытии криптовалютного банка KC Bank, который полностью работает под лицензией США в Майами. 09.09.2019 - KARATCOIN BANK Karatbars He who has gold will always have money кто имеет золото, тот имеет всегда деньги. Презентация компании Karatbars 15.08.2019 на русск KaratCoin BANK OPENING July 4th 2018 in Miami, FL. Info.
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text: Apache Corp.'s stock APA, +1.67% slumped 6.2% in premarket trade Wednesday, after Anadarko Petroleum Corp. APC, +0.41% said it was withdrawing its offer to buy the oil and gas company. Anadarko Chief Executive Al Walker said in a statement that Anadarko recently offered to buy Apache in an all-stock deal which included a "modest" premium, but efforts to pursue a deal were rejected. He indicated that the current price of the stock, which has run up 12% this week, has made a deal less attractive. "Our efforts to enter into a mutually acceptable confidentiality agreement for the purpose of exploring the merits of a potential transaction were summarily rejected and no discussions of substance occurred," Walker said. "We are unwilling to pursue the transaction without access to detailed non-public information, and based on our analysis, which shows that Apache appears to trade at or near full value currently, the offer was withdrawn." Apache's stock rallied this week following a Bloomberg report that Apache had received an unsolicited takeover offer. Anadarko's stock surged 2.9% in premarket trade.


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From its beginning, the United States has played a major role within the global textile industry.
Cotton has long been a major export product from the U.S. South. Still today, cotton plays an
important role for the U.S. gross domestic product. Organizations such as Cotton Incorporated and
the National Cotton Council of America support the U.S. cotton industry up to the threshold of pain
— at least this is the opinion in other cotton growing countries. And, last, but not least, U.S.
cotton ranks among the top qualities when it comes to long-staple cotton. Pima cotton and the
Supima® brand are appreciated around the globe.
However, people, even so-called experts in the textile industry, often moan that today, it
is not possible any more to be successful in any textile market when there is such strong
competition from Asian markets in general, and the Chinese in particular. Of course, this
misconception also applies in the United States. Well, here is another story from the U.S — and it
is a successful textile industry story:
Like every business sector, the U.S. textile industry is well organized. The National
Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), based in Washington, with an office in Gastonia, N.C.,
represents the entire textile sector. The organization states it is domestically focused to ensure
a prosperous future for the U.S. textile sector, and globally positioned to work effectively with
its international allies.
According to NCTO, in 2012, the overall U.S. textile sector, ranging from fiber to apparel,
directly employed 499,000 workers — including 235,000 in textile companies alone — and indirectly
supported one million U.S. jobs.
One thing is astonishing, if one recalls the troubled economic situation in the years since
the big financial crash in 2008: NCTO says that U.S. textile companies have built 23 new plants and
invested more than US$3 billion in new plant and equipment over the last three years. These are
very impressive figures. New facilities include fiber and yarn manufacturing plants as well as
recycling plants to convert textile waste for new textile applications.
In 2012, U.S. textile shipments were worth more than US$53 billion. Textile product exports,
valued at more than US$17 billion in 2012, have grown by 36 percent, or more than US$4 billion,
since 2009. Net textile and apparel exports totaled US$23 billion in 2012. With these figures, it
is no wonder that the U.S. textile industry ranks third globally as an exporter of textile
Two-thirds of U.S. textile exports were shipped to Western Hemisphere free trade partners
during 2012. The U.S. textile industry exported goods to more than 170 countries, including 24
countries that received goods worth more than US$100 million.
The army is in many countries of the world a strong purchasing power, and not only for
rifles and ammunition, but also for textiles. Many new developments, especially for protective
garments and high-performance fibers and fabrics, were targeted to military purposes. This is also
the case for the U.S.: NCTO says that the U.S. textile industry supplies more than 8,000 different
textile products per year to the U.S. military. In addition, the U.S. is among the global leaders
in textile research and development. New textile materials being developed by private textile
companies and universities include conductive fabric with antistatic properties, electronic
textiles that monitor heart rate and vital signs, antimicrobial fibers, antiballistic armor for
both personnel and vehicles, and temperature-regulating garments that adapt to the climate. These
are just a few examples how creative the U.S. textile industry still is.
In spite of all the troubles of the textile industry in the West, the U.S. textile industry
can present some astonishing facts and figures over the last 10 years: According to statistics
provided by NCTO, U.S. textile industry productivity has increased by 45 percent over the last
decade, and the industry is among the top three in productivity increases. And to dispel another
fairy tale about wages in textiles: In 2012, earnings for textile workers averaged 135 percent more
than apparel store workers, and they also received health care and pension benefits.
A troublesome economic situation is one thing. There are two ways to get out of it: either
accept it or fight against it. Imagination and experience have always been a splendid munition for
success. In textiles, they have brought an astonishing investment climate into the U.S.
May 14, 2013


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What’s going on:
To reduce company costs by $5.5 billion, Walt Disney Co is beginning its second wave of massive layoffs as the company realizes its efforts to downsize by a reported 7,000 positions. The impact of thousands of layoffs within the company will span across many of the company’s brands including ESPN, Disney Entertainment, and Disney Parks according to Reuters.
Disney officials say that the latest round of layoffs brings the total number of positions cut at the company to 4000 employees. It is expected that a third round of layoffs will take place before the beginning of summer.
Why it matters:
Walt Disney Co adds its name to the growing list of companies across the country that have announced massive layoffs in 2023. Many companies in the tech industry either already have or are expected to lay off thousands of employees this year, including Meta, Google, and Twitter.
How it’ll impact the future:
Companies in the U.S. are adapting to market inflation and the economic impacts of the labor market by restructuring their companies and cutting costs. Walt Disney Co is one of the largest companies in the entertainment and media industry. Massive layoffs could be a sign of a more competitive job market within the industry.


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BLUETTI, a global leader in clean energy storage industry, will debut its latest power stations, including EP600—the product of 2023, at IFA 2022 that will …
The day before yesterday, Meizu took to Weibo to release a poster without giving out many details. As said by Meizu, it will be an …
The Oppo R15 and R15 Plus media invite is here! The R15 series is no longer a speculation. The unveiling of the R15 series is …
The Honor 9 Lite will be unveiled on the 21st of December, as revealed by the press invite. Honor is all set to hold an …
Is the E from Meizu a camera centric dual camera phone with Fuji’s input?
It’s official — the OnePlus 3 will be made available invite-free!
The OnePlus X is set to go invite-free in the Indian market.
The OnePlus X will be invite free for 24 hours in India tomorrow.
OnePlus have announced right in the holiday season that the OnePlus 2 is now going to be invite-free forever. Along with a few more deals…
In a bid to make buying the ‘2016 flagship killer’ easier, OnePlus 2 invites will now be valid for a total of three days, tripling the validity duration.
OnePlus has already seen a couple delays for its 2016 flagship killer OnePlus 2, which is why it’ll be offering the phone invite-free for one hour very soon.
OnePlus 2 invites aren’t the easiest thing to get on earth, but according to the co-founder of the company, it will soon be a lot easier to get hold of one.
ZUK will be holding two launch events this month and have sent out invitations to Chinese media that include a wooden music box.
A OnePlus fan has managed to hack the OnePlus 2 invite system to push himself closer to the top of the queue.
Worried you might not be able to get the OnePlus 2 thanks to the invite system? Well, OnePlus wants to make sure you don’t feel that way.
The OnePlus One will no longer be an invite-only phone. Is this a part of a build up for the next OnePlus phone?
The OnePlus One will now be available invite-free once every week, in India.
After spending 9 months in the market, the OnePlus One will finally go on a weekly invite-free sale.
The OnePlus One seems to be in its final leg of the journey to India. OnePlus also started a competition to distribute the first 100 invites, about which you can read here.
OnePlus One hopefuls, start rejoicing as the company has finally decided to do away with the controversial invite system.


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Uncork Kansas change opens possibilities
It’s not an April Fool’s Joke. After years of being one of only a few states still selling 3.2 percent beer, you can now buy “regular” beer at the grocery and convenience store. You can also buy ice at the liquor store.
It was two years ago that the Kansas Legislature finally took action on Uncork Kansas legislation. After years of debate about where alcohol is retailed, the industry groups made a deal permitting beer sales up to 6.0 percent alcohol by volume in grocery and convenience stores beginning April 1, 2019. In exchange, liquor stores could sell such non-alcoholic items as ice, limes, corkscrews and cigarettes. The Legislature advanced the agreement and the governor signed the bill.
The consumer shopping experience will now feature more options available for purchase at your grocery, convenience and liquor store. It’s a position we advocated for during the Uncork Kansas push to modernize outdated alcohol law.
Where alcohol is concerned, we’ve always been a state slow to change.
In 1881, legislators passed a constitutional amendment that banned “the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors” making Kansas the first state to outlaw alcohol. Nearly 40 years later, the nation followed suit, and from 1920 to 1933, alcohol remained illegal in the United States. Prohibition continued much longer in Kansas. It wasn’t permitted until 1948, and today, the state still hasn’t ratified the 21st amendment.
Which is why today is so remarkable.
We recognize it’s a significant change in Kansas to allow for strong beer sales. Today is a milestone in our state’s complicated history with alcohol. But there’s more work still to do.
Missouri and Nebraska have long allowed alcohol sales at their grocery and convenience stores. Earlier this year, Colorado implemented similar legislation. There are fewer than a dozen states in the nation that don’t allow consumers the option of buying beer, wine and spirits at a grocery store.
Kansas was one of the last states to sell 3.2 percent beer. We shouldn’t wait to be among the last to give customers the ability to buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store.
We celebrate the significance of having more options of beer in store coolers, including many of the local craft beers that never brewed a 3.2 percent product.
If the integration of more beer choices in the marketplace goes smoothly, and we believe it will, then the Legislature shouldn’t wait to act to extend options to consumers who’d like the opportunity to buy wine and spirits in grocery stores, too.


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Grocery stores working to ease salmonella concerns
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – Kroger and other major grocery store chains are now easing consumer's minds about purchasing cantaloupe following a deadly salmonella outbreak.
The outbreak is blamed in the deaths of at least two people in Kentucky and sickened another 150 people in 20 states, including two dozen in Indiana.
State health officials have identified the southwestern Indiana farm involved, but said the investigation is on-going.
Kroger is now posting signs in the produce section letting customers know where the fruits and vegetables were grown.
Kroger currently sells cantaloupe shipped in from California.
Kroger Spokesperson John Elliott said, "We've found our customers really want to know where it comes from. Whether that's what country it comes from in terms of imported products or where specifically in the U-S they come from."
Customers are still advised to get rid of cantaloupes purchased after July 7.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.


text:
HONG KONG, Jul 24, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - FREED GROUP ("FREED"), an award-winning innovator specializing in building proprietary Marketplace Enablement and Enterprise Application solutions founded and headquartered in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce the completion of the company's latest financing round ("Pre-C"). With new participation from one of the leading Private Equity firms in the region, as well as existing shareholders, Linear Capital and Musketeer Capital, the financing will fuel FREED's global expansion plans and extend beyond leading consumer brands and platforms to other vigorous verticals like international sports and events.
Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP announces the closing of Pre-C financing round.
Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP (third left) signs a memorandum of understanding with eWTPA earlier this month.
Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP, said, "We are thrilled to announce the completion of our Pre-C financing round, another milestone that will propel our business to new heights. The fact that we were able to secure this financing is a testament to our investors' confidence in our ability to scale the business. With these substantial resources, we are well-positioned to consolidate our global presence and amplify the impact of our innovative solutions across a wide range of industries."
To further fuel the next phase of FREED's growth, the company has been proudly appointed as the Title Partner of 2023 Women's Scottish Open, forging strong connections with the Scottish Government and VisitScotland to raise awareness of the tournament, as well as local tourism, as an important part of the post-COVID recovery initiative. This opportunity enhances FREED to showcase its proprietary technical solution and branding on an international stage, opening doors to strategic opportunities worldwide. As the distinguished Title Partner, FREED is paying homage to their Hong Kong roots and is honoured to invite top-tier local Hong Kong athletes to this illustrious event. Esteemed Hong Kong professional golfers Ms. Tiffany Chan, the first-ever Hong Kong golfer to qualify for the top-level of competition of the 2018 LPGA Tour, and Ms. Virginie Ding, ranked 185 according to World Amateur Golf Ranking, exemplify FREED's heartfelt dedication to its heritage. Meanwhile, as a long-term strategic business partner of the Korean government, this prestigious sponsorship is also strategically aligned with the Korea government's endeavours to popularize golf in recent years, representing a propitious avenue for FREED to elevate their business, fortify brand visibility, and garner widespread recognition through this burgeoning sports category.
Moreover, further utilizing the momentum of Hong Kong government's push to boost ties with Saudi Arabia, FREED was one of the few highly selected high-tech companies in Hong Kong to sign an agreement with eWTP Arabia Capital (eWTPA), paving a strategic path to expand FREED's networks and footprint in the region.
Alongside these achievements, FREED expanded its portfolio of products and services through strategic acquisitions and investments of Connexus Travel and Gabi Partners during the year. These strategic moves reaffirm the company's commitment to broaden its breath of digital transformation solutions to multiple sectors, enabling its partners to cultivate higher brand loyalty, foster lasting connections with their customers, and elevate the overall user experience of their brands.
Mr. Abel Zhao, concluded, "As we forge ahead into new markets, our cutting-edge proprietary SaaS solutions will continue to drive digital transformation and empower businesses on a global scale. The future is full of possibilities, and as a Hong Kong start-up with a global vision, we are excited to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the digital landscape worldwide."
About FREED GROUP
FREED GROUP is a technology innovator specializing in building proprietary Marketplace Enablement and Enterprise Application solutions. It pioneers the future of digital commerce by bringing the capability of multi-merchant, multi-platform networks onto one single backend system and database. With its end-to-end digital transformation and commerce empowerment solutions, FREED GROUP helps clients and partners from Fortune 500 corporations and brands to SMEs across regions to create new revenue streams, increase customer engagement and enhance servicing level.
Headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, FREED GROUP operates in more than 10 offices globally with over 150 staff. FREED GROUP supports clients and partners worldwide, including major names such as Samsung, China Mobile, China Life Insurance, BMW and LG. It is the winner of the 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers, 2021 Deloitte Technology Rising Star Award and 2021 United Nations UNWTO Global Start-up Competition, among many others. In 2023, FREED GROUP is named one of the top-10 high-growth companies in the Asia-Pacific region by Financial Times.
Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com


text:
It reads, "because the HAL V_1_2 only supports Pixel 3 , and the new Auto Selection Network UI is based on HAL V_1_2". Like the tech giant have been doing for the last two years or so, Google is expected to launch the 2018 Pixel phones around September.
If it is indeed a Galaxy S9 mini, it should have at least the Full HD counterpart of Samsung's Infinity Display , around 2220×1080 pixels and curved edges on both sides. Will you be upgrading to the Galaxy S9? They're all built to keep the Odyssey Z cool, whilst remaining lightweight and portable, so users can take powerful gaming experiences with them.
Cambridge Analytica has denied claims that it improperly collected data on as many as 87 million Facebook users for use in the USA elections. "The numbers that we have now are that only 335 people in India installed the App, which is 0.1% of the App's total worldwide installs", a Facebook spokesperson told The Wire .
It's launching globally April 25 on iOS and Android . No price information is known at this time, but nearly every Jam City game is free-to-play, so it seems reasonable to assume that Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery will follow the same format.
Sign up now to try the feature out, but take note of the limitations and known issues. It's probably also not necessarily the best idea to use it as a daily driver since betas can sometimes be a bit unreliable, but like we said, users who don't mind taking a sneak peek and helping Google find bugs and test it out, you can go ahead and do so.
But this time around, Apple is explicitly stating 2019 as the release year for the product. Indeed, Apple's seeming ambivalence with respect to the Mac Pro led many to believe that Apple might axe the product altogether. To puts it simply, Apple requires Final Cut Pro to run well on the brand-new Mac Pro, so the Pro Workflow Team assists keep those 2 jobs carefully lined up.
We saw this recently with the iPhone X and being able to unlock your phone with your face using Face ID. According to various sources, the gestures feature for the iPhone is described as a hover-like gesture system "by moving their finger close to the screen without actually tapping it".
According to Pokemon Go's website , Niantic was inspired by Mission Blue, an organization founded by marine biologist Sylvia Earle that aims to establish protected areas of the ocean - some of which has been made into an eponymous documentary on Netflix.
OnePlus could be coming up with a pair of Wireless Bluetooth Headphones named "OnePlus Bullets Wireless". . On Wednesday, Nashville Chatter spotted a Bluetooth Certification listing for an audio device with the name "OnePlus Bullets Wireless".
As ever, you can expect new skins for an array of characters, including Genji, Moira, McCree and Reyes (AKA Reaper), with more than 100 items from 2017's Uprising limited-time event and 60 new ones especially for Retribution , including highlight intros, emotes, sprays and so on.
Cambridge Analytica, which worked for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, said it licensed data on 30 million people, countering Facebook's 87 million estimate. According to the social network, the vast majority of accounts - 70 million - that may have been affected belong to people in the US. It announced the revised number in a blog post on Wednesday.
Facebook released figures on Thursday suggesting 87 million users globally may have been affected by the scandal, far more than previous estimates of 50 million and Cambridge Analytica's own claim of 30 million. "This is going to be a major focus for us", he said. The scandal has kicked off investigations by Britain's Information Commissioner's Office, the US Federal Trade Commission and by about 37 US state attorneys-general.
So it's lovely to see the first batch of leaked screenshots for Spyro Reignited Trilogy land so soon after the release date leak. Spyro Reignited Trilogy's development was no doubt inspired by the success of Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy , which proved that there's a widespread market for the return of old-school platforming franchises.
While the Chinese electronics maker hasn't yet announced as to what the magnitude of discount will be on its range of products, it has mentioned that a social campaign will be held starting at 10am on April 2 till 11pm on April 4 that will entail unlocking of discounts on smartphones and Mi Band upon reaching "certain likes" by inviting friends to like the product.
The stock remains down 7.5 percent in the past month. The stock increased 0.90% or $12.58 during the last trading session, reaching $1404.63. ALBERG TOM A had sold 2,285 shares worth $3.35M on Thursday, February 15. Motley Fool Wealth Management Ltd Liability Com accumulated 99,564 shares. Parametric Port Assocs holds 0% in Straight Path Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:SGEN).
Just one day after Giannandrea announced he was stepping down from his role as head of search and AI at Google , it now turns out he is jumping ship to rival Apple . Giannandrea will likely be tasked with fixing Siri at Apple , which has been deemed " embarrassingly inadequate " in new products like the HomePod .
The Samsung Galaxy S9 features a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Curved Super AMOLED display of 2960x1440p resolution . Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) had previously appeared in quite a few leaks with the model number SM-J720F. We could also see an Infinity Display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio on the smartphones. It includes 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Around the back, the Pixel 2 has a 12.2MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, compared to the 12 MP camera on the S9 that can switch between ...
Tinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the "login loop " may be a result of Facebook's recent update to the way third-party apps , like Tinder, can access Facebook data . Users will also be able to edit the video and select the ideal moment to share as a Tinder Loop. Tinder gives users the option to log in with Facebook, and sync their Facebook pictures with their dating profile.
The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdul Mumuni Kabir, was represented by and Sain Katsina, Alhaji Ahmadu Nafuntuwa. "As we mourn his passing, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, President Muhammadu Buhari and the government and people of Katdina State".
Rounding out the package is the Hitman Summer Bonus Episode and Blood Money Requiem Pack . Now, it looks like one company has chose to step up to the plate: Warner Bros. IO Interactive today announced Hitman: Definitive Edition for PS4 and Xbox One . One of the best games of 2016, Hitman is getting its second edition soon.


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FORT SMITH (KFSM) - An event scheduled for Wednesday (October 21) will bring the most stylish, designer purses under one roof. This is for an auction that will send the proceeds towards buying books for kids lacking them.
In a "5NEWS This Morning" segment that aired Sunday (October 18), anchor Daren Bobb spoke to Cindy Barker and Angie Ruth who discussed an event organized by the United Way of Fort Smith titled "Power of the Purse." They said forty-five purses will be auctioned with the money raised going to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Ruth said they created this event ten years ago to give kids a head start when their entering kindergarten.
Tickets will cost forty dollars per person, and the event will be held at the Movie Lounge Epicenter in Fort Smith. If someone is interested in attending, click on this link.


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U.K. police said Wednesday they are questioning two more teenage Anonymous suspects, one of whom they identified as "Topiary," who is a spokesman for the group. Topiary's may be the most significant arrest of any Anonymous suspect so far.
Civil disobedience isn't always glamorous -- especially when it comes time to pay the piper.
The cofounder of online news site Reddit has been charged with computer intrusion, fraud and data theft for allegedly stealing 4.8 million documents from a Massachusetts Institute of Technology network, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Romanian law enforcement officials on Thursday executed 117 searches targeting more than 100 people in an ongoing effort with the U.S. Department of Justice to break up a large Internet auction fraud scheme, the DOJ said.
U.K. cybercrime investigators claimed victory with the sentencing of three men on Monday following the prosecution of an organized phishing gang.
A consortium of eight companies launched a campaign on Tuesday to provide better training for law enforcement agencies in order to tackle cybercrime, which costs the U.K. economy tens of billions of pounds annually.
Time may be running out for the members of LulzSec as police continue to step up their inquiries into the hacking group.
A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for managing a phishing operation in conjunction with Egyptian hackers that looted consumer bank accounts.
The LulzSec hacking group sailed off into the sunset Saturday, leaving behind a treasure trove of stolen data along with what some antivirus programs identified as a nasty surpr...
Citigroup suffered about US$2.7 million in losses after hackers found a way to steal credit card numbers from its website and post fraudulent charges.
A 26-year-old man who last year helped hackers publish personal information belonging to about 120,000 iPad users pleaded guilty to fraud and hacking charges in a New Jersey court Thursday.
A 19-year-old British man who remains the lone suspect detained for a series of successful cyberstrikes by the hacking group Lulz Security will remain in police custody until at least Saturday, a London court ruled Thursday.
Ukraine's security service said on Thursday it had disrupted a cybercrime ring that cost the banking industry more than US$72 million using Conficker, a fast-spreading worm unleashed in 2008.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken aim at two Latvian gangs that allegedly made tens of millions of dollars by sneaking fake virus warnings onto victims' computers and then charging them to clean up the mess.
Websites belonging to the Brazilian government and energy giant Petrobras were knocked offline Wednesday in a series of cyberattacks.
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Salina, Kan. — A Saline County roofer and his business have been temporarily banned from performing roofing services in Kansas and ordered to pay $40,000 in penalties after being found in violation of consumer protection laws, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.
Shaun Costello, of Salina, and Low Overhead Exterior LLC, are enjoined from operating as roofing contractors in Kansas until such time as they obtain a roofing contractor registration certificate from the attorney general, as required by Kansas law.
Saline County District Court Judge Paul J. Hickman this week entered default judgment after Costello and Low Overhead Exterior LLC failed to respond to a lawsuit filed in June. The court also ordered the defendants to pay a $40,000 civil penalty.
Schmidt had alleged that the defendants accepted payment from a consumer for roofing services while not holding a valid roofing registration certificate. The defendants also filed a mechanic’s lien against the consumer’s property as a roofing contractor while not holding a valid roofing registration certificate. The defendant was found in violation of both the Kansas Roofing Registration Act and the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. A copy of the judgment is available at www.ag.ks.gov/roofer-enforcement.
Schmidt reminded consumers to make sure roofing contractors have properly registered before signing any contract or having any roofing work done. Consumers should ask the roofing contractor for a copy of their roofer’s registration certificate. Consumers should also check the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org to confirm the roofer’s registration is in good standing.


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Today, Facebook said in a filing that it will offer 180 million Class A common shares for $28-$35. Selling stockholders plan to sell another 157.4 million shares as part of the deal.
The IPO could raise as much as $11.8 billion for the company, and would value the company at roughly $85 billion to $95 billion, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. The reported price would make it the most valuable U.S. Web company at the time of an IPO, giving it a market capitalization just below giants like Amazon (AMZN) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ).
However, that figure is below the $100-$110 billion some were originally expecting. Some “sympathy plays” that had been trading up in anticipation of the IPO were down in recent trading, including Firsthand Technology Value Fund (SVVC), GSV Capital (GSVC) and Zynga, Inc. (ZNGA), as StreetInsider.com noted. Jive (JIVE) was the subject of a recent article criticizing the bump in price it has seen largely due to Facebook, rather than fundamental.
Apple (AAPL), which lost more than 3% yesterday, traded up as much as 2.2% in morning trading before giving up some ground; it’s currently up about 1%. The company defended its tax practices after they were highlighted by the New York Times; however, it was overtaken by Samsung (005930KS) in the world smartphone market (it now sits at No. 2 in the global rankings) and a long-time insider sold nearly $39 million in stock on Friday, recent filings showed.
Elsewhere, ADP (ADP) was falling in recent trading despite making headway earlier on a solid earnings report. Expedia (EXPE) was tumbling on an analyst downgrade that noted the stock could take a 20% haircut.
Apple’s (AAPL) Cupertino, California headquarters may be the the nexus of the world’s most profitable tech company, but it is an office in Reno, Nevada that saves the firm billions in taxes, according to a new report from the New York Times.
A small office in the biggest little city in the world that collects and invests Apple’s profits allows the company to take advantage of Nevada’s 0% corporate tax rate, dodging the millions it would otherwise owe to California (whose corporate tax rate rings in at 8.84%) and 20 other states. The Reno office also means that some of the gains Apple realizes from the investment of its profits are also shielded from gains.
Subsidiaries like the Reno office, some little more than an address, exist around the world, located in low-tax hot spots Ireland and the British Virgin Islands, to help lower Apple’s global tax obligations.
Although Apple is not alone among corporations by trying to actively try to lower its tax bills, tech giants in a sense have an easier time of avoiding some charges, the Times notes. For companies like Apple, Google (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Microsoft (MSFT), a good portion of their sales come from royalties on intellectual property, like patents, or digital products, like songs, and it is much easier to shift profits from such sales to low-tax havens than for companies that sell physical goods like groceries and apparel.
Shares of Apple were recently down 1.7%, outpacing the Nasdaq’s 0.6% decline.
The breakup would have cost about $1.5 billion in fees, and another $1 billion annually from reduced purchasing power and lost joint-branding opportunities, according to HP’s chief financial officer, Cathy Lesjak, in comments from a Journal interview.
“It slowly but surely became very clear that the math just wasn’t going to work on this one,” Lesjak said.
Clearly someone was using an abacus.
We talked earlier today with money manager Keith Goddard about Intel (INTC), which he likes because it keeps delivering to the puzzlement of analysts, despite the imminent death of the PC. Goddard, who manages the 5-Star Capital Advisors Growth Fund (CIAOX), quips, “People in the emerging markets seem to be buying PCs hand over fist.”
HP shares were up nearly 5%, or $1.24, on Thursday, and were unchanged in after-hours trading at $27.
Standard & Poor’s hardware analyst Tom Smith today repeated his Buy rating on Hewlett Packard (HPQ), lifting his price target on the shares to $67, from $62.
Smith believes HP will benefit from a cyclical pick up in IT spending in 2010, and adds that the company’s acquisitions have improved the company’s appeal as a provider of complete IT solutions. Not least, Smith writes that a cost-efficiency campaign should aid margins.
HPQ today is up 3 cents at $52.79.
In something of a non-event, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) this afternoon reported results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended October 31 right in line with the pre-announcement the company provided on November 11.
For the quarter, the company posted revenue of $30.8 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $1.14, as HP previously said. Revenue was down 8% year-over-year, or 5% on a constant currency basis. EPS was actually up from $1.03 a year ago, thanks to a spike in operating margin to 11.8% from 10.1%, as the company tightened down on costs. Full year revenue was $114.6 billion, down 3%, or up 1% in constant currency.
Revenues in the quarter were down 3% in the America, 17% in EMEA and 1% in Asia Pacific.
Service revenues were up 8%. But enterprise storage and servers were down 17%, HP Software was down 16% and imaging and printing was down 15%. Personal systems group – PCs – was down 12% in revenue, but up 8% in units. Notebook revenue was down 8%, while desktop was down 16%.
For Q1, the company repeated its forecast of revenue of $29.6 billion to $29.9 billion, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.03-$1.05. HP sees revenue for the full year ending October 2010 of $118 billion to $119 billion, and non-GAAP EPS of $4.25 to $4.35. While the release suggested that this is an increase in guidance, these are the same numbers the company provided when it announced the 3Com deal on November 11.
In late trading, HP is down 52 cents, or 1%, to $50.83. The stock rose 98 cents in the regular session.
Former Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) CEO Carly Fiorina, who was pushed out of her job at HP by the company’s board in 2005 amid widespread unhappiness with her performance, has finally found a new job to apply for: in a column in today’s Oange County Register, this morning she announced that she is running for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Barbara Boxer. An excerpt:
I now understand, in a very real way, that the decisions made by the Senate impact every family and every business, of any size, in America.
This is what motivates me to run for the U.S. Senate. And so today I am announcing my candidacy to serve the people of California as your next U.S. senator.
She seems to be focusing on the economy.
Our most pressing problems today are too few jobs for Americans and too much spending in Washington. As California’s senator, economic recovery and fiscal accountability will be my priorities. I will not settle for a jobless recovery. And we can start the important work of getting our financial house back in order by demanding to know where our money is being spent. Let’s put every government budget and every government bill on the Internet for every citizen to see.
She ends her announcement by saying:
Together we can turn things around.
A turnaround? Maybe we should elect Mark Hurd.
Worldwide personal computer unit sales grew 0.5% in the third quarter, according to Gartner, far better than the 5.6% decline the research firm had expected. Sequentially, sales were up 18%.
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) remained the global leader in the sector, with 19.9% market share, up from 18.4% a year ago; as shipments grew 9% from the year-ago quarter. Acer‘s share jumped to 15.4%, from 12.5%, posting 23.6% growth. Dell (DELL) had 12.8% of the market in the quarter, down from 13.8% a year ago, as units sold fell 6.7%.
In the U.S., Dell maintained the number one spot, with 26.2% share, down from 29.9%, just edging out HP at 25.7%, down from 26%. The next three spots were held by Acer, at 13.9%, up from 9%; Apple (AAPL), at 8.8%, up from 8.6%.; and Toshiba, at 8%, up from 5.7%.
Update: IDG also provided data on Q3 PC sales, offering numbers that were similar, but not identical. IDG says sales were up 2.3% in the quarter versus last year. IDG has an identical ranking for global market share, with HP at 20.2%, Acer at 14% and Dell at 12.7%. For the U.S., IDG shows HP nudging past Dell at 25.5% to 25%, with Acer at 11.1%, Apple at 9.4% and Toshiba at 8.1%.
Riverbed (RVBD) shares are higher again today on rumors that the company could be an acquisition target.
TheFlyOnTheWall.com reports that there are rumors that Junioer and Hewlett-Packard have both talked to Riverbed about a deal in the $34-$35 a share range. A similar rumor drove the stock higher last week.
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo analyst Jess Lubert today launched coverage of the company with a Market Perform rating and a valuation range of $23-$25. “We are positive on Riverbed’s positioning in the $1 billion WAN optimization market and we believe the company should benefit from its growing distribution channel,” Lubert writes, while adding that “positive developments in the company’s business are fully reflected in the stock price.”
RVBD today is up $1.40, or 5.9%, to $25.04. The stock has rallied nearly 22% over the last 8 sessions.
So it turns out that corporate IT spending is not dead.
Barclays Capital hardware analyst Ben Reitzes this morning lifted his rating on the IT hardware sector to Positive from Neutral, based on a new survey of of corporate CIOs. “Our checks indicate that server and storage demand is really picking up and the survey backs our view that this momentum can continue through 2010,” he writes. Reitzes asserts that companies with exposure here should benefit.
“We believe the IT hardware sector is set to benefit from four key themes, including multinational quality, attractive valuations on a relative basis, many upgrade cycles and pent-up demand, especially for servers and storage,” he writes.
Reitzes says respondents to the new survey see IT spending up 0.3% year over year in the second half of this year, a more optimistic view than a similar May survey in which participants saw spending down 2.2% in the second half. For 2010, the group sees 1.6% growth, up from a previously expected 0.7% decline.
The pick-up in storage demand, he writes, should benefit EMC (EMC) and NetApp (NTAP); improvement in server sales should aid Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), IBM (IBM) and Dell (DELL). Reitzes notes, however, that he less bullish on the prospects for a major PC upgrade cycle.
Tech Trader Daily is a blog on technology investing written by Barron’s veteran Tiernan Ray. The blog provides news, analysis and original reporting on events important to investors in software, hardware, the Internet, telecommunications and related fields. Comments and tips can be sent to: email@example.com.


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Following recent incursions by Silicon Valley giants, India’s top payments app is fighting back.
Paytm, with 230 million registered users across the nation, is now rolling out messaging to combat WhatsApp’s upcoming send-money-to-your-buddy feature, which will make its global debut in the fast-growing Indian market. WhatsApp’s cash transfers are set to launch in December.
Google is another new rival for the Indian startup. In September, the firm unveiled a new app called Tez, launched first in India, as a new mobile payments option.
Paytm’s in-app chat is dubbed Inbox, reports The Hindu. “We have realised that besides making payments, our users and merchants also like to communicate with each other,” said Deepak Abbot, Paytm senior vice president, at yesterday’s launch. As well as messaging friends, users can send photos, videos, and their location – plus sending or requesting money.
Chats are encrypted end-to-end – just as they are on WhatsApp.
Amid a rise in smartphone usage across India, consumers are sent to spend US$9 billion on their phones this year – versus just US$1 billion two years ago, says Morgan Stanley.


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FreeWave Technologies will showcase its leading wireless Machine-to-Machine (M2M) industrial networking solutions at an upcoming event.
The company is a manufacturer of reliable, high-performance spread spectrum and licensed radios for critical data transmission.
In addition, the company is hosting a contest at its booth (#506) that allows attendees multiple chances of winning a 750 GB external hard drive.
The company will participates as an Encompass Product Partner in the Rockwell Automation (News - Alert) Partner Network.
"Being a Rockwell Automation Encompass Product Partner is a critical component of FreeWave's go-to-market strategy as wireless M2M communication solutions are at the forefront of industrial networking and process optimization," said in a statement, Curt Goldman, utility market manager at FreeWave Technologies. "Automation technologies are invaluable for various industrial markets that are looking to improve operational effectiveness and cost savings."
At the event, FreeWave will display a variety of compatible Rockwell Automation solutions, such as its industrial grade, high speed Ethernet HTPlus radio, its award-winning FGR2 line of solutions (including its new board level and enclosed configurations), and its award-winning wireless IO Expansion Module.
Further, at the event, FreeWave will be conducting a slot machine game that offers an opportunity to win a 750 GB external hard drive to all participants. This slot machine game has been designed with a PanelView Plus 1250, MicroLogix 1100 and an IO Expansion Module from FreeWave.
All FreeWave's products displayed can easily be incorporated into the Rockwell Automation family of PLC solutions for markets that rely on automation solutions, such as manufacturing, water/wastewater, electric power/smart grid and energy/oil and gas.
Edited by Brooke Neuman


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Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler secured the title in the teams’ classification with impressive comeback drives in the season finale. Four podium positons during the weekend, including a one-two finish and 78 of a maximum of 94 possible points, turned a near unassailable deficit of 33 points before the final weekend into a two-point advantage. The title decision for the teams’ classification in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship was open and hard-fought all the way to the final lap, with a mere two points finally making the difference. In Sunday’s race, Lucas di Grassi crossed the finish line in second place after 43 laps around the street circuit in Brooklyn, with its view of downtown Manhattan. The Brazilian grabbed the championship runner-up spot with his seventh conse
At its annual Tyre Safety Month briefing, TyreSafe has launched its new summer campaign, in addition to making its materials for October’s Tyre Safety Month available. TyreSafe’s latest campaign will come as a surprise to some, as the organisation reveals it’s actually the summer months when Britain’s motorists are more likely to be involved in a tyre-related incident. Despite the cold and changeable weather, and difficult road conditions, from October through to March, according to the Department for Transport’s data, it’s actually July when tyre-related incidents are at their most frequent, with August and June close behind. The UK’s tyre safety charity believes this is due to a combination of factors. Firstly, as we all are too aware, summer in Britain doesn’t necessarily m
Phil Curry looks at the Road to Zero strategy and discovers that it means more for garages than just learning new technologies. Plus a look back at the events of Automechanika Birmingham, and a rant about the damage done by misleading press releases...
Designed to guarantee high level performance in road use for those who want a more lively, but also safer drive, the XTRA pads are the perfect match for XTRA and MAX sport discs, amplifying their advantages in terms of performance and pedal feel, as well as comfort and durability. For the production of the new XTRA brake pads, Brembo uses an exclusive material -made up of more than 30 different components - and pays particular attention to details and looks, making them immediately recognisable. The Brembo stand will also feature products from the entire Aftermarket range, including the new co-cast disc made to replace the original composite discs fitted to the most recent premium Mercedes applications, for which Brembo is already the OE manufacturer. The Aftermarket product main
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has welcomed the automotive specific job board InAutomotive.com as the latest addition to its burgeoning network of industry professionals. The Preston-based specialist recruitment website that employs over 50 people has joined as a Service Member, and in an effort to further support the industry’s employment needs is offering fellow IAAF members 10% off all job advertising. Supporting the motor trade for more than 15 years, InAutomotive.com is the UK’s leading job website for automotive professionals who are looking for relevant work opportunities within the automotive industry. Ian Partington, InAutomotive.com Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to join the ranks of IAAF, a fast-growing hotbed of industry talent
Schaeffler has played a key role in helping Porsche break its own 35-year lap record of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit. The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, driven by Timo Bernhard, shattered the previous best time by almost a minute, recording a lap of five minutes and 19.55 seconds. The record-breaking 919 Evo is a heavily-modified version of its now retired Le Mans racer, with Schaeffler being a partner of the project. The racer consists of a two-litre V4 engine and two electric motors that churn out almost 1,200 bhp. Compared with its predecessor, Porsche also added more than 50% downforce to the car and reduced its weight to just 849kg. The 919 Evo had already smashed records during its ‘Tribute Tour’ after Neel Jani recorded a lap-time of one minute and 41.770 seconds at th
National Auto Parts has added one new Clutch kit and two CSC kits to its extensive clutch range, reflecting its commitment to constantly developing products and supplying OE matching quality parts across a variety of its product ranges. The latest clutch kit references cover a number of vehicle makes and models, including Nissan Interstar (02-11), Renault Trafic (06-14) / Master (99-03) and Vauxhall Vivaro (06-11) / Movano (00-10). Meanwhile, as part of its wider remit to meet customer demand and bring the very latest quality parts to the automotive aftermarket, further clutch products will be introduced to its growing range over the coming months. This will include 11 brand new part numbers for over 30 passenger car and light vehicle applications, featuring top marques such as F...
The UK Government has set out more details of its plan to ban the sale of traditional petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, including taking action on garages that remove particulate filters and emissions-controlling technology. The ‘Road to Zero’ paper includes a number ofproposals covering areas such as how to reduce emissions from vehicles already on the country’s roads, driving uptake of cleaner vehicles and ensuring that the UK is a leader in technology. The report also highlights the infrastructure commitments required, for both electric (EV) and hydrogen (FCV) vehicles. The plan calls for the ban of petrol and diesel vehicles to be brought in by 2040, as originally agreed. However, there is no mention of strict rules regarding the distance vehicles can travel on electric pow
As a journalist, I receive all sorts of press releases. The beauty of being an automotive ‘hack’ means I get plenty of general ones, not just those flavoured for the aftermarket. And are from a couple of days ago was a doozy. You can read the story here, however I’ve not reported the whole release. The piece concerns customers being confused by jargon in garages – a fair point, those who are not mechanically minded would be a little confused. But the piece included some examples, and this, which I omitted from the main news article, is what annoyed me: Diagnostic check / charge The technician may plug a diagnostics system into your car to assess any faults; this sounds technical and can be used to mask the cost of an hour’s labour but it usually entails no more
The UK’s new vehicle registration numbers have declined in June, following two months of growth in the country. According to the latest figuresreleased by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), June saw 234,945 new vehicles registered, down 3.5% compared to the same month last year. The drop is modest and expected as the market in the UK continues to stabilise following a twelve month period of decline. Much of the decline can be laidat the door of the diesel market. In June, sales of vehicles powered by the technology dropped 28.1%, with just 74,361 units sold for a market share of 31.7% in the month. In comparison, petrol vehicle sales grew 12.3% with a total of 145,035, while alternatively fuelled vehicles, including battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid,


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Google Plus: The end
As far back as 2012, I was wondering aloud whether Google Plus was dead in the water. And in 2015, I shared that Google was divesting itself of its “Facebook killer.” The Internet giant, of course, announced earlier this year that the ax was finally falling. If you have content over there that you’d like to save, you have until the end of the month. From Google’s announcement:
This is a reminder that on April 2, 2019 we’re shutting down consumer Google+ and will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts. Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted.
Downloading your Google+ content may take time, so get started before March 31, 2019.
No other Google products (such as Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive, YouTube) will be shut down as part of the consumer Google+ shutdown, and the Google Account you use to sign in to these services will remain. Note that photos and videos already backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted.
For more information, see the full Google+ shutdown FAQ.


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Toyota isn’t just one of the world’s most successful car manufacturer. Apparently, it’s also one of the most well-liked companies on the planet.
Fortune Magazine has just released its annual World’s Most Admired Companies list, and Toyota finds itself as the highest-ranked auto brand again. The carmaker landed 30th out of 330 total companies on the list, and it’s the sixth year in a row that it finds itself ahead of the pack in its industry.
BMW finds itself not too far behind in 32nd—the only other car company in the top 100. Daimler AG is the next-best ranked auto player, sitting at a distant 115th place. Other manufacturers that found themselves in Fortune Magazine’s list include General Motors (147), Honda (158), Hyundai (165), and Tesla (293). Volkswagen, the largest carmaker in the world, finds itself at 313, and Volvo is the last auto brand on the list at 314.
Fortune Magazine partner Korn Ferry surveyed executives, directors, and analysts to rate companies from their respective industries based on everything from revenue and management quality, to social responsibility and ability to attract talent.
“We began with a universe of about 1,500 candidates: the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with non-U.S. companies in Fortune’s Global 500 database that have revenues of $10 billion or more,” Fortune Magazine says.
“We then winnowed the assortment to the highest-revenue companies in each industry, a total of 680 in 30 countries. The top-rated companies were picked from that pool of 680; the executives who voted work at the companies in that group.”
Do you agree with Fortune Magazine’s rankings? You can check out the entire World’s Most Admired Companies list here.