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Digital tech, which contributes £149 billion to the UK economy, currently employs 2.9 million people throughout the four countries, a 40% increase from 2017 and now accounting for 9% of the national workforce.
The amount of tech businesses in the UK worth between $250-800 million, according to the report, is the highest on record; 95, which is a 27% increase from 2018, and more than those in France (61), Germany (46), and Israel (46).
45% of these high-value scaleup businesses, which have raised £6.75 billion and boast 17,475 employees, are based outside of London.
“In a rapidly changing world, the UK is a shining light for tech entrepreneurs, investors and employees,” said Gerard Grech, chief executive at Tech Nation. “Some of the biggest UK successes; the 77 so-called tech unicorns, are $1 billion valued companies that now inspire others, and there are an additional 95 tech businesses across the UK primed to be scaling over the coming years.
How will the UK tech sector be affected by Brexit?
“The success of these businesses will be grounded in the UK tech ecosystem’s ability to build deeper and broader knowledge networks between various constituents such as experienced investors and entrepreneurs and to truly fuel growth across the country.
“We need to stay responsive, with smart regulation, ever increasing access to growth capital and new markets. Every effort we put in now will repay many times over, as the past few years have already shown.”
According to the report, 25% of cities in Europe with the highest investment in tech in 2019 are in the UK (Manchester, London, Bristol, Oxford and Cambridge), with Manchester being the fastest growing in Europe with a 277% increase between 2018 and 2019.
Additionally, Series C investment or later into UK tech increased by 71%, while private equity grew by 51%.
In terms of new digital tech, the UK came in third globally for investment into artificial intelligence (AI) from 2015 until 2019; £3.2 billion was raised by UK AI companies, compared to £32 billion by those in the United States, and £12 billion from China.
Artificial intelligence is driving the next generation of jobs in the UK
For money raised towards cyber security, meanwhile, the UK came in fourth with £7.8 billion, behind the US, China and Israel.
The UK also came fourth globally in blockchain investment, raising £8.9 billion.
“The tech sector is at the heart of our economy and creating jobs and wealth across the country.”
“We are determined to create the conditions digital businesses need to succeed and are investing heavily in gigabit speed broadband, 5G, cyber security, digital skills and research and development,” said digital secretary Oliver Dowden.


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WEDDED BLISS: Harvey Weinstein’s wedding to Georgina Chapman Saturday night was capped off with fireworks — a picture perfect ending for the Hollywood giant and fashion designer pairing. The Weinstein Co. mogul threw one serious party at his waterfront Westport, Conn., home and, not surprisingly, no detail was left to chance. Guests parked at a nearby school and were ferried to the festivities. And why not? Weinstein, a self-described “boy from Queens whose socks never matched,” tied the knot with Marchesa golden girl Chapman.
Weinstein was dressed for the occasion in a custom-designed Tom Ford tux. In November at the WWD/DNR CEO Summit, he joked, “My girlfriend, a Marchesa designer, Georgina Chapman, likes to call me ‘fashionably challenged,’ and that’s putting it nicely. My crimes against fashion unfortunately have been reported and photographed in the media.”
Cipriani and Nobu handled the cocktail hour, where guests nibbled on bite-size potatoes with caviar and crème fraîche, and baked taglioni with white truffle oil. For the main course, Cipriani whipped up Dover sole and veal osso buco. A live performance by the Gypsy Kings kept the crowd jumping. The fashion crowd was well-represented, thanks to Anna Wintour, Glenda Bailey, Natalia Vodianova, Margherita Missoni, Helena Christensen, Jacquetta Wheeler, Carol Hamilton, Rachel Zoe and Karolina Kurkova. Chapman, whose partner, Keren Craig, served as maid of honor, designed her own dress in what one insider described as “a stunning, pleated ivory tulle gown.” Christian Louboutin designed her shoes.
Media heavyweights Rupert Murdoch and Les Moonves also were on hand, and even former New York governor George Pataki and current Attorney General Andrew Cuomo made the cut. Of course, Hollywood did not go unrepresented: Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Anne Hathaway and Cameron Diaz also got in on the action. Those who couldn’t make the trip — former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, Sean “Diddy” Combs, George Clooney and Anthony Minghella, among others, sent their well wishes via video. Rob Marshall did that and one better. His message doubled as an intro to a live performance of singing dancers at Weinstein’s home. He explained he had choreographed their performance and rewrote the words to “He Had it Coming.”
Weinstein and Chapman kept the party rolling Sunday — hosting a celebratory brunch for family and members of their wedding party. The pair plan to duck out-of-town, but their destination is still under wraps.
TARGET NABS ROGAN: Now pitching for Target — Rogan Gregory. The Minneapolis-based chain is said to have lined up the designer as the latest addition to its seasonal collaborations. Photographer Sarah Silver reportedly shot the Rogan campaign for Target Friday in Manhattan. Her free-moving imagery seems in synch with the retailer’s action-packed ads — she studied classical and modern dance at Vasser and believes in what Henri Cartier-Bresson called “the decisive moment.”
BEYONCE SHINES: Beyoncé Knowles will add to the festive sparkle of Milan today when she launches the Emporio Armani scent, Diamonds, at Rinascente’s flagship in Piazza Duomo. Together with Giorgio Armani — who started his fashion career window dressing for the store in the Sixties — the singer will make an appearance in Rinascente’s beauty department to sign flacons of the jewel-shaped perfume for fans. Knowles, who is featured in the ad campaign for Diamonds, also will make a guest appearance on Italian MTV earlier in the afternoon.
A NEW WRAP: Hervé Léger by Max Azria will stage its first show in February during New York Fashion Week. The show, which will take place at Bryant Park on Feb. 3 at 11 a.m., will mark the first time since the mid-Nineties that the collection, originally shown in Paris, has been presented on a runway. The event also will mark the first time that an American designer (Max Azria is of French-Tunisian descent, but founded and runs his company, BCBG Max Azria Group, in Los Angeles) will produce three fashion shows for three different collections during one fashion week. In addition to Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Azria will show his contemporary collection, BCBG Max Azria, on Feb. 1 and his designer line, MaxAzria, on Feb. 4. All three shows will be in Bryant Park. “I’ve spent the last year focusing on redesigning and reinventing the brand, while staying true to the house’s heritage,” said Azria of the Léger fashion house, which he acquired in 1998.
TOPSHOP’S NEW WARES: Topshop is lining up its designer collaborations for spring. In mid-January, the store will launch capsule collections by London-based designers Jonathan Saunders and Louise Goldin. Saunders’ collection will include black and gray jersey T-shirts and dresses adorned with his signature geometric prints in turquoise and red, while Goldin’s will feature intarsia knit dresses woven in bright blues, reds and oranges. While Saunders will leave London to show his mainline collection in New York in February, a spokeswoman for Topshop said the brand still plans to sponsor his show there as part of its New Generation program. And in time for London’s own fashion week in February, Topshop will introduce a further round of capsule collections from London designers Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Todd Lynn and Richard Nicoll, which will arrive in stores Jan. 28.
SCHOOL TIES: It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a student body to open a shoe boutique. On Wednesday evening, New School student (and girl-about-town) Victoria Traina hosted a party to fete her school chum and London social Davinia Wang’s footwear outpost, Edon Manor, which opened two weeks earlier. The party was brimming with Traina and Wang’s classmates, including Ryan Korban, Edon Manor’s creative director.
“We wanted the store to be like the old accessory boutiques on Bleecker Street,” Korban said, “before Bleecker Street turned into Times Square.” Indeed, the shop — which stocks shoes from Proenza Schouler, Givenchy and Valentino — occupies an otherwise sleepy street in TriBeCa. As for the store’s decor, Wang, who hails from London by way of Hong Kong, gave her schoolmate specific instructions.
“Davinia wanted it to look like a carbon copy of her family’s estate in England,” Korban explained. To that end, he furnished the space with regal accents like antique leather chairs and teal chintz curtains.
Though Edon Manor currently stocks shoes and some handbags, Wang plans to venture into hosiery and jewelry. Meanwhile, for Traina and Korban, just shoes is fine: The two are producing a film on footwear as their senior thesis.

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- During filming, the Barbie cast drank milk thistle tea for clear and brighter skin.
- Milk thistle may help tackle some skin concerns, including signs of aging and acne.
- The plant is also known to be highly beneficial for liver function.
- While side effects are rare, people should still exercise caution before drinking milk thistle.
But there’s a new player brewing in popularity: milk thistle tea.
Jasmine Vico, a London-based skin health specialist, worked with the Barbie movie cast to ensure their skin was beautifully doll-like before and during filming.
In a recent Vogue interview, Vico revealed that part of the skincare routine she established for Margot Robbie and co. involved drinking milk thistle tea.
Originating from the Mediterranean, milk thistle is a plant that’s been used in herbal medicines for centuries.
“What was once thought of as an invasive weed has tremendous therapeutic properties,” said Dr. NavNirat Nibber, ND, senior medical advisor at AOR.
However, the beneficial active compounds are “concentrated in seeds, with some in fruits and leaves,” she explained to Healthline. “So, tea should contain the seed — [and] the longer we steep, the more potent the actives are.”
But exactly how can milk thistle benefit our skin and wider well-being?
Milk thistle is far from the first plant to be incorporated into skincare products, but its natural ingredients rival those in best-selling facial creams and serums.
Found within the plant are myriad active compounds, minerals, and vitamins, all of which can aid in treating concerns such as redness, acne, wrinkles, and dryness.
The key to milk thistle’s skin-boosting powers are antioxidants — including a potent and unique antioxidant called silymarin.
Antioxidants are particularly important as they “help reduce the negative effects of free radicals,” she told Healthline.
Free radicals are molecules that damage the body’s cells — and, when this occurs in the skin, signs of aging begin to arise.
In addition to acting as an antioxidant, silymarin “can increase the activity of superoxide dismutase and other enzymes in the body,” said Dr Naana Boakye, MPH, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist.
Superoxide dismutase is found naturally in the body and works to target free radicals.
As for silymarin’s anti-inflammatory properties, these “help with certain skin conditions, such as redness or acne,” Leer shared.
However, silymarin also aids the skin by route of the liver.
By helping restore and repair cells in this organ, silymarin can “indirectly impact the skin by improving cell turnover and supporting the health of skin cells,” said Dr. Rahi Sarbaziha, an integrative aesthetics doctor based in Beverly Hills.
Other powerful ingredients in milk thistle also support and rejuvenate the skin.
Essential fatty acids — including linoleic acid — can be found in milk thistle. These “can enhance the skin’s barrier function and improve moisture retention,” explained David Petrillo, a cosmetic beauty chemist and founder of Perfect Image.
The result? “Well-hydrated skin that appears plump, smooth, and healthy,” he told Healthline.
Zinc is another key player, said Petrillo. As well as helping lower inflammation, this nutrient aids “in wound healing and cell regeneration.”
Last but not least, there’s vitamin E — which “helps maintain the skin’s elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Petrillo noted.
If a warm beverage isn’t your (tea)bag, you can find milk thistle extracts in skincare products.
“It may be present in products aimed at reducing inflammation, combating signs of aging, and controlling acne,” said Sarbaziha.
And, although it’s not a substitute for regular SPF, milk thistle can also be found in products designed to “protect the skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays,” Sarbaziha added.
As well as affording a level of protection, milk thistle can “assist with DNA repair from UVB exposure,” noted Boakye.
Research indicates that silymarin contains “photoprotective mechanisms,” which can aid in reducing the impacts of UV rays on the skin — such as cell damage and oxidative stress.
One study of mice found topical milk thistle to be as effective in preventing signs of UV-related skin aging as vitamin C.
So should you drink milk thistle tea or apply it topically for maximum results?
“There isn’t definitive research as to whether one method is more effective than the other,” stated Leer.
However, “both approaches can be beneficial,” Sarbaziha said. “Consuming milk thistle orally, such as in tea form or as a supplement, is likely to have more comprehensive benefits for the skin and overall health.”
She continued: “When ingested, the active compounds can work throughout the body, including the skin, providing hydration, anti-inflammatory effects, and supporting the skin’s health from within.”
On the other hand, Sarbaziha noted, topical application might be better suited to “provide targeted effects for specific skin issues.”
Consuming milk thistle, either in tea or via an extract or supplement, is believed to support various other aspects of well-being.
The main benefit — thanks to silymarin — is liver function and health.
“Milk thistle supports liver function and can even be hepatoprotective, meaning it protects the liver from damage,” said Megan Lyons, a double board-certified holistic and clinical nutritionist, functional nutrition expert, and founder of The Lyons’ Share Wellness.
“If people are beginning to show moderate signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or impaired liver function, or if they’re doing something that significantly taxes their liver, like drinking alcohol or taking too many medications, milk thistle is recommended,” she told Healthline.
For those with diabetes, milk thistle “may help with blood sugar control,” shared Lindsay Malone, a registered dietitian and an instructor for the nutrition department at Case Western Reserve University.
One meta-analysis of scientific studies indicated that silymarin could improve insulin resistance.
Milk thistle is generally considered safe to drink.
“I very rarely see side effects with my clients who use milk thistle,” stated Lyons. “The reported side effects are usually mild, such as nausea or digestive upset.”
However, certain individuals should be more cautious.
For instance, those on long-term medications such as “nitroglycerin, anticoagulants, or antiplatelet drugs may experience an increased risk of bleeding when using milk thistle,” Lyons said.
She added that people taking anti-hypertensive drugs should also be wary — as, when combined with milk thistle, these drugs may cause lowered blood pressure.
Those with liver health concerns are also advised to speak with a doctor. Plus, “liver enzymes should be monitored for significant fluctuations,” stated Nibber.
Malone added that pregnant and breastfeeding people should consult their healthcare provider before taking milk thistle. “While there are studies on these populations, there aren’t many large, long-term studies.”
Just like many other plants, milk thistle can also cause an allergic reaction — with potential symptoms including rashes or redness, sneezing, and watery eyes. These can occur when taken orally or topically.
Such individuals should “consult a healthcare professional to ensure it won’t interfere with their treatment plan or worsen their condition.”


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A liquor store in Edmonton is testing out a new security program to combat a string of thefts over the past 18 months. Under the proposed new security system, customers will have to scan their ID before they can enter the premises according to a recent article in CBC.
Alcanna, Canada’s biggest private retailer of alcohol is launching a pilot project in partnership with Edmonton police. The project will be tested at Ace Liquor, located at 11708 34th St. in northeast Edmonton. Alcanna stated the intent of the project is to deal with “the epidemic of liquor store robberies that has plagued the city,” a problem that has escalated rapidly in the past year and a half.
“In 2019, EPS officers responded to almost 9,600 calls of theft of liquor — about 26 calls per day across the city,” Const. Robin Wilson said in the release. An increase of 200 percent since 2018.
“It’s not just people taking advantage of something that is easy, it’s somebody preying on people as well,” he said.
Dale McFee, Chief of Edmonton police told CBC News that investigators often find that some of the thefts are gang-related and that it presents a huge problem for the city.
“Ultimately, the way we are right now and the amount of officer time and different things that are going on in this space, it’s not working. So it’s time to try a few things.”
The new scan system requires patrons to scan their identification before the door will unlock and allow entry into the store. This practice has already been used by bars and nightclubs in Edmonton for years.
The Alcanna pilot project has been positively received by many including Const. Wilson who commended the company for “taking proactive steps to increase the safety of both their employees and the general public,”
Joe Cook is the vice-president of Alcanna which in addition to Ace Liquor, also owns the Liquor Depot, Wine and Beyond and Nova Cannabis brands. “Just as was done with pre-pay and pay at the pump for gas stations, we are hoping Patronscan creates a safer shopping experience,” said Cook in a news release. “This is not shoplifting,” he said. “It is robbery with real or threatened violence.”
Edmontonians won’t have to worry about their privacy rights as the customer ID information will not be kept in the devices but stored in Patronscan’s data centre with restricted access, according to a press release from Alcanna.


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Honda Compact SUV testing continues , spy shots from the test mules revealed
Recently a new Honda Compact SUV was spotted undergoing tests in India and as per a new report by RushLane, the testing of Honda’s upcoming SUV is continued.
The compact SUV segment already includes some great cars like Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, VW Taigun, MG Astor, and many more. Hence it is assumed that to get noticed among these best-selling SUVs, Honda really needs to provide a good SUV so that it gets noticed by the buyers.
As per the interiors spied from the test mules, it was revealed that this upcoming compact SUV will be based on a tweaked version of the platform used for City Sedan which is expected to measure 4.3 meters long. Also, the overhangs have been reduced to get a longer wheelbase. It is assumed that the SUV could have a wheelbase of around 2700 mm.
Honda’s new compact SUV has a typical boxy profile and the front fascia includes a large grille section and a chunky bumper. It will be equipped with top-mounted headlamps with integrated LED DRLs.
The door panels seem to have mild and smooth cravings along with sporty alloy wheels, blacked-out pillars, and roof nails. While the taillights appear to be borrowed from WR-V SUV which was recently launched in Indonesia. The SUV consists camera on the ORVM probably for ADAS functions or a 360-degree view.
The automobile company is expected to include a panoramic sunroof, multi-zone climate control, connectivity suite, large touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
Initially, the new compact SUV is expected to offer only a petrol engine while the top-spec variants are expected to get a hybrid powertrain based on the same engine. The launch of this upcoming SUV could take place in mid-2023 at an assumed price of around Rs. 10 lakhs.


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It released a brand of Scott Disick Talentless
Brand means for skin care Skin Kylie, Kylie Jenner launched in may this year, has released a line of merchandise, sozdannoy together with mark Scott Disick Talentless. It includes dresses, knitwear brand pink Kylie Skin.
Also Talentless presented a special collection dedicated to the journey of Kylie and her friends to the Turks and Caicos Islands within promproekt #KylieSkinSummerTrip, crop tops, hoodies, dresses, shorts, and sport pants in white and pink tones. To buy all the stuff on the official website of the brand of Disick. Their cost varies from 41 USD per cropped t-shirt up to 124 USD per volumetric a hoodie.
We will remind, on July 22, will start selling a summer collection Kylie Skin. It includes lotion and body scrub with coconut and sunscreen oil high protection SPF 30.


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A list of the 10 wealthiest couples in the world has been created thanks to Wealth-X, a firm that does research and valuations on ultra-high net worth individuals.
The men and women featured on this list include both self-made billionaires and those who inherited their wealth.
These individuals have served multiple roles as innovators, developers, fashion moguls, CEOs, philanthropists, and many more.
From all over the world, here’s a look at the world’s wealthiest couples as compiled by CNN Money.
1. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Melinda Gates
Net worth: $85.7 billion
Bill and Melinda Gates top the list according to the report by Wealth-X. This high-profile couple has donated more than $28 billion to philanthropic causes and support health and education initiatives worldwide through their Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
2. Founder of international fashion chain Zara, Amancio Ortega Gaona and wife Flora Perez Marcote.
Net worth: $70.7 billion
Zara is now part of a wider group of labels which include, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, and bershka; all under the parent company Inditex (IDEXY).
3. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett and wife Astrid Menks
Net worth: $65 billion
Buffet owns huge stakes in companies Coca-Cola (KO), American Express (AXP), IBM (IBM, Tech30) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
4. David Koch and Julia Koch
Net worth: $47.5 billion
Brothers David Koch and Charles Koch made their fortune through Koch Industries, a giant oil and gas corporation which is among the biggest firms in North America. Julia is on the board of directors at the School of American Ballet and the Koch family is among the most influential in American Politics.
5. Charles Koch and Elizabeth Koch
Net worth: $47.4 billion
Charles Koch is involved in a lot of philanthropic along with his brother and has founded various organisations like the Mercatus center at George Mason University.
6. China’s richest man Wang Jianlin and wife Lin Ning
Net worth: $40.7 billion
Wang Jianlin is the owner of AMC Entertainment (AMC), and a range of luxury hotels and among other businesses.
7. Founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos and wife Mackenzie Bezos
Net worth: $39.8 billion
Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Bezos started Amazon together after getting married in the 90s.
8. CEO of LVMH Bernard Arnault and Helene Mercier
Net worth: $38.7 billion
LVMH owns luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Dior, and Benefit Cosmetics among others.
9. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg and Priscilla Chan
Net worth: $38.5 billion
The couple met at Harvard and married in 2012.
10. Youngest son of Wal-Mart founder Jim Walton and wife Lynne Walton
Net worth: $36.2 billion
Son of Samuel Walton, Jim is on the board of directors of Wal-Mart.


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New Delhi: A bumper harvest has led to a crash in turmeric prices in India, the world’s biggest producer and exporter of the bright yellow spice, causing furious farmers to stage protests in key growing regions demanding government help, growers and traders said.
Turmeric, which holds antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been gaining in popularity among health-conscious consumers around the world in recent years.
But it is still predominantly used in a variety of tangy Indian curries, aromatic biryani and other food products. Indians also consider turmeric auspicious and it is smeared onto the faces of both the bride and groom ahead of weddings in a ceremony meant to bring good health.
This year’s bumper crop is the result of a boom in last year’s planting after prices soared in 2018 due to lower output and depleted stocks. Now, prices have slumped nearly 24% since the beginning of 2019 thanks to mounting stocks at wholesale markets.
“Turmeric prices have dived and desperate farmers have hit the streets to highlight their plight,” said Punam Chand Gupta, a trader from Nizamabad, a key market in Telangana. “Prices have been falling since January and farmers are forced to sell at really low prices.”
Turmeric takes nine months to mature so crops planted in June mainly show up for both domestic consumption and exports in January.
Turmeric prices hovered around Rs 85,000 ($1,200) a tonne in December and started sliding in January, when the new season crop started trickling in, farmers and traders said.
“Prices continued to slide through January and February, and have dived now to Rs 65,000 a tonne,” said another farmer in Nizamabad who only goes by one name, Abijith.
“The government should come to our help by either ensuring that turmeric prices go up a little or buy some of our produce at a government-set price,” he said.
Officials at the state-run Spices Board of India were not available for comment.
Millions of Indian farmers are reeling from low farm gate prices and accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of overlooking their plight.
India produces an average 6.5 million bags of 70 kg each of turmeric each year and exports about 1 million bags to countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, the UAE and the US. India accounts for about 80% of global turmeric exports but its overseas sales pale in comparison with its annual consumption of around 6 million bags.
This year’s turmeric production has touched 7 million bags, up from 6 million bags in 2018, farmers and traders said.
The rising production has pushed carryover stockpiles to 4 million bags through this year, they said.
The crash in prices could prompt farmers to switch to other crops. Turmeric competes for acreage with crops such as soybean, pulses and tobacco that take less time to grow.


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Updated hydrogen powered Honda FCX
In December 2002, the city of Los Angeles began leasing the first of five Honda FCXs, which are now used in normal, everyday activities by city officials.
The new car is more refined, is designed as a more universally useful design, larger and has a new stack layout (hydrogen and water flow vertically). Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the U.S.
The previous Honda FCX
In July 2002, Honda's FCX was certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), making it the first and only fuel cell car in history to be approved for commercial use.
Link for the new FCX includes diagrams of the new fuel stack.
Link for the previous version of the FCX


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Jun 18, 2020
Today, guest host Nikki Del Principe is joined by Dave Jevans, CEO of CipherTrace. Dave begins by telling us how he first discovered crypto in 1999 when he got involved in the Cypherpunk movement and how that led him to become a founder of CipherTrace. The goal of CipherTrace is to make cryptocurrencies globally available and safe for everyone, including banks and other financial institutions. CipherTrace provides services to crypto exchanges to ensure that their customers are not using their platforms to launder money or engage in other criminal activities.
CipherTrace recently launched a Central Bank Digital Currency Initiative, and Dave discusses the initiative's prioritization of security, privacy, and compliance. When it comes to mass adoption of digital currencies, Dave emphasizes the need for a contactless solution, such as debit cards, that doesn't require a smart phone with internet connectivity to use. Summarizing the findings from CipherTrace's Spring 2020 Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Report, Dave conveys that the cryptocurrency space is much more safe now than it was in the past. CipherTrace has been participating in regular meetings with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and Dave provides an overview of the FATF's proposed Travel Rule guidelines that may go into effect for cryptocurrency transactions this June.
Dave predicts that this year we will see more large banks supporting cryptocurrency businesses, which is encouraging for mass adoption. He also believes debit and credit cards that allow users to spend cryptocurrencies are on the rise. Finally, Dave debunks the myth that blockchain analytics involves spying on people when the reality is blockchain analytics helps keep the cryptocurrency ecosystem safe.
- What got Dave interested in cryptocurrency
- Overview of CipherTrace's services
- CipherTrace's Central Bank Digital Currency Initiative
- Technical hurdles to crypto implementation and mass adoption
- How COVID-19 has influenced adoption rates
- What has happened in 2020 regarding crypto crime so far
- Ensuring industry compliance with regulations
- The necessity of pushing technology to catch up to compliance standards
- Predictions about adoption and the need for wider consumer accessibility
- Making easier onramps into the crypto space to facilitate adoption
- Blockchain analytics and privacy: why you don’t need to worry
Links to Resources:
CipherTrace website: https://ciphertrace.com/
CipherTrace blog: https://ciphertrace.com/blog/
CipherTrace Spring 2020 Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Report: https://ciphertrace.com/spring-2020-cryptocurrency-anti-money-laundering-report/
TRISA website: https://trisa.io/


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DC Singla outlines plan for ODOP implementation on fast track basis
ANANTNAG, MAY 05: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla today held a detailed deliberation on implementation of One District One Product, FPOs and Kissan Bhagyadari Prathamikta campaign.
During the meeting, discussion was held on progress achieved, matters pertaining to inter departmental coordination and proposal for setting up of 3 new blocks for promotion of new FPOs.
Dr Singla took stock of the operational FPOs in the district. He emphasized that the concerned departments should identify areas for intervention aimed at reducing supply constraints and to focus on marketing and certification to expand the market for the produce. He said the vision behind setting up FPOs is to ensure maximum profit from value added to the produce accrues to the farmer.
Regarding Breng FPO operational in the district, the participants were informed by DDM Nabard that IGSSS is the CBBO for the FPO have completed a baseline survey. He said that 140 farmers have been registered with the FPO and trainings have been imparted to them.
He said that registration of the FPO with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs also stands completed. He said they have successfully broadcasted 300 kgs of potato seed among the farmers. He said that in one year the turnover has been Rs 12 lacs. Regular board meetings are being held and steps to increase membership were discussed.
Chief Agriculture Officer informed the chair that seeds for several exotic vegetables have been distributed and under the Parvaz scheme, modalities are being worked out for exporting the produce to foreign countries.
Dr Singla addressing the meeting said that marketing and certification are key parameters for value addition and maximizing the profits to farmers. He said that higher profitability will in turn attract more farmers. He laid stress on organic certification of the produce. He said the market or certified organic vegetables has high demand and this gap needs to be tapped.
Operational progress of Shahabad Honey Producers FPO was also discussed. DC highlighted that the FPO can leverage the first honey processing plant in Achabal for processing. He said that labelling and marketing of the produce should be prioritised. He also directed the CBBOs to arrange exposure visits to companies so that farmers can understand the nuances of processing and marketing their products.
Dr Singla held a detailed discussion regarding Mushkbudji FPO. He said that the market for Mushkbudji remains under utilized. He said that the farmers can carve a niche market by selling the trademark product online thus eliminating middlemen from the trade. A proposal to setup a processing plant was approved with the DC assuring of fulfilling any gap in funding. He said that the cost saved in transportation and processing will be accrued to the farmer’s further boosting production.
Giving an overview regarding the Fish Trout FPO, representative from the CBBO said a farmer club is being formed in each village in Phalagma, Dachnipora, Khoveripora blocks. Further, marketing of the product has been started and 3 tons of trout are being shipped to Mumbai and Pune for sale.
Dr Singla said that a trout processing unit is being setup in the district. He said that farmer mobilization for Fisheries FPO should be expedited.
Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium was directed to identify blocks and employ CBBOs for 3 upcoming FPOs. DC Singla said that on fast track basis, a detailed baseline survey be conducted in the proposed blocks to identify marketable surplus and an action plan be prepared in consultation with Chief Agriculture Officer.
Deputy Registrar Cooperatives gave a brief overview of 53 cooperative societies functioning in the district. DC Singla directed DDM Nabard to identify such cooperative societies that can be converted to FPOs.
Regarding ODOP Dr Singla directed LDM to ensure hassle free processing of ODOP cases. Further, strict directions were passed that any cases from unrelated markets, if processed, shall be revisited and cases shall be put up for sanction of District Level Committee. He further said that awareness programs should be held so that more people can benefit from the flagship program.
Food Safety Officer was directed to expedite FSSAI license cases of all operational FPOs on priority.
The meeting was attended by ADDC, CPO, CAO, Prog Coordinator KVK, DD Fisheries, DSHO, Dist. Floriculture Officer, Food Safety Officer, Area Marketing Officer, HP&M, representatives from CBBOs implementing FPOs among others.


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As Google+ slowly fades away into obscurity, Google has been working on figuring out new ways for users to share content online. The Mountain View-based company’s latest effort, Spaces, gives users the ability to discuss specific topics in Chrome, YouTube and Search.
Here’s how it works: users create a “space” focused on a particular subject, and they’re then able to invite their friends to discuss it. What makes it interesting is that YouTube, Chrome and Google Search are all built directly into the app, removing the need to frequently switch between Google’s various platforms.
Spaces essentially work very similarly to a standard chat app and will likely be used for tasks like discussing the latest episode of Game of Thrones or joining a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) retro gaming group. The app seems to be very image focused and user interface wise, has a lot in common with Pinterest.
Space’s official website says that the platform is set to launch shortly, though a specific release date is not given. It’s likely that the app is rolling out today across Android, iOS and desktop. Google has been placing a renewed emphasis on chat within its suite of applications lately, having recently launched an in-app YouTube chat services, as well as the ability to comment on Google Photo albums.
“We wanted to build a better group sharing experience, so we made a new app called Spaces that lets people get people together instantly to share around any topic,” said Luke Wroblewski, Spaces’ product director, in a recent blog post.
Spaces is now available on Android. There’s no word yet on when the iOS version will be available.


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RM/Sotheby's auctions at Monterey Week lived up to its billing, with renowned car collector Greg Whitten’s fabled 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3413, the star of Saturday night’s auction. The car, Lot 247, fetched a hammer price of $44 million in just 12 minutes of vivacious bidding in a room absolutely buzzing with excitement. With the buyer's premium, the total price comes to $48.4 million. The winning bid was placed via an agent, with the new owner not yet known at press time. The extremely rare Ferrari was widely considered to be the most valuable vehicle to ever come to auction as detailed here.
“I’m very happy,” says seller Greg Whitten, clinking champagne surrounded by his wife and close friends.
The market for Ferrari 250 GTOs continues to grow, selling for eye-popping figures. Just this past June, German race car driver Christian Glaesel sold his 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4153, for somewhere between $70 million and $80 million in a private sale to WeatherTech floor mats founder David MacNeil. In 2014, chassis 3851 sold for $38.1 million at auction, at that time the most expensive car ever auctioned. Another rumored private sale by American collector Paul Pappalardo in 2013 estimates his 250 GTO sold for around $52 million.
Ferrari historian and expert Marcel Massini recently told CNBC he expects a similar car to the $70-million plus chassis 4153 will sell for over $100 million in the next two to three years. Current 250 GTO owners include Ralph Lauren; Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason; Peter Sachs, grandson of Goldman Sachs founder Samuel Sachs; and Jon Shirley, of Microsoft. Three currently own two 250 GTOs, including hedge fund founders Tony and Lulu Wang, (unrelated to U.K.-based owner Brandon Wang), Rob Walton of Wal-Mart, and British businessman Sir Anthony Bamford, who for a brief time once owned the chassis which just sold. Should any of them decide to sell, and with Whitten’s car setting a new high mark, that $100 million dollar mark inches ever closer.
The success of the RM/Sotheby's auction bucks a vintage car market that has cooled since 2013, when aggressive investors crowded the field, seeking post-recession deals. According to José Luis Celada, a Buenos Aries vintage car collector interviewed by the New York Times here, the opportunists are less active, leaving the market once again to specialists, which also means few buyers. But vintage Ferraris continue to rank amongst the most preferred, especially those in pristine, and preferably running, condition.


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At around 12 pm today, Micromax started the pre booking process of it latest flagship Canvas 4, which the company will be launching on July 8.
Most of the device makers usually start pre-booking process before the official launch to create hype or get a sense on interest among users about their soon to be launched offering. But, that’s where the similarity ends between Micromax and other players.
Micromax has done what no other player including Apple, Samsung or HTC has done till date – they have the started the pre-booking process of Micromax Canvas 4, for an amount of Rs 5,000, without revealing the specification of the smartphone. They have also not revealed the price but that is a normal practice.
Only time will tell whether it is a daring or a dumb move on the part of Micromax. If the specification and the performance of Micromax Canvas 4 don’t impress the consumers after its official launch, it may lead to a negative publicity about the company. Comments like, “Micromax has become overconfident and wanted to take consumers for a ride,â€ could become the talk of the town. It could become one of the dumbest selling strategies adopted by a handset player.
On the other hand, if consumers give Micromax Canvas 4 thumbs up, it would be termed as the most daring move by any handset player across the globe. Comments like “Micromax understands the pulse of a mobile consumer in India and was quite confident of what it is doing,” will be shared and discussed in social media.
Also, if rumours and sources are to be believed Micromax Canvas 4 may be priced at around Rs 18,000 and in that price bracket it will be competing against handsets like LG Optimus Vu, Samsung Win, Sony Xperia P, HTC Desire SV, Sony Xperia SL, and Xolo X1000.
Now it’s upto the customers whether they would like to go for pre-booking or not as they have nothing to lose because if you don’t like the smartphone Micromax will refund the booking amount after the official launch.


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Published 5:30 am, Thursday, November 4, 2004
ELinear purchases security companyHouston-based eLinear said Wednesday it has acquired all the stock of TanSeco Systems , a RadioShack subsidiary in Fort Worth that installs and monitors security systems.
ELinear, which provides computer security, communications and compliance solutions, said it is moving TanSeco's 30 employees to new facilities in Fort Worth.
As part of the transaction, TanSeco has entered into a three-year contract to provide security services to more than 5,000 of RadioShack's retail stores and other locations.
Brian Stanton, director of investor relations for eLinear, declined to disclose the deal's value.
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Chrysler sales up; GM, Ford drop offDETROIT - General Motors and Ford said U.S. sales fell in October as the two largest U.S. automakers reduced incentives. Sales rose at DaimlerChrysler 's Chrysler, helped by new models.
Securities industry gains amid doubtsThe U.S. securities industry is poised to earn $18.9 billion in 2004, the fourth-best year ever, after setting aside about $15 billion over the past two years to pay for defrauding investors and other violations that cut public trust in Wall Street to the lowest in almost a decade.
About 500 financial executives gathered this week at the annual Securities Industry Association conference in Boca Raton, Fla., under the banner "Commitment to Clarity."
The last surveys of investors by the group found about 55 percent had a favorable opinion of the industry in 2002 and 2003, down from about 62 percent in the prior five years.


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The Baby Bunting Group (ASX:BBN) will keep it’s metropolitan Melbourne stores open to support new and expectant parents during stage 4 restrictions in Victoria.
Covid safe work practices will continue to be applied, including encouraging customers to shop online or use our contactless click and collect service.
Categories of retail businesses allowed to remain open for on-site work include retailers of maternity supplies.
Baby Bunting’s Distribution Centre and online operations, based at Dandenong South in Melbourne, will continue to operate.
CEO and Managing Director Matt Spencer said, “With over 9,000 new babies due in Victoria during the lockdown period, new and expectant parents face many critical and specialised needs and our Melbourne stores remain open to provide the essential products and services for them.
Shares in Baby Bunting Group (ASX:BBN) are trading 2.31 per cent higher at $3.55.


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In letters to these organizations, the FTC says that "at least one computer file containing sensitive personal information from or about your customers and/or employees has been shared from your computer network, or the network of one of your service providers, to a peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) network."
Failure to prevent this information from being shared may represent a violation of one or more laws that the FTC enforces, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act.
The FTC however has not filed any lawsuits related to these breaches.
FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a statement that companies of all sizes are vulnerable to P2P-related breaches. He said that the FTC found information that could be used to commit identity theft, including health information, financial data, drivers' license numbers and social security numbers.
"Companies should take a hard look at their systems to ensure that there are no unauthorized P2P file-sharing programs and that authorized programs are properly configured and secure," Leibowitz said. "Just as important, companies that distribute P2P programs, for their part, should ensure that their software design does not contribute to inadvertent file sharing."
Despite recent calls by some security experts for greater openness about security breaches, the FTC did not name the entities that received letters. The agency did note that affected organizations ranged in size from eight employees to over 10,000.
The FTC said it is advising organizations that receive letters to identify affected employees and customers and to consider notifying them. States and federal agencies each may have different notification requirements in circumstances like this.


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LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Update–April 12, 2013
Analysts See Steady Credit Card Use, Despite Fears of Consumer Cutbacks
Analysts expect upcoming earnings from American Express, Visa and other large credit card companies to show that shoppers continued to swipe their credit cards at a healthy clip in the most recent quarter. Outstanding loans have not grown because many consumers are paying their bills off each month instead of carrying a balance. The change in behavior has eaten into the fee income that lenders generate by charging interest. Story by Andrew Johnson for the Wall Street Journal.
MasterCard Launches Digital Wallet Service in Canada
MasterCard announced the launch of its MasterPass digital wallet in Canada. It will be launched in the U.S. later in the spring. MasterPass is enabled to make purchases at the point of sale, online or on the phone and supports the use of NFC and QR codes. For online purchases, MasterPass eliminates the need to enter detailed shipping and card information with every purchase–that information is entered once and subsequent orders can be made via a streamlined checkout process. Story by Bryan Yurcan for Banktech.
EU Launches Probe Into MasterCard
The European Union has opened an antitrust investigation into MasterCard following concerns over some of the credit card company’s interbank fees. Regulators are looking at MasterCard’s restrictions on merchants having transactions processed by banks outside their home country in efforts to save on fees. The commission is also investigating into MasterCard’s honor-all-cards rule, which requires a merchant to accept all of the company’s cards. Both premium and commercial cards have higher interchange fees than standard cards. Story by Vanessa Mock and Frances Roberson for the Wall Street Journal.
Retail Trade Group to Opt Out of $7.2 Billion Credit Card Fee Pact
The Retail Industry Leaders Association said it will reject a proposed $7.2 billion settlement with credit card giants Visa and MasterCard over card fees, calling it a “bad deal” for nearly eight million U.S. merchants. The association said it intends to “make a statement” by opting out of the settlement just as lead lawyers for the plaintiffs and credit card companies are preparing to file papers seeking final approval from a federal judge in Brooklyn. The credit card companies believe they have a judge’s backing in the settlement, but a high number of opt-outs could imperil the hard-fought pact. Story by Andrew Johnson for the Wall Street Journal.
AMEX Website Victim of Islamic Attackers
A group of Islamic internet hackers launched a distributed denial of service attack on the American Express website, temporarily shutting down the site for a few hours. In a DDOS attack, site visitors are infected with a Trojan virus that redirects them to a site of the creator’s choice. Once a certain number of people visit that target site, the original site shuts down. American Express’s security team quickly corrected the problem. Nevertheless,it shows how vulnerable American business is right now to Internet hackers. Story by John Oldshue for LowCards.com.
Bieber Backs a Debit Card for Teenagers, From Parents
Justin Bieber earned $55 million in 2012, according to Forbes, but in new videos for the SpendSmart Payments Company, which offers a prepaid debit card for teenagers, the singer talks about his modest upbringing. Mr. Bieber also urges viewers to “have a talk with your family about money.” Subsequent videos also will feature Mr. Bieber discussing financial literacy and encouraging teenagers to share their videos. Mr. Bieber is being paid $3.75 million for a 14-month contract, along with potential monthly royalties tied to the growth of active SpendSmart cards, according to documents the company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Story by Andrew Adam Newman for the New York Times.
Apple e-Wallet Will Get a Jump Start with iTunes
Analysts believe Apple will be launching an e-wallet in the next few years, with some rumors suggesting it is less than a year away from arrival. This program will allow users to save credit card information into their phone accounts and use their phones at store registers. Millions of iPhone users already have their credit card information stored on file, which will allow them to easily transition to the e-wallet software. For iTunes as a whole, there are already half a billion accounts with credit cards tied to them. Story by Lynn Oldshue for LowCards.com.
My Search for Reasonable and Understandable Credit Card Processing
The hottest debate in one of America’s largest newspapers today deals with credit card processing fees. What started out as a simple blog about the search for credit card processing, quickly turned into a national period of reevaluation of options for countless small business owners. Here is the first of his three-part series. Story by Paul Downs for the New York Times.
LowCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report
Based on the 1000+ cards in the LowCards.com Complete Credit Card Index, the average advertised APR for credit cards is 14.28 percent, slightly below last week’s average of 14.29 percent. Six months ago, the average was 14.29 percent. One year ago, the average was 14.33 percent.


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It would appear that the camera on the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones will be a major selling point for Samsung.
According to a recent report by Sammobile, the Samsung Galaxy S6 camera will be a 20 megapixel camera that Samsung has developed in house.
This ties in with the previous rumors we have heard about the camera, and it will be capable of taking photos in a 20MP (5952×3348), 15MP (4464×3348), 11MP (3344×3344), 8MP (3264×2448), 6MP (3264×1836) and 2.4MP (2048×1152) resolution.
The camera on the Samsung Galaxy S6 is said to come with a Pro mode, and Samsung is apparently using the API’s that launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The front facing camera will apparently be the same camera found in Samsung’s Galaxy A series and it will feature 5 megapixels.
Samsung will also make a number of changes to their camera software for the Galaxy S6, which will apparently include a new design for the gallery app.
Samsung are holding their Samsung Unpacked 2015 press event on Sunday the 1st of March at Mobile World Congress.
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Like a big-screen scab it just can’t stop picking at, LG continues to trickle out details about its upcoming CES 2013 smart TV range, including updated sharing, on-demand, 3D, and eco features. Having already told us about its Google TV line-up for next year, as well as some details on the high-end panels screen-centric subsidiary LG Display is particularly proud of, LG is now focused on streamlining the smart TV UI, with the new Smart Control interface paired with SmartShare with an NFC twist.
SmartShare already supported WiDi and Miracast, among other options, but LG’s new addition for 2013 is NFC compatibility. A sticker on the CINEMA 3D Smart TVs themselves will – when you hold your NFC-equipped phone or tablet nearby – automatically pair them and set up a streaming connection by whatever method is supported on both. There’s also streaming from LG Cloud, the online storage service announced earlier this year.
The new UI – which will work alongside the updated Magic Remote complete with Siri-style natural speech recognition – also includes a new recommendation engine, which LG calls One Now. That combines suggestions from live and on-demand sources in a single place, with thumbnail previews.
As for hardware, select models get faster processors and graphics – up to a 120-percent bump in CPU speed, and up to 300-percent more from the GPU – while bezels are slimmer and a new stand (which reminds us a little of Samsung’s ES8000) has been introduced. LG will be showing off OLED and Ultra HD models, among others; we’ll have all the news from CES 2013 next week.


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Nutrition specialists are skeptical whether Mars Inc.’s announcement to exclusively produce candy bars with 250 calories or less will provide any health benefits to consumers.
The company is well-known for its popular candy products including M&M’s, Snickers and Twix. Many of these candy varieties currently contain between 230 and 280 calories, according to their individual nutrition facts. The initiative to lower calorie content by 2013 is part of the company’s involvement in the Partnership for a Healthier America, a non-partisan and non-profit government program chaired by First Lady Michelle Obama, according to the Mars Health & Nutrition website.
Shelby Lecamus, marketing junior and treasurer for the Nutrition and Wellness Association, said the change isn’t significant enough to be positive.
“I guess it’s a good thing they’re trying to recognize that their candy has too many calories, but when you’re going for a candy bar you don’t really care about that,” Lecamus said.
Lecamus said Mars’ attempt to advertise the reduced-calorie candy as healthier than their current line is not actually beneficial to the customers’ health.
“It seems like they’re trying to make a switch into making candy a more daily choice which I don’t necessarily think is a good thing,” Lecamus said. “Overall there won’t be much change because it’s still a candy bar, and even if there are fewer calories there is still a lot of sugar and fat.”
Even reducing calories to 250 per candy bar will not be beneficial, said nutrition lecturer Jane Tillman. The company’s shift won’t do anything to change the candy itself, she said.
“They won’t be any healthier,” Tillman said. “They will just have a smaller package. 250 calories is a lot, and many people cannot afford this number of discretionary calories per day.”
Darla Stewart, Division of Housing and Food Service purchasing manager, said the change will not affect the way candy is sold at on-campus establishments despite the University’s attempts to promote healthier food.
“I’m sure we would continue to sell the candy we are currently selling, most of which are Mars,” Stewart said. “We tend to follow the trends. We basically seek to sell items that our customers want as well as what we feel would be best for them. We would continue to offer those items even as we are continuing to seek new and healthier options within our operation.”
Printed on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 as: Mars Inc. to produce only low calorie candy bars


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This year’s the 40th anniversary of the most successful sci-fi franchise in Hollywood, Star Wars. In celebration of their Ruby Anniversary, Stern Pinball has announced that it is developing a new Star Wars pinball machine. The new pinball machine franchises the Star Wars: New Hope, which follows the most recent franchise by Williams, the Star [...]
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In a recent feature in BBC Magazine, a Canadian pinball player said that autism has helped him become a Pinball Champion. Robert Gagno is a Canadian born winner of 2016’s Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) World Pinball Championship in Pennsylvania. Now aged 27, his mother first suspected that he has autism when he was [...]
The world records abound with a whole lot of outrageous and unbelievable feats from shocking human body features to incredible achievements in sports and amusement. And yes, even in Pinball history there are many world records set by avid players and fans. Take a peek of the amazing feats that went down in pinball game [...]
In the latest newsletter of Stern Pinball, they announced the much-awaited home release of Ghostbusters Pinball game. The licensed pinball game will be hitting the game stores as it is already in its “final stages of development.” Robert Workman of WWG forecasts that the game will be released during the summer and figure the price [...]
The PAPA 20 World Pinball Championship 20 saw a world record this April when a 13 year-old from Colorado became the youngest Pinball World Champion in history. Meet Escher Lefkoff, the 13 year-old pinball prodigy who won the Division A of Professional & Amateur Pinball Association’s world championship. Escher Lefkoff: The 13 Year-Old Pinball Champ [...]
In this age of mobile apps, you can certainly experience the thrill and excitement of playing Pinball game from your smartphone which only Pinball machines can offer before. While there is a resurgence of interest in this classic arcade game and many pubs are installing both new & classic pinball machines, now you can certainly [...]
Prepare your quarters this year as the master of shock rock is coming out to be featured in a Pinball game, “Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle”. Spooky Pinball is set to release its latest addition to the roster of rock-inspired pinball following the release of a pinball game featuring Rob Zombies’ “Spookshow International”. Although the company [...]
Chicago was once the home to the biggest Pinball machine manufacturers in the world. The Big 4 namely, Gottlieb, Williams, Bally and Stern were all headquartered in Chicago during the heydays of Pinball in the 70s up to 90s. But what once was the home to the four big names in Pinball now houses 1 [...]
With the recent resurgence of Pinball in video game consoles and smartphones, surely it suggests that the game is gaining wide traction in the gaming community. While these games are fun to play, nothing beats the original tactile--the physical Pinball machine. You can find them at your favourite pub or bar, but did you know [...]
If Hollywood Stars have the walk of fame, kid’s toys do also have an award giving body to recognise the best, the classic and the phenomenal. The Strong National Museum of play yearly inducts toys for its National Toy Hall of Fame. It started in 1998 when they inducted toys like Barbie, Monopoly and Crayons, [...]


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Properties for sale have slipped to just 8,429, down from 14,092 at the same time last year.
The long term equilibrium for Perth is around 12,000 while the lowest number of listings recorded by REIWA was 4,793 in June of 2006.
Agents are reporting an increasing shortage of properties in popular price ranges especially around the median of $500,000. REIWA data suggests that listing stock is trending downwards on the back of strong sales turnover and these properties are not being replaced with enough new listings to meet demand.
Now that the market appears to have turned in favour of sellers, many may be holding back with the expectation of a better price in the months ahead. Until more sellers list their properties and until we get more new homes onto the market from builders, then competition from buyers will put pressure on prices.
While the upturn in the market with both sales and price was encouraging after three years of sluggish sales it is important to ensure a sustainable market for buyer access and consumer confidence.
Perth’s population is growing at around 1,000 people every week and the market is turning over around 1,000 properties every week. As our population continues to grow on the back of the state’s healthy economy there will be ongoing pressure with the housing system.
We are not heading into a boom by any means. The market is reacting to pent-up demand so it’s probably a good time for hesitant sellers to take advantage of a market full of keen buyers and with sales happening quickly for correctly priced property.
The buoyancy in the market has prompted a lot of renewed interest in auctions.
When listings get tight and demand is strong an auction is probably the best way for a seller to get a cash sale at auction under the hammer. It also means that buyers will need to get finance pre-approved and set a bid-limit so they can compete to buy a popular property.
By David Airey
Read More http://reiwaviews.com.au/2013/03/fall-in-housing-stock-pushing-up-prices/


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It was in 2019 that the Globe & Mail published its inaugural Report on Business ranking of Canada’s fastest growing companies.
Since then, Techcouver has reported on regional data pulled from the annual report, observing how Vancouver tech fares on the national stage.
The fifth ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies, which scores participating private and public Canadian businesses based on three-year revenue growth, shows that in 2023, Vancouver tech is strong as ever.
With dozens of BC-based companies listed—including 36 in Vancouver and five in Victoria—signs of growth are strong and the presence of tech is potent.
For example, West Vancouver-based digital healthcare platform Thrive Health was among the province’s top performers, ranking 21st nationwide in its first appearance on the list with three-year revenue growth of more than 1,800%.
An innovator for e-commerce logistics, UniUni, came out as the province’s fastest-growing firm.
With three-year revenues rising nearly 13,000%, the Richmond-born upstart ranked 4th nationwide. The delivery tech platform this year raised $20 million in Series B financing from Celtic House Venture Partners, Freshwave Capital, and others to power its logistics platform that leverages the gig economy to optimize what the industry refers to as “last-mile delivery.”
Just ahead of UniUni ranks Surrey-based transportation management firm Westcore Logistics—which grew revenue 14,000% with a workforce of just 23.
Overall, the rankings reflect a region that has the fastest-growing technology workforce in Canada.
BC’s Western Canadian neighbour, Alberta, also posted a strong tech-forward showing.


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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an approval process that includes a public comment period for new tech. Farmers may have heard that on April 1, the agency opened the public comment period for in-crop use of dicamba on Monsanto's newest technologies - Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans.
The two crop technologies have been available for farmers to plant - cotton in 2015, and soybeans for 2016 - but neither crop can make use of one key advancement: the ability to apply dicamba over the top for enhanced weed control. The cotton launch was a limited commercial release, but for 2016 it's a full commercial launch. For soybeans, Monsanto announced its commercialization plans in February and the company's Asgrow, Channel and regional brands along with Corn States licensees, expect to introduce more than 70 soybeans products across eight maturity groups with agronomic traits including resistance to nematodes and phytophthora root rot.
The technology has been broadly licensed to more than 100 seed brands too.
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association urges caution
As the public comment period goes on for in-crop use of dicamba, one group - the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association - has issued a release cautioning the state's farmers against planting the crop. The association notes that no dicamba herbicide product is currently labeled for application on soybeans in Minnesota, which if done would be illegal, the group says.
The group acknowledges the 30-day comment period on the move to allow in-crop use of dicamba, but ads that the label mostly likely be released by EPA sometime in the fall "far too late to utilize this form of dicamba for weed control in this growing season," the group says.
Adds Paul Freeman, president, MSGA: "MSGA fully supports these products from Monsanto and Pioneer. The addition of this emergent technology to the toolbox will undoubtedly help farmers one day. At this time, however, there is no chemical application for dicamba for these traits, and there is no trait approval for these soybeans in Europe."
No dicamba can be sprayed over the top
Right now it is a violation of federal and state law to make an in-crop application of any dicamba herbicide product on Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans or Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton so no dicamba product is currently approved for those uses.
Kim Magin, Monsanto's director of industry affairs, notes in a media release: "Stakeholder comments will really make a difference. Supportive letters are important for regulators to understand the various perspective from farmers and agricultural stakeholders."
Dicamba has been available for decades and is used in the U.S. and 25 other countries, wheat, fallow and pasture land, conservation tillage acres, as well as homeowner uses. Following final approvals, farmers will be able to use dicamba in-crop with soybean tolerant to dicamba and glyphosate and with cotton tolerant to dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate.
According to Monsanto, in December 2014 USDA concluded its assessment of the technology in cotton and soybeans and authorized those crops for unrestricted commercial planting. Before reaching that decision, the agency considered nearly 5,000 comments submitted by farmers, academic an scientific experts and other key stakeholders.
Europe an issue
The second issue from MSGA: the product is not officially approved in Europe is another concern for MSGA, which points out that the EU has not authorized import of the new tech. The organization says Monsanto representatives have state the EU has verbally acknowledged authorization, "yet written formal authorization has not been obtained."
Freeman adds that several farmers are saying their elevators and processors have said they will not accept dicamba-tolerant soybeans. "While these traits are for sale in Minnesota, growers of the dicamba-tolerant soybeans may have nowhere to sell these beans come fall. We encourage any farmer considering planting these traits in 2016 to fully consider the risks involved."
EPA is now accepting public comments for in-crop use of dicamba. Monsanto offers an online tool to aid stakeholders in writing and submitting a comment. Learn more at RoundupReadyPLUS.com/supportdicamba.
For more information on Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System visit RoundupReadyXtend.com.
Source: Monsanto, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association


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Naughty Dog has confirmed that their remastered version of The Last of Us on the PlayStation 4 will run at 60fps.
"Played some #TLOU at 60 fps tonight for the first time (60fps cutscenes and all). Transformitive [sic]. I'm a believer. Don't think I can go back," designer Kurt Margenau tweeted.
He's not the only TLOU developer to fanboy out about the change. Co-director Bruce Staley also tweeted, "I had a dream in 60fps last night. #TLOUremastered." Creative director Neil Druckmann replied, "What if I told you that was no dream? #believe."
It's a little cheesy, but hey, they're excited about their remastered product that includes higher resolution character models, improved shading, and improved lighting. The remastered edition will release on July 29th.
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ISLE PONI LO
Run Wild With the Ponies
In her first luxury swimwear collection ever designed, Ashley Morgan Foster knew she wanted it to be as ecologically viable as possible.
So she is producing all her swimwear in Los Angeles, using fabrics from a green mill in Italy, and even has recycled-paper hangtags embedded with wildflower seeds to be sewn in your garden. “I wanted it to be eco-friendly and fair trade,” said Foster, whose company is based near the ocean in Redondo Beach, Calif.
The public got its first glimpse of the Isle Poni Lo label in July. What they saw were 12 looks from the “Braids of Paradise” collection, which has reversible mix-and-match separates incorporating three Australian artisan prints: Hanalei dragon, abstract orchid and botanical garden. Long braided rainbow ties are a key element in the looks. The fabric is 80 percent polyamide nylon and 20 percent elastane.
There are nine basic styles, which include triangle tops, halter tops, a monokini that is longer for taller torsos, a few skimpy bottoms, a low-rise boardshort and a high-rise bottom.
For several years, Foster lived in Hawaii and then moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled at The Art Institute of Hollywood (formerly called California Design College), where two years ago got her bachelor’s degree in fashion marketing and management. “After 2012, I started working on the swimwear idea,” she said. “I put the business plan together. Everything was centered around an eco-friendly, luxury collection that had the island lifestyle with fashion mixed in.”
Currently, the swimwear collection is being sold online. Wholesale prices range from $38 to $65.
For more information about the Isle Poni Lo collection, visit www.isleponiloswimwear.com.


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"The jury is out in terms of how bad this could be for enterprises," said Andrew Jaquith, a senior analyst at Forrester Research. "At the moment, I don't perceive a lot of risk. The kinds of things [rogue apps] can do include rooting through your address book and looking through your music collection. This is, frankly, not that big of a deal. We are going to have to see some demonstration of real harm before enterprises will really have to get worked up about this."
Update 2 MINUTES ON... Meanwhile, not everyone believes mobile apps pose a signiﬁcant threat right now. The mobile application risk “The jury is out in terms of how bad this could be for enterprises,” said Andrew T he mobile application vest user data. Most recently, For enterprises and devel- Jaquith, a senior analyst at landscape is ﬂourish- Citigroup learned that its opers, awareness of the prob- Forrester Research. “At the ing. Currently, the iPhone mobile banking appli- lem is important, says Hering. moment, I don’t perceive average smartphone user has cation, unbeknownst to users, Developers must ensure their a lot of risk. The kinds of 22 apps installed and by 2012 saved conﬁdential account app is providing the appro- things [rogue apps] can do some 50 billion apps will information in a hidden ﬁle priate level of privacy and include rooting through your be downloaded each year, on the devices. security. Enterprises need address book and looking according to mobile security “In a world where mobile to educate end-users to pay through your music collec- company Lookout, citing app development is explod- attention to app ratings and tion. This is, frankly, not that statistics from Nielsen and ing so quickly, even apps you what apps have access to. A big of a deal. We are going Chetan Sharma Consulting. think you can trust may be simple game probably does to have to see some demon- But this growth has many leaking sensitive informa- not need to access a user’s stration of real harm before questioning the privacy and tion,” Hering said. phone book, for example. enterprises will really have to security risks of mobile apps. According to Lookout’s get worked up about this.” “We are starting to see App Genome Project, 14 per- Jaquith says organizations greater interest from mali- cious parties in the mobile platform. and one of the big- cent of free apps for Apple’s iPhone can access a user’s contact data. 33% of free iPhone apps
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Dr. Oz weighs in on Katy Perry's 'Vogue' diet
For her July cover of "Vogue," Katy Perry said she didn't want to be Photoshopped -- so instead, she went on a rigorous diet, which included one curious ingredient which, Dr. Oz says, really does work.
Perry, who said she wanted to be "glowing" for the photoshoot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, credits her weight loss in part to green coffee bean extract, a supplement that Demi Moore has also famously used to shed pounds. And, according to Dr. Oz, there have been studies that show the supplement's effectiveness.
In studies, says Dr. Oz, control groups who kept food diaries and changed nothing about their diet except adding the extract, which has relatively little caffeine, doubled weight loss -- from one pound per week to two.
"The group that eats well with the green coffee bean extract lost an extra pound per week more," Oz noted on the Kent and Alan show, "which doesn't sound like a lot, but again, you're not doing anything else."
"Eating well" is the key, however. Green coffee extract won't do the work for you, says Oz, but it can speed weight loss "assuming you're eating intelligently."
Of course, Perry did more than just take green coffee beans -- she also told Jay Leno that she stopped drinking alcohol for three months, and that she "kind of went on a cleanse."


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Lanka to block mobile phones illegally imported
A new system to block illegally imported mobile phones will be introduced by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), The Island newspaper reported.
All imported mobile phones should be registered with the TRC, said TRC Director General Anusha Pelpita on Tuesday (16) to The Island adding that they were required to meet certain safety regulations.
“The commission will give a certain time period for registration. Those who fail to follow the TRC’s rules will face permanent disabling of their phones by blocking the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers from the networks as the TRC possessed all the IMEI numbers of phones imported into the country,” said Pelpita.
He explained that disrupting the mobile phone business was not the aim of the TRC but to regulate it to maintain high standards and protect customers.
An estimated eight million of the 15 million phones currently used in the country had been illegally imported, stressed Pelpita and said thereby depriving the Government of taxes.
Around 15 per cent tax on each phone had to be paid by the genuine mobile phone importers and according to him many traders avoid purchasing the TRC’s annual permit of Rs10,000/- to sell mobile phones.
In future, consumers of mobile phones would be able to verify whether the equipment they purchased had been duly registered or not, by using an SMS facility, Pelpita added.
Lankan nabbed at Delhi airport with fake documents
Police bust massive e-commerce scam involving NGOs
Extortion gang led by cop’s son
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


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BYD — it stands for "Build Your Dreams" — built a future in Downtown L.A., home to its North American HQ. Unfortunately, it's enduring something of a nightmare with its business at home in China, even with billionaire Warren Buffett invested.
BYD is a Chinese company that has one big thing going for it: It counts Warren Buffett as an investor. But beyond that, the carmaker/batterymaker/solar manufacturer has been enduring a rough ride. It's seen a massive decline in earnings this year, while Buffett has seen his 10 percent stake, purchased in 2008, fall to substantially less than its 2010 peak value of $1.2 billion. BYD (it stands for "Build Your Dreams") executives have been heading for the exits.
There are some complex, interpersonal, inside-Berkshire Hathaway questions about how Buffett and his longtime partner, Charles Munger, came to be involved with BYD. But there's no question about how Los Angeles came to be home to BYD's North American headquarters, opened Downtown about a year ago, in a corridor that's jammed with auto dealerships.
Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Tesla
Tesla's recently revealed Model X crossover electric vehicle. The company has just announced a new sale of shares to raise money — and avoid payment problems with a Department of Energy loan.
Tesla Motors, the startup electric carmaker whose CEO, Elon Musk, also runs private space-exploration firm SpaceX, is having another one of its periodic financial near-heart attacks. The latest news is that the company, which staged a $226-million IPO in 2010, wants to sell additional stock. A second offering of 6.9 million shares would bring in close to $150 million. [UPDATE: As a commenter notes, the offering was rather less than 40 million shares. Don't know where I got that... Also, this is Tesla's second secondary offering. So really, it's the third offering, including the IPO.]
Why? Yet another cash crunch for the company, which was pretty close to checking out in 2008, before Musk managed to find additional funding and do a deal with Daimler. The critical issue this time around involves the Department of Energy and it controversial loan program for greentech companies. Who can forget Solyndra? But electric cars are also a substantial part of the program, with both Tesla and Fisker Automotive — the two biggest names in alt.transportation — winning loans.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Update: I spent a some time talking about the show with Larry Mantle on Airtalk this morning, with Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver and Ed Hellwig of Edmunds Inside Line. Check it out.
I'll be roaming the floor of the Los Angeles Auto Show for the next two days, checking out new cars, green cars, concept cars, and the business of cars in Southern California. I'll also be tweeting, so if you want to follow me, check out my Twitter feeds, below.
Look for photos, insights, and even some video. The LA Auto Show is the first big car show for the global industry, kicking off a season that runs for months and travels around the world.
The industry has taken its share of lumps over the past few years. The financial crisis nearly killed both Chrysler and General Motors — and seriously threatned Ford — but the Big Three are back, racking up profits quarter after quarter.
BYD — it stands for "Build Your Dreams" — is building a future in Downtown LA, new home to its North American HQ. Unfortunately, it's enduring something of a nightmare with its business at home in China, even with billionaire Warren Buffett invested.
In business, timing is everything. So what to make of a dignitary heavy ribbon cutting this morning at the new North American headquarters of Chinese carmaker BYD ("Build Your Dreams"), at a time when the company is facing business challenges at home — and challenges to deliver on ecomomic promises in LA?
BYD America opened today about a year behind schedule with fewer workers than first targeted. The company, partly owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has delayed plans to sell electric cars to retail buyers, citing limited availability of public chargers. Instead, it's focusing on solar panels, batteries, LED lighting and rechargeable buses.
Initial goals for the Shenzhen, China-based company's California arrival haven't been met either in BYD jobs or indirect business created. The delays reflect a combination of construction obstacles and an electric-car market that hasn't developed as rapidly as first expected.
In April 2010 when the deal was announced, BYD said it would open the office by the end of 2010, and have 150 employees by the end of this year. It now has 20 employees in Los Angeles, with plans to reach 30 by year-end and 100 by the end of 2012, according to Micheal Austin, the company's U.S. vice president.
Jeff Fusco/Getty Images
WILMINGTON, DE - OCTOBER 27: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the former GM Boxwood Plant on October 27, 2009 in Wilmington, Delaware. Fisker Automotive announced that the company is buying the plant to produce affordable plug-in hybrid automobiles. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Biden
The Department of Energy's $535 loan gurantee to bankrupt solar startup Solyndra has become the Obama Administration's first quasi-scandal, with critics insisting that the government shouldn't be funding risky green-energy companies and supporters (myself included) arguing that the government is the only investor that can handle the risk. But now the bickering has spread beyond solar to the go-go world of electric vehicles — just as "Revenge of the Electric Car," the sequel to "Who Killed the Electric Car," is hitting theaters.
ABCNews and the Center for Public Integrity have teamed up to investigate DOE loans guarantees, focusing on two marquee EV companies, Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive, which together have received about a billion in government-backed financing. The takeaway isn't pretty:


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Here are five key points:
1. Xtant reported Mr. Goldberger resigned as CEO and a director of the company and its subsidiaries to pursue other interests.
2. Xtant's President Carl O'Connell will take on the interim CEO position as the company's board decides on a permanent CEO.
3. Mr. O'Connell has been with the company since October 2016.
4. Prior to joining Xtant, Mr. O'Connell held leadership roles at Memphis, Tenn.-based Wright Medical Group and Fairfield, Conn.-based Calmare Therapeutics, among others.
5. Kent Swanson, board of directors' chairman, commented, "Under Dan's leadership, the company has made significant progress toward our strategic goal."
More articles on devices:
Why 2017 is a big year for minimally invasive spine surgery: Q&A with Paradigm Spine Chairman & CEO Marc Viscogliosi
Global orthopedic devices market to grow at 5% CAGR through 2022 — 3 observations
Zimmer Biomet, Implanet, Spinal Elements & more: 8 device company key notes


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Motorola has just peeled the lid off of its smartwatch project, the Moto 360. While rumors of Motorola’s smartwatch have been few and far between lately, one thing is for sure; Motorola’s smartwatch takes the design of wearable devices to a whole new level. The Moto 360 will be powered by Google’s recently announced wearable platform, Google Wear. Google Wear is an Android-centric platform with a heavy use of Google notifications and voice commands, as well as other Google Now features.
While we still don’t know a lot about the Moto 360, Motorola has just announced a live Hangout with Jim Wicks the lead designer on the Moto 360 project. That Hangout will take place tomorrow, March 19th at 11:00AM PDT. You can sign up for the event by heading here.
The Moto 360 will respond to voice commands, akin to the Moto X. Users can simply say “OK Google” to get the smartwatch’s attention, and then query the wearable device. Pretty neat, and something we’ve yet to see on a smartwatch.
The Moto 360 will be available in a variety of styles beginning in Summer 2014, and will roll out worldwide.
Check out the video below to see the Moto 360 in action, and be sure to attend the live Hangout tomorrow for more information on what’s looking to be one hell of a smartwatch.


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The thought of a kid’s plaything listening know a household 24/7 is distressing. While smart toys can be beneficial, instructional devices for youngsters, they likewise pose privacy threats which plaything makers and privacy experts are still learning exactly how to stabilize.
Smart toys made with expert system, such as machine-learning capacities, can gather different types of information from youngsters. Whether an AI-enabled toy is personalizing lessons based upon just how quick your kid learns shapes, or a doll is learning your youngster’s favored ice cream flavor, plaything experts anticipate even more of these playthings to be introduced in the years in advance, although very early mistakes and high sales prices have limited customer passion to day.
” As an AI toy begins to discover the youngster, this suggests the plaything in the next 15 years will certainly be smarter than the parent as well as gather all this information that might one day hurt the youngster,” stated Will.i.am, singer-songwriter as well as chair of the Globe Economic Discussion forum’s Smart Plaything Awards’ evaluating board, just recently talking at CNBC’s Evolve Global Top.
Forms of smart play
AI toy problems differ based on plaything type and also the capabilities it has in regards to accumulating information.
As a whole, smart toys gain from kids and offer a flexible and responsive play experience. Nonetheless, there are two major categories of smart toys that fit within this structure. Initially, smart buddies, which learn from and engage with the child throughout activities. Second, programmable toys developed with artificial intelligence that move and perform jobs to instruct children academic abilities.
One example of the last is ROYBI Robotic, which develops personalized lessons to educate kids academic subjects like scientific research, languages as well as math. It has an electronic camera and also microphone to identify face as well as psychological responses from kids, but every one of the information gathered is managed through a moms and dad or guardian’s account.
While ROYBI Robot is a wise plaything that handles information collection fairly and also properly, according to Seth Bergeson, an expert system and also machine learning other at the World Economic Discussion Forum, there are various other wise playthings that have taken the chance of individual as well as information privacy.
Cautionary toy stories
Between 2014 and 2017, a toy firm named Genesis Toys marketed My Friend Cayla marketed as an interactive doll that can pay attention to and also reply to youngsters. The problem: it was tape-recording its conversations with children, in addition to conversations with moms and dads, brother or sisters and anybody else around the doll, Bergeson said, and also able to share the data with third-party firms.
” This is a truly frustrating example and sign of things to come for a plaything,” Bergeson stated. “There were numerous FTC [Federal Profession Payment] grievances submitted in the united state. The nation of Germany simply outlawed the plaything completely and also called it a concealed reconnaissance device, and also got households to destroy the toy if they had it in your home.”
An additional example, much better recognized in the united state for its personal privacy backlash: Mattel’s Hello there Barbie.
Comparable to My Friend Cayla, Hi Barbie was developed to talk with children, take in details about them and also produce a profile of the youngster in order to develop much better conversations in the future. As an example, if a kid informed Hey there Barbie concerning their favorite gelato flavor or the sporting activities they play, after that Barbie produced a persona of the child.
” There are serious repercussions around youngster defense regulations,” claimed Stephanie Wissink, a senior research study expert and taking care of director in the consumer technique at Jefferies. “When you begin developing a technology profile of a youngster, you are crossing a personal privacy line.”
Mattel’s Hey there Barbie was launched in 2015 even though issues preceded the launch, yet it was consulted with a social networks campaign labelled, “#HellnoBarbie” to demonstrate customer resistance to the doll. Hello Barbie is no more produced but can be discovered made use of on eBay.
Mattel did not respond to a CNBC ask for remark.
Children and also personal privacy regulations
There are rules in the United States to protect a child’s individual privacy as it connects to internet information.
The Kid’s Online Personal privacy Protection Act (COPPA) safeguards children 13 years as well as younger and also their individual information online from being taken without specific approval from parents, according to the Federal Trade Payment.
” The purpose of COPPA is to regulate systems, as well as limit as well as limit the effort to gather information on youngsters,” claimed Alan Butler, executive supervisor at the Digital Personal Privacy Information Center (LEGENDARY), a public interest research center concentrated on privacy concerns.
IMPRESSIVE, along with various other celebrations, filed a problem to the FTC in 2016 regarding Genesis Toys and its My Friend Cayla dolls together with one more product, iQue intelligent robotics. EPIC claimed these toys gather, make use of as well as reveal recordings of youngsters’s voices without adult consent, which is a direct offense of COPPA, according to the problem record submitted.
Artificial intelligence is incredibly important to culture, whether we like it or otherwise. It’s mosting likely to be considerably more important to play.
Richard Gottlieb, Chief Executive Officer of Global Toy Specialists
A year after the record, these toys were still readily available on Amazon.com yet were gotten rid of from other retailers like Walmart, Target and Toys “R” Us. Currently, neither of these toys are sold at any type of united state sellers, other than on utilized toy markets like eBay. According to Ailo Ravna, an elderly plan expert at the Norwegian Customer Council, it is unclear if Genesis Toys is operational today. Ravna said My Friend Cayla dolls and iQue robotics don’t seem marketed in Europe and also the business’s website has not been upgraded in years.
” For any type of brand-new device coming onto the market, if it’s not complying with COPPA, then it’s damaging the regulation,” Butler said. “There’s a great deal of playthings on the marketplace and also there’s a need to make sure that they’re all complying with COPPA.”
There is no pre-clearance review of toys prior to they hit the marketplace, and it can get harder when playthings are manufactured beyond the U.S., according to Butler, who included that while the FTC is relatively hostile at implementing COPPA, there needs to be a better system in position controling toys and also recognizing concerns prior to they become available up for sale.
High costs and varying demand
Prices might show to be a larger obstacle to the uptake of wise toys by customers than privacy issues, for the time being.
The majority of playthings offered to consumers go to a rate point as low as $10 to $15, according to Wissink, and also the combination of artificial intelligence can increase toy cost to as high as $60 to $75, which is also costly for many moms and dads. Up until clever toys come to be much more affordable, the occurrence of these toys is going to remain fairly low, she stated.
Market demand for wise playthings has actually been reduced.
In between Might 2020 and also Might 2021, the market for programmable clever toys, especially, made up 0.1% of the entire toy sector, according to Juli Lennett, the united state toys sector advisor at NPD Group, as well as sales were about fifty percent of the previous year period.
There have been sales spikes when a details toy hits, such as in 2018, when Anki, a robotics and expert system start-up, was selling a prominent plaything called Cozmo, comparable to ROYBI Robotic, made to use programmable features to enhance knowing.
According to NPD, Anki had $24 million in yearly sales from Cozmo, however Lennett said the business declared bankruptcy in 2019, potentially due to high production expenses.
Cozmo was acquired by Digital Dream Labs, where it remains in the process of being rereleased in the coming months, as an AI-powered wise friend, according to Matthew Eversole, primary marketing officer of Digital Desire Labs.
” Customer need for these devices are still high today,” Eversole said.
Lennett is more careful concerning demand.
” Every so often, you’ll see something hit the market and create some crazy trends, as well as a toy may last on the marketplace for two or 3 years on average, and afterwards vanish,” she claimed.
Future of AI in child’s world
” Parents tend to like it basic. If it’s something that does not truly improve the play worth of the toy as well as it adds expense, then it’s not going to succeed,” claimed Gerrick Johnson, an BMO Capital Markets equity study expert adhering to plaything firms like Mattel, Hasbro, which marketed a clever R2-D2 android and later discontinued it, and also Funko, which does not currently sell any type of clever toys.
But the success of AI toys, like various other technical developments, might be unpreventable in coming years.
” I do not assume any one of us have any type of doubt that the globe these children are going to stay in is going to be a world that’s improved by expert system,” said Richard Gottlieb, CEO of Global Plaything Specialists, a plaything market working as a consultant company.
Gottlieb said the introduction of AI playthings resembles when children were first presented to books. Books are now crucial forms of literacy as well as education, yet parents were at first worried concerning access to uncensored info.
” Artificial intelligence is exceptionally essential to society, whether we like it or otherwise,” Gottlieb claimed. “It’s mosting likely to be gradually more vital to play.”
Allow us see exactly how the big toymakers like lego (λεγκο ), playmobil as well as nerf (νερφ) will certainly adapt.


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Salesforce is the #1 CRM provider globally in the year 2017, research firm IDC said in its latest Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker.
In addition to Salesforce, Oracle, SAP, Microsoft and Adobe are the other CRM companies in the world.
Salesforce has 19.6 percent share. Oracle has 7.1 percent share. SAP has 6.5 percent share. Microsoft has 4 percent share. Adobe has 3.2 percent share of the global ERP market, said IDC.
The chart prepared by Salesforce indicates that SAP has lost its ERP share in 2017 as compared with 2016. Salesforce, Oracle, Microsoft and Adobe have increased their ERP market share.
Salesforce grew its overall market share position and increased its revenue more than any other Customer Relationship Management (CRM) vendor.
Salesforce increased its market share in 2017 by more percentage points than the rest of the top twenty CRM vendors combined.
IDC has named Salesforce the market share leader in sales applications, customer service applications and marketing applications.
Keith Block, vice chairman, president and COO, Salesforce, said: “As the IDC report shows, companies are increasingly turning to Salesforce to accelerate their digital transformations to deliver intelligent, connected customer experiences across every touchpoint.”