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As a global seafood leader, Thai Union has a responsibility to set the standard for social, environmental and economic responsibility. We heeded our stakeholders’ calls with SeaChange®, Thai Union’s sustainability strategy with measurable commitments to delivering real, lasting changes in the way we operate. SeaChange® aims to drive a positive transformation throughout the global seafood industry.
Phurit Chansiri interviews migrant workers from across Thai Union Group, exploring the similarities in different migration experiences and the important role that migration plays in a global business environment. As a resident and student in Bangkok, Chansiri finds himself surrounded by people who have migrated to Thailand, including his own grandfather.
The fight against ghost gear - fishing gear abandoned, lost and discarded on the ocean floor - is part of Thai Union's sustainability strategy, SeaChange®. Ghost gear washes up on beaches, tangles on coral reefs, threatens navigation and ensnares marine life, so combatting it requires hands-on support from companies like Thai Union. On June, 2019, Thai Union CEO Thirapong Chansiri joined a dive for ghost gear near Pattaya, Thailand.
Thai Union and WWF-UK have released their fourth annual partnership progress report on their European partnership. Thai Union and WWF have been working together since 2014 to deliver the commitments that they made when they signed up to the WWF 'Global Seafood Charter.' The partnership work has focused on improving the sustainability of seafood supply chains.
In recognition of Thai Union’s efforts to address modern slavery and forced labor, the company participated in a high-level panel at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to present its actions and experiences in front of the world’s leadership on this agenda on 24 September 2018 in New York, New York.
This video highlights how Thai Union, along with its partners, are capitalizing on modern technological advances to promote sustainability in the fishing and seafood industry as part of a digital traceability pilot project, the first of its kind in Thailand.
This video highlights how modern technological advances are used to promote sustainability and boost human rights in the fishing and seafood industry, introducing audiences to the crew members, captains and fleet owners trained on chat applications which enable them to connect with families and peers around the world while at sea—an industry first for Thai fisheries.
This video highlights how e-logbooks are used as a key link in the digital chain of custody verification system and supported industry efforts to guard against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, monitor labor standards on vessels and protect stock levels for the future.
Sea birds, turtles, dolphins and other animals often mistake larger plastic items in the ocean as food. Learn how small, everyday actions can make a significant difference in helping protect the world’s precious marine life.
Learn more about Thai Union’s fully traceable shrimp supply chain.
Learn more about what exactly a fishery is and how it is related to global consumption.
Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are incredibly important for sustainable development. It is vital more fisheries meet MSC standards for certification. FIPs are an important component of this concept.


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Effective Measure released its demographic statistics for November 2013 recently, showing that over 40% of South Africa’s Internet users have a monthly household income of over R20,000. Effective Measure is the official traffic measurement partner of the Digital Media and Marketing Association (DMMA), and provides accurate demographic statistics for South Africa’s top websites. The November 2013 Effective Measure statistics are based on 112,875 surveys conducted through the company’s online survey tools. According to the results, 40.46% of Internet users in South Africa have a household income of over R20,000 per month. 7.54% of these users have a household income of over R70,000 per month
World-renowned mobile expert Tomi Ahonen has been confirmed to deliver a special address during the Mobile East Africa 2014 main conference on 12th & 13th February, as well as a dedicated full-day workshop on Friday, February 14th. Considered by many to be the best speaker on mobile in the world, Mr. Ahonen is travelling from Hong Kong to Kenya for the first time and will be sharing his views on the future of mobile and digital. Forbes ranked him as “the world’s most influential expert in mobile” in 2012; Mr. Ahonen has spoken at more than 300 conferences in over 60 countries and his cumulative audience totals over 100,000 people. He is the author of 12 bestselling books on mobile and digital communities and consults to Fortune 500 companies around the globe, helping to define their mobile strategies.Mobile East Africa 2014 is taking place at the Southern Sun Mayfair Nairobi, Kenya on February 12th through 14th.
In its Beijing Communiqué, the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) issued advice to the ICANN Board of Directors regarding New gTLD applications. The Safeguards on New gTLDs: Category 2, Section 2 of the Communiqué states: "For strings representing generic terms, exclusive registry access should serve a public interest goal" and includes a list of strings that the GAC "considers to be generic terms, where the applicant [was, at the time,] proposing to provide exclusive registry access." On 19 August 2013, ICANN inquired as to whether the applicants for the strings identified plan to operate the applied-for TLDs as exclusive access registries. For more information, view the announcement. The majority of applicants indicated that they did not intend to operate the applied-for TLDs as exclusive access registries. For the 12 applicants that indicated that their applied-for TLDs would be operated as exclusive access registries, ICANN asked applicants to provide an explanation of how exclusive registry access for the applied-for TLD will serve a public interest goal.
In 18 months time viewers cross Africa will be able to tune into a new pan-African multilingual news channel called Africanews. This is the result of a partnership between Euronews and national television channel of the Republic of Congo. From its base in Brazzaville and its regional network across the continent, Africanews will follow the same editorial mandate as Euronews and work towards becoming the first pan-African rolling news channel. Initially the offering will be in English and French, after which other languages will be added. Media reports state that senior executives from both Euronews S.A and Télé Congo signed a cooperation agreement in early January pertaining to the launch.
South Africa’s government is in talks with fixed-line operator Telkom SA SOC Ltd. (TKG) about taking part in a partnership to boost broadband usage in the country, according to Communications Minister Yunus Carrim.
“We are negotiating with Telkom because obviously they have 147,000 kilometers (91,400 miles) of the fiber optic,” Carrim said in a Jan. 25 interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We need to ensure that we get the most cooperative relationship we can between state-owned companies, the government, publicly-listed companies like Telkom and the private sector.”
IBM today announced the results of a new study entitled ‘Setting the pace in Africa: How IT leaders deliver on the potential of emerging technologies’, which found that while nearly 87 percent of African IT leaders rank new technologies such as analytics, cloud, mobile and social media as being critical to business success, only 53% are pushing forward with adoption. IBM’s survey findings also confirmed that 36% of the African businesses embracing emerging technologies could be considered “Pacesetters” amongst their peers in terms of their focus on prioritizing and rapidly adopting technologies. The survey of 180 Africa-based IT leaders across 29 industries in Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco was conducted by IBM’s Center for Applied Insights, in collaboration with the IBM Center for CIO Leadership
If bandwidth is like water, then Africa is a desert with Perrier vending machines everywhere. If you have money, you’re fine. If you don’t have money, you’re dying of thirst. Although over 70% of Africans have a mobile phone, and over 90% are covered by mobile networks, less than 10% use the internet. That means most Africans can’t email CVs, research Wikipedia, self-diagnose health problems, or generally find out what is happening in the world. We all know that mobile phones have revolutionised Africa. For the first time in history most Africans can speak to one another, a game changer for a continent too long cut off from the rest of the world. The time has come for the next revolution. The mobile internet revolution. An avalanche of cheap smartphones over the past five years means that Africans now have the devices needed to connect the internet. Nowadays the problem is no longer getting devices into the hands of Africans, the problem is connectivity.
IBM today announced the results of a new study entitled ‘Setting the pace in Africa: How IT leaders deliver on the potential of emerging technologies’, which found that while nearly 87 percent of African IT leaders rank new technologies such as analytics, cloud, mobile and social media as being critical to business success, only 53% are pushing forward with adoption. IBM’s survey findings also confirmed that 36% of the African businesses embracing emerging technologies could be considered “Pacesetters” amongst their peers in terms of their focus on prioritizing and rapidly adopting technologies. The survey of 180 Africa-based IT leaders across 29 industries in Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco was conducted by IBM’s Center for Applied Insights, in collaboration with the IBM Center for CIO Leadership.
Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, and the African continent as a whole, lead the world in the uptake of mobile banking, according to a new report by mobile trade association MEF. The first report in MEF’s Global Consumer Insights Series on Mobile Money said 82 per cent of consumers in Africa engaged in mobile banking, with the global average 66 per cent and 15 per cent of mobile media users using mobile payments to pay for goods in 2013. “In Africa, the ‘mobile-only’ culture means the mobile money account is the bank account,” the report said. Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa lead the way within Africa, with engagement rates of 92 per cent, 78 per cent and 76 per cent respectively, though it said the data was skewed by Kenya’s use of mobile for banking.
Web Africa reduced its uncapped ADSL prices for residential and business customers by between 12% and 62%, starting on 24 January 2014. The latest Web Africa uncapped ADSL prices bring them in line with competing ISPs like Telkom Internet, MWEB, and Afrihost. Web Africa’s new residential uncapped ADSL pricing starts at R199 for a 2Mbps service, increasing to R1,399 for a 40Mpbs account.
At the beginning of 2014 internal conflict between Christian and Muslim communities in the Central African Republic (CAR) grabbed the world’s attention. History shows that periods of stability have been few and far between for the region and according to latest reports, interim president Catherine Samba-Panza has appealed to EU countries for help to achieve order following fresh waves of unrest and uprising. The conflict has forced almost a million people from their homes and EU leaders are poised to send a military force to support French and African troops already deployed in the region.
For businesses seeking to invest in the most up-to-date, multi-functional and flexible time recording terminal infrastructure, AWM360 has available high-tech solution, the B-web 96 00, manufactured by its global partner Kaba AG Switzerland. Kaba AG is a leading manufacturer worldwide of products for Enterprise Data Collection (EDC), the collection and processing of all safety-and time-relevant company data for measuring, visualising and optimising targets and risks of the company. AWM360 is a local business technology partner and solution provider within the Southern African Human Capital Management (HCM) and Workforce Management Solutions markets. It has taken over sole distributorship of a wide range of hardware and software solutions manufactured by Kaba AG to the Southern African region.
ICANN invites everyone to an update on the activities of the Strategy Panel on Identifier Technology Innovation. ICANN Strategy Panels' work will inform ICANN's new, overarching vision and five-year strategic plan. As it prepares to offer its advice to the ICANN President and CEO, the Strategy Panel wishes to walk you through the work it has undertaken and to seek your input on the preliminary set of conclusions it has reached. This webinar will also be the opportunity for you to ask questions. ICANN Strategy Panels serve as an integral part of a framework for cross-community dialogue: your feedback and contributions are key to this project and will be carefully considered. Webinar Details
The latest MyBroadband speed test results shows that MTN’s LTE and Vodacom’s 3G networks provided the highest average speeds. MyBroadband revamped its speed test platform in August 2013, offering more speed test server locations and moving the platform to Teraco and NAPAfrica’s vendor neutral data centres. Over the last month 90,754 speed tests were performed on MyBroadband’s speed test platform. The results show an average download speed of 8.88Mbps and an average upload speed of 1.97Mbps. When the results are filtered to only include mobile broadband connections, it shows that MTN’s LTE service outperformed its competitors.
The days of traditional broadcasting or sending video/ sound via analogue signals in Africa are numbered – that much is clear, particularly in light of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline for the migration from analogue broadcasting to digital terrestrial television (DTT) by June 2015. Once that deadline passes it is understood that there will be no more international support for- or of analogue spectrum. Today, many African countries are chasing time to ready themselves through intensive end-user awareness programmes, facilitating communication between stakeholders, including service providers, and adapting their strategies accordingly. The migration, while relevant to both radio and television broadcasting, is currently focused on television broadcasting. The rationale behind the migration is that it will lead to more efficient use of spectrum, to an improvement of viewing experience, as well as to the availability of more frequency for alternative allocation and usage.
The fourth MobileMoneyExpo in Lagos next month will focus on low-income individuals and attempt to introduce banking to “the bottom of the pyramid in Africa”, the continent with the largest market for mobile money. It was confirmed in September HumanIPO would be lead media partner at the expo, which starts on February 12, with the event focusing on financial inclusion for the unbanked. “Financial inclusion has become the buzz word within the regulatory, policy, financial, innovators, technology circles and other stakeholders in the formal financial services space but significant barriers still exist,” said organisers MobileMoneyAfrica. “The event will address what needs to be done to overcome the hurdles of reaching the millions of people who do not have access to formal financial services but yet own a phone in Africa,” said MobileMoneyAfrica’s principal associate Emmanuel Okoegwale.
From wearable technology to space tourism, 2014 will be a year of significant technological leaps. We take a look through some of the most ground-breaking developments of the year ahead. Electric cars take to the track As the name suggests, Formula E is all about electric power. The arrival of this new petrol-free motor racing competition is a significant step for both the car and the environment. Two years ago motorsport's international governing body, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), announced its ambitious plan for an electric car race that would mimic the hugely popular F1 series. As the arrival of Formula E looms, experts predict that it could have a big impact on the future of car manufacturing. Initially, the cars in the competition will be powered by enormous battery engines.
The most recent figures for mobile and internet usage are promising, and show room for growth. "Only 16 percent of the Africa's one billion people are currently online, but that share is rising. More than 720-million Africans have mobile phones, 167-million already use the Internet, and 52-million are on Facebook," reported consultancy McKinsey, in a report entitled " Lions go Digital: The Internet's transformative potential in Africa."
Africa is set to see an increase in the number of free Wi-Fi hotspots in 2014, in line with recent moves to connect entire cities in both Rwanda and South Africa. According to Ruckus Wireless, a company specialising in Wi-Fi infrastructure, initiatives based on those implemented in Kigali, Rwanda, and the City of Tshwane, South Africa, will become commonplace this year. HumanIPO reported in November the City of Tshwane, in partnership with the non-profit Project Isizwe, was rolling out the first phase of free Wi-Fi for the city. Just a few months earlier, it was announced that the Smart Kigali initiative was planning to set-up free Wi-Fi zones in the Rwandan capital.
Almost 90% of CEOs in Africa plan to increase investment in technology in 2014 and position technology amongst the top three considerations, claim media reports covering research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). PwC’s 16th Annual Global CEO Survey reveals that the perception of technology amongst senior executives is that it is an easy enabler of agility and growth because it helps with risk management and skills development and retention. The Survey features input from global CEOs sourced from well over one thousand interviews in 68 countries, as well as the results of in-depth interviews with 33 CEOs from five continents towards the end of 2012, ahead of 2013. In its coverage of the Report, CIO East Africa says that aside from interest in the predictive qualities and benefits associated with data analytics, there is also a focus on outsourcing business processes and functions.
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Especially in the US, heated discussions about the setting of “Far Cry 5” took place in recent months. In a recent statement, the developers pointed out that despite everything they want to stick to this.
Ubisoft is currently working on the first-person shooter “Far Cry 5”, which will be released in February 2018 for the Xbox One, the PC and the PlayStation 4.
“Far Cry 5” shipped to the US state of Montana, which especially in the United States last heated up heated discussions. Among other things, critics pointed out that in times of rampages like the assassination of Las Vegas with 59 dead, it is profane tasteless to publish a title that focuses on religious fanatics. Since these are white Americans, right-wing groups also called for a boycott. According to franchise boss Dan Hay, developers are still sticking to their vision of “Far Cry 5”.
Far Cry 5: The developers stick to their vision
Hay adds: “Three years ago, our focus was on this game and this idea. I realize that this world is spinning fast. And I also know that there are headlines out there that are hard to read. Situations that are really tough. But what we’re trying to do is stick to our plan and make sure we deliver this story, which is captivating, with characters that are captivating. ”
Commenting on the events of the past few months and the way they affected the work on “Far Cry 5,” Hay states, “To be honest, I can not sit here and claim that we’re from what happening in the real world, not being influenced. That we were stoic. You would not lose weight with us anyway. Of course there will be moments when we hear something and think it’s crazy or affecting us. We are human beings and it is almost impossible to prevent something like that. “


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Paramount+ lets you stream the 2021 grammys live on your computer, smartphone, tablet or smart tv through the paramount+ website or the paramount+ app. The 2021 grammy awards take place today (march 14) in los angeles, california.
Use the hulu trial to watch the grammys online free.
Watch grammys 2021 online free full. How to watch the 2021 grammys: It carries cbs, as well as plenty of other national networks. If you don't have cable, here are some ways you can watch the show live online for free.
The broadcast and livestream of the main ceremony begin at 8. You can sign up, watch the grammys and then cancel your. Once purchased, you can watch on your smart tv, phone or desktop pc, and they have apps available on roku, xbox, chromecast and apple.
The 2021 grammy awards air on sunday, march 14. Launch the paramount+ app and tap “live tv” on the menu at the. Stream the grammys free on fubotv here your other hack for streaming the grammys online free is signing up for a hulu + live tv trial.
Bruno mars and bts are just some of the stars announced as 2021 grammy performers. Highlights of the night—acceptance speeches and interviews will be shown on grammy.com. Cbs is included in basic cable packages, so anyone with one of those will be able to watch on tv.
Yes, you can watch the 2021 grammys for free (and not necessarily through a vpn) by thinking ¨out of the box¨: All of these streaming services offer them. Check out the greatest moments of the 2021 grammys, featuring a full recap of the night’s winners, performance and fashion highlights, backstage interviews, and more!
How to watch the grammys 2021. How to watch the 2021 grammys online the ceremony honoring the music industry will look a bit different this year by kim lyons mar 14, 2021, 12:00pm edt Listen along as host common highlights the stories behind the songs that have seen us through the darkest hours and greatest triumphs of the 20th and 21st centuries featuring performances by patti labelle, brad paisley, billy porter, eric church, leann rimes, john fogerty, and more!
Stream the grammys free on hulu here 2021 grammy awards performers list taylor swift, cardi b, bruno mars and bts are just some of the stars announced as 2021 grammy. Here's how to watch for free. Here’s how to watch the 2021 grammy awards online for free.
How to watch the 2021 grammys? Use the hulu trial to watch the grammys online free. In addition to all the hulu content (shows, movies, etc.), the hulu + live tv plan gives you access to 60+ live tv channels, including cbs.
Trevor noah hosts the 2021 grammy awards, with performances by bts, chris martin, dua lipa, & harry styles. How can i watch the grammys? The 63rd annual grammy awards will air live on cbs on march 14, 2021, at 8 pm et/5 pm pt.
Viewers in the united states can watch live on cbs, or tune into the livestream on paramount+. Watch online, tv channel, start time, coverage, which is available on your roku, roku tv, amazon fire tv, or firestick, apple tv, chromecast, xbox one, samsung smart tv, android tv, iphone, android phone,. Optimized for pc, mac, ipad, iphone, android, ps4, xbox one, and smart tvs.
Paramount+ will come with full access to a variety of cbs news channels, sports channels like the nfl and masters, and family. Use the hulu trial to watch the grammys online free. The show will be broadcast live on cbs, which you can watch on tv as well as streaming live on paramount+ (formerly known as.
You can stream grammy awards 2021. Cbs has the rights to broadcast the grammy awards 2021 in the us.


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Mahindra Vehicle Service & Sales is a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra, a vehicle manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, India. Through the new multi-year agreement, Wells Fargo CDF will be the preferred inventory finance provider to Mahindra’s North American dealer base, Jeremy Jansen, commercial leader of motorsports at Wells Fargo CDF, told Powersports Finance.
Wells Fargo CDF will be “a part of the growth and distribution” of the ROXOR, a new, off-road, multi-purpose utility vehicle from Mahindra. The vehicle will be manufactured in Detroit in early spring later this year.
While motorcycle sales have yet to reach the levels they were before the 2007 recession, Wells Fargo CDF is confident in the off-road vehicle space, Jansen said.
“Wells Fargo CDF is positive on the current powersports market landscape, specifically the off-road vehicle space,” Jansen said. “The utility off-road market continues to grow at mid-single-digit rates fueled by an overall strong general economy and consumer, continued product innovation, and a strengthening oil and gas sector.”
Amid the need to spur new motorcycle ridership, the wholesale financier has been working to increase the amount of riders through a partnership with the United States Coaching Association. Wells Fargo CDF announced the partnership last December, to provide education and enrichment materials for new and returning riders and coaches.


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MENTOR, Ohio - Avery Dennison announced today that “Generation,” the University of Michigan’s 2013 solar car, features an Avery Dennison vehicle wrap film. Generation, revealed to the public on June 18, will compete in the 2013 World Solar Challenge, a solar-powered car race which covers 3021 km through the Australian Outback October 6 – 13.
"Generation," the University of Michigan's 2013 solar car, features an Avery Dennison vehicle wrap film. Generation was unveiled at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, MI onJune 18, 2013. Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing
“Avery Dennison is proud to support the University of Michigan Solar Car Team for the third year in a row,” saidDon Nolan, president, Avery Dennison Materials Group. “The students redesign the car every two years for the biennial World Solar Challenge with the best technology and engineering possible to attain their goal to be #1. Avery Dennison shares their passion for the pursuit of winning with innovation.”
"Implementing an Avery Dennison wrap on the solar car is beneficial in so many ways,” said Pavan Naik, senior business development manager for the University of Michigan Solar Car Team. “The wrap hugs the aerodynamic body of our car, allowing us to maintain the very efficient shape we designed for Generation. It also allows us to place all our sponsor logos on a single wrap, which avoids the unnecessary drag that comes with decals. We're looking forward to racing Generation in the World Solar Challenge this October."
TKO Graphix, a full service graphics provider from Indiana, created and installed the vehicle wrap for Generation. More than 700 square feet of Avery Dennison® MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply™ film was digitally printed and protected with DOL 1360 Gloss overlaminate. Several support vehicles were also marked with University of Michigan and solar car decals.
“The Avery Dennison films make the car look great and were easy to install on Generation’s contours,” saidTom McClelland, production manager at TKO Graphix. “The wrap vinyl provides Generation with the protection and durability it needs to win the race. We are excited to be part of such a great team again, this year.”
Generation will complete a mock race around the perimeter of Michigan in July in preparation for the 2013 World Solar Challenge in Australia. The team leaves the U.S. in September to prepare for the 1,800-mile (3,000km) race across Australia.
Vinyl wraps and graphics aren’t limited to solar cars, they can be installed on most vehicles and boats, ATVs, motorcycles and RVs. Wraps easily change the look of a vehicle, can be installed quicker than a custom paint job and are often more affordable than paint. Consumers can visit www.CarWraps.net to learn about getting a vehicle wrap.
For more information on Avery Dennison products, pricing or roll sizes, designers and printers can visitwww.graphics.averydennison.com to locate a distributor (on the Partner Page) or contact Avery Dennison at 800-282-8379 for additional product information.
For more information about the World Solar Challenge, visit http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/.
Follow the University of Michigan: http://www.umsolar.com/


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September 14th saw the 2019 edition of Glitz Style Awards where Ghanaian celebrities were awarded for their various talents.
As usual, the red carpet also saw them displaying their fashion sense to maintain the glitz expected.
Celebrities like, Nana Akua Ado, Zynnell Zuh, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and others have been praised for spicing up the occasion with what they wore.
On the other hand, some celebrities did not give us a refreshing sight.
GhanaCelebrities.Com has compiled a few worst dressed celebrities photos for you.
Check the photos below;


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From re-writing carbon budgets to Treasury reviews into decarbonisation costs, BusinessGreen walks you through the next steps for the UK's historic net zero strategy
Yesterday, in genuinely momentous news for the UK economy, the government set the wheels in motion to upgrade the country's legal climate targets to a net zero emissions goal for mid-century. Such an...
New initiative aims to help dairy firms embrace sustainability practices and streamline supply chain auditing
Ingka Group now wants to fuel its retail operations entirely from renewables by 2025, and phase out fossil fuel-based heating and cooling by 2030
Tech giant says its new iPhones prove rare earth materials can be recycled, contrary to conventional belief
More than 130 major banks holding assets of $47tr pledge to align strategies with the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals


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Estelarbet Launching Bingo in Brazil and Chile
Estelarbet is introducing its bingo vertical in Brazil and Chile through Pragmatic Play.
Estelarbet will now gain access to Pragmatic Play’s extensive and highly customisable bingo titles and variants such as Bingo Blast, The Jackpot Room and Sweet Bonanza Bingo.
Pragmatic Play currently supplies Estelarbet with three verticals, including its award-winning slots, renowned live casino titles and popular virtual sports products.
This latest agreement with Estelarbet will see Pragmatic Play further its reach into the Latin American market. This regional growth has seen it expand upon existing partnerships and acquire deals with new operators prompting further development across the continent and globally.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at Pragmatic Play, said: “We are pleased to be expanding upon our initial agreement with Estelarbet, over the past year our current deal has seen impressive engagement from their customers.
“Extending this partnership will see us delivering our fan favourite bingo games in addition to the three verticals we currently supply the operator, this seems like a natural progression of our agreement.”
Sebastián Salazar at Estelarbet said “We are always looking to enhance our customers’ experience at Estelarbet and working with Pragmatic Play has allowed us to bring great content to players.
“We are excited to be growing the number of verticals and titles we will have on offer through this flourishing relationship, and look forward to seeing how these new bingo products are received by our players”


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BCG: Tech, software and pharma firms most innovative in 2021
Difficult times can lead to increased innovation. That’s the message from Boston Consulting Group’s annual Most Innovative Companies report for 2021, whose list of the top 50 most innovative companies in the world, reveals how the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of innovation excellence in turbulent times.
The innovative company list, which is dominated by US tech and software companies, up by two from last year, saw a breakout performance by pharma this year, with nine firms ranking, that’s three times the number in 2020, and a third of them made their debut appearance here.
US leads with innovation in tech and pharma
While Apple, Alphabet and Amazon took the top three places, other US tech and software firms dominated the listing including Microsoft (4), IBM (7), Facebook (13), Oracle (15), Dell (16), Cisco (17) and Salesforce (22), among others.
Although China earned just four spots among the top 50, all tech with Huawei (8), Alibaba (14), Lenovo (25) and Tencent (26), BCG predicted in its report that increasingly Chinese companies will break into the ranking in coming years as they “compete more visibly in global markets”.
Owing to its lack of tech and software companies, Europe ranked just 11 companies on this year’s list, down by four from 2020, though it did remain competitive in other industries, including pharma (with Novartis at 36, Roche at 48, AstraZeneca at 49 and Bayer at 50) as well as automotive, medtech, industrials and fashion. Take Siemens, the top European ranking at #11 (up 10 places from 2020) which in the last year found new uses for data and advanced technologies such as AI.
Pfizer (10), the innovation story of the year, along with Moderna (42), in which Merck & Co. (35) has been an early investor. According to the report, commitment and readiness helped Pfizer, in partnership with BioNTech, not only to cut the innovation time for a COVID-19 vaccine from a decade or more to less than a year but also to ramp up production capacity to deliver much-needed vaccines. Abbott Labs and Bosch (29 and 30, respectively) were early movers.
Diversity equals innovation
Companies in the top 50 tend to exhibit higher gender and ethnic diversity in their leadership, according to BCG, pointing to Microsoft, Alibaba, Cisco Systems, Philips, and Novartis.
“There's this big chicken-and-egg question when it comes to diversity and innovation: what comes first?” says Johann Harnoss, associate director and report co-author. “We tried to put this question to rest, using the unique data we have going back to 2005. We see clear evidence that it's diversity that drives innovation, and not so much innovation attracting more diversity.”
Transforming aspirations into results
The report finds that just 20% of companies globally have built high-performing innovation systems that can transform ambitious aspirations into real results. Furthermore, some industries show big gaps in innovation readiness.
The report suggests that firms that are committed (they back priorities with investment) and ready (they have the necessary platforms and practices in place) are up to four times as likely as those that aren’t to outperform their peers in terms of revenues from new products, services, and business models.
“Innovative companies have reaped the benefit of their earlier investment through this current crisis period, both for their shareholders and in terms of wider societal impact,” says Ramón Baeza, BCG managing director and senior partner and a co-author of the report.
BCG found that this year’s research reveals a worrisome readiness gap. On the positive side, 75% of companies identify innovation as a top-three priority (up 10% from 2020 — the largest YOY increase in the 15-year history of the report), and 60% plan to increase their investment in innovation, with one-third of those planning to boost spending by more than 10%. However, 80% of companies fall short of BCG’s innovation readiness benchmark across multiple dimensions of their innovation systems.
The report suggests that attention to two areas can help bridge the gap: C-suite engagement and stronger bonds between product and sales teams.
BCG data shows that among companies that outperform their peers on innovation outcomes, close to 90% demonstrate clear C-suite-level ownership, compared with just 20% of underperformers. Meanwhile, almost a third of companies in the 2021 survey cited less-than-optimal collaboration between their R&D and sales teams as their biggest barrier to higher innovation output.
“CEOs are ramping up their companies’ efforts and investment, recognizing that innovation’s power to boost resilience and drive advantage is more important than ever,” says Justin Manly, managing director and partner and report coauthor. “We see a risk, however, that their hopes will not be realized because their companies are not ready. The good news is that most can radically improve their readiness with a few targeted changes in strategy, operating model design, and organizational capabilities.”
Marketing matters: from IBM to Kyndryl
Prior to joining Kyndryl as Chief Marketing Officer, Maria had a 25-year career at IBM, most recently as the tech giant’s CMO where she oversaw all marketing professionals and activities across North America, Canada and Latin America. She has held senior global marketing positions in a variety of disciplines and business units across IBM, most notably strategic initiatives in Smarter Cities and Watson Customer Engagement, as well as leading teams in services, business analytics, and mobile and industry solutions. She is known for her work with teams to leverage data, analytics and cloud technologies to build deeper engagements with customers and partners.
With a passion for marketing, business and people, and a recognized expert in data-driven marketing and brand engagement, Maria talks to Business Chief about her new role, her leadership style and what success means to her.
You've recently moved from IBM to Kyndryl, joining as CMO. Tell us about this exciting new role?
I’m Chief Marketing Officer for Kyndryl, the independent company that will be created following the separation from IBM of its Managed Infrastructure Services business, expected to occur by the end of 2021. My role is to plan, develop, and execute Kyndryl's marketing and advertising initiatives. This includes building a company culture and brand identity on which we base our marketing and advertising strategy.
We have an amazing opportunity ahead at Kyndryl to create a company brand that will stand apart in the market by leading with our people first. Once we are an independent company, each Kyndryl employee will advance the vital systems that power human progress. Our people are devoted, restless, empathetic, and anticipatory – key qualities needed as we build on existing customer relationships and cultivate new ones. Our people are at the heart of this business and I am deeply hopeful and excited for our future.
What experiences have helped prepare you for this new opportunity?
I’ve had a very rich and diverse career history at IBM that has lasted 25+ years. I started out in sales but landed explored opportunities at IBM in different roles, business units, geographies, and functions. Marketing and business are my passions and I landed on Marketing because it allowed me to utilize both my left and right brain, bringing together art and science. In college, I was no tonly a business major, but an art major. I love marketing because I can leverage my extensive knowledge of business, while also being able to think openly and creatively.
The opportunities I was given during my time at IBM and my natural curiosity have led me to the path I’m on now and there’s no better next career step than a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to help launch a company. The core of my role at Kyndryl is to create a culture centered on our people and growing up in my career at IBM has allowed me to see first-hand how to prioritize people and ensure they are at the heart of progress in everything Kyndryl will do.
How would you describe your leadership style?
I believe that people aren't your greatest assets, they are your only assets. My platform and background for leadership has always been grounded in authenticity to who I am and centered on diversity and inclusion. I immigrated to the US from Chile when I was 10 years old and so I know the power and beauty that comes from leaning into what makes you different from other people, and that's what I want every person in my marketing organization to feel – the value in bringing their most authentic self to work every day. The way our employees feel when they show up for themselves authentically is how they will also show up for our customers, and strong relationships drive growth.
I think this is especially true in light of a world forever changed by the pandemic. Living through such an unprecedented time has reinforced that we are all humans. We can't lead or care for one another without empathy and I think leaders everywhere have been reminded of this.
What’s the best leadership advice you’ve received?
When I was growing up as an immigrant in North Carolina, I often wanted to be just like everyone else. But my mother always told me: Be unique, be memorable – you have an authentic view and experience of the world that no one else will ever have, so don't try to be anyone else but you.
What does success look like to you?
I think the concept of success is multi-faceted. From a career perspective, being in a job where you're respected and appreciated, and where you can see how your contributions are providing value by motivating your teams to be better – that's success! From a personal perspective, there is no greater accomplishment than investing in the next generation. I love mentoring younger professionals – they are the future. I want my legacy as a leader to include providing value in work culture, but also in leaving a personal impact on the lives of professionals who will carry the workforce forward. Finding a position in life with a job and company that offers me a chance at all of that is what success looks like to me.
What advice would you give to your younger self just starting out in the industry?
I've always been a naturally curious person and it's easy for me to over-commit to projects that pique my interest. I've learned over years of practice how to manage that, so to my younger self I’d say… prioritize the things that are most important, and then become amazing at those things.


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Apple’s latest iPhone 5 due to begin shipping in September? Rumors have begun to fly that the latest of the Apple iPhones, the iPhone 5, is to stage its launch in the first half of September. These rumors which have been seen on the message boards of phones4u and talktalk have got into full swing
Check iPhone 4 Review - Undoubtedly the most recognized name on the smart phone market is the iPhone, with the release of the iPhone4 Apple has definitely secured that name for a long time to come.
There are many retailers in the UK that sell mobile phones, from standard phone shops and now even networks having their own stores. Due to low overheads the best place to pick up a new phone is quite often online. With online retailers you can reorder phones before their release and many retailers will offer


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"This pandemic has shown that retail and service workers are essential workers and the heroes of this crisis. But while higher wages are a quick short-term incentive for these workers to stay on the job, we need to demand more from corporate actors."
In The News
Amy Kuceyeski, associate professor of computational biology and statistics and data science, is noted to have launched a movement in the Ithaca community to use 3D printers to create face shields for healthcare facilities.
“They’re truly focusing on stopping the system from freezing up,” says Louis Hyman, professor in the ILR School.
Angela B. Cornell, professor of law, answers questions regarding what rights a worker has in relation to coronavirus.
Nellie Brown, senior extension associate at the ILR Worker Institute, says the barriers put in place to help protect staff in groceries stores don’t “eliminate the problem of the commonly touched objects being still shared, but it does address the problem of airborne droplets.”
“It’s switching between alive and not alive,” says Gary Whittaker, professor of microbiology and immunology.
“People don’t like to keep being reminded of information they don’t want to face,” says Soo Yeon Kim, assistant professor of marketing.
Cornell in NYS
Science and Technology


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Manchester Markets will be the host of an exciting three day market in the prestigious Heaton Park. Based in the courtyard, there will be all kinds of fine produce on display from all around the country as well as various craft items.
WHEN: Saturday 15th of April, 2017
WHERE: Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley
MORE INFO:Click Here
Being at the centre of textile production in Manchester historically, we will collect personal stories, learn about the conditions for workers, and compare the industry from past to present with global textile production and zero hours contracts.


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WINCHESTER — John and Nina Gately have seen the positive impacts that CBD (cannabidiol) has had on their family, and they’re striving to pass that on to others.
The Gatelys, who opened a Your CBD Store in Warrenton earlier this year, have now opened a Your CBD Store Winchester at 3113 Valley Ave., Unit 104, in Creekside Station.
CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis. It has many potential therapeutic benefits, include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-anxiety and seizure-suppressant properties. As of March, the FDA
John said he and his wife helped some acquaintances open a location in Gainesville and learned more about the products while working with them to get the shop going. John’s parents started to use some products to help manage pain and other medical conditions, and the couple used some, too.
When they started to see positive results, they decided they wanted to open up a shop of their own.
“That really sold us. We can’t stand behind something that we believe in,” John said. “So when we found that it worked, we thought we could really help other people.”
The shop in Winchester, which opened its doors for a soft opening Friday, is one of about 700 across the country, the couple said. It will be managed by Store Manager Holly Kimball.
They sell SunMed brand CBD tinctures, gummies, topical creams, water solubles, pet products, some beauty products, some vape products and more. They do not carry CBD isolate, Nina said.
There are full spectrum products, which has 0.3% THC, and broad spectrum products, which have zero THC. Their products are made from hemp grown in Colorado and Oregon.
Nina explained that CDB products help manage the endocannabinoid system, which deals with neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain.
THC in canabis attaches to receptors in the brain and that causes people to get high, but their hemp CDB products don’t allow someone to get that particular high because it has an “extremely low” percentage of THC — 0.3%.
“I usually say it’s like drinking nonalcoholic beer,” Nina said. “We as humans produce our own cannabinoids, so plant-based cannabinoids from cannabis — or, in our case, hemp — help balance the endocannabinoid system.”
Nina said when new customers come in to find a product to remedy a certain issue they’re having, they first try to find the root of the problem and see what solutions are available and if CBD is even needed. She said they don’t make any sort of medical “claims” and can’t promise that a certain product will work for everyone — “It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing,” she said.
“We’re here to help people find the best solutions to their problems, because it can be overwhelming,” she said. “There’s so much on the market and on the internet and finding the right dosage and the right solution for their individual need is important. So, we provide a safe environment where we can educate and find the best solution for people.”
Some areas across the country have received pushback against CDB oils and products, but the Gatelys said that’s not been the case in the Shenandoah Valley.
John said Creekside Station owner Joe Graber was receptive to their idea and having their shop inside the shopping plaza, which features multiple health and wellness shops.
“He really listened to what we’re about. I think the initial reaction is, ‘oh, are you a vape shop or what?’ When we told him we’re really about helping people out, and we’re not a vape shop,” John said. “Once you talk about that and how that works, I think everybody opens up to that. We didn’t encounter any resistance.”
Your CBD Store Winchester will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The store is planning a grand opening celebration Nov. 7 that will feature raffles and possibly live music.
For more information, visit https://cbdrx4u.com/.


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Razer was at the forefront of the new wave of gaming phones, unveiling its first Razer Phone about 11 months ago. Now its time to bring out the new one you can watch it happen live thanks to the livestream below.
This is the YouTube stream, but this landing page also has a Twitch stream. Because of course it does, Razer knows its audience. The event starts at 1:30AM GMT, which is early in the morning in Hong Kong (9:30AM) and evening in San Francisco (6:30PM).
Well publish a hands-on review of the Razer Phone 2 as soon as possible. However, an Amazon listing already gave away some of the upgrades RGB backlit logo, wireless charging and IP67 water resistance. And a Snapdragon 845 chipset with better cooling, naturally.


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This information is from the Atherton and Menlo Park police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Under the law, people charged with offenses are considered innocent until convicted.
Residential burglary report: Window forced open and theft of miscellaneous guns, Holbrook Lane, May 6.
■ Four Apple iPads stolen from locker room, Menlo School at 50 Valparaiso Ave., May 15.
■ Laptop computer stolen during school play, Menlo School at 50 Valparaiso Ave., May 18.
■ Loss estimated at $8,800 in theft of earrings and four rings, including two wedding bands, Hedge Road, May 17.
■ Losses estimated at $4,800 in theft, allegedly by family member, of gold coins, jewelry and watches from safe and dresser drawer, Madera Ave., May 10.
■ Loss estimated at $1,650 in theft of bicycle from open garage, Iris Lane, May 10.
■ Loss estimated at $650 in theft of cardigan sweater from business, Chestnut St., May 12.
■ Unknown loss in witnessed theft of cardigan sweater by "elderly Asian woman" who returned to store after incident, was confronted and fled on foot, Alys Grace at 899B Santa Cruz Ave., May 21.
■ Unknown loss in theft of unattended scooter from Civic Center duck pond, 800 Alma St., May 21.
Residential burglary reports:
■ Losses estimated at $7,800 in break-in through unlocked front door and theft of three laptop computers, Apple iPad, video camcorder, camera, miscellaneous jewelry, three passports and $500 in cash, Wallea Drive, May 7.
■ Loss estimated at $420 in entry through rear bathroom window and theft of miscellaneous jewelry, sunglasses and two cameras, Oak Court, May 14.
Auto burglary reports:
■ Loss estimated at $1,500 in window smash and theft of laptop computer, Concord Drive, May 8.
■ Losses estimated at $3,350 in theft of 12 spools of cable and three generators from Comcast trucks after cutting through fence, Haven Ave., May 21.
■ Unknown losses from smashed window and theft of tools, Willow Road, May 21.
Fraud report: Loss of $1,900 when victim wired funds to someone claiming to be his nephew, reported at main police station at 701 Laurel St., May 15.
■ Dog owner advised of animal cruelty laws on occasion of leaving dog unattended in vehicle for three hours on hot day, Curtis St., May 11.
■ Vehicle owner advised of animal cruelty laws on occasion of leaving four dogs in unattended vehicle without food or water on warm day, but owner said it was only 20 minutes, Merrill St., May 11.
Theft report: Loss estimated at $800 in theft of locked bike from corner of building, Roberts Market on Woodside Road, May 11.
WEST MENLO PARK
Theft report: Loss estimated at $1,000 in theft of mountain bike from apartment complex carport, 3000 block of Alameda de las Pulgas, May 17.


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For a third week in a row, coffee prices fell, plunging to a 14 month low. The main factors behind this collapse appear to be the threat of a recession in Europe, the escalation of the war in Ukraine as well as China’s covid lockdowns which combined appear to have raised fears of deteriorating demand. Arabica coffee prices lost 18.05 cents/lb over the week while robusta prices fell by $147/ton (6.67 cents/lb). In the absence of local market distortions, roadside parchment coffee prices in Papua New Guinea next week, will probably be between 125 and 130 toea/kg lower than what they were last week.
Adding to the downward pressure has the strengthening of the US Dollar against the Brazilian Real as well as continuing good rains throughout the coffee belt in Brazil. However, elsewhere the prospects do not appear so good with forecasts suggesting that Colombia’s upcoming harvest will be much lower than in previous years. Colombia is expected to produce around 12 million bags in the calendar year 2022, down from the 12.6 million bags produced last year hit by 28 months of consecutive rainfall. Indeed the rainfall has been so unusual that the Government of Colombia has begun compensating farmers hit by the extraordinary wet weather, through a range of measures including reductions in the cost of loans, reducing interest rates, extending credit periods as well as in some instances direct grants. Whilst the threat of a recession in the near future is very real, coffee companies continue to report growing demand with Tata Coffee Company India reporting that their coffee revenues in the Indian market grew 39% over the past 12 months. Similarly, the American based Keurig Dr Pepper reported strong results for the third quarter of 2022 with net sales increasing by 11.4% to $3.62 billion. This was driven by higher sales of coffee pods in the US Market but also by a 26.9% increase in coffee sales in Latin American markets.
I still cannot get access to any reliable regularly-published data on price differentials, so once again I have had to use sources, the accuracy of which cannot be guaranteed. Physical price differentials appear to have continued to strengthen, once again partially offsetting the decline in Futures. Brazilian 3/4’s are up 2 cents at minus 13; Similarly, Honduras HG’s are also up 2 cents/lb at plus 39; Kenya AB FAQ’s appear to be slightly higher and are quoted at between at plus 75 and plus 90; whilst Colombian UGQ’s are also higher and are quoted at plus 68. Without any update on PNG Y1’s, I would guess (and it is just a guess) that they might also be higher at around plus 4. Therefore, had an exporter fixed on Friday in New York for Feb/March delivery he may have been able to secure a price between 169.95 cents/lb and 181.35 cents/lb.
Although the plunge this week was totally unexpected and indeed represents a major market correction, the reasons behind the collapse are purely speculative without any supportive hard evidence. Nevertheless whilst there is every reason to believe that the market is oversold, there is little evidence that the drive downwards has come to an end. Producers are clearly reluctant to sell at these prices, but a forecast 8% increase in exports from Brazil in October does not reinforce this perception. Consequently, whilst it would be easy to suggest that the plunge has been overdone and that a bounce is due, there is unfortunately equally no guarantees that the collapse may not continue. On balance I think that prices should recover next week, but I have been saying that for the last 2 weeks, so anything is possible.
Mick Wheeler, UK.


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It’s time to make AI open and accessible to all. That’s the goal of this expanded long-term strategic partnership between Hugging Face and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Together, the two leaders aim to accelerate the availability of next-generation machine learning models by making them more accessible to the machine learning community and helping developers achieve the highest performance at the lowest cost.
Machine learning is quickly becoming embedded in all applications. As its impact on every sector of the economy comes into focus, it’s more important than ever to ensure every developer can access and assess the latest models. The partnership with AWS paves the way toward this future by making it faster and easier to build, train, and deploy the latest machine learning models in the cloud using purpose-built tools.
There have been significant advances in new Transformer and Diffuser machine learning models that process and generate text, audio, and images. However, most of these popular generative AI models are not publicly available, widening the gap of machine learning capabilities between the largest tech companies and everyone else. To counter this trend, AWS and Hugging Face are partnering to contribute next-generation models to the global AI community and democratize machine learning. Through the strategic partnership, Hugging Face will leverage AWS as a preferred cloud provider so developers in Hugging Face’s community can access AWS’s state-of-the-art tools (e.g., Amazon SageMaker, AWS Trainium, AWS Inferentia) to train, fine-tune, and deploy models on AWS. This will allow developers to further optimize the performance of their models for their specific use cases while lowering costs. Hugging Face will apply the latest in innovative research findings using Amazon SageMaker to build next-generation AI models. Together, Hugging Face and AWS are bridging the gap so the global AI community can benefit from the latest advancements in machine learning to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications.
“The future of AI is here, but it’s not evenly distributed,” said Clement Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face. “Accessibility and transparency are the keys to sharing progress and creating tools to use these new capabilities wisely and responsibly. Amazon SageMaker and AWS-designed chips will enable our team and the larger machine learning community to convert the latest research into openly reproducible models that anyone can build on.”
This expanded strategic partnership enables Hugging Face and AWS to accelerate machine learning adoption using the latest models hosted on Hugging Face with the industry-leading capabilities of Amazon SageMaker. Customers can now easily fine-tune and deploy state-of-the-art Hugging Face models in just a few clicks on Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Elastic Computing Cloud (EC2), taking advantage of purpose-built machine learning accelerators including AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia.
“Generative AI has the potential to transform entire industries, but its cost and the required expertise puts the technology out of reach for all but a select few companies,” said Adam Selipsky, CEO of AWS. “Hugging Face and AWS are making it easier for customers to access popular machine learning models to create their own generative AI applications with the highest performance and lowest costs. This partnership demonstrates how generative AI companies and AWS can work together to put this innovative technology into the hands of more customers.”
Hugging Face has become the central hub for machine learning, with more than 100,000 free and accessible machine learning models downloaded more than 1 million times daily by researchers, data scientists, and machine learning engineers. AWS is by far the most popular place to run models from the Hugging Face Hub. Since the start of our collaboration, Hugging Face on Amazon SageMaker has grown exponentially. We are experiencing an exciting renaissance with generative AI, and we're just getting started. We look forward to what the future holds for Hugging Face, AWS, and the AI community.


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The countdown has long commenced, and some game developers such as Real Time Gaming (RTG) have already announced their huge plans for the spectacular gaming event. Some are going wild with oceanic themes while others are settling for a different kind of innovation.
Euro Games Technology (EGT), leading casino games and solutions supplier based in Sofia, Bulgaria has some great news for all iGaming enthusiasts. All prepared for the upcoming thrilling gaming happening, the European firm has prepared its EGT Multiplayer features. Last year in China at the very same event, the Bulgarian behemoth had the pleasure to present its progressive jackpots and exclusive slot machines. So EGT is coming back as a champion.
G2E Asia 2019 will be taking place between the 21st and 23rd of May 2019 in the Chinese special administrative region Macau.
As far as EGT’s display goes, the exhibition will be centred on the first-shown debut for the region General line of six spanking new slot cabinets. Those are the G 27-27 Up and St, the G 27-32 Up and St, as well as the superbly comfortable G 32-32 VIP. Lastly, the sensational G 55 Curved VIP will be premiered at G2E 2019 as well, a product that implements luxury style chairs and stereo speakers accompanied by game controls and sound volume.
In addition, the second part of the title now comes into action. RGT Multiplayer will be showcased at the occasion, and it will be its debut in Asia.
The splendid S 32/55 S-Line terminal will be displayed there for all visitors to see. It is utterly flexible and can be arranged in diverse configurations on the floor. Moreover, it boasts an elegant and delicately detailed design and a 32-inch full HD main monitor with a touch screen.
The second 55-inch vertical information display will be integrated and will allow viewers to be engulfed in the stupefying power of this ultra-high-definition resolution.
BestCasinos team consists of online casino experts dedicated to spreading their knowledge and experience to a wider audience, all in effort to help even the most inexperienced players gain their footing in this exciting industry.


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How the pandemic changed fintech strategy for 2021
2020: Rewriting digital strategy
At the beginning of 2020, it seemed that ‘digital transformation’ was going to be the dominant industry trend for fintech throughout the year. However, at the onset of Spring, this changed unprecedentedly for most of the world as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. From that point onwards long-standing industry pain points could no longer be ignored: digital strategies had to reflect the new normal, fast.
“Simply put, the events of 2020 brought the future forward,” says Eli Rosner, Chief Product and Technology Officer, at Finastra. “Our capabilities and software platforms allowed us to act very quickly in March 2020, from accommodating remote working to supporting our customers with their own transition. Finastra delivered working solutions to the market in a matter of days, such as the Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) in the US.”
Indeed, there is a general consensus that the lockdown period has driven a wholesale reappraisal of digital’s value in the race to provide better products and services. Companies in the finance space were forced to rely on technology in an incredibly compressed amount of time, and, in some cases, start approaching fundamental aspects of their business from totally new perspectives. Firat Koc, Chief Marketing Officer at challenger bank Papara, states that remaining fast and agile during the transition period and accommodating customers’ changing needs paid off significantly for his company. Offering cash back incentives and relief from financial pressures, “Papara managed to reach its end-of-year user and card holder targets three months earlier than expected. Papara now has 5.5 million users and adds over 300,000 more every month.”
Technology: Driving the change
When FinTech Magazine asked for perspectives on which key technologies had driven companies’ revised digital strategies, we received a diverse range of examples:
Big Data and data analytics: “The introduction of big data analytics and machine learning algorithms into our development cycle has improved customer segmentation and fraud detection and prevention,” says Koc. “Artificial intelligence (AI) for KYC (know your customer) purposes is another technology that has been used by centralised cryptocurrency markets for some time. However, it has not yet become widespread in the finance sector, yet.”
Microservices: Edgardo Savoy, Chief Technology Officer at TransferGo, told us, “At the heart of each operation is the customer experience. Every service or microservice that we design has the customer at its starting point and is anchored to the experience we want to deliver. This not only gives us flexibility but also allows us to develop new services and offerings at speed and in line with client needs.”
Open banking and automation: “Open Banking has offered an immediate remedy while preserving the level of due diligence required to process loans responsibly,” comments Simon Cureton, CEO of finance marketplace Funding Options. “Automated decision-making has also accelerated the lending process to a matter of minutes from application to approval. Currently, Funding Option’s record for ‘application to approval’ is just two minutes and 56 seconds.”
Cloud: “Finastra has a strategic, multi-year cloud agreement in place with Microsoft to help accelerate the digital transformation of financial services. Cloud is a key enabler in this regard and has helped our ability to deliver remotely too. Cloud technologies are also helping to drive our initiatives to deliver better outcomes for everyone, including the financially excluded, small businesses, and entire communities,” says Rosner.
Has fintech matured in 2020?
The endurance and continued success of fintech despite the overwhelming number of challenges, restrictions and pressures is highly encouraging. However, it could be argued that the ‘divide’ between startups and incumbents has never been more apparent than how each has reacted to the pandemic’s paradigm-shifting effect. “Rapid changes in user behavior cannot be met fast enough by incumbents,” posits Koc. “Existing companies’ slow acceptance of financial ‘experiments’ like cryptocurrencies are reflective of their lack of agility.”
The fragmentation of the finance sector has been exposed. Mending this rift will require intense collaboration from both sides in order to support customer needs in an increasingly digital industry. Danny Chazonoff, Chief Operating Officer at Paysafe Group, is optimistic that enhanced coordination will take place, with companies eventually recognising the superior value that ecosystems, instead of siloed efforts, can offer. “Businesses have had to revolutionise the consumer experience in order to stay afloat. The latest report in our ‘’ research series suggested that 36% of online UK businesses consider COVID-19 to have increased their ability to innovate, with around 84% of organisations subsequently altering their operations. Companies will need to depend on one another, collaborate and work closely with regulators.” This advice is all the more pertinent because targeted ecosystems could soon become the world’s unassailable generators of revenue. In fact, McKinsey & Co that, by 2025, 30% of global revenues (US$60trn) will be generated by .
Rosner, while still opining that finance has yet to fully capitalise on the lessons of 2020, concedes that COVID-19’s effect of reframing common operational issues has led to some impressive results in accelerated development. Its legacy in banking, for example, has been a higher level of cloud enablement and agility that will make subsequent innovation faster, easier and better. “Our experience shows that banks which had already adopted cloud were better able to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19. Banks still on their digital transformation journey must continue to steer their operations toward a new operating model, one that delivers highly relevant customer experiences, provides easy access to innovation, and reduces the total cost of ownership.”
Preparing for 2021
In many ways, the digital strategies for 2021 outlined by our commentators could be summarised as ‘fulfilling the promise’ that the previous year has demonstrated as possible. Digital transformation filtered through the lens of the pandemic has laid the foundations for a brand new workplace culture, a revolutionary way of approaching customer service, and a dynamically more engaging user experience. The events of 2020 have left an indelible mark on corporate strategy in fintech that will have an enduring legacy. For Savoy, 2021 represents an exciting opportunity for a year’s worth of thought, planning and hard work to pay off. “Customers have also accelerated their adoption of digital technology, and the pace of this transformation will continue long after COVID-19. Can you imagine going back to the same manual processes, like queuing in banks to send money abroad, when the technology exists to do all of that without leaving your home?”
- Encompass: How banks can use technology to stay competitiveBanking
- Highspot: Prioritising revenue and enablement in businessFinancial Services (FinServ)
- Hopper’s Dakota Smith: Innovating for the future of travelBanking
- European fintechs: Uniting against US payments hegemonyFinancial Services (FinServ)


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Labor shortages spur big equipment sales
Equipment sales are rising rapidly as U.S. manufacturers invest in new equipment. This has been happening in the plastics industry, as indicated by reports from the Plastics Manufacturers Association , but these investments have been widespread everywhere.
As the Marketplace public radio show reported this week, orders for equipment that manufacturers use to make things known as capital goods hit a 40-year high in January. (You can find the chart via the St. Louis Federal Reserve here .)
Part of the push is that consumers have money to buy goods, but labor shortages are affecting manufacturers’ ability to supply goods.
“The challenge has been to meet that demand with all the supply chain issues and labor issues that we continue to see around the world,” said Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, Justin Ho of Marketplace. .
Automation and other equipment that manufacturers can use to produce more goods with fewer people require capital investment.
Plastics News economics editor Bill Wood tracks similar numbers, tracking investment in new equipment.
“This is good news for our economy and our industry,” he says.
I’m sure anyone who follows the auto industry is aware of the reshuffle at Ford Motor Co. where the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker is splitting its traditional car operations and its fledgling electric car business.
The plan is that the new arrangement — internal combustion engine cars will become a division of Ford Blue and electric cars, the Ford Model e — will allow the car development teams to focus on their specific product line.
But I want to mention some other Ford news with a special focus on the special customer.
As Michael Martinez of our sister paper Automotive News writes , Buzz Aldrin , the second man to set foot on the moon and the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew, ordered a 2022 Lincoln Nautilus crossover in October. He wanted it delivered in time for his 92nd birthday on Jan. 30, but his order wasn’t fulfilled for months because of a shortage of semiconductors.
But when Ford CEO Jim Hackett heard about the delay in Aldrin’s car, he stepped in, and the Lincoln team and assembly line workers made it a priority to get Aldrin’s car delivered on time.


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Bauer Media has inked a seven-month partnership between Three and Kiss FM UK’s breakfast show with Rickie, Melvin and Charlie.
The deal, planned by media agency Mindshare UK, will see the show extended by an hour, running from 6am to 10am.
The partnership aims to drive awareness for Three’s 'use your phone abroad at no extra cost’ proposition. Three’s sponsorship of the Snowbombing Festival in Austria will also be promoted.
Abby Carvosso, group managing director, Bauer Advertising, said: “Our Three partnership is a first-class example of how we’re able to deliver hugely creative solutions for customers and utilise our multi-platform offering to create new conversations with consumers across our radio, print, digital and social assets.
“Through this partnership, Three will benefit from a single creative strategy and execution across brands like Kiss, heat, Grazia and Kerrang! and we couldn’t be prouder to showcase and celebrate this unified approach.!
Pippa Whybourne, lead campaign manager at Three, added: “We’re so excited about our partnership with Bauer. In the past they have delivered some great results for our brand and I am confident we are going to create strong, unique and exciting content across a multitude of platforms for our audiences and customers alike.”
The deal will be identified during the show three times an hour.


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WELSH meat exports are booming but promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru was not resting on its laurels at last week’s Sial food exhibition, Paris.
The biennual event, one of the world’s largest, attracted 150,000 visitors from almost 200 countries to more than 5,500 trade stands.
Held over five days, it is seen as an essential gathering for exporters seeking out new markets and cementing existing ones.
When Sial was last held in 2008, exports of Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef were valued at £73m. Since then, exports have almost doubled to £140m, with Welsh Lamb alone accounting for £109m.
“But we can’t afford to stand still,” said HCC chief executive Gwyn Howells, mindful of the industry’s impending levy rise.
“The only way this can continue is if we invest in the brand, keeping it at the forefront of the minds of retailers and consumers.
“Failure to do so will give our international competitors the chance to leapfrog us.”
At last week’s Sial, HCC made promising contacts with Belgium and Hong Kong businesses.


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New malware on the rampage might target Jio users — and uninstalling it won’t help
Business Insider India
- A new malware dubbed xHelper has already infected 45,000 devices and might be making its way to Jio users.
- The trojan malware looks to be targeting users in India, the US and Russia.
- xHelper doesn’t show up among listed apps or the launcher, and even if you install it — it will make its way back onto your device.
On some phones, it’s even disguised as ‘ Jio’. Sysmatec suspects this because the malware is planning to target Jio users sometime in the future — that’s a pool of nearly 500 million subscribers.
The trojan dubbed xHelper has already infected 45,000 devices. The malware hides in the background, doesn’t show up on the launcher, and even if you uninstall it — it will just reinstall itself and go back into hiding.
The persistent piece of malware is capable of downloading unnecessary apps onto your phone cluttering memory and displaying ads, according to Sysmatec’s analysis.
Malware that can’t be seen and can’t be removed
This makes it possible for it to do two things. One, the phone doesn’t list itself as an application, so there’s nothing to uninstall.
Two, there’s no way to launch it manually and open it up. The malware’s launch will only be instigated by external events — this includes acts like putting your phone on charging, or rebooting the device.
Once it’s up and running, the malware runs as a foreground service. So, even when you clear cache as memory runs low — there’s a minimal chance of xHelper being shut down.
AdvertisementEven if it’s somehow stopped, it will restart on its own.
A ray of hope
Of all the samples that Sysmatec analysed, none were from the Google Play Store. The cyber security company believes that there’s a high possibility that xHelper can only make its way onto a phone with something is downloaded from unknown sources.
Sysmatec also observed that the malware is more prevalent on phones from certain brands, but did not disclose which specific smartphones are vulnerable.
xHelper is among Malwarebytes’ ten most detected list. It was added to their list in May 2019, and has since removed the infection from nearly 33,000 devices — and that number continues to rise.
Nobody the malware’s origins or where it’s coming from — just that it’s a growing threat that needs to be averted.
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Introduction: The Day Before, an upcoming survival MMO game, has been embroiled in a trademark dispute recently, leading to the removal of its Steam page. However, the developer has taken swift action to address the issue and has assured fans that the Steam page will be reinstated soon. In this article, we will delve into the details of the trademark dispute and discuss the developer's response to the situation.
The Trademark Dispute: The Day Before faced a setback when it became entangled in a trademark dispute, causing its Steam page to be temporarily which apparently shared similarities with another existing trademark. As a result, the developer had to remove the Steam page to resolve the issue.
Developer's Response: In response to the trademark dispute, the developer of The Day Before promptly acknowledged the situation and assured fans that they were working diligently to address the problem. They expressed regret over any inconvenience caused and emphasized their commitment to resolving the issue in a timely manner.Also Read:
- Sony and Fnatic Announce Global Partnership for INZONE Gaming Gear Development
- Neanderthals: Pioneers in the Art of Birch Tar Production
Taking Legal Action: To resolve the trademark dispute, the developer has initiated legal proceedings to protect their intellectual property rights. They are actively working with legal experts to navigate the complexities of the situation and reach a favorable resolution. The developer's proactive approach demonstrates their determination to overcome the challenges posed by the trademark dispute.
Engaging with the Community: Throughout this process, the developer has maintained open lines of communication with the game's community. They have provided regular updates on the progress made in resolving the trademark dispute and have been transparent about the steps being taken. This level of transparency and engagement has helped to alleviate concerns among fans and has demonstrated the developer's commitment to their player base.
Steam Page Reinstatement: Despite the setback, the developer has assured fans that The Day Before's Steam page will be reinstated soon. They have been working closely with the relevant authorities to resolve the trademark dispute and are confident that the necessary arrangements will be made to restore the game's presence on Steam. This news will undoubtedly be welcomed by the eager fans who have been eagerly awaiting the game's release.
So, The Day Before's developer has taken swift and decisive action to address the trademark dispute that led to the removal of the game's Steam page. Through legal proceedings and active engagement with the community, they have demonstrated their commitment to protecting their intellectual property and ensuring the game's availability on the popular gaming platform. Fans can look forward to the reinstatement of The Day Before's Steam page in the near future.Read More:
- Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak: The Final Title Update and the Primordial Malzeno Anomaly Investigations
- Armored Core 6: Breaking Free from Elden Ring Comparisons
That's it for this article.
Thanks for Visiting Us – Mirror7News.com


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Singapore’s financial regulator says “no” to crypto speculation, but “yes” to digital asset innovation.
Crypto Investors Put on Notice
The Chief of Singapore’s central bank and financial regulator said the country plans to introduce tighter regulations for retail crypto investors in order to safeguard consumers against harm.
In an Aug. 29 address titled, “Yes to Digital Asset Innovation, No to Cryptocurrency Speculation,” Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said he considers cryptocurrencies highly hazardous for retail investors. Despite the authority issuing warnings about the risks of trading cryptocurrencies, “many consumers are still enticed by the prospect of sharp price increases in cryptocurrencies.”
Retail investors seem to be “irrationally oblivious” about the risks of cryptocurrency trading, Menon said. However he believes “banning retail access to cryptocurrencies is not likely to work.” Instead the regulator is considering measures that involve “adding frictions on retail access to cryptocurrencies.”
These measures could involve customer suitability tests and restricting the use of leverage and credit facilities for cryptocurrency trading. By October, the MAS will seek public feedback on their latest proposals.
Singapore promotes itself as a global fintech hub that wants to welcome crypto players, however the regulator is adopting stringent measures to discourage retail access. Menon said the regulator’s dual stances on 1) facilitating innovative digital asset activities and 2) restricting cryptocurrency speculation are not contradictory.
Source : bsc.news
Founded in 2020, BSCNews is the leading media platform covering decentralized finance (DeFi) on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). We cover a wide range of blockchain news revolving mainly around the DeFi sector of the crypto markets. BSCNews aims to inform, educate and share information with the global investment community through our website, social media, newsletters, podcasts, research, and live ask me anything (AMA). Our content reaches hundreds of thousands of global investors who are active in the BSC DeFi space.
BSC NEWS is a private news network. All posts posted by this user belong 100% to bsc.news All rights are reserved to BSC NEWS for more information about BSC NEWS contact BSC NEWS HERE.


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Chipotle has fallen on hard times in recent years because of several highly publicized incidents of customers getting violently ill from eating at the food chain. The fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain attempted to entice customers to return by offering a new queso, but that failed miserably. Chipotle also tried to tempt eaters everywhere when they introduced a healthier quinoa burrito. The latest way that Chipotle is trying to lure customers back to their restaurant is frozen paloma margaritas. Hard to fault the logic in using alcohol to tempt people, it’s proven to work for centuries.
The burrito purveyor is testing frozen paloma margaritas. Palomas are a tequila-based drink that features grapefruit juice or grapefruit-flavored soda. Chipotle’s palomas will be different in that they are frozen much like margaritas. Chipotle’s adult slushie will be made of grapefruit, agave nectar, citrus, and Sauza tequila. A 14-ounce cocktail will cost $6.20 and be served in a plastic cup. According to one with a tester from The Daily Meal, “she started feeling the buzz after finishing just half the glass (er, plastic cup).” The reviewer added that it was sweeter than a regular paloma, but also “tangy and boozy.” You can’t fault the logic in going with the booze and burrito in an attempt to jumpstart sales.


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It was reported in October last year that German auto giant Volkswagen is considering making an exit from Russia following the footsteps of many international carmakers that exited the country after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Now VW has officially withdrawn from Russia selling all the shares of its subsidiaries as well as its large factory in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow. As per reports, Volkswagen struck a deal with a Moscow-based dealership named Avilon. An official sales price has not been announced but reports state Avilon paid approximately €125 million ($135 million) to acquire VW’s Russian operation and its Kaluga plant which has enough capacity to build 225,000 vehicles a year.
Volkswagen spent €774 million to build the Kaluga plant which became operational in 2007 before reaching full-scale production in 2009. VW ceased operations at the site shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The 4,000 employees at the factory have remained on payroll ever since while waiting on information about the company’s future in Russia.
Related: Geely Defends Chinese Car Brand’s Sales Push in Russia
It is unclear whether Volkswagen’s agreement with Avilon includes a provision allowing it to return to Russia. Bear in mind, Renault agreed to sell its 68% ownership in Russian automaker AvtoVAZ for 1 ruble last year, but the agreement contains the possibility for the company to resume operations in the future if it so decides.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com


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Today we release an update to our Digital & Media Asset Management Report. In addition to insights on DAM Trends for 2012, we now have an in-depth 12-page evaluation of Avid's Interplay MAM, and a first look at MerlinOne's Merlin DAM.
Avid is primarily known as a provider of audio and video production technology (Media Composer, Pro Tools, etc.). In early 2010 Avid acquired a German company called Blue Order for its media asset management software, called Media Archive. As 2011 drew to a close, Avid announced the release of Interplay MAM 4.0, the first major release since the acquisition. We've lifted up the hood and taken a detailed look inside.
MerlinOne, meanwhile, sits at a completely different place in the market. A tiny company with roots in the newspaper and print publishing market, MerlinOne remains one of the few DAM vendors wedded to a thick client, while the rest of the industry moves on has moved on to web-based interfaces. We found the system capabilities somewhat limited compared to other DAM vendors we cover -- albeit targeted to the company's core customer base -- and we outline why in detail in our report.


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Over the last few years, plenty of studies have shown that consumers are generally carrying less cash than they used to, and that’s a trend that’s seen as continuing unabated for some time to come. While it’s unlikely that a cashless society is going to evolve in the next few decades, experts say it may nonetheless be time for laundromats in particular to start thinking about the ways they can better accommodate consumers’ changing payment habits.
While many laundromats have already switched to using at least some sort of card payment system, the fact remains that many have not, and that means people have to save up large amounts of quarters in the days or weeks before a trip to wash their clothes, according to a report from the Westchester Journal News. Some may find that inconvenient, but there’s a divide in the laundry industry about whether a change needs to be made.
Some are staunchly opposed to taking on a non-cash payment system, particular because there can often be a significant cost associated with doing so, the report said. Others may be more receptive, but in general the attitudes tilted against such efforts are likely based in perceived preferences among consumers that might not actually be there.
“We’re strictly a coin-operated business,” Anthony Collaboletta, owner of Suds and Bubbles in White Plains, New York, told the newspaper. “It doesn’t pay to make the switch, my clientele prefers using cash.”
What works, and what doesn’t?
The old standby in the industry has been the use of bill-changing machines, which may allow consumers to show up with a bit of money in their pockets but not worry about having to carry a bunch of quarters with them on the way in, the report said. On the way out it’s a different story, especially for those who only carry larger bills. Finding a happy medium between these two issues may be key for laundromats looking to keep customers happy and coming back.
The laundromat industry may be poised to change in some significant ways over the next few years, and the owners who are most receptive to finding the newest and most innovative ways to connect with potential customers may be the ones that are going to have the most success going forward. For this reason, at least exploring all options available could go a long way.


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Just a few days before Apple’s October 16 media event this coming Thursday, the rumors and part leaks keep coming in and this time a certain Taiwanese website posted several photos purported to be device parts which Apple will incorporate into the latest iteration of its iPad Air.
Apple has confirmed the rumors about its supposed October 16 affair by sending out invitations to certain media people and other selected guest last week where the Cupertino firm is expected to launch its updated iPad lines which include the iPad Air and the iPad Mini. For convenience’s sake, the media has dubbed the next-gen iDevices as the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 which seems logical unless Apple chooses another name convention for their updated devices.
First on the list is the glass cover/display with incorporated digitizer supposedly intended for the iPad Air 2. From the photo, it seems that Apple will not be using the rumored laminated display technology it applied to the new iPhones which would have given the iPad Air 2 an even thinner profile. But remember that these are only leaked parts and knowing Apple, nothing is final until Apple says it’s final.
Next is what appears to be a full logic board for the iPad Air 2 showing not the rumored A8 processor at its core but an A8X system on a chip (SOC). When Apple released the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus this September, the company’s flagship mobile handsets carried the A8 processors with them. If this leaked photo is indeed intended to go into the new iPad Air 2, could this mean that Apple wants to differentiate its tablet line a bit further from its phone line by adding more digital crunching to power to it? More users are apt to use their tablets for gaming purposes compared to their phones so this move to increase the iPad’s digital image processing prowess could give users an added incentive to shell out their hard-earned cash for Apple’s new tablets. There is also this rumor saying the new iPad Air 2 will get its RAM boosted to 2 GB, and with this working concurrently with the A8X chip, Apple might just pull off the split screen multitasking mode designed with iOS 8.
It has long been rumored that the new iPads will have TouchID Fingerprint Sensors and looking at the photo shown below, we can clearly see the stainless steel Home button with the TouchID
detection ring similar to those used in the new iPhones. This is enough proof that Apple’s new iPad lines will surely have the security feature akin to its mobile handsets.
Lastly, the photo shown below is the volume control flex cable with the volume up, volume down and what appears to be a microphone. This could mean that engineers at Apple may really do away with the mute/rotation button to give the new tablets an even thinner profile.
Users won’t have to wait long as Apple’s October event is just a couple of days away so be sure to stay stuck as the news rolls in on all things Apple.


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Pub visits rocketed in the past year as Britons celebrated Brexit, new figures revealed today
The number of people enjoying a drink at their local rose 12.5 per cent in the year to March, according to data from Barclaycard.
Experts said the figures showed that people had a renewed confidence in the UK economy following the vote to leave the EU in June last year.
The stats showed the proportion of people who were confident in the UK economy rose to 41 per cent, the second highest level recorded in the past 12 months.
March was an especially strong month for the eating and drinking-out sector
Robust growth in spending on 'nice to haves' suggests consumers are still willing to treat themselves
March was an especially strong month for the eating and drinking-out sector, said Barclaycard.
Entertainment spending was up 11.6 per cent, visits to pubs increased by 12.5 per cent and spending in restaurants was up 12.2 per cent.
The figures covered the year to March 2017, compared to the previous year.
People had a renewed confidence in the UK economy following the vote last year, experts say
The figures revealed that 70 per cent of consumers are confident in their household finances, with 57 per cent feeling confident to spend more on non-essential items, like nights out.
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Paul Lockstone, managing director of Barclaycard, said: “Robust growth in spending on 'nice to haves' suggests consumers are still willing to treat themselves, especially on experiences with friends and family.”
Brexit: Results of how the UK voted Mon, March 20, 2017
Much of the North East of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union including Sunderland, Gateshead, Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside, and Northumberland
Getty Images 1 of 8
GREAT YARMOUTH: The town of Great Yarmouth on the East Coast of England voted by 72% to leave the European Union.
However, the data showed more than half of the 2,000 people questioned were worried about the cost of day to day items.
Three in four people said the weekly grocery shop had become more expensive, making them worried about rising prices in future.
Looking ahead, six in 10 people said they expected to make changes to how and where they spend their money during the second half of 2017.