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A site that had allegedly been posting false complaints about Realtors and then offering to remove them in exchange for money has been shut down, according to the National Association of Realtors.
NAR and several state Realtor associations had been investigating the site, Realtor-complaints.com, for misuse of the Realtor trademark, said Stacey Moncrieff, editor in chief for Realtor Magazine and NAR’s managing director of publishing, in a blog post.
On Jan. 10, NAR posted a warning about what it called a "scam complaint site," alleging the site purported to post consumer complaints about real estate professionals, but the complaints had been found to have similar phrasing and were therefore suspected to be fake.
In addition, agents who contacted the site were offered the "opportunity" to have their name and the complaint removed from the site for a $99 fee, according to the Ohio Association of Realtors.
The association posted a copy of the wording used in an email to multiple agents in Cincinnati. The subject line read "Listing my home for sale."
My daughter’s friend hired your agency a couple months ago (and I believe you as the realtor). Her home sold very quickly and I’m interested in hiring you to list our home as well.
Would you mind sending me a couple references from past clients of yours? The only concern I have is this bad review I found on realtor complaints..
(It includes a direct link to the realtor-complaints.com site)
I look forward to hearing back from you,
Bill Hays, a broker in Encinitas, Calif., reported getting a nearly identical email on Jan. 12.
"At first, you read the email thinking you might have a lead, but then it starts to become clear that the email is a scam," Hays said in a blog post. "Click on the link and it goes to what appears to be a complaint about me — but my name is clearly taken from an old database as I don’t use my formal name like that nor have I been affiliated with the brokerage listed for many years. Anyways, if you click on the choices to either respond or erase, you are taken to a PayPal page to PAY $49 or $99 dollars to respond or get the complaint removed."
The site’s WHOIS record indicates that, although the site had claimed to have been around since 2002, the domain name was first registered on Jan. 1, 2013, NAR said. The trade group also found the site’s servers were hosted in the Seychelles, an archipelago located east of Africa in the Indian Ocean.
In the warning earlier this month, Moncrieff said NAR’s attorneys were investigating the site and would take steps to shut it down if necessary. On Jan. 23, the site’s home page indicated the site had been sold and would relaunch on May 1.
Screen shot of Realtor-complaints.com home page taken by Bill Hays on Jan. 23
On Jan. 24, the domain was suspended, according to the WHOIS record. The site now only displays links to scores of real estate websites.
Screen shot of Realtor-complaints.com home page taken today
"That is encouraging," said NAR attorney Mike Thiel on the trade group’s website, "but we are trying to find out what that means going forward."
Moncrieff noted that reputation trashing is growing and suggested several tips for agents to manage their reputation online, including maintaining consistent and up-to-date online profiles, asking consumers for reviews in legitimate forums such LinkedIn and Yelp, and signing up for Google Alerts to get notified when their name appears in a search.
It’s "important to approach with caution any service that claims to either track or burnish your reputation," she said.
And if a website posts inaccurate information, agents should contact the site to correct those errors quickly, she said.
"But there’s one step you should never have to take: paying money to have false information removed from a site," she added.


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Microsoft's answer to the iPad, the Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets, have stumbled out of the gates, moving just 1.5 million units since launch, according to a new report.
Of that 1.5 million, the Surface RT, launched in October, accounts for 1.1 million, Bloomberg reporter Dina Bass tweeted on Thursday. Surface RT is meant, along with other Windows RT tablets, to be a lower-cost alternative to Apple's iPad, which moved 23 million units last quarter.
The Surface Pro, which runs a full version of Windows 8 and is compatible with legacy Windows applications, has moved just under half a million units in the weeks since its January launch. Microsoft markets the Surface Pro as more of a laptop replacement than a consumer tablet, and it is priced accordingly.
When the software giant introduced its first major foray into computing hardware last summer, a number of its hardware partners were less than thrilled at the prospect of having to compete with the company that supplies them with an operating system. Microsoft attempted to assuage OEM fears by assuring them that the Surface was meant more to demonstrate potential form factors that they could emulate, not as the opening salvo of a hardware struggle.
Since introducing the tablets, though, the company has expanded the team working on Surface hardware, with job listings hinting at a next generation of the device. There have also been rumors that Microsoft is working on a 7-inch version of the device to compete with the iPad mini. That version, according to some reports, may feature connectivity with Microsoft's successful Xbox 360 video game console.
No matter the sales of its Surface devices â which are said to be at or near the top among Windows 8 computers â it appears that Microsoft is not looking to exit the hardware segment any time soon. Company representatives have revealed previously that the company will keep trying to market the tablets until they find a winning strategy.

domain: news


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Jewellery which was stolen from a coaching inn in the Cotswolds is thought to be worth £200,000.
West Mercia Police said the haul was taken from the Lygon Arms in Broadway, Worcestershire, overnight on March 17-18.
A force spokesman said "inaccurate media conjecture" had suggested the items could be worth as much as £1 million.
"Although complete detailed valuations are not yet confirmed, further discussions with the victims confirms that the figure will be around £200,000," the spokesman added.
Among the goods was a six-carat diamond ring worth £100,000 and a gold diamond Cartier lady's watch valued at £30,000 as well as a heavy white gold and diamond link necklace, bracelet and earrings.


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Axon Enterprise (NASDAQ: AAXN) has been one of the more volatile stocks on the market this year. The maker of law enforcement products like the Taser electroshock weapon, body cameras, and related gear surged through the first half of 2018, up more than 150% over the summer on two blowout earnings reports. However, since then, the stock has fallen alongside the broader sell-off in high-priced growth stocks, and after its third-quarter report in November showed sales growth slowing.
With the stock down more than 40% from its peak this summer, shares now appear to be selling at a steep discount, considering that nothing fundamental has changed about the company in those months. Below are seven reasons why I just bought more shares of Axon.
1. An inherent need for security
Plenty of things will change in the business world over the next 10 or 20 years, and companies and industries will come and go, but the need for security is a human constant. Police and law-enforcement agencies -- Axon's customers -- will still be around, and will demand the best products available to help them do their jobs. Axon, the market leader in less-lethal conductive electrical weapons and body cameras, figures to have a role in that future.
2. Body cameras -- the way of the future
In today's political climate, with outrage over controversial police shootings and demands for criminal-justice reform, body cameras have become an obvious tool for law enforcement agencies and the criminal courts -- used to hold officers accountable, and to present evidence in cases in which there'd otherwise only be hearsay, or one person's story against another.
Body cameras aren't a perfect solution, but the technology will get better, which will help ensure the law is enforced in a more just manner. In October, Axon introduced its first LTE-connected camera, the Axon Body 3; the company also makes dashboard cameras, which provide similar benefits for highway stops or other incidents where a police cruiser is present. Through the first nine months of this year, product sales in its software and sensors segment, which is mostly made up of body and dashboard cameras, rose 33% to $50.8 million.
3. Exposure to the cloud
Axon does more than just make Tasers and cameras. The company also operates cloud-based digital management software, a database through Evidence.com, and similar tools. Like other cloud businesses, Axon Cloud has proven to be a high-margin business for the Taser maker, generating a gross margin of 73.9%. It's also growing quickly, with revenue in the segment up 47% in the most recent quarter.
4. Margins ramping up
Part of the reason that Axon stock surged over the first half of the year is that its margins have suddenly expanded this year as cloud revenue has ramped up, and the company has begun to see profits from its body cameras, which help drive adoption of its cloud tools. Gross margin in the most recent quarter jumped 750 basis points to 62.6%, and through the first three quarters of the year operating margin improved from 3.4% to 7.5%. As a result, earnings per share has more tripled from $0.14 to $0.47, a promising sign for future profit growth.
5. Competitive advantages
Axon's combination of body and dashboard-camera footage with its cloud-based storage database creates a powerful network of competitive advantages, as it locks customers into its system by creating switching costs and barriers to entry. Evidence.com also benefits from network effects -- it becomes a more powerful database as more law enforcement agencies upload data onto the website.
6. Investment in research and development
Through the first three quarters of the year, the company spent 23.3% of its revenue on research and development, a significantly higher percentage than most tech companies. That bodes well for future product launches, and Axon is continuously upgrading its product line and introducing new devices. In addition to the new LTE-connected Axon Body 3 camera, the company just came out with a new TASER 7, the first "ground-up redesign" of the weapon since its introduction in 1993, improving performance across several key metrics.
7. A long growth path ahead
All of the factors above convince me that Axon has a long growth path ahead of it. Its revenue growth of 16% in its most recent quarter may not make it look like a high-growth company, but its product line meets a timeless need, it's making smart investments, and it's building competitive advantages through its cloud network and cameras. All of that should help ensure double-digit growth for many years.
With the stock selling at a discount after the recent sell-off, now looks like a great time to buy.
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Adam E. Williams | #RoadmapForSuccess
Leader. Visionary Strategist. Incisive Tactician. Entrepreneur. Old World Dreamer. New World Geek.
Telsa’s share price dropped nearly 6% on the announcement of the Tesla Cybertruck, likely due to the very controversial design, but it seems those who like it, like it a lot. On Twitter, Elon Musk has just announced the Tesla CyberTruck pre-order numbers and surprisingly 146,000 people have already placed reservations for the vehicle. 146k […]
Read More: More than $8 billion worth of Tesla Cybertrucks already reserved!


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“We are pleased to announce the holding of an online event “SIGMA STAGE ONLINE”, which is a presentation of new products. It will be held on Tuesday, October 19th, 2021, from JST 21:00 / CET 13:00 / EDT 08:00.”
We’ll find out exactly which new products, lenses presumably, will be announced at this event on October 19, 2021 at 21:00 Japan Standard Time (JST) aka October 19, 2021, 8:00am Eastern Standard Time (EDT), but I am hoping that one thread will be Fujifilm X-mount lenses and an X-mount version of the rumoured 18-50mm zoom lens, equivalent to 28-75mmm, an excellent set of focal lengths for documentary photography and video.
- Sigma – SIGMA STAGE Online – New Products Presentation 【October 19th】– video
- Sigma Global – 10/19 21:00 JST | Online New Products Presentation “SIGMA STAGE ONLINE” – announcement


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AutoCar is one of the first publications to test drive the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte. Instead of just talking about the Quattroporte, AutoCar decided to compare the car to the Jaguar XJ sedan.
Check out more news on the Maserati Quattroporte.
Check out the video after the jump.
Refresher: The 2014 Maserati Quattroporte with two twin-turbocharged engines including a 404-hp 3.0 liter V6 and a 3.8 liter V8 making 523-hp. Prices will be announced closer to launch.
– By: Omar Rana


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After months of speculation, Amazon was set to debut a soft launch of its new Australian marketplace website. Retail consultant Scott Kilmartin told Australian news outlet, The New Daily, there would be a “soft launch” of the site on Thursday, followed by an official launch on Friday – to coincide with the annual pre-Christmas discount shopping frenzy known as Black Friday.
However, some confusion about this launch has caused a slight backlash for the global online retailer, with only a handful of people from the "test team" able to utilise the updated marketplace. As a result, many members of the public took to social media to express their frustration at there being no sight of the Australian marketplace, even though it was set to launch four days ago. Before this, amazon.com.au did exist in Australia, but it only would sell books, e-books and kindles.
On Twitter @TheStaceyWalker said: "1am and no sign of Amazon Australia going live."
@realTomCoyne: "All I can see on #AmazonAustralia is e-books. Hasn't it launched?"
Providing an image of the countries list on Amazon which did not include Australia, @corneliusJK said: "Welcome to Australia Amazon, NOT! Launch not going according to plan! Face Plant"
Although not quite the launch that was expected for Amazon, the eventual launch could spell trouble for retailers down under, with at least 60% of Amazon's revenue expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023, the company is expected to significantly 'accelerate' Australia's online shopping market, new UBS research revealed.
More news on the launch of Amazon in Australia as it develops.


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While the Legoland Hotel at Legoland Florida is still under construction, guests can already book their stay for the inaugural summer next year.
Opening in summer of 2015, the new five story hotel will feature 152 Lego themed rooms perfect for fans of the park. Three different Lego themes are available to guests: Pirate, Kingdom or Adventure.
Emmet, star of The Lego Movie, is helping getting the new hotel ready for next summer.
Recently, Legoland Florida also hired their first employee for the new hotel, Operations Director Kevin Carr.
“I am extremely excited to be a part of the team that is bringing LEGOLAND Florida Hotel to Central Florida,” said Carr. “LEGOLAND Florida Resort is constantly growing, and after overseeing the opening of LEGOLAND Malaysia Hotel in 2012, I can’t wait to apply that knowledge and even make some exciting additions to our new Hotel in 2015.”


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Nissan GB Authorized Repairer Andy Middlehurst takes the clock on the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb course in a flame-throwing Skyline GT-R R32.
The former British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) Nissan factory racing driver, who is now the managing director of Middlehurst Nissan in St Helens, Merseyside, will take the wheel of the legendary performance car – nicknamed ‘Godzilla’ – during of the showcase event this coming weekend.
And he looks forward to the experience, despite the daunting prospect of taming a car pumping out over 1,000bhp through all four wheels from its 2.6-litre twin-turbo engine.
“It’s definitely a fast thing,” Andy, 59, said of the car which is expected to hit 62mph in under three seconds. ”Flames come out of the exhaust and it makes an incredible noise. It should be quite a show.”
Middlehurst’s authorized auto repair business has been linked to Nissan since 1980 and a GT-R performance center remains a key part of the business.
His love of racing also remains very much intact.
After starting out in motorcycling, Andy switched to single-seaters in Formula Ford before becoming a Nissan works driver in the British Touring Car Championship in 1992.
In 1993 he began competing in the National Saloon Championship, winning four consecutive titles.
He now competes in the Historic Touring Car Championship, racing regularly for Classic Team Lotus in the famous Lotus 25 driven by Jim Clark during his F1 championship-winning season in 1963.
During this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 23-26), Middlehurst will tackle hillclimbing on behalf of Ric Wood Motorsport, a specialist in car design, development and construction , winning engines and components.
And he’s hoping to qualify for the event’s ultra-competitive “Sunday Shootout” after winning the Glover Trophy seven times at the Festival of Speed’s sister event, the Goodwood Revival.
Middlehurst said: “Motorsport has been a big part of my life for decades. I had the chance to have some wonderful experiences and I can’t wait for the Festival of Speed to come.


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MIMI Slasteri Zaini was relieved to finally have a temporary licence to operate her food truck at a few locations in Kuala Lumpur.
The 30-year-old said she previously sold drinks such as green tea by the roadside.
“Going into the food truck business is much better.
“It took a lot of effort to set up. Now, I can just park and open up for business immediately without much effort.
“I can even operate on my own without workers as I do not need to carry heavy umbrellas and tables to set up,” said Mimi, who operates in Jalan Tengah and Bangsar Utama.
She was one of the 16 vendors who received temporary licences from Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the 1Malaysia Food Heritage Carnival at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa last week. Also present was his deputy Datuk Loga Bala Mohan.
The carnival saw more than 100 stalls and 20 food trucks selling traditional food.
The three-day carnival, held from Feb 26 to 28, featured demonstrations by local chefs, performances, lucky draws and a fishing competition.
In his speech, Tengku Adnan said the ministry, Tekun Nasional and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) were willing to help roadside hawkers upgrade to become food truck vendors.
“We are willing to provide the necessary facilities but traders must be willing to improve themselves and not take the easy way out,” he said.
He also urged food truck vendors to be innovative in offering a variety of food.
StarMetro recently reported that temporary licences would be issued to food truck operators in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya from February.
Federal Territories Ministry deputy secretary-general (management and socio-economic) Datuk Nor Aini Abdul Wahab acknowledged there was a demand for the service.
“Even though we set up centres for them to conduct their business, some were illegally operating on the streets,” she said, in explaining the rationale for the decision in an interview in Putrajaya.
Nor Aini said the licence issued by DBKL and Putrajaya Corporation would be known as a “mobile licence” and was different from a trader’s licence.
“If petty traders want to go into the food truck business, they would need to apply for this new temporary licence,” she said.
She added that the ministry, through DBKL would be giving a RM10,000 grant for operators to purchase a caravan for their food truck business but it was limited to 50 units.


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Kingwood Center Gardens Gets Makeover
The estate of Charles Kelley King will now be open to visitors year-round with the addition of a new visitors’ center complete with a gallery, greenhouse and Buehler’s Fresh Foods cafe.
Kingwood Center Gardens has been a popular destination of nature enthusiasts and families for nearly 70 years. The estate consists of Kingwood Hall, a fashionable 1926 mansion designed by Cleveland architect Clarence Mack, and 47 acres of gardens containing a vast array of plants (with more on the way). The estate originally belonged to Charles Kelley King, the Ohio Brass Co’s first electrical engineer. Today, the mansion is open to the public as a museum.
For 2020, Kingwood’s original opening date was scheduled for April 1, and according to Brenda Nelson, Kingwood’s director of development and marketing, this would have been the gardens’ “last first opening day.” Thanks to the Garden Gateway Project, which involves the addition of a new visitors’ center complete with a cafe operated by Buehler’s Fresh Foods, a Gift and Garden Shop with a retail greenhouse, and an exhibit gallery, Kingwood will now be open to visitors year-round. The project also ensures more state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly spaces throughout the garden.
“We’re really excited about how this will really transform [the public’s] visits to Kingwood and offer sustainability for generations to come,” Nelson says
The historic buildings at Kingwood Center Gardens reopened their doors to visitors on Wednesday, June 17, but people have been able to visit the gardens since May 9. Admission is $5 and free for members and kids 12 and younger. (The Garden Gateway's visitor center, gardens and terraces are expected to open in mid-October.)
“People were here and picnicking in hats and gloves,” Nelson recalls of the chilly day.
Health and safety precautions are in effect at Kingwood, but these precautions have not halted the addition of special exhibits. Visitors can explore Kingwood Hall to view Charles King’s china, crystal and other unique pieces from King’s lifetime. Outside, an interactive reading and walking experience for families called The Storybook Trail opened on June 26.
“We constantly hear from visitors who say they’ve been coming here since they were children,” says Nelson. “It’s a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city and a place to relax, but it also serves as a reminder of, historically, what Mansfield used to be.” 50 N. Trimble Rd., Mansfield 44906, 419/522-0211, kingwoodcenter.org


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It has emerged that Uber is pressing on to sell its food delivery business in India to rival Zomato. According to a report, the company is trying to contain its expenses at a global level and hence, it has decided to sell off Uber Eats India.
Three sources who are close to the developments told a major tech publication that the two companies are now locked in advanced talks to complete the sale. The sources added that Uber Eats India is being valued at $400 million at this point by the negotiators.
On the other hand, Uber is also going to invest something in the $150 million to $200 million range in Zomato as part of the deal. That will give the company a significant stake in the Indian tech startup. Negotiations had taken place last week according to reports, but none of the concerned parties made any comments when asked about the deal.
Zomato is trying to expand aggressively in the growing food delivery space in India. It has emerged that the company is also in the last stages of raising $600 million in its latest funding round. The funding is apparently being led by China’s Ant Financial and will give Zomato a valuation of $3 billion.


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There have been rumors for almost two years that Microsoft would bring keyboard and mouse support to Xbox One consoles. Mike Ybarra, the corporate VP of Xbox at Microsoft, indicated earlier this year that the company was planning to add the mouse and keyboard support to Xbox One consoles. Though the software giant hasn’t officially confirmed it, a new report suggests that the Xbox One X as well as older Xbox consoles could get the keyboard and mouse support sometime soon.
Keyboard and mouse support would change a lot of things
Microsoft Poland announced that that the Xbox One X, Xbox One, and Xbox One S users would be able to play games using keyboard and mouse. The company has deleted the announcement, but not before folks at Gamer Professionals had spotted the press release. They captured a screenshot of the announcement and translated it from Polish to English using Google Translate.
The announcement says some users “prefer to conquer the virtual world with a pad in hand.” Others enjoy the “precision of the mouse movements.” There are many others who prefer playing on a keyboard over everything else. Now they can “choose these accessories and decide for themselves what they will use.” It indicates that the Redmond company could officially announce the keyboard and mouse support soon, probably sometime early next year.
There is little clarity on how the new feature would work, which apps would work with it, and whether the keyboard and mouse support would provide any concrete advantages. The Xbox One runs the Windows 10 core. Only time will tell whether Microsoft would tweak the console’s UI. Adding the keyboard and mouse support for Xbox One would significantly blur the line between PC gaming and console gaming.
The hardcore PC and console gamers are highly emotional about how they play, and they play more like professional gamers. The release of keyboard and mouse for the Xbox One X and older Xbox One models would change how the two communities play games and interact with one another. Engadget reported in September that keyboard and mouse capabilities would give PC gamers an advantage in multiplayer games.
Engadget added that the Redmond company would want developers to give gamers a choice of playing only against people with similar controllers. Such a move would ensure that people who don’t have extra peripherals or don’t want to buy them “won’t be at an automatic disadvantage.” HORI has already announced the keyboard and mouse for Xbox One. Priced at $150, the HORI TAC Pro One keyboard and mouse offers plug and play support with the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs.
However, game developer Blizzard has opposed the keyboard and mouse support for Xbox One. Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has said that the keyboard and mouse capabilities ruin the gaming experience, and could be seen as cheating. Blizzard has reached out to both Sony and Microsoft to disallow mouse and keyboard support on consoles.
Xbox One X has received an ‘incredible response’
Xbox One X is the world’s most powerful gaming console. It supports 4K HDR content and UDH Blue-Ray drives. The console has a sleek design, six teraflops of graphical power, 12GB RAM, and 326GB/s of memory bandwidth. It comes with 1TB of internal storage. It runs the same games as the Xbox One, though they are enhanced to offer a better visual experience on the Xbox One X. Polygon has described it as the “best console to play multiplatform games.”
Last month, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the Xbox One X had received an “incredible response” from consumers without specifying the sales numbers. Microsoft hasn’t revealed the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales numbers either. Nadella said during the earnings call that Microsoft would offer games as a service by giving users easier access to games on as many of its platforms as possible. It means the company is planning to bring together the console, PC, and mobile gamers into a single entity.
PS4 to beat the Xbox One this holiday season
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicts Sony’s PS4 would outsell the Xbox One in the holiday quarter, even though the Xbox One X was launched just in time to take advantage of the holiday shopping season. However, Pachter expects the Xbox sales to be close the PS4’s holiday numbers. Sony could ship “3, 4, 5 million consoles in December alone.”
The primary reason Xbox One sales would be close behind the PS4 is the Xbox One S, which is still selling at a discounted price of $189. It’s hard to beat that price point. The Xbox One X too has been selling well, but it would be interesting to see how it performs after the initial euphoria is over.


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After oil, a cut in food subsidy is on the anvil as a high-level panel suggested giving cash to beneficiaries and shifting rice and wheat procurement to states.
Official sources said the minister at a review meeting yesterday wiped out his mobile phone to dial a consumer in Ludhiana who had complained about not receiving cash subsidy.
This has been necessitated because the percentage of delayed payments has gone up significantly in the current financial year.
The direct benefit transfer on LPG was rolled out in 54 districts from November 15 and will be extended all over the country from January 1.
In a letter to Oommen Chandy, PM said now it could be used for Direct Cash Transfer for benefits under various schemes to the people.
LPG consumers across the country will from tomorrow get cash subsidy in their bank accounts and will have to buy the cooking fuel at market price.
This apart, there will also be a permanent advance deposited in the bank accounts of the eligible consumers, as soon as they make the first booking for a cylinder.
Beginning new year, LPG consumers across the country will start getting cash subsidy so that they can buy the cooking fuel at market price.


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Killing aborigimal people is not a game!
A petition has been launched to ban a game app that involves a player beating to death an "Aborigine" in a quest to survive in the Australian outback....
"Your goal is to survive. Beware of angry animals, especially if you don’t have any weapon. At nights, there is really dangerous, (sic) try to hide somewhere…. Hunt animals or grow plants – you have to eat something. You also have to fight with aboriginals (sic) – you invaded their home!" the developer, Kristina Fedenkova, explains.
A video walkthrough of the game was recently uploaded to YouTube, before being taken down, which shows a player "searching for the natives" before beating an Aboriginal man to death with a stone axe.
The user, R2Darksaber, then loots the body for quest items.
A petition on change.org to remove the game from the iTunes app store has had more than 11,200 supporters.
"By shooting 'dangerous Aboriginals', this app makes us inhuman, it re-enforces racial violence, lack of punishment for white people taking black lives, it makes fun and sport of massacres and Frontier violence," petition organiser Georgia Mantle writes.
Apple states in its terms and conditions it will "reject apps for any content or behaviour that we believe is over the line".
Both Apple and the developer are yet to comment.


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RBC Analyst Says 52 Million Google Home Devices Sold to Date and Generating $3.4 Billion in 2018 Revenue
- An RBC analyst estimates Google has sold 52 million Google Home devices worldwide with 43 million in the U.S.
- Google Home devices are expected to generate $3.4 billion in 2018 revenue and contribute nearly $850 million to the company’s gross profit
- The RBC report also suggests annual revenue from Google Home devices is expected to double by 2020
CNBC is reporting that RBC analyst Mark Mahaney says consumers have purchased 43 million Google Home devices in the U.S. and another 9 million globally. In 2018 alone, Mahaney estimates that Google Home devices will generate $3.4 billion in revenue and contribute nearly $850 million to Google’s gross profit. The revenue only trails that of Pixel smartphones by about $33 million for the year though gross profit driven by the mobile devices is more than double that of the smart speakers.
An Installed U.S. User Base of Just Under 20 Million
Wading through Mahaney’s analysis, it appears he believes about two million Google Home devices were sold in its debut year of 2016 when it only was available for purchase for the months of November and December. In 2017, his analysis suggests about 15 million devices were sold and that number will rise to about 35 million this year. Keep in mind these numbers reflects devices sold and not users or households both which can, and often do, own multiple devices.
Voicebot’s Voice Assistant Consumer Adoption Report found that U.S. smart speaker owners typically have access to about 2.2 devices. Data from other analysts suggest that number is lower in other markets but is rising. In the U.S., the RBC analysis suggests an installed base of about 19.5 million Google Home users today. CNBC says that Mahaney concludes:
The real value of Google’s hardware is that it provides a platform for it to develop and deploy its artificial intelligence chops and gives it more ways to serve ads.
Google Home Revenue to Double
Mahaney also expects Google Home device revenue to more than double by 2020 when he forecasts sales of $7.5 billion. The model shows gross profit margins remaining constant at 25%. Breaking down the numbers further you can determine that his average selling price for a Google Home device is $97.25. That is clearly a blended average of devices ranging from the Google Home Max at a list price of $399 at the high end and Google Home Mini at $49. List prices for Google Home and the new Home Hub are $129 and $149 respectively. However, each of these devices sells on discount for under $100 and the Google Home Mini can be found for less than $25 during the holiday shopping season while Google Home Max is selling for $349.


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KIA will bring to the motor show in New York a new compact crossover TuskerFebruary 5, 2019
The appearance of new items will overlap with the concept of SP, presented last year. Compact cross is based on the same platform as the next generation Hyundai Creta.
Already this spring, KIA will present the new compact crossover called the Tusker to the world community. According to “The Korean Car Blog”, which refers to a source familiar with the situation, the novelty will storm the global market, and the manufacturer will debut its debut at the April New York Auto Show.
Key design elements of the compact cross borrow from last year’s SP concept car, presented at the auto show in New Delhi. Spy shots that once got on the Web confirm this assumption: the serial car not far away from its “donor”.
It is known that KIA Tusker will be built on the same “cart” with the new generation of Hyundai Creta. However, the brand does not plan to use all the advantages of this platform and bring to the market a seven-seater SUV. Salon Tusker will be exclusively five-seater.
According to experts, as a motor, customers will be offered a 1.4-liter supercharged 1.4-liter capacity of 140 hp. A pair of him will be a 7-step “robot”. Today, such an engine can be seen under the hood of the third generation KIA Ceed. Another power unit – a 150-strong two-liter “aspirated”, combined with a CVT. Four-wheel drive for new items is not provided.
- The interior of the new Genesis G90 was first shown in the photo
- Hyundai showed the updated crossover Tucson L
- Audi TTS Competition Plus for the European market will be more powerful
- The prices for the new SUV from Nissan have been announced
- Rolls-Royce cars get new body colors


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You might call this summer picnic the first of its kind – but it won’t be the last! Direct Supply, a major supplier of senior living equipment, hosts a family event every summer and for the last 12 years it has been at the same venue. But in 2018, it made the bold move of choosing a different venue -- a farm! Coincidentally, it was the very first time the farm had ever hosted a large corporate event on its grounds, a wonderland of bright colors and lush textures, a bewildering corn maze, and miniature farm silos and barns.
Underwood Events was the catalyst bringing the two groups together. The farm was interested in expanding its market and the use of its fantastic grounds and sought out UE for new ideas. UE saw perfect synchronicity between the family picnic and the expansive and perfectly coiffed venue. To gear up the farm for 1,500 attendees was a moo-mentous task, but UE was up when the rooster crowed to get it done.
First came UE’s branding and overall event design, which drew on vivid summer and fall colors in reds and oranges, emblazoned on everything from the welcoming and directional signage to nametags and T-shirts worn by UE “farm-hands”. A massive tent was raised to join a newly built and stunning barn, offering the 1,500 guests a relaxing place to sit and enjoy the barnyard-themed fare of the day which included caramel apples, sno-cones, nachos and a delicious BBQ lunch. But really, with a twisting and turning corn maze, ropes course, and pig races nearby, few kids (or adults) were sitting for long, especially when the candy cannon exploded, raining sweet treats into the sky for all! It was a spectacularly perfect day on the farm for everyone.
The day after the event, Direct Supply leadership called it the best summer picnic ever! UE was thrilled with the opportunity to lasso the very best vendors and staff to provide a fantastic celebration once again this year.


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A new Girl Scouts cookie is in the oven.
Raspberry Rally will be available for the 2023 Girl Scouts cookie season the organization announced Tuesday.
The thin, crispy cookie is “infused with raspberry flavor” and dipped in a chocolate coating, the Girl Scouts said. It is a “sister” cookie to the Thin Mints, the organization added.
Raspberry Rally will only available through online sale and direct shipment. The Girl Scouts said it hopes to enhance girls’ “e-commerce sales and entrepreneurial skills” that way.
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC) will kick off their 2023 cookie season on January 7.
Those participating in the Girl Scout Famous Formers luncheon on September 15 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center will be able to taste test the new Raspberry Rally cookie. The chef at the event also has a special dessert planned using the new cookie. Visit www.gsccc.org for details.


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The holiday season has once again sprung upon us. Let the food, cheerfulness, and last minute shopping begin!
But wait….what should you get those loved ones? Well a healthy and delicious solution would be a holiday fruit basket.
The Bullitt Central FFA chapter would like to announce their annual holiday fruit sales. This fruit contributes to the chapter, and it allows the students to do more school, and community activities.
This fruit sale provides many opportunities for students as well as people within the community.
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Double decker bus for free digital training for startups – Google
In the latest startup news, Google has announced it will travel around the UK in a converted double-decker bus, and offer free digital skills training to all who enter its pop-up hub. The Google Digital Garage Bus will visit over 30 locations across the UK, offering face-to-face digital skills coaching to entrepreneurs who both book in advance, as well as on the spot.
The training ranges from beginner to intermediate levels, with such topics including ‘taking your first steps online’, ‘how to build your CV and personal brand online’, and ‘social media strategy’. In partnership with Sheffield City Council and a part of Google’s ‘Digital Garage’ initiative, the bus will initially tour South Yorkshire.
Alina Dimofte, digital skills policy lead at Google, said: “Following our ongoing success in getting people engaged and learning via our high street Digital Garages in Sheffield and Birmingham, we wanted to make our training even more accessible, so have started the bus tour to take training right to people’s doorsteps.”
“Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Dales is a brilliant place to kick off this tour, as despite its obvious beauty, digital connectivity can be a challenge, with almost 70% of people in the dales unable to access 4G services. Whilst 12% have never been online and 23% lack the five Basic Digital Skills.”
Patrick McLoughlin, MP for the Derbyshire Dales and chairman of the Conservative party, said: “I am delighted to be launching the Google Digital Garage Bus Tour here in Ashbourne. Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital revolution, and digital skills are crucial in today’s economy. We often hear about opportunities available to those in large towns and cities which do not make their way to more rural communities.”
“This bus tour means that we can bring Google’s expertise to smaller towns across the region, ensuring local people and businesses have the tools they need to build their skills, get ahead online and grow their businesses. Digital skills will be vital in growing rural communities, and I’d encourage everyone to sign up to take advantage of this opportunity.”
For more startup related news, keep reading iTMunch.
Feature Image Source: istockphoto.com
Image 1 Source: shutterstock.com


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Capcom has dismissed Internet speculation suggesting that its upcoming sequel Resident Evil 5 would be released in October 2008.
Rumours of an October release originated from US magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly, in addition to PSU’s own sources on the game. However, according to Eurogamer, Capcom has reiterated that it has yet to pin down a release date for the upcoming survival horror outing.
It is also worth mentioning that many retailers are sceptical that Capcom would release the game at such a time when it would be up against heavy weight contender, Gears of War 2.
Unfortunately, PSU is unable to elaborate on any details regarding the games release, as we can only confirm that an October date is all we received on the matter. Regardless, more information on the title is expected to crop up at some point this year.
Resident Evil 5 is scheduled for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.


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Kia Motors presented its future mobility vision at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Under its new ‘Boundless for all’ vision, Kia will bring a future in which opportunities for mobility and transportation are limitless.
To broaden horizons with its mobility services, Kia is also demonstrating a range of new technologies as part of its new ‘ACE’ strategy to make its cars more Autonomous, Connected and Eco/Electric.
‘Boundless for all’ is Kia’s future vision – where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the infinite value that future mobility will bring. This is Kia’s manifesto for its role as a mass mobility provider in the future. Consumers are bound today by the idea that a car is ‘just a vehicle’, but Kia is committed to providing a broader solution to mobility. ‘Boundless for all’ represents a future in which a vehicle can be so much more than the sum of its parts,” said Dr. Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Kia R&D Center.
16 new electrified vehicles by 2025
Kia will continue to expand its range of environmentally-friendly cars in the coming years, and plans to offer a total of 16 electrified vehicles by 2025, including a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2020.
The company plans to operate a large-scale test fleet for autonomous technology on public roads from 2019, paving the way for commercial production of the technology. Kia aims to commercialize Level 4 autonomous vehicles in smart cities from 2021 with a new Smart City pilot project.
“Kia’s connected cars will be both boundless and connected and offer a new kind of mobility experience. Virtual reality, self-driving cars, and ‘vehicle-to-everything’ connectivity were all once considered technologies of the distant future. As they rapidly become a reality, Kia is exploring how to deploy these new technologies for its customers. Our strategy and vision for future mobility is demonstrated by a range of interactive displays, showing what our customers can look forward to,” said Vice Chairman Yang.
Interactive exhibits preview new in-car technology
At CES 2018, Kia is exhibiting its latest HMI technologies, autonomous drive features and the world’s first in-car 5G connection. These exhibits hint at innovations that could be adapted for use in the brand’s future vehicles. Kia is demonstrating these innovations through a set of interactive cockpit-style experiences, presenting the brand’s ‘Beyond Autonomous Driving’ vision with technologies that idle passengers can draw upon in a future of vehicle autonomy.
WiBLE car-sharing service to launch in Europe in 2018
Enabling urban and suburban mobility, Kia has today announced plans to roll-out its ‘WiBLE’ car-sharing service to new regions. Launched in Korea in 2017, WiBLE – a portmanteau of ‘Widely Accessible’ – will be introduced to certain European markets and cities from late 2018. Kia plans to expand the service into other markets around the world in the coming years.
WiBLE will be serviced in the designated areas in city centers, providing vehicles to customers who need to drive but may not own a car of their own or who want more convenient drive in city centers.
WiBLE is accessed via an accompanying smartphone app. Users then pay for individual journeys in a WiBLE vehicle, charged according to the amount of time they use the car. WiBLE in Europe enables users to complete one-way journeys, rather than requiring them to return the car to the same point, for maximum convenience and value for money.
Kia will announce the first European locations for the launch of WiBLE later in 2018.


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Hull KR have frozen their Season Memberships prices for 2018 – to reward fans for sticking with the club in the wake of last year’s relegation from Super League.
Robins are now back to the top flight, after finishing top of the Championship and then booking their place via the Qualifiers.
The 2018 Memberships will go on sale in store and online today. All 2017 Rovers Forever members will have their membership automatically renewed.
All members will have the option of spreading the cost of their membership over 12 months by signing up to the Rovers Forever direct debit scheme.
Members will get up to six free games included and save up to £125, compared with paying for matchday tickets.
The club say there will be savings for up to 18-year-olds and up to 21 exclusive member-only benefits.
If the Robins don’t hear from existing members about making any changes, such as bolting on new products to their existing Rovers Forever package, membership will automatically be renewed at the 2017 rate unless circumstances have changed.
The club will be in touch to let fans know when their 2018 member pack is ready to collect in store. You do not need to go online, call or pop in store to renew.
Bolt-on options allow you to incorporate all aspects of the Rovers experience onto your Rovers Forever package, creating one easy monthly direct debit payment.
Options include Rovers Lottery, Hull KR TV, VIP parking, Legends Lounge access or a Rovers Review matchday programme bolt-on, new for 2018.


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The basic way in which we fold and flip our phones hasn’t changed much over the past few decades, with certain trends ebbing and flowing in and out of fashion. However, Motorola’s innovative, flexible, adaptive display promises to bring some genuinely new ideas to the space, allowing you to bend and twist your phone in a way that could entirely change how you use it and what you use it for.
Motorola announced that it would be developing this ‘bendy phone’ concept back in 2023, and now, at the Mobile World Conference (MWC) 2024, our lead hardware journalist Connor Christe has had the chance to get hands-on with the device as Motorola shows off how far it’s come with its intriguing concept. Turns out, quite far: this is a phone that can also be a big clunky bangle – something between a phone and the best smartwatch.
Reporting from the event, Connor says, “The Motorola adaptive display concept phone is as peculiar as it looks. It’s long, half orange, and the material on the back almost looks weirdly like carpet. Still, despite this strange appearance, it’s a pretty cool concept, something we’ve come to expect from Motorola at MWC following last year’s showcase of a concept for a rollable phone.”
Explaining how the bendy phone works in practice, and specifically how it functions on your wrist as a bracelet, Connor continues, “to wear the device on your arm you first need a magnetic wristband. The phone then wraps around, and you can use the top part of the display as you would the cover screen on a Motorola flip phone or, if you prefer, switch the display to a watch face. Boom, now your phone is a smartwatch.”
The options don’t stop there. “You can also fold the thing into an arch and play Connect Four with a friend or use it as a bedside clock.”
With all that in mind, though, Connor recommends that you don’t get your hopes up with the expectation that you’ll be able to own this product for yourself in the near future: “It’s a proof of concept device, so we’re not expecting to see Motorola take the phone to market anytime soon.” He concludes, “But, it’s a statement of intent that this mobile brand is still dedicated to innovating, even if it’s in a slightly peculiar way.”
Connor will be reporting from MWC 2024 all week. Stay tuned for more exciting coverage.
In the meantime, read more hardware articles with our picks for the best gaming phones, and best Motorola phones. Or, see all our speculation for the Switch 2, and get to grips with the Steam Deck specs.


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Is it true that despite the outbreak of Covid-19 epidemic China registered a positive growth rate?
Covid-19 Effects Chinese Economy
When the GDP data for the first quarter of the current financial year of India was released, it was revealed that between April and June, the growth rate fell by 23.9 percent, thanks to negative growth in the construction, manufacturing sector.
It was the biggest decline after nearly 24 years. But during this period of economic crisis, China’s growth rate has been positive.
That is, China is the first major economy, which is growing despite the outbreak of epidemic.China claims that its GDP growth in the same period i.e. April to June quarter has been 3.2%. According to the data, China’s factory output recorded a growth of 4.4%. The online retail cell saw a growth of 14.3 percent. Although retail sales declined by 3.9%. Exports also registered a growth of 0.4%.
When all major economies are troubled by the Corona epidemic, how is China’s economy doing well?
When the world was fighting the Corona virus, the Chinese government announced on March 24 that a partial lockdown would be lifted in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Corona epidemic, from 8 April.
Whereas, except in Wuhan, the travel ban in other parts of Hubei province was lifted from midnight on 24 March.
By the time the restrictions were being lifted in China, the virus had spread to 186 countries of the world.However, it is worth noting that Wuhan was sealed in mid-January.
Because of which, in the quarter from January to March, China’s GDP growth rate fell by 6.8%. This was China’s worst performance since the mid-1960’s. But China’s economy dramatically improved following the easing of sanctions.
Topic :- Covid-19 Effects Chinese Economy | The Story of Chinese Economy Remaining Immunized from Covid-19 Pandemic Effects
AUTHOR:- Ensemble IAS Academy
CATEGORY :- Economy
For more details : Ensemble IAS Academy Call Us : 98115 06926, 7042036287, 7303830760
#covid-19 #coronavirus #epidemic #pandemic #lockdown #wuhan #chinese_economy #immune #GDP #effects #current_affairs #Indian_Goverment_System #bureaucracy #blog #geography_optional #upsc2020 #ias #k_siddharthasir #Government_of_India #india #studyabroad #geography #upsc #bhugol #government #news #dailynews #gk #dailyquiz #editorial


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That’s according to the latest rumour on the technology grapevine, which is buzzing with the news that Intel may just get what it wants after offering more concessions to ease the EU’s antitrust concerns. The rumours kicked off after two sources with direct knowledge of the matter let the cat out of the bag to Reuters.
The EU began a probe of the deal in December citing fears over the potential effect Intel owning McAfee could have on the market. It was concerned that Intel could use its dominant position to force customers to buy McAfee security products to unlock full processor power or other features on its chips.
Earlier this month Intel began offering a number of concessions, which have not been disclosed, in a bid to sweeten up the department and encourage it to push the deal through, and if the sources are to be believed it seems as though this has worked.
“The Commission’s clearance is likely next week,” one of the sources said.
The second source said the main element of Intel’s concessions related to interoperability features that would allow products from McAfee’s competitors to function on Intel products without restrictions. However, he added that the company had put deals forward to the EU, to allay its fears.
The company has already secured clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to acquire the software company so all that’s left in its way is the mighty power of the EU.


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Davido has gotten his protégé, Mayorkun another ’30 Billion Gang’ chain after the MAMA singer lost his first to students of UNN.
Few days ago, Mayorkun lost his 30 Billion Gang neck chain during a performance at the University of Nigeria Nnsukka. The singer who was devastated about the theft took to Instagram to lament; “Got robbed of my 30BG chain tonight.. Trying to look for the best emotion right now’
Well, his neck piece just got replaced, thanks to his boss Davido.
Mayorkun with excitement took to his Instagram page to announce the arrival of the new chain and also appreciated Davido for the kind gesture. The singer shared the photo of the luxury chain and wrote: “Made a couple calls & got my juice back!! Thanks Brooo @davidoofficial 💧 #30BG4L”
Perks of being part of the 30 billion gang!


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CENTRAL TRANSPORT ANNOUNCES 2009 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Warren, Michigan, December 17, 2009
- Central Transport LLC, one of the nation’s most technologically advanced less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, has announced its 2009 holiday schedule.
On December 24, 2009, Christmas Eve, and December 31, 2009, New Years Eve, limited operations will be provided to Central Transport customers. Freight scheduled to be picked up on December 23, 2009, for next-day service will be delivered on December 28, 2009. Freight scheduled to be picked up on December 31, 2009, for next-day service will be delivered on January 4, 2009.
December 25, 2009, and January 1, 2009, the Central Transport offices will be closed and all freight will begin moving on the next operating service day.
This information reflects our current operating schedules and are subject to change. Any updates will be posted immediately, so please check back as the date of these holidays approach.
About Central Transport, Inc.
Central Transport International, Inc. is a privately owned full-service asset-based, transportation provider offering supply chain solutions across North America. Central Transport International, Inc. provides regional, inter-regional and long-haul LTL (less-than-truckload) services, cross-docking, consolidation and pool distribution services, as well as customized value-added supply chain services. Central Transport International, Inc. is based in suburban Detroit, a Forbes 500 private company.
For more information on Central Transport International, Inc., visit www.goctii.com or contact us at 586-939-7000.
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Bankruptcy Court for its financing commitment from General Electric Capital Corp. Under the commitment, Forstmann can borrow up to $85 million under a formula with repayment due on Oct. 31, 1996. The New York-based fabric manufacturer filed for bankruptcy protection on Sept. 22 citing margins squeezed by rising wool prices and soft retail apparel markets. The company had $203.8 million in current liabilities at the time of the filing, long-term debt of $2.9 million, and assets of $248.1 million.
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Gelstat appoints president
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive SummaryWilliam Colucci is appointed president, a newly created position, the OTC marketer announces Sept. 5. Colucci's knowledge and relationship in the financial community will play a key role in the firm's long-term strategies, the company notes. "We expect that Bill's experience analyzing business processes and improving operation performance coupled with [marketing efforts] will dramatically accelerate our pace to return GelStat to profitability," CEO and Chairman James LaFlamme says in a statement. The firm markets GelStat brand OTC treatments for pain and inflammation in retail chains, independent retailers, pharmacies and direct-to-consumer channels...
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Brands unfairly maligned by powerful influencers, strictly on behalf of paying competitors, could have occasion to broach the subject with the US Federal Trade Commission, which seeks comment on its “Endorsement Guides” in an increasingly complex and competitive, digitized advertising environment.
At least one FTC commissioner seems convinced that the agency’s Enforcement Guides are ripe for an update to address unscrupulous influencer marketing practices. Democrat Rohit Chopra proposes their codification into formal rules that would make violators liable for civil penalties and damages under FTC Act provisions.
The US agency has suspended all routine surveillance inspections in China through the end of March because of coronavirus fears, commissioner Stephen Hahn announced late on 14 February. Despite expecting medical product shortages, Hahn said the agency is being proactive: “We are not waiting for drug and device manufacturers to report shortages to us” before acting. The timing of Hahn’s statement – at 6 p.m. EST on a Friday, at the beginning of a three-day US holiday weekend – suggests he isn’t particularly excited to share the information.


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A Lated But Lasted Reality Awaits
Apple has officially released its VR product, the Vision Pro. In typical Apple fashion, it is heralding a revolution that will innovate our known reality. Their ambitious push to make virtual reality glasses mainstream is opening the door to promoting virtual reality. As more consumers adapt to the immersive virtual world, the boundary between physical and digital will begin to blur.


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ILTM 2005 reinforces position as exclusive event for elite
By SHAFQUAT ALI
Most travel and trade shows around the world strive to become bigger.
Not the International Luxury Travel. Despite overwhelming enquiries from exhibitors and hosted buyers to participate at the event, the organisers turned down a majority of requests and chose to limit the growth of ILTM 2005 to only 22 per cent over the previous year. If anything, exclusivity was the buzzword and the lucky ones who walked down the red carpet to the Palais des Festivals knew they were in celebrated company.
Held from December 5 to 8 in Cannes, France, ILTM once again reinforced its position as the exclusive annual business gathering event for the elite of the luxury travel community. Even though Reed Travel Exhibition, organisers of the world’s leading travel industry events, had acquired the show this year, ILTM’s founding members Serge Dive and David Hammond were very much around and sharing their unique understanding of the luxury market and helping to make ILTM 2005 a bigger success.
It’s remarkable how the show, which was launched in 2002, has developed so quickly to become a must-do event for the luxury travel industry. After all, it is the only global trade event dedicated to enabling over 1,000 VIP luxury travel buyers from 60 countries worldwide to meet with over 1,180 exclusive exhibitors from 80 countries in a VIP hosted buyer appointment-driven forum.
“ILTM 2005 has more than lived up to our expectations and those of the delegates,” Dive told TTN. “Having worked in this business for many years and having been one of the founders of the ILTM, it has been fascinating to see the inno¬vation and development within the luxury travel sector. The positive response we continue to get from exhibitors and delegates shows us that this is a dynamic and effective forum in which to meet. Also, thanks to Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), a good show has become better.” He was right. RTE chairman Tom Nutley was present to ensure that everything went according to plan to bring the most productive and exciting ILTM yet.
Whether it was the most exclusive of destinations, luxurious properties or elite transportation and unique travel experiences providers, ILTM had something for everyone. Going by the response of delegates, the event’s prestige has clearly grown – and not just because of the strong partnerships created globally by ILTM but also through the introduction of the ILTM Signatory. It made everyone a part of the show and its decision-making process by allowing them to determine which organisations should and should not be a part of what ILTM stands for in luxury and exclusivity.
Besides, delegates to ITLM also had the chance to enjoy the extraordinary services of Quintessentially – a private members’ club and concierge service, it teamed up with ILTM to offer special services to delegates such as hotel bookings for early or late departures, restaurant recommendations and reservations, sourcing clubs and nightlife for post-conference entertaining and organising spouse programmes. Phones dotted around the venue, equipped with the letter Q, for delegates to dial direct to Quintessentially staff.
With so much attention paid to detail it was not surprising that everyone who was there at ILTM 2005 felt truly special. And that’s what luxury is all about, isn’t it?


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Posted Fri Jun 12, 2015 at 09:53 AM PDT by Justin Clark
Also a metric ton of pre-order bonuses.
'Tearaway' is still one of the best platformers of recent memory, flawed only by nature on being released as an exclusive on the poor, neglected PS Vita. Media Molecule announced that the game would escape to the PS4 seemingly ages ago, and finally, they've made good on their promise. The rejiggered 'Tearaway Unfolded' will be hitting on September 8th for the low, low price of $39.99.
In addition, they've announced a fun pre-order Crafted Edition, which includes loads of bonus content including the game's soundtrack, a shiny stamp to place on little Iota/Atoi, special 'God of War'/'Journey' costumes, a bunch of special Sony franchise-inspired decorations, papercraft plans, and a pig crown. It'll make more sense when you get the game, promise.
You can find the latest info on 'Tearaway: Unfolded' linked from our Video Game Release Schedule.
Source: Media Molecule
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Back in April, Skinner Auctioneers announced that they would be auctioning off “the oldest currently known whiskey bottle” — a bottle so old, in fact, that they weren’t quite sure when it was produced. Even the label — hand-typed and taped onto the bottle — gave a bit of a shrug, stating only, “This Bourbon was probably made prior to 1865.” A bit of carbon dating of the liquid inside narrowed things down — determining with 81.1 per cent certainty that it was from 1763 to 1803 — and landing the tipple its “oldest” title.
But for anyone concerned that all this ambiguity might affect the auction value of this bottle of Old Ingledew Whiskey, don’t worry. In an era where a single bottle of scotch can sell for nearly $2 million (SGD 27,21,960), the world’s (probably) oldest whiskey sold just fine — more than tripling the pre-auction estimates of between $20,000 (SGD 27,219) and $40,000 (SGD 54,439) and fetching a whopping $137,000 (SGD 186,454).
Interestingly enough, beyond the vague dating information, the bottle’s two-sentence label also offered up a tidbit about its prior ownership, stating that it “was in the cellars of Mr John Pierpont Morgan” — AKA famed banker JP Morgan. So Skinner rare spirits expert Joseph Hyman looked into those details as well.
“We have further confirmed that JP Morgan, Sr did purchase the bulk of the madeira and whiskey from the Ridgely’s of Hampton House, in 1902, for approximately $7600 (SGD 10,343), and the Ridgely’s typed inventory from 1901 lists ‘Old Bourbon- (purchased) about 1860,'” Hyman told me via email. As a result, beyond the dating, he believes that, due to the “historical figures involved in the story, the market valued the bottle much higher than our estimates for a whiskey for which we, as yet, do not know who originally produced it.”
All of that information also helps explain the whiskey’s purported purchaser: Though Skinner officially states that the buyer was anonymous, The State reports that Rex Woolbright — the man who found the whiskey in his uncle’s estate — told the newspaper that the bottle will now be housed in New York’s Morgan Library and Museum… formerly the Pierpont Morgan Library. So yes, even though JP Morgan passed away in 1913, the oldest whiskey bottle is reportedly going full circle and ending up back in its former owner’s former personal library. As Woolbright was quoted as saying, “It’s finally at its home.”
This story first appeared on www.foodandwine.com
(Main and Feature Image Credit: Courtesy Skinner Auctioneers)
© 2021. TI Inc. Affluent Media Group. All rights reserved. Licensed from FoodandWine.com and published with permission of Affluent Media Group. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.
Food & Wine and the Food & Wine Logo are registered trademarks of Affluent Media Group. Used under License.


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ALBUQUERQUE (AP) вЂ“ Jill Mooney recently took away a $300 loan from the storefront business to leave of the monetary jam, adding her $1,400 automobile as security.
The Albuquerque mom of four thought it can just simply simply take approximately three, $ payments that are 100-a-month be performed using the loan. However it took seven months, while the interest finished up being significantly more than 200 per cent.
High-interest financing techniques happen a target of customer advocates for a long time in brand New Mexico, one of several poorest states in the nation.
They failed once again this in the Legislature, however, as bills that would have capped interest rates on payday loans at 36 percent fell by the wayside year.
Efforts to reshape georgia wal mart payday loans short-term loan guidelines have actually gained some traction various other states, resulting in questions regarding whether campaign donations are swaying brand New MexicoвЂ™s politicians.
Lawmakers state they arenвЂ™t swayed by efforts, and lenders say the industry produces jobs and assists those who otherwise wouldnвЂ™t be capable of geting loans due to their credit score.
Tiny loan companies contributed a lot more than $103,000 to New Mexico prospects and governmental committees on both edges of this aisle in 2014, based on the National Institute on cash in State Politics. Nationwide, the industryвЂ™s total campaign efforts topped $6.5 million.
The industry wasnвЂ™t on the list of top spenders that are political brand New Mexico. In comparison, total spending by financial interest companies when you look at the state ended up being almost $24 million this past year, because of the coal and oil industry pumping in at the very least $1.6 million.
A spokesman for the financing chain that runs in brand New Mexico and about 29 other states stated legislators recognize that preserving the industry is preferable to eliminating it.
John Rabenold of Ohio-based Axcess Financial solutions Inc., which owns the retail brand name Check вЂn Go, stated a 36 % limit on tiny loans is comparable to prohibition and will never protect the companyвЂ™ money costs.
вЂњProhibition happens to be tried in this country, and it also does not work. With prohibition, Д±ndividuals are maybe maybe not best off simply because they head to unregulated types of credit,вЂќ he stated. вЂњExpensive credit is preferable to no credit at all.вЂќ
The majority of his companyвЂ™s loans have actually interest levels of 175 per cent or less. He claims enabling the ongoing company to compete keenly against higher-priced loan providers.
The advocates whom complain donвЂ™t represent the customer, Rabenold stated, noting which they opposed a compromise bill that will have capped prices at 100 %. Rabenold stated the measure might have amounted to вЂњreasonable reform.вЂќ
Rep. Gail Chasey, an Albuquerque Democrat, has unsuccessfully forced for overhauls. Chasey will not genuinely believe that pay day loan lobbyists sway lawmakers, but she does think thereвЂ™s too little governmental might to enact interest limitations in brand brand New Mexico.
вЂњItвЂ™s such a damaging industry,вЂќ Chasey stated, including, вЂњthere are far more loan that is predatory (into the state) than junk food outlets.вЂќ
She advised the only method to create change could be to go towards the voters by way of an amendment that is constitutional.
Fourteen states and also the District of Columbia either ban payday loans or limit rates of interest at 36 per cent, based on a 2014 research by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Attorney General Hector Balderas stated he’d help an acceptable cap on interest levels. Their workplace presently has two legal actions pending against loan providers to make loans in excess of 520 per cent and 1,000 per cent and practices that are using push borrowers into long-lasting indebtedness.
Copyright 2020 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All legal rights reserved. This product may never be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Internet of Things
The Internet of Things is rapidly emerging as a third, and likely bigger, wave in the development of the Internet, where consumers could be one of the most important stakeholders
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Tierra Chiloé Hotel & Spa Photo: Tierra Hotels
This is the first in a series of TMR reports on the state of the fam trip.
Like so many other core elements of the travel industry, the agent fam trip has changed dramatically over the past 20 years.
Trips are generally smaller, invitations are more selective, and suppliers seek social media super-agents who will not only book sales when they get home, but also help spread the word to their legions of digital fans.
Short for “Familiarization Trip,” the fam trip has been undergoing significant changes the last decade or so. Back in the 1990s, it was common for an agent to jet off with dozens of colleagues on fully-paid excursions to exotic destinations. Airlines were expanding their routes and had empty seats to fill. Lodging companies were opening new hotels and resorts with beds to fill. Agents were a primary marketing focus.
Now, agents most likely have to cover their own airfare, if they even receive an invitation. Trips are shorter and more businesslike. This has all resulted in an air of professionalism that permeates the whole fam experience, experts say, and helps make agents better informed and more successful.
“We’re paying more for fams, and it’s a lot of work,” said Karen Sheldon, owner of Between Trips Travel, Littleton, MA. “But I appreciate the knowledge I gain. You’ve got to work hard to stay up to date with the different properties and changes in the industry. I need to be thinking about how I can sell better when I get home.”
CheapCaribbean.com is a large company selling beach vacations at about 600 resorts across 60 destinations to consumers and travel agents. The company has two call centers, and hosts eight or nine fams annually for its own agents, said call center director Alyssa Scheppach.
“We hit our top three destinations each year,” Scheppach said—Cancun and Riviera Maya in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. “When someone calls in, we want them speaking to an agent who can speak from a recent personal experience.”
“The best way for a company to see a return, and nurture a market, is to get people there,” said Janine Cifelli, who represents about 20 luxury hotels and villas around the world with her own company, Janine Cifelli Luxury Representation. The Golden Door in San Marcos, CA, and Ballyfin in Ireland are two of her clients.
Cifelli just hosted a Valerie Wilson Travel agent to Ireland—and another agent in the same office already has made a booking there. “We know the agent we took is more excited, and fed back her excitement to all of her colleagues,” Cifelli said.
CheapCaribbean.com has formalized the post-trip debrief for fam participants. Agents fill out post-trip evaluation forms and produce presentations for other agents back at their call centers.
Invitations are harder to come by
Steve Kadoch, principal at Ultimate Jet Vacations in South Florida, believes hotels, especially in his luxury-travel niche, are increasingly focused on inviting agents who will provide incremental bookings. “Most hotels want to make certain agents haven’t been there recently, they know who they are, and they can produce,” he said.
Fam trip invitees “are clients who have booked us already,” said Georgina Godoy, director of sales for Velas Resorts. “Once they see the property, they’ll be that much more committed. I think that if I bring five agents to a property, at least four will make a booking fairly soon. They also drive business by talking about us and referring us to other agents.”
The obligation of either being recommended or having produced bookings prior to being invited on fam trips can cause agents difficulty. Sheldon is trying to break into destination wedding travel bookings, for example, but with so few bookings to date, she’s not yet on the radar screen for these trips.
“When I did my first AmaWaterways cruise, I came home and did a lot of river-cruise bookings. It’s a chicken and egg thing. You need to go on the trip to build the contacts and product knowledge, but some companies want to invite someone who has sold the product first,” she said.
With agents having to foot some of the fam bill, like the airfare portion, hosts are seeing agency executives more active in the selection process too. “Some of the agencies will look at productivity and make an [airline ticket] offer to employees with bookings,” Cifelli said.
Emerging markets, like Chile, have greater capacity, said Jamie Lynn Ensey, director of marketing for North America at Tierra Hotels. “We have seen a steady growth of fams, both in groups and for individuals, in the past five years. Considering Chile is growing in popularity, there is more awareness for our destinations and we believe fams are increasing because agents want to better understand the logistics of getting here and moving in between hot spots likes San Pedro de Atacama and Patagonia.”
Getting there is half the work
The lack of free or discounted airfares is a big change from years ago. “Back in the day, Caribbean airlines gave tickets or fam fares all the time,” Cifelli said.
“It’s rare today to get free seats for a fam,” Kadoch said. “We tell our agents, ‘We’re leaving from South Florida. We’ll pick you up at the Miami airport.’ If they’re successful, their business will pick up the airfare.”
“We have a pretty hefty air budget to make our fams happen,” Scheppach at CheapCaribbean.com said.
Having a financial stake in a trip has contributed to a more professional experience, Cifelli said. “Today’s agent doesn’t take the cost for granted. I recently took a fam to New Zealand,” Cifelli said, “and one agency came up with a ticket for one of their employees attending.”
Smaller groups and shorter, more experiential trips
As a result, fam trips tend to have fewer agents per trip than they used to.
“Fifteen or 20 years ago, some resorts would have 15, 20, 30 people on a fam,” said Godoy. CheapCaribbean averages 12 agents on each trip. In the luxury-travel segment, fams are ideally half that size, Cifelli and Kadoch said.
With fewer agents and a more business-like approach, fam trips are highly experiential. Hosts don’t just want to show off a property and whisk agents away. They want to immerse agents in the experience they hope the agents will sell when they return to the office.
“We used to try to get as much in as possible, but it was overkill. Our agents couldn’t get a feel for the property,” said Sheppach at CheapCaribbean.com. “Today’s trips have fewer properties and one tour/excursion per trip,” an industry-wide trend borne out by other veterans. Their typical fam is three nights and four days. If the trip is part incentive for high performers, the company will extend it a night or two.
Social pros get the nod
Agents who have a strong social media following increase their ability to get asked on fam trips, experts agree. Cifelli recounted one Smart Flyer agent she recently took to Ireland. “Almost every day since we’ve been back she has posted amazing photos. She’s followed by her clients. Her posts are poignant and meaningful.”
“You used to do this, and maybe someone took pictures, for themselves,” she said. “But now the incremental reach for fams is incredible due to social media. They reach so many more agents, and get so many agents excited about the property.”
CheapCaribbean has a supervisor travel on each fam with a GoPro video camera to document the trip and promote the host properties. Other agents “might send a photo to a client about a room they just saw,” Scheppach noted.
“Many of the travel advisors we host now are sharing their experience through their social media contacts throughout the trip,” Godoy said.
Times were different once
For the most part, agents and hosts agreed, another wholesale change has been how agents conduct themselves on fams. Sheldon recalls a 20-agent fam to Italy she attended in the fall of 2001. Ten agents departed from New York and 10 from Boston.
“There were a couple of agents who were drunk the whole time. On the return to the U.S., the bus left at 3 a.m. from the hotel. These two agents didn’t get their passports back at hotel checkout, so they missed our flight and had to buy a new ticket from Pisa to get home.”
“There’s always the one or two agents who don’t participate, who are grumpy the whole time. That hasn’t changed,” Sheldon said.
“Every now and then, you get a diva who has an issue, who doesn’t want to participate in the group activities, the meals,” Kadoch said. But poor behavior, he said, is extremely rare.


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Sounding like an actor from a James Bond movie, M is set to become Facebook's individual digital assistant, joining the likes of the dominant Google Voice, Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri.
M will exist inside Facebook Messenger and purports to take simulated intelligence a notch higher. Rather than just assisting you to create calendar entries or find information, M will supposedly execute tasks on your behalf.
Once launched, M will be capable of booking restaurants for you, purchasing shopping, and other tasks. It will also be possible to use it to seek advice - such as looking for a place to visit close by, or gift proposals and Facebook claims the AI behind M is "trained and supervised by people".
Facebook spokesman David Marcus indicated that the social media network is presently testing M, insisting that things were only at the initial stages. He gave a sample of a few screenshots, all of which reveal M in use on a smartphone, and it's unclear if the service will make its way to the desktop edition of Facebook as well.
Marcus said that, “Unlike other AI-based services in the market, M can actually complete tasks on your behalf. It can purchase items, get gifts delivered to your loved ones, book restaurants, travel arrangements, appointments and way more.”
He added, “This is early in the journey to build M into an at-scale service. But it's an exciting step towards enabling people on Messenger to get things done across a variety of things, so they can get more time to focus on what's important in their lives.”
There's no information on how long it will take before M is officially established, nor confirmation of whether M is a nickname or what it will really end up being named.
Facebook has also not exposed whether there will be an open testing program ahead of the formal launch.
It also remains to be seen if the service can outwit competitors, especially Google’s dominant voice search. Google’s product is leaps and bounds ahead of competitors and already able to answer some of the toughest questions you can throw at it. It seems logical that the features envisioned by Facebook would be the next step for Google and its Android smartphone operating system.


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US agency to hold hearing on Fiat Chrysler recall compliance
DETROIT - The U.S. government's highway safety agency says it will hold a public hearing in July to determine if Fiat Chrysler has met its legal obligations in 20 safety recalls.
Witnesses and the automaker will be able to present evidence at the July 2 hearing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If the agency finds that Fiat Chrysler failed to fix safety defects, it could take action that includes ordering the company to buy back or replace vehicles.
Also Monday, the agency ordered Fiat Chrysler to provide information on the pace of repairs of several recalls.
The agency has been feuding with the company over the recall of 1.56 million older Jeeps with gas tanks positioned behind the rear axles, making them susceptible to fires.


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LEDs rapidly advancing to meet lighting needs
The LED is poised to create a major impact in the lighting world—particularly with the advancement of white-light LED technology—says Dr. Nadarajah Narendran, director of research at the Lighting Research Center. The current show of progress in the solid-state lighting field is promising, leading to predictions that LEDs will soon push forward into new territories beyond their current status as indicator lamps.
This news was presented at the International LED Expo 2003, the first global tradeshow and conference dedicated to LED technology. Dr. Narendran along with Dan Frering, manager of education, and Russ Leslie, associate director, traveled to Seoul, Korea, in June for the conference, where Dr. Narendran gave the keynote address.
The accompanying photo includes (l. to r.) Russ Leslie, Dan Frering, and N. Narendran.
During his presentation, Dr. Narendran discussed the state of LED technology—where it is currently and will be going in the future. He noted that industry trends show LEDs moving quickly from the most common indicator applications to illuminating applications as a result of new device geometries and materials, larger semiconducting devices, higher density packaging, increased drive currents, and better heat extraction. The lumen output of commercial white-LED products is now 100 times greater than it was just two years ago. One manufacturer at the conference presented a white LED with a luminous efficacy of 40 lumens per watt, a remarkable improvement over the presently available devices of 24 lumens per watt.
“With the current rapid pace of development, LEDs will have a substantial market penetration for general illumination in another 10 years,” said Dr. Narendran.
Goals that still need to be achieved in order for LEDs to gain widespread use for general illumination include increased light output, greater efficacy, and reduced cost. Additionally, the interaction between system components and LEDs needs to be explored further in order to design LED systems that can outperform those using other light sources.
Russ Leslie and Dan Frering also addressed seminar attendees during the conference, which was designed to raise awareness about LED technologies and to offer a forum for information exchange. Topics discussed at the conference ranged from developmental research to applications. Leslie presented an overview of architectural lighting applications for LEDs, including information on retail lighting, task lighting, accent lighting, and other specialty applications. Frering presented a session on transportation and outdoor lighting applications using LEDs, including details on lighting for motor vehicles, pedestrian walkways, roadways, traffic signals, signage, and landscaping.
According to Frering, almost 150 people attended the seminars presented by the LRC team. “They had plenty of questions at the end of each session,” Frering said about those who attended the conference. “It seemed that they were very interested in LED technology because of its cost-related manufacturing benefits.” Those representing Korean manufacturing businesses were especially interested in how they could utilize the rapidly developing technology to create lighting systems for a variety of applications.
Nearly 7,000 people from the United States, Korea, Russia, China, Malaysia, and other countries attended the four-day expo, many who represent companies that manufacture LEDs or products that use LEDs. Russ Leslie noted that the attendees represented the continuum of solid-state lighting. He added that the conference was well received and said, “For a first conference, the turnout was quite remarkable.”
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is the leading university-based research center devoted to lighting. Founded in 1988, the Lighting Research Center has built an international reputation as a trusted and reliable source for objective information about lighting technologies, applications, and products. Its mission is to advance the effective use of light and create a positive legacy of change for society and the environment


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Table of Contents
PUBG NO Tree No Grass Erangle No Ban 2.0 Update
The new PUBG NO Tree No Grast Erangle No Ban 2.0 Update is out and it features graphics and visuals that are a far cry from what they used to be. If you’re looking for a way to bypass the ban, read on. This cheat and hack will make your experience far more enjoyable than ever. Read on to learn how you can get this new cheat for free.
PUBG Mobile’s latest update
PUBG Mobile 2.0 is a major update for the game that was released earlier today. It will include new maps, vehicles, and weapons. According to a press release from PUBG Corp., the May update will also introduce the Livik map. Users will also have access to a new season and the Royale Pass. If you’re unable to play PUBG Mobile in India, you can download the update from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
PUBG Mobile’s latest update includes a range of bug fixes, performance enhancements, and cosmetic characters. The game’s achievement system has been revamped and hidden achievements have been added. Players can also enjoy new content such as Metro crossover content and the Season 18 Royale Pass. The update is free to download and will be available on May 19th. It’s recommended that you download the latest version of the game as soon as possible.
PUBG graphics and visuals have been revamped
PUBG Mobile’s official YouTube channel recently held a live stream, announcing the ‘New Era’ of this mobile game. The stream showed off significant changes to the characters, in-game graphics, and overall environment of the game. It also revealed physical rendering and changes to how players can parachute. This was welcomed news for fans. However, the new version of PUBG Mobile is still a ways away from being perfect.
The Erangel 2.0 of PUBG Mobile shows off more detailed concrete and Erangel than the previous game. The game’s color scheme has also changed, from a bluish tint to warmer tones. The game has also added new structures, such as a nuclear power plant, a mine, and a prison. A few of the game’s maps have new basements and abandoned tanks, as well as horse skeletons.
PUBG Mobile’s latest cheat
PUBG Mobile’s latest cheat reports have revealed that over 2,872,644 accounts have been permanently banned from the game. The developers have been vocal about the problem of cheaters, and they have begun publishing weekly reports about the issues. The latest report reveals that the developers have been able to identify over 4 lakh accounts, 5,000+ devices, and eight,228 online cheat ads. The developers have also requested integrity and sportsmanship from players.
Tencent Games has a dedicated anti-cheat team, and they are making a concerted effort to keep the game as fair as possible for everyone. The developers have even made it possible for players to join their anti-cheat team to help prevent cheaters from cheating. However, players should still be aware of the fact that PUBG Mobile is a free game. It is possible to download it from Google Play or any other major app store.
PUBG Mobile’s latest hack
PUBG Mobile’s hack is a great tool that can unlock unlimited Battle Points and fancy skins. Using this hack, you can show off your new look to your friends or foes! The hack also lets you use unlimited guns and counter strike characters without interruption, so you can kill enemies without getting hit! Aimbot only works on guns and does not require rooting or jailbreaking your phone.
Besides the new device ban feature, PUBG Mobile has announced that they will begin recording the devices of people who use hacks. Hackers will be banned from the game. In order to prevent hackers from using their devices, PUBG Mobile developers are also urging players to practice integrity and sportsmanship. This new hack is just the first step in preventing cheaters from ruining the fun of the game!


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India shifted its method of assessing economic output from gross domestic product to gross value added. The government also revived the base year from 2004–2005 to 2011–2012. The fiscal year in India begins in April and ends in March of the following year. Let’s look at GDP growth in the last five years in the below chart.
India’s GDP growth
India’s economy remains robust despite the removal of about 86% of its currency in circulation, according to national accounts. The GDP grew at 7.1% year-over-year as of 3Q16 as compared to 7.3% in the previous quarter. On an annual basis, the Central Statistics Office expects GDP to grow at 7.1% for 2016–17. The lower growth in 2016–17 was due to a number of factors including effects of demonetization and investment slumps.
The inflation and current account deficit are broadly within the forecast of 2016–17. The enactment of legislation to allow a national value-added tax is expected to create a more integrated and productive economy. The government is making efforts to restructure bank balance sheets to revive lending and reduce the excessive leverage of large corporations. The government’s efforts to restore the banking system are expected to improve investment spending and result in higher growth expectations for 2017–18. Financial stocks like ICICI Bank (IBN) and HDFC Bank (HDB) are expected to benefit from the revival of the banking system.
India’s growth expectation depends heavily on consumption growth in 2017–18. The increased consumption is expected to drive the stock market performance (INDA) (EPI) in 2017. The corporates are expected to see higher profitability with increased consumer spending and consumption.
The consumer discretionary companies are expected to benefit from the growing demand in 2017–18. The consumer discretionary stocks to benefit include ITC Holdings (ITC), Maruti, Bata, and United Spirits. Some of the heavily weighted consumer goods and related sector funds include the SBI FMCG Fund and the ICICI Pru FMCG Fund.
Let’s look at sector-wise performance in India in 2016-17 in our next article.


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Pirelli, Clean Diesel Technologies in emissions control JV
MILAN Feb 20 (Reuters) - Italian tyre maker Pirelli and Clean Diesel Technologies said on Wednesday they plan to team up to sell pollution control systems for gasoline and diesel engines starting in March 2013.
The two companies will set up a joint venture called Eco Emission Enterprise based in Milan to sell their products in Europe and in the CIS countries.
Under the terms of the agreement, a unit of Pirelli will supply its silicon carbon substrate particle filters to the joint venture, and Clean Diesel Techncology will supply its own vehicle emission control products.
- Islamic State executes soldiers, takes hostages at Syria base: social media |
- Breakthrough hopes dented as Ukraine accuses Russia of new incursion |
- Gaza truce holding but Israel's Netanyahu under fire at home |
- WHO shuts Sierra Leone lab after worker infected with Ebola
- Ukraine warns Europe of Russian gas cut-off, Moscow denies


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Leak: official Jelly Bean update for the T-Mobile Galaxy SIII
No, you didn’t read the title wrong. Following reports that the international version of the Galaxy S3 will be getting Jelly Bean on August 29th, an XDA user has posted a Jelly Bean ROM for the T-Mobile USA variant of the device, and claims that it’s the real thing. There are some minor issues with the ROM, involving WiFi calling, but for the most part it’s what we’ll eventually see from Magenta.
We’re not going to beat around the bush, so if you’re interested in giving this gem a shot, you can head on over to the XDA thread and download it (at your own risk, of course). No word from T-Mobile on an official date for the Jelly Bean release, so this will have to satisfy Galaxy S3 users for now.
So, who’s downloading the leaked update? Are you excited for some official Jelly Bean on your S3? Leave your thoughts in a comment below!
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Remember back in December, when Google’s Mobile Blog posted pictures and videos of a Nexus S tied to some weather balloons, floating around the Earth? Well, it looks like Samsung wants in on the fun, as they’ve launched a Galaxy S II into space atop a small astronaut, tied to a weather balloon.
The more we hear about the upcoming Samsung tablet, the more we like it. Previously known as the Tab, Vietnamese site Tinhte (translated) is now referring to it as the
The flagship smartphone could debut with the latest and greatest software from Google and HTC We have heard plenty lately about the Samsung’s upcoming new successor, but we must not


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People For Bikes pledge hits half a million signatures
Just over two years ago, Bikes Belong launched PeopleForBikes.org with the goal of collecting one million pledges for a better future for bicycling. Now they have reported they officially hit the halfway mark this past weekend at Bike Expo New York. PeopleForBikes.org now stands 500,000 riders strong.
Christine Capetola and Carolyn Auwaerter actually “tied” as the 500,000th person to sign the PFB pledge. Since they signed the pledge at the same time, we decided to declare them both our half-millionth supporters.
Christine and Carolyn were the 500,000th people to sign the PFB pledge
As a way to say thanks and to celebrate reaching 500,000 names, PeopleForBikes.org called upon America’s bicycling superhero, Rex T. Rider. Watch Rex in action below.
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Missed the GamesBeat Summit excitement? Don't worry! Tune in now to catch all of the live and virtual sessions here.
Some may scoff, but pulling off realistic rain is something no one has done yet in a racing sim. And it’s the latest feature that Microsoft is touting for its highly anticipated Forza Motorsport 6.
Dan Greenawalt, the creative director at the publisher’s Turn 10 Studios, showed off the latest gameplay for Forza Motorsport 6 at the Xbox One parent’s press event today at Gamescom, the big trade show in Cologne, Germany.
It’s the latest in a series that has had more than 25 million players over the last 10 years, Greenawalt said. Today, Microsoft highlighted the ability to drive in the rain under highly realistic conditions. The lighting and rain effects are based on scores of unique wet surfaces that Turn 10 has created.
“This is as real as it gets,” Greenawalt said.
The title has 250 cars, all with precise details such as working doors, headlights, full damage models, and customization. It will have 26 destinations and multiplayer races with up to 24 players on dedicated servers. The ranked races will be broadcast in 1080p at 60 frames per second on an Xbox One game console.
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