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Super Mario Odyssey was announced for the Nintendo Switch at a London launch just over a week ago and shows Mario running through real life locations like New York.
But imaginative fans decided it would be funny to see what their beloved Italian plumber would look like in the GTA universe and decided to stitch the two video games together.
In an amazing clip – uploaded to YouTube – Mario can be seen jumping into cars as gangsters yell expletives at him, being thrown out of a bowling alley for bad behaviour and getting shot at by police in a high speed chase.
One particularly amusing scene shows Mario entering a seedy strip club called Honkers and receiving an eyeful of a semi-naked woman's boobs as he relaxes on a couch and she purrs: "Do you like this?"
He is also seen beating up a helicopter pilot and stealing his chopper before smashing it into a skyscraper in a huge ball of flames.
The clip, uploaded with the caption "Mario discovers the real world but it isn't as fun as he thought it'd be", has been viewed over 4 million times.
And it has sparked further buzz for the new game, with one YouTube user writing: "Can't wait for the Switch. Looks great."
And another joked: "This new Super Mario Odyssey trailer looks amazing! I was extremely excited before but now I'm f***ing hyped!"
Nintendo Switch fans also won't be able to play one big AAA game thanks to the CEO having "other priorities".
The console will go on sale for £279.99 and will be available on March 3 of this year.


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Nicki Minaj has become known for having a ride-or-die fanbase, “the Barbies” — also known as “the Barbz.” To honor her loyal supporters, Rap Snacks partnered with the Harajuku Barbie in June for her own edition of Rap Snacks, The Barbie-Que Honey Truffle Potato Chips, as previously reported by AfroTech.
“Nicki Minaj is unquestionably one of the most disruptive forces in the history of rap. You’re talking about a woman who rewrote the rules of hip hop culture and happens to be a phenomenal entrepreneur, as well,” Rap Snacks CEO James Lindsay said in a release at the time of the launch, according to PEOPLE. “It just makes sense that as a brand disrupting the snack industry, we align to push the bar even further. This is the beginning of a legendary partnership.”
But it appears that what started as “legendary” has turned into a legal battle.
Rap Snacks Is Served A Lawsuit
The company is requesting for the Los Angeles federal court to ban Rap Snacks from using “Barbie” because it violates “Mattel’s trademark rights in the famous Barbie doll.” Additionally, Mattel claims that Rap Snacks didn’t have permission to use its trademarks from the start and that suing was done “as a last resort” due to its refusal to stop using “Barbie.”
Now, Mattel wants to receive the profits from the chips’ sales.
Inside The Mattel Trademark Battle
“The association is so evident that upon seeing the packaging, representatives for Defendant’s celebrity partner queried whether Rap Snacks had obtained permission from Mattel,” the lawsuit said, according to reports. “Indeed, Rap Snacks never requested or received any such permission.”
As the company sells its own snack foods under the name, it stated that it would spark confusion.
Will Nicki Minaj Be Held At Fault In Mattel v. Rap Snacks?
The report discloses that Minaj is not a defendant in the lawsuit.
In 2011, the rapper partnered with El Segundo, California-based Mattel on a doll for charity.

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Joules fashion store in Ipswich suffered 'electrical incident'
PUBLISHED: 13:58 12 February 2018 | UPDATED: 13:58 12 February 2018
An 'electrical incident' closed a high-end fashion store in Ipswich town centre on Saturday.
Suffolk firefighters were called to the Joules store in Buttermarket just before 2pm to deal with the incident.
A Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said it was an “electrical incident”, which took around an hour and 20 minutes to resolve.
A member of staff at the store confirmed it was closed on Saturday afternoon, to allow the firefighters access.
“It’s all been fixed, there was no damage and no one was hurt,” the staff member added.
The store has reopened to customers.
Joules opened the store last June when dozens of shoppers queued outside the store from as early as 3am in the hope of winning a £200 voucher.
Ipswich Central, the town’s Business Improvement District, had said it would be a welcome addition to the high street.


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DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. vehicles are subject to unintentionally accelerating and lack fail-safe measures to prevent crashes in such incidents, according to a lawsuit seeking class-action status on behalf of owners in 14 states.
The complaint, filed Thursday in federal court in Huntington, West Virginia, claims that Ford's electronic throttle system can take control of the accelerator and leave drivers unable to stop the vehicle. The company added a brake override system in its North American cars in 2010 that it failed to include in older-model cars, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs seek compensation for the loss of vehicle value, contending owners paid too much for cars from 2002 to 2010 with defects. Ford is accused of knowing of the alleged defect and concealing it from consumers.
"Ford could have and should have prevented the dangers presented by these foreseeable incidents by including" a brake override system or other fail-safe measures in its vehicles, according to the complaint. "Ford affirmatively concealed from plaintiffs and the other class members the defect."
In response, Ford said studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have concluded that driver error is the "predominate" cause of unintended acceleration events.
"NHTSA's work is far more scientific and trustworthy than work done by personal injury lawyers and their paid experts," Ford said in a statement. "In rare situations, vehicle factors, such as floor mats or
broken mechanical components, can interfere with proper throttle operation, and manufacturers have addressed these rare events in field service actions."
The models named in the complaint include the 2005 through 2010 Ford Mustang, 2002 through 2005 Mercury Cougar and 2004 through 2010 Ford Explorer.
The 19 named plaintiffs seek to represent Ford owners in 14 states, including West Virginia, New York, Illinois and Florida.
"We anticipate that by the time this gets to trial, we will have class representatives from all 50 states," Adam Levitt, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a phone interview. "This is a serious problem that affects consumers across the U.S."
The lawsuit is similar to class, or group, actions brought against Toyota Motor Corp. alleging that recalls for unintended acceleration issues hurt the value of U.S. customers' vehicles. Toyota reached a $1.1 billion settlement with consumers last year on the economic-loss claims.
"The bottom line is that cars have an unintended acceleration problem, and as with Toyota, Ford failed to integrate adequate fail-safe systems in the U.S.," said Levitt, with Grant & Eisenhofer in Chicago.
Some plaintiffs have experienced sudden acceleration events, he said. "But this isn't a complaint involving personal injuries. It involves economic loss."
The case is Belville v. Ford Motor Co., 12-cv-06529, U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia (Huntington).


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Students from the Netherlands’ Wageningen University & Research entered a video challenge to showcase a science or tech-based solution to a current food challenge – 10 years into the future. Check out the winning videos.
UK scientists have developed a tomato variety that is naturally rich in L-DOPA, the key bioactive ingredient in a synthetic drug commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Peel Development Commission’s soon-to-be-published digital Peel Food and Beverage Capability Guide will promote an array of products unique to Western Australia’s bucolic Peel region.
In response to the economic and social challenges impacting Sydney’s west, the region’s largest university has re-launched its Centre for Western Sydney.
The federal government’s Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, part of its Modern Manufacturing Initiative, has been canvassing industry views on supply-chain vulnerabilities. It will use these to develop roadmaps for each identified ‘priority area’.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for shorter, more resilient supply chains and for diversified, fresh and locally-grown food, says a recent story in the Financial Times.
In a world-first, chicken meat created from cultured live chicken cells by US-based company Eat Just has been approved for commercial production in Singapore.
Confectionery and dairy giant Nestlé has decided to ‘go greener’, releasing a roadmap for making substantive changes to its operations worldwide to shrink the footprint of agriculture.
A new semi-conducting material developed by an Australia-China team at Queensland University of Technology will make smart devices used in IoT systems faster, more effective and less pricey to produce.
In a recent Nature paper, researchers at Murdoch University’s Australian National Phenome Centre have found that incorporating ‘wrinkly’ peas into your diet could reduce your risk of diabetes.


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Guinness Nigeria, one of the top brewers in Nigeria and a subsidiary of Diageo Plc, has recorded a dip in profit after tax of 61.6 percent.
In its recently released 9-months financials for March 31st, 2023, profit after tax decreased to N5.86 billion from N15.27 billion recorded in the same period of last year.
Experts say the drop in profit can be attributed to the rising cost of doing business in Nigeria, characterised by rising inflation which impacted the firm’s cost of sales and operating expenses, and the high-interest rate environment which caused finance costs to spike during the period.
“We maintain our view that the weakened consumer purchasing power moderated sales volumes as consumers continue to adjust their expenditure pattern in favour of most contingent and basic needs added to the fact that the first quarter of the year is usually a weak quarter for brewers. Also, first, the first quarter of 2023 was characterized by cash scarcity which must have affected demand,” Goke Adetoyinbo, an analyst at CSL Research said.
The cost of sales reported by Guinness grew by 9.611 percent to N112.1 billion in the period that ended March 2021 from N102.26 billion in the same period of 2022, thereby accounting for 65 percent of the total revenue reported during the period.
The foreign extra stout brewer recorded revenue growth of 8.14 percent to N172.48 billion for the 9-month period in 2023 from N159.4 billion recorded in the same period of last year.
Read also: Suntrust Bank declares N1.51bn profit
Furthermore, the company’s operating expenses increased to N44.4 billion in the period under review from N35.64 billion recorded in the same period of 2022, with marketing expenses accounting for the larger chunk of the amount reported.
The beer maker saw its finance income and finance expenses surge by 67.4 percent and 523.4 percent respectively in the month period that ended March 2023 on the back of Interest expense on loans and borrowings and loss on remeasurement of foreign currency balances.
Finance income grew to N1.79 billion in the period under review from N1.07 billion recorded in the same period of last year, while finance expenses spiked to N9.28 billion in the period under review from N1.49 billion in the same period of 2022.
Guinness’s total assets increased to N217.61 billion in the 9-months period in March 2023 from N215.7 billion recorded in the same period of 2022.
Cash generated from its core business activities increased by 15 percent in the 9-month period to N23.6 billion from N20.53 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2021.
Furthermore, the financial data shows that the beer makers’ net cash used in investing activities for the period was negative, amounting to N3.91 billion in the period under review largely due to the acquisition of property, plant and equipment during the period.
Net cash flow from financing activities was also negative, totaling N11.64 billion during the period due to the payments and finance expenses paid during the period.
Consequently, cash and cash equivalents for the period ended March 2023 amounted to N58.03 billion from N52.68 billion in the same period of 2022.


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Those of you using OS X 10.7 Lion (which I hope is all of you) may have missed the ability to adjust the system volume in tiny quarter steps. This feature was available in Snow Leopard and ditched in the Lion "upgrade." Now, in good news for obsessive compulsive Mac users the world over, the option has returned.
Microsoft is a company known for creating strict, labyrinthine, costly terms in its commercial and end-user licensing. With Windows 8 seen as a make-or-break product for Microsoft, the company has already been adding licensing terms intended to strengthen its hand in the mobile market. As we reported earlier this year, Microsoft’s enterprise licensing for Windows 8 has provisions to coerce businesses into buying ARM-based Windows RT tablets while punishing those that deploy iPads with more costly terms.
Ratcheting things up a notch, Microsoft’s general counsel Tim Fielden announced new details about the company’s end-user license agreements. Although not mentioning specific products or services, Fielden posted on a Microsoft blog that many new agreements will prohibit users from initiating a class action lawsuit against the company.
Last week, Adobe created a firestorm of user unrest when it issued a series of security bulletins impacting three applications of its Creative Suite and said that users must pay to upgrade to the latest versions of the apps if they wanted patches that would close the vulnerabilities.
The company was quickly besieged by users, technology professionals, and security experts demanding that it reverse course and offer security patches to users who couldn’t afford the upgrades (or didn’t want to spend the money). Even though company quietly backpedaled and announced it would offer security updates without acknowledging the reason for its about face or offering an apology, the gaffe raises concerns that Apple’s yearly OS X release cycle might lead it down a similar path.
Boom, a terrific utility for Mac OS X that boosts system volume well above Apple’s default limit, is set to receive a new update that promises to deliver all of the features and improvements that Boom users have been asking for. That includes scroll gestures for those running Snow Leopard and Lion, the ability to access functions from the status bar icon, and more.
Apple finally gave the notice that it would be killing off MobileMe once and for all on June 30th, 2012. The soon-to-be-defunct service has already been replaced with iCloud, but Mac users who are still not running an OS X version older than Snow Leopard can’t hop on the bandwagon. You must have Snow Leopard installed to then install OS X Lion from the Mac App Store and gain access to iCloud. And chances are that if you’re still using MobileMe, you aren’t running the latest version of OS X.


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In Denmark, small- to medium-sized B2B companies are emerging as sustainability superheroes – supported by powerful storytelling. In a market where the Sustainable Development Goals are hot, how might your company use storytelling to gain a competitive edge and bolster partnerships?Continue reading
Today, we’re inundated with sustainability propaganda in a climate where more companies are turning to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports to make their statements – but is it all just greenwashing? The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting standards is one way to gain credibility.Continue reading
Have you heard the saying, “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door”? The theory is that all you need to do is produce something innovative and people will come running to buy it. But that’s simply not true – as many businesses know.
In fact, there are over 5,000 patents registered for mousetrap designs – and lots more that don’t get registered for one reason or another. To become a success, your innovation needs a powerful, well-structured story – what we call a “strategic narrative” – and the exact same goes for sustainability innovations, too.
Monitor Deloitte’s Camilla Marie Thiele shares her perspective on why business innovation is important for the sustainability agenda and how storytelling can inspire other companies to follow.
The SDG Accelerator programme supports small- to medium-sized Danish companies in creating new solutions to positively impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Continue reading


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Payments giant Stripe will push its investment in Asia as it strives to capture demand in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions—one filled with markets with potential that US tech companies often fail to notice, CEO Patrick Collison said.
San Francisco- and Dublin-headquartered Stripe over the years has expanded its reach from North America and Europe to markets in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Collison noted a particular focus on Japan, which Stripe entered in 2016. The world’s fourth largest e-commerce market, he said, is “growing much faster than in the US.”
“I find that the culture in America, for whatever reason, in the technology industry often underestimates the size of some of these global regions and global markets,” Collison told Nikkei Asia in an online interview earlier this month.
Southeast Asia has also attracted the financial platform’s attention. E-commerce spending in the region is expected to grow 2.6 times to almost USD 180 billion by 2025, with digital payments accounting for 91% of transactions by value, according to market researcher IDC.
The payment unicorn entered Southeast Asia in earnest in 2016, when it opened in Singapore. It then crossed the maritime border into Malaysia. Nikkei understands the company will expand its presence in Thailand as early as this year.
“Given the fraction of the world’s economic activity that takes place in Asia,” the 33-year old CEO said, Stripe expects the region to become a great innovation generator during the next 20 years. “This will be a critical pillar of our business,” he said, “and it’s why we’re investing as much as we are.”
Collison declined to give a specific investment amount.
Stripe’s expansion underscores the importance that a global presence can play for a digital payment company trying to sustain growth in an undulating world. Big changes are taking place, including economies that are shrugging off the pandemic and a global tech sell-off that has cut the share prices of PayPal and Block (formerly known as Square) almost in half this year.
The decline in public market valuations has extended to private fintechs. In July, Swedish “buy now, pay later” startup Klarna shed 85% of its valuation, now at USD 6.7 billion, in a funding round. Last valued by private investors at USD 95 billion, Stripe has cut its internal valuation by 28%, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Collison declined to comment on the timing or outlook for a public listing. There had been anticipation that Stripe would list as early as last year. In the meantime, amid market volatility and recessionary pressures, Collison said Stripe “was cash flow positive last year… We don’t need to raise primary capital.”
Founded in 2010, Stripe began processing payments for startups and e-commerce companies looking to handle credit cards, bank transfers, digital wallets and other payment modes. The payment gateway receives most of its revenue from a slight cut of each transaction that it charges as a fee for use of its software.
Early customers have been mostly startups like Canada’s Shopify and ride-sharing platform Lyft. But the company has been focusing on large enterprises, with Japan’s Toyota Motor and All Nippon Airways becoming some of its latest users in Asia. Collison said the pandemic urged companies to digitize, resulting in a “big cultural change.”
With demand from large companies growing, Stripe said it processed USD 640 billion in 2021, up 60% from the year before, though it expects the pandemic-induced rush to subside in 2022 and that it “won’t match the same level of growth,” Collison said.
He added that with payment modes and networks being fragmented by country and region, “it’s important to have local development in [Asia].”
In Japan, Stripe now enables bank transfers and in-person payments, two popular transaction types in the country, through cash registers at 34,000 convenience stores.
In Southeast Asia, Stripe last year partnered with regional superapp Grab in Singapore and Malaysia, transacting GrabPay users’ online payments.
Stripe had already been pushing through Grab’s ride-hailing and food delivery payments.
Collison noted that payment methods will continue to diversify in various countries, creating a complexity that will be “challenging for merchants and businesses.”
The company will continue focusing on digital payments but expects to expand into other financial services like loans, card issuing, digital bank accounts for companies, and payouts in cryptocurrency tailored to the needs of freelancers and creators.
“We are going to see an increasing blurring,” he said, “between what you would maybe traditionally call payments and then the rest of financial services.”


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What would Bill Gates have done without a behind-the-scenes, detail-oriented pefectionsist-AKA a quality assurance tester? Behind every great software developer there is an equally great tester. And even though the IT sector as a whole may be in the employment doldrums, jobs in software test and quality assurance have remained steady.
Tech companies and test labs still need folks to do the "dirty work" of squashing the software bugs. In the new wireless age, testers will be needed to make everyday products suitable for use. And if the thought of playing Play Station 2 all day is appealing, there might even be a job for you.
Wayne Middleton, CEO and publisher of Stickyminds.com, an online quality assurance (QA) magazine and community founded by Software Quality Engineering, says, "I see a resurgence of demand in software testing careers. As a consultant, I have seen business go up 50% from 2001." Middleton sites Microsoft as an example. "For every one developer they hire, they hire one software tester as well."
One of Middleton's clients, Hewlett-Packard/ Compaq, has at least 100 testers on site at their locations all around the world. "For them it's like having insurance," he says. "If the product was perfect, you wouldn't need to test it. For example, if your Web site is crucial during the holiday season, you need to determine the risks."
Middleton believes that in the next few years, there will be an increased need of QA testers in the areas of consumer goods and financial services. With the increase of wireless devices, such as cell phones and hand-held organizers, consumers will demand more quality, and QA testers will have to remove the bugs that consumers put up with now.
"I have a cell phone that's also a Palm Pilot," says Middleton. "Every week or so it shuts down and I have to reboot it. It's ridiculous. In the future, people will expect wireless devices to work as well as household appliances."
Washington D.C.-based QA consultant Rick Hower has provided services for AOL, Visa and Oracle. He says that Internet and tech companies have been affected by the economic downturn over the last few years but adds that there is still hope for people in the QA field.
"There are still plenty of opportunities for sharp, motivated people, and over the long term there will be a growing demand due to the increasing complexity of modern software development projects," says Hower. Some of these more complex developments that Hower mentions include multiple programming languages, software that interfaces with other software programs and larger sizes of code lines.
A significant litmus test of what grads might be seeing in the way of jobs can be found at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Six years ago the school began offering four courses in the areas of QA and computer security. "Before we started offering the courses, software testing was just crammed into one or two weeks of study through other courses," says James Whittiker, professor of computer science at FIT. "But once we started to offer them as courses, they were hotter than Rolling Stones tickets."
FIT is one of the first schools to offer such courses and will soon offer an undergraduate degree in QA. Companies are starting to take notice. Whittiker says that some software companies have even sent him products for his students to review and adds that his mailbox is stuffed full of letters from companies looking to hire his grads.
And Bad News
After hearing this, it would seem like QA jobs will continue to flourish in the next few years-or will they? According to Marty Dresser, vice president of business development at National Technical Systems, a major contract and staffing company for software and information technology sectors, the future for those in QA is not a pretty picture.
Dresser believes that since computer companies have improved their software development, they have less of a need for testers. He also says that small profit margins and lowering prices in computer equipment are forcing companies to spend less on testing and driving testing labs to consolidate.
"Another negative sign is the decline in readership and advertising for publications that do benchmark testing for software," adds Dresser.
But nonetheless, he stresses the importance of software testing to a company's reputation and bottom-line, especially after what happened to Toshiba. In 1999, a case was brought against the computer manufacturer claiming that they had been producing defective laptops since 1987. Even though Toshiba denied the aligation and claimed that it could not duplicate the flaw in their own laboratories, it cost them $2.1 billion.
How to Make Your Mark
Students interested in a career in software quality assurance and testing should consider what Hower believes companies are looking for in their employees. "Since few colleges provide degrees or significant training in software QA or testing, most companies prefer to hire those with some experience in the software development process," he states.
And exactly what skills are companies looking for in potential QA testers?
"They should be able to understand the entire software development
process and how it fits into the business approach and goals of the organization,"
He adds that even for entry-level QA people, communication skills are essential.
"Tact and diplomacy are useful in maintaining a cooperative relationship with developers. It's important to have the ability to communicate with both technical employees, like developers, and non-technical employees, like customers or management," Hower says. "Judgment skills are also needed when assessing high-risk areas of a project when time is limited."
For All You Video Game Freaks Out There
While software testing involves the obvious-testing software and ancillary products like printers and scanners-don't forget about the tempting world of video game testing. Is it too good to be true? Can you really play with video games all day and get paid for it?
Lester Li, QA director for Radical Entertainment, a privately owned game developer based in Canada, and host of a job board for companies looking for game testers describes what game testers actual do: "Testing video games verifies the interfaces and integrity of the game components and demonstrates that these software components meet their design and technical requirements."
Often these testing jobs are entry-level, compared with the actual game development, which has about twelve different types. Li says that usually the new graduates of the IT or related disciplines right from the university are ripe for these types of jobs.
So what is the availability of these jobs? According to Li, video game publishers like Disney, Fox and EA would say that the positions are increasing because of the growth of sales in video games. However, he notes that if you ask the game developers, you're likely to hear that jobs are steady or going down. "A lot of these companies are consolidating or being bought out and rely more on the publishers for testing," says Li.
So is video game testing all just fun and games?
Li recalls an article in which a tester described the process like eating your favorite ice cream sundae for eight hours a day, five days a week. "Game testers must enjoy playing video games and appreciate the game production process," warns Li.
What Can You Expect?
According to a Quality Progress survey, published by American Society for Quality in December 2001, testers in the greater New York City area with less than one year of experience can earn $53,000, as opposed to someone in Chicago, who can earn $44,000. Add three years of experience to that, and the person in New York may double their salary, while the person in Chicago's salary only went up $20,000. Of course, you always need to consider the cost of a slice of pizza and rent in respective locations.
The type of industry you work in also impacts earnings. In Texas for example, the salary across the board for a QA person is $76,500. A tester in academia gets the bottom salary at $68,000, while someone in the financial sector will earn $83,000 plus benefits.
According to Li, starting salaries for entry-level testers is $40,000
(Canadian). However, the type of money a career on QA can get you has
several variables, like location and the company you work for.
While the economy may be in a lull now, jobs in QA and testing remain steady, with no major losses or gains. And as consumers begin to rely more upon wireless products and companies look to develop more complex software programs, the needs for graduates to enter the field will only increase. All things considered, the future looks bright for those in the (sometimes) exciting field of software quality assurance and testing. And let's face it, software developers will always need someone to zap their inevitable bugs.


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AR and VR will apply to lots of areas, both consumer and enterprise. But what about advertising? There’s an opportunity to bring a more immersive touch to advertising, such as checking out a new car. As we’ve examined, this will have to be done in native ways to be successful.
But what about local advertising specifically? We’re talking small businesses and big brands that target specific geographies. It’s a major category of advertising and is particularly conducive to AR, given its ability to qualify product info (a la Google Lens) or navigate inside stores (a la VPS).
Street Fight recently quantified advertisers’ interest in immersive tech and found, unsurprisingly, that interest is still somewhat low but promising. Among small business marketers, 18 percent are interested in AR & VR. Among larger brands, 12 percent indicated interest.
The relatively low interest again isn’t very surprising. But it is surprising that small businesses showed greater interest than brand marketers. Generally it’s the opposite: larger brands with dedicated marketing resources and greater budgets are more adoptive of emerging ad media.
Small businesses interest in AR & VR could be due to a competitive drive to gain an edge with emerging technology. In this case, things like AR can help them engage customers at the store level with AR graphics that provide things like product info, reviews, games and hidden deals.
As we’ve mentioned, this is going to require lots of supporting data to make sure that graphics and informational overlays are shown properly, and in the right places. That will require a mix of good object recognition, in combination with good geo-data for stores’ location and product details.
This will be a big opportunity to infuse AR with local offline commerce (which accounts for 88 percent of U.S. retail spending). Companies like Amazon and Ikea are using AR to drive e-commerce. But the larger play — in terms of sheer dollars — will be offline AR-assisted shopping.
Stay tuned for more on this topic, including an upcoming ARtillry Intelligence Briefing.
Disclosure: ARtillry has no financial stake in the companies mentioned in this article, nor received payment for its production. Disclosure and ethics policy can be seen here.


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Governor Larry Hogan today lifted capacity restrictions on restaurants and stores in Maryland, his biggest move yet to reopen the state since coronavirus cases spiked during the winter holidays.
But his executive order – taking effect 5 p.m. Friday – caught some by surprise, especially in jurisdictions like Baltimore, where restaurants remain limited to 25% capacity indoors and 50% outdoors.
Asked at a news conference in Annapolis if his order returning Maryland to 100% capacity for restaurants, retail, fitness centers and religious establishments supersedes tighter rules in some local jurisdictions, Hogan said it does not.
“But my advice is that they should follow the state guidance and get in line,” the Republican governor added. (The language in his order, saying it will render local regulations that conflict “null and void,” has caused some confusion.)
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, meanwhile, had a cautious response to the news, saying Hogan’s executive order is under review by the city Law and Health departments.
“Baltimore will continue to lean on the direction of healthcare professionals and local data on Covid-19 hospitalizations, deaths and new cases to shape reopening efforts in Baltimore,” Scott said in a statement.
One question yet unanswered is whether Hogan’s order, which allows a 50% crowd at Camden Yards, will prevail or whether Scott will impose stricter limits for the Orioles opening day game on April 8.
Masks Still Required
Under Hogan’s order:
• Capacity limits will be lifted on outdoor and indoor dining at restaurants and bars, retail businesses, religious facilities, fitness centers, casinos, personal services and indoor recreational establishments.
• Patrons may not stand at a crowded bar. Bars and restaurants will be open for seated and distanced service only. Masking, physical distancing and other safety protocols will remain in place.
• Large outdoor and indoor venues may begin operating at 50% capacity. (This includes theater, concert, convention and wedding venues, racing facilities, and outdoor entertainment and sporting venues.) Masking, physical distancing and other safety protocols will remain in place.
• Medical adult day care centers may reopen, with facilities able to set appropriate restrictions and safety measures.
• Quarantine requirements and other restrictions on out-of-state travel will be lifted. The state travel advisory will remain in place, and Marylanders continue to be encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 upon their return from out-of-state travel.
Timed for St. Patrick’s Day?
Hogan, Scott and other local officials have been under pressure from bar and restaurant owners to relax the restrictions that have forced them to close or sharply cut back.
With the reopening order issued just before the weekend when St. Patrick’s Day revelers flock to bars and restaurants, many said Hogan’s move was simply designed to fill restaurateurs’ mugs with revenue and that public health would suffer.
Others applauded the move, agreeing with Hogan that reopening at this point is safe and necessary for economic reasons.
“Our health metrics are great, and it’s time to get our economy going,” Hogan said. State health officials have pointed to recent declines in several metrics used to track the pandemic, including the state’s testing positivity rate and the number of hospitalizations.
As of today, new daily cases and hospitalizations in Maryland had dropped to the levels they were in early November, but were still above the lows reached during the summer.
Less than 10% of people in Maryland are fully vaccinated and the spread of multiple strains of virus variants remains a concern.
Liquor Board Warning
In Baltimore, the Liquor Board today reminded the pubic that bar crawls and tours, a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, remain prohibited.
“Licensees and the public should expect to see an increased presence from the Liquor Board staff to monitor establishments to ensure they are in compliance with current restrictions,” the agency said.
They specifically called out the neighborhoods where they will be watching for violators – “historically popular St. Patrick’s Day areas, including Federal Hill, Fell’s Point and Canton, during the weekends prior to and after St. Patrick’s Day.”
Any security personnel should have clickers for counting patrons both entering and exiting, to ensure proper capacity, the release said.
“If you see a pub crawl/tour advertised,” the release continued, “contact the Liquor Board to investigate.”
“Members of the public should be aware that if you are paying money for a pub crawl/tour registration for St. Patrick’s Day 2021, it may very well be a scam.”


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Superbike showdown – will the Europeans come out on top?
MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child is currently at the Trazado Grand Prix Circuit, near Barcelona pitting all NINE of the world’s leading superbikes against each other.
And for the first time in living memory the Japanese manufacturers could be set to have their butts well and truly kicked.
For the first time, all of this year’s litre-class sports bikes are to be pitted against one another on track.
So, not only are the four leading Japanese bikes involved, Yamaha’s R1, Honda Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-10R and Suzuki GSX-R1000, but facing them are the new generation of European superbikes, namely: the BMW S1000RR, Aprilia RSV4R, Ducati 1198S, KTM RC8R and brand new MV Agusta F4 1000.
The question is: which will come out on top?
Well, with the BMW recording a massive 192 rear wheel bhp on the trackside dyno and the Ducati, Aprilia and new MV all already looking very quick, we could be in for a shock.


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Three decisions staying CBD class actions in two months may signal a trend, especially considering that the Courts in these cases refer to the other’s decisions. Such a trend may keep the plaintiffs’ bar at bay, as it would cast doubt on the viability of consumer class actions asserting CBD violations, or at least it could make the cases less appealing to the plaintiffs’ bar because a stay makes the timing of a settlement or resolution even more uncertain.
Consumer class actions regarding CBD marketing are on the rise. In recent months, a number of federal judges have placed lawsuits concerning the marketing of CBD-infused products on hold because the U.S. Food & Drug Administration—tasked with regulating those products under the 2018 Farm Bill—still has not issued regulations governing how they can be marketed. This further complicates the already confusing federal-state regulatory structure concerning the treatment of CBD products.
On April 20, the FDA issued warning letters to two CBD companies – BIOTA Biosciences and Homero Corp., dba Natures CBD Oil Distribution – directing them to remove statements from their labeling and advertising on websites and social media claiming that CBD can cure opioid addiction among other illnesses. I am attaching the FDA’s warning letter, as it provides very useful information to the market as to the FDA’s current views of CBD products. As set forth in the warning letter, the FDA continues to view CBD as (1) an unsafe food additive; (2) not satisfying the definition of a “dietary supplement,” and (3) as unapproved new drugs if marketed as “intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease and/or intended to affect the structure or any function of the body.” In the case of Homero, the CBD products were advertised with the following claims, among others:
“Natures Pure CBD Oil has been effective in the treatment and eradication of opiate use.”
“CBD Oil Inhibits the reward-facilitating effect of morphine”
“Vaping CBD Oil to Treat Asthma . . . Your best best [sic] to combat Asthma is by vaping CBD Oil.”
“Natures Pure CBD is a strong anti-oxidant that can alleviate lower epileptic seizures, psychotic disorders, and has neuroprotective qualities.”
For consumers, the widespread availability of products containing cannabidiol (CBD) is old news. But for those in the cannabis industry—and in particular, those monitoring applicable regulatory developments—the state of CBD remains largely in flux and continues to be marred by uncertainty.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) retained its regulatory authority over products derived from hemp, including CBD incorporated into products it traditionally regulates, such as food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. Unfortunately for the industry, FDA has yet to propose or issue formal regulations concerning the manufacture, distribution, or sale of such products. At the same time, FDA has issued numerous warning letters to producers and retailers incorporating CBD into products operating in the complex gray area between state and federal law. Nevertheless, recent events occurring across all three federal branches of government may reflect an impetus for change in FDA’s approach to CBD products.
Last week, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration published its current thinking on the research and approval process for cannabis-related drugs. The publication, which among other things recognizes the “increasing interest in the potential utility of cannabis for a variety of medical conditions,” contains critical information for businesses and consumers in the cannabis market—including those wishing to develop new cannabis-related drugs.
Duane Morris associate Kelly Bonner shares legal insight on CBD products and services in the January issue of DaySpa magazine.
From the publication:
Consider the source. CBD can be derived from both hemp and marijuana, which have different definitions in U.S. law and are subject to different statutory and regulatory requirements. Hemp-derived CBD products are not illegal to sell and possess under federal law, as long as they contain no more than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana has more than 0.3 percent THC, and is a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Get proof. Given the current lack of federal testing requirements for CBD products, it can be difficult to ensure that those purchased from third-party vendors contain no more than the permitted level of THC. So it’s extremely important that spas get anything containing CBD from a trustworthy supplier who can verify ingredients, confirm THC levels with third-party labs and/or provide certifi cates of analysis.
Act locally. While the 2018 Farm Bill lifted the federal ban on the commercial cultivation of hemp and derivatives that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC, the ability to manufacture, market and sell CBD products is still heavily regulated at the state level, and changing rapidly.
Make no promises. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to a number of CBD companies that have touted their products as having certain health benefi ts in their promotional materials and on packaging or websites. Spas should ensure that any products or services offered don’t come with false or misleading claims.
Handle with care. Although research into the risks of CBD use is ongoing, the FDA has noted potential adverse health effects linked to the use of cannabis products containing THC by pregnant or lactating women. Even though CBD topicals typically contain very low levels of THC, spas should be up front with clients about potential risks.
One day after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory authority over e-cigarettes, a published study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that more than 20% of High School seniors in the U.S. reported vaping THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana) in 2019.
According to the study, 20.8% of 12th graders reported marijuana vaping in the past 12 months, while 14% reported marijuana vaping in the past 30 days. (These figures, in 2018, were 13.1%, and 7.5%, respectively.) According to the report, the absolute increases from 2018 to 2019 in 12th graders who reported vaping marijuana within the previous 30 days were “the second largest … ever tracked by Monitoring the Future for any substance in its 45-year history[,]” only outpaced by the increase in nicotine vaping from 2017 to 2018.
Other age groups showed increases in THC vaping as well; the percentage of 10th graders who reported marijuana vaping in the past 12 months increased from 12.4% in 2018 to 19.4% in 2019 and the percentage of 10th graders who reported marijuana vaping in the past 30 days increased from 7% in 2018 to 12.6% in 2019. Moreover, the percentage of 8th graders who reported vaping marijuana in the past 12 months increased from 4.4% in 2018 to 7% in 2019; for use in the past 30 days, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.9% over the same time period.
Based on the results of the just-released study, Judge Guirola’s opinion–in which the court held that the delegation of authority to the FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was not unconstitutional–could be afforded renewed significance. Both the federal court’s order and the NIH-funded study documenting the rise in THC vaping among adolescent come in the midst of heightened scrutiny of e-cigarette and vaping products generally, in light of the widely reported lung-related health issues stemming from use of certain vaping products.
Given the new data from the NIH-funded study and the FDA’s recently confirmed regulatory authority over the products alleged to be causing the lung-related illnesses, it appears likely that calls for regulators to scrutinize and crack down on the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products will only grow.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill passed in December 2018, removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and thus legalizing it under federal law, consumer goods containing the hemp-derivative cannabidiol (CBD) have become exceptionally popular. With that growing popularity among consumers has come increased scrutiny by federal regulators whose mission is consumer safety and protection, such as the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission, and now by the plaintiffs’ bar, which files consumer class actions based on advertising. As the recent spate of warning letters and consumer class actions demonstrate, hemp-derived CBD product manufacturers and others in the supply chain for those products have to be mindful of the claims they make to consumers about their products.
Duane Morris Partner Frederick Ball is quoted in the Agri-Pulse article “Regulatory Uncertainty Hangs Over Production of Industrial Hemp.”
Nearly a year after the 2018 farm bill legalized industrial hemp production, the business community continues to seek answers to questions about testing and marketing of products derived from the crop, the commercial potential of which has sparked interest throughout the country. […]
Rick Ball, a lawyer with Duane Morris in Boston, said on the sidelines of the FDLI meeting that he has “no clue” when FDA might take action.
Ball said regulatory confusion is stoked in some cases by different rules in different states. In Massachusetts, for example, farmers were left holding their hemp after the state followed FDA and said CBD cannot be used in foods or dietary supplements or marketed with health claims.
“They lost a huge market for their product,” Ball said. […]
Duane Morris partner Neville M. Bilimoria is quoted in the Law360 article, “CBD Rules In Limbo As FDA Grapples With New Cannabis Era.”
Hemp may have been legalized less than a year ago, but CBD derived from it is already on its way to becoming a multibillion-dollar industry. However, sales of everything from CBD gummies to lattes are occurring in a legal gray area as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration struggles with regulating the largely unstudied ingredient. […]
“This is a watershed year for the FDA and its coming to grips with the increasing demand from the consumer public over marijuana, cannabis, CBD, hemp. It’s trying to catch up to what the consumers are touting as being therapeutic uses for CBD and THC,” Mr. Bilimoria said. “It’s basically saying, ‘Wait, everybody slow down. We’re the FDA. We rely on science before we can approve any uses and regulate any uses of cannabis or CBD.'” […]
Mr. Bilimoria said he can’t blame the FDA for “taking it slow,” but said doing so is frustrating when CBD is already all over store shelves. […]
To read the full article, visit the Law360 website (subscription required).


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The sale of Genstar-backed video software provider Telestream is in the second round, sources familiar with the process told PE Hub.
Lazard is advising the company on its sale process, which is expected to command interest from telecommunication providers and private equity firms, the sources said.
Telestream, based in Nevada City, California, provides digital video software and workflow technology that allow consumers and businesses to transform video content on the desktop and across the enterprise.
The company generates around $60 million in EBITDA, the sources said.
The sale of Telestream could value the business at 12x to 14x EBITDA, putting the company’s valuation between $720 million and $840 million, one of the sources said.
Genstar Capital is exiting the investment in Telestream after a six-year hold.
The San Francisco-based firm acquired Telestream in January 2015 and grew the business through 11 strategic add-on acquisitions.
The most recent add-ons include an acquisition of EcoDigital, a content management software provider; an acquisition of Masstech, Media & Entertainment (M&E) content storage & management provider; and an acquisition of ContentAgent, a workflow automation provider.
In April, Genstar announced the closing of Genstar Capital Partners X with approximately $10.2 billion in total commitments. In addition, Genstar has raised committed overage capacity of $1.5 billion from select limited partners for Genstar’s Opportunities Fund X, which will co-invest in Fund X’s larger transactions.
Genstar Capital, which has approximately $33 billion under management, is focused on investing in targeted segments of the financial services, healthcare, industrials, and software industries.
Genstar and Lazard declined to comment. Telestream did not respond to PE Hub’s request for comment.


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Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau said several restaurants, including some in Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum and scenic Sun Moon Lake have earned Halal certification.
The bureau said in a news conference on Friday that 24 restaurants recently received certification from the Chinese Muslim Association, bringing the total number with Halal certification in Taiwan to 70.
The growing number of Halal restaurants will make it more convenient for Muslim visitors to travel to Taiwan, the bureau said.
There are nearly 2 billion Muslims in the world, and they are being wooed as potential tourist by many countries in the world, the bureau said.
Muslims made about 180,000 visits to Taiwan last year, up 12.5% from 2013, and the bureau estimated that the number could grow by 10% this year.
Aside from pushing for more Halal-certified restaurants in the country, the bureau is also trying to set up prayer rooms in tourist service centers and transportation stops to create an environment more friendly to Muslim visitors.
*This article was originally published on Want China Times on 24 May 2015. Read the original article here.


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Now that iOS 8 is in the hands of developers, we'll likely be getting a lot more detail. Apple was able to give only a very cursory overview during the keynote. Macworld has posted an article on 20 features that Apple didn't talk about during the keynote. Some of these are pretty cool, such as time-lapse mode for the camera, private browsing tabs in Safari, battery usage by app, and more. The article covers detail related to features of Camera, iBooks, Siri, Safari, Settings, and Calling.
If there was a common theme for WWDC 2014, Tim Cook articulated it at the end. He said what's great about Apple products is that their operating system, devices, and services work together in harmony, creating a seamless experience for users. And that seamless experience was expanded in dramatic fashion today, with the announcement of new technologies such as HomeKit, HealthKit, iCloud Drive, and Continuity. Apple also announced a ton of new features for built-in apps in iOS 8 such as Mail, Messages, Photos, and Safari.
Touch ID has been very successful on the iPhone 5s, increasing both security and convenience. It's rumored that Touch ID will now be on all new iOS devices, including the forthcoming iPads.
Apple made two significant announcements related to the iOS keyboard today. One is predictive capability, called QuickType. Depending on context, iOS is now smart enough to predict words as you type.
Siri will have a couple great new features in iOS 8. One is hands-free operation, such that you can simply say "Hey Siri" and Siri will respond. This, of course, will be especially useful if you're in your car.
Apple announced their new HealthKit platform and Health app. The main idea is that HealthKit is a single comprehensive repository for all your health and fitness information. The announced platform goes far beyond the rumors.
Big changes to Messages in iOS 8. You can now reply to SMS messages within the lock screen or within an app.
Apple's vision is stunning. A new feature being demoed right now is Continuity. You can make a call on your phone and then as you sit at your Mac, you can continue the phone via your Mac.
Apple's stock continues to jump up, and there's a tremendous amount of enthusiasm as everyone looks ahead to Apple's keynote on Monday at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Stock analysts and fanboys have been wondering if Apple still has its mojo in the post-Steve-Jobs era, and CEO Tim Cook has continued to promise that new product categories are coming. Everyone seems to be anticipating we will indeed get something new on Monday—if not hardware, then almost certainly a new platform or two. Let's take a look at what we know is coming, what seems likely, and what's rumored.
As my fellow blogger Todd Bernhard discussed in this post, there was a report out Monday from The Financial Times saying that Apple will be announcing a new Smart Home platform during next Monday's keynote at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Apple has been working on an integrated home system for at least several years, with a number of patent applications indicating what they have in mind. In this post from January of 2012, for example, I pointed to a patent application that described a single device that would automatically detect appliances available for it to control. This would include TV, video disk player, stereo, computer, and home device controls, such as security, lighting, thermostat, and a wide range of other devices that are now Internet connected, such as the intelligent thermostat from Nest and smart light bulbs from Hue.


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Suzuki Motorcycle India is one of the leading manufacturers of two-wheeled vehicle from Japan. Based on the latest report, which brought joy even to Suzuki motorcycle dealers in the UK, their sales for the previous month had an increase of 17.7 per cent. For the domestic market alone, the company was able to sell a total of 62,596 units of motorcycles for the month of May 2019. This is in comparison to 53,167 units which were sold during the same period of year 2018.
The bottom line is that Suzuki Motorcycle India recorded a year on year growth of 22 per cent after they were able to sell 71,640 units. The figure already took into account the exports. Looking back at the same month last year, the total number of units sold were only 58,682. According to the company, they were able to sell 137,582 units for the past two months starting April until May 2019. This number helped them move forward to their goal to reach a target of one million sales for the fiscal year 2019 to 2020.
Devanish Handa, Suzuki Motorcycle India’s vice president, said that the excellent performance of the company proved that many are still trusting the brand Suzuki when it comes to two-wheeled vehicles in India. This is despite the fact that the industry is currently suffering from a lean phase. Yet, this did not hinder Suzuki Motorcycle India to achieve a growth that is in double digits.
He also said that they are already branching out with regards to their motorcycle portfolio through the introduction of their new line which is called New Gixxer SF Series to be released in the country. They are hoping that the customers will receive the new line with open arms and the company will try its best in order to achieve another double-digit increase.
The story of the Indian company inspired Suzuki motorcycle dealers in the UK to give in more of their efforts in order to achieve the success that the company is now experiencing. Customers in India can soon expect another addition as the company plans to release the Gixxer SF to the domestic market soon.


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What Jobs's exit means for Apple
The shocking yet not entirely surprising news that Apple CEO Steve Jobs will sit out the next six months for health reasons gave the technology world a significant jolt. Mr. Jobs will retain his title, but Apple's long-time Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will take over day-to-day activity during the absence.
Last week's Macworld expo gave fans and industry watchers an early glimpse of an Apple without Jobs. The iconic CEO remained mostly hidden, offering the spotlight to Apple's other top talent. But investors didn't like the new direction. Apple's stock has slid steadily since Macworld from $94 to yesterday's $85. Jobs's leave of absence, which leaked after markets closed Wednesday, pushed the stock to $79 in late trading.
Here's what Apple watchers are saying:
Robert Scoble – Scobleizer
"It’s too late to sell your Apple stock. If you sold it [Wednesday], you are a genius. But [Thursday]? You’ll be the biggest loser. Why? Apple has the best team, the best distribution, the best supply chain, the best management in the business. Everyone, from Palm to Microsoft to Google, wants to be like Apple. Hint: They can’t."


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(Will provide later)
Type: Infrastructure (Information and Communication Technology, ICT)
Duration: 2011 to present
Organisation: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Aside from the commonly known tangible parts of the BRI, the Silk Road Economic Belt (land route) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (sea route), a third “Silk Road” was also launched by China in 2015. The “Information Silk Road”, since rebranded as the Digital Silk Road (DSR), has the stated objective of enhancing global communication linkages and accelerating the globalisation of Chinese tech firms.
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. has been constructing thousands of kilometres of fibre-optic cable networks in the country alongside band transceiver stations, or towers, that can facilitate wireless communication in various regions so that 5G technology can be accessed evenly across the Indonesian islands. Huawei has signed contracts with Indosat Ooredoo, Indonesia’s second-largest telecommunication firm, for the installation of 5G infrastructure in some regions of Indonesia, along with offering training on 5G technology to 100,000 Indonesians on 5G technology. Huawei also announced that it was collaborating with Indonesia’s Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) in three fields: artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and 5G networks.
Besides hard aspects, the implementation of China's DSR in Indonesia also involves soft aspects, which mainly focus on strengthening understanding and acceptance of China's growing digital foothold among the Indonesian people. Huawei has also initiated a digital talent training programme in more than 33 colleges and universities in Indonesia, which aims to equip young Indonesians with knowledge and skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and the cloud.
Image: Huawei Indonesia signed MoU with Telkom University [Photo: tek.id]
 “BPPT, Huawei team up to develop AI, cloud and 5G,” The Jakarta Post, 13 October 2020.


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New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau, have launched NYC Hotel Week with the start of reservations available at nycgo.com/hotelweek. Returning for its second year, NYC Hotel Week will run from January 3 through February 12, 2023, offering 23% savings off standard room rates at more than 140 hotels across all five boroughs, with additional properties expected to join.
Presented by preferred payment partner Mastercard, NYC Hotel Week 2023 participating hotels include Hard Rock Hotel New York; Lotte New York Palace; The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel; The Hoxton, Williamsburg; The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue; New York Marriott Marquis; The William Vale; Radio Hotel; The Opera House Hotel, The Rockaway Hotel; Hilton Garden Inn New York/Staten Island and more.
“I am thrilled to announce the return of NYC Hotel Week, offering deals of a lifetime to an array of hotels across the City,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “NYC Hotel Week kicks off the start of NYC & Company’s NYC Winter Outing Program, combining NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week, NYC Must-See Week, and NYC Hotel Week. Whether you want to catch one of our world-class attractions, dine at the finest restaurants or unwind at our luxurious hotels, New York City has it all right here in our backyard, across all five boroughs. Our city is open for reservations, so book yours today!”
“NYC Hotel Week offers the best values of the year for travelers looking to visit the five boroughs or for New Yorkers treating themselves to staycations,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company. “When combined with other offers in our broader NYC Winter Outing promotion—like NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must-See Week—tremendous values are to be had on virtually every aspect of a visit to New York City in January and February, making the winter season incredibly attractive. Hotel reservations are available now, and we invite everyone to plan a visit or give the gift of a stay in NYC to a loved one this holiday season.”
Hotel performance has held steady across New York City: the City continues to generate the highest weekly occupancy levels and average daily rates (ADR) among the top 25 markets, with fall 2022 hotel demand recovering around 90% of the 2019 benchmark each week. New York City has more than 124,000 hotel rooms in active inventory and another 11,000 rooms are expected to come online in the next three years.
The start of NYC Hotel Week reservations marks the countdown to the return of NYC Winter Outing, NYC & Company’s annual citywide value program. NYC Winter Outing, now in its fourth year, celebrates the City’s winter season with offers from NYC & Company’s signature programs: NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week, NYC Must-See Week,and for the second year, NYC Hotel Week. NYC Winter Outing, which will run from January 17 through February 12, 2023, will combine deals across all five boroughs on dining, Broadway shows, attractions, museums, tours, performing arts and hotels. Bookings for NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must-See Week will open to the general public on January 10 at nycgo.com/winterouting.
As part of NYC & Company’s partnership with Mastercard, Mastercard cardholders will have exclusive access to an early booking presale period for NYC Winter Outing programs including NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must-See Week from January 4–9 at nycgo.com/nycwinteroutingpresale.


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Blackbox Releases Report/App To Help Founders
It’s not easy being green — or an entrepreneur. The inherent risk in becoming an entrepreneur or founding a startup is high. Sleepless nights, sweat equity, bribing new users to come to your product — it’s all part of the nerve-racking, code-spinning, and teeth grinding process. That’s why most of these swashbucklers are pirates by nature. But the truth of the matter is that few startups ever make it far enough to find the buried treasure or piggyback on Facebook all the way to glory; in fact, the cold, hard reality is that more than 90 percent of all startups fail.
That’s why four young international entrepreneurs (Bjoern Herrmann, Max Marmer, Fadi Bishara, Aleksandra Markova) created the so-called Startup Genome Report, because they wanted to a deep dive into what makes a startup successful — and what causes so many to drink from the cup of FAIL.
Herrmann said that the team’s research found that of the 90 percent of startups that fail, 70 percent scaled prematurely, which had a sometimes subtle and sometimes dramatic effect on the success (or lack thereof) of their business. Self-destruction and not competition is the bane of most startups, it seems.
So, the team behind the report, which also created a business accelerator called Blackbox (designed to leverage the data collected from their R&D projects), wanted to move beyond static reports and create a tool for startups that would help them combat this widespread problem of premature scaling.
Today, the Blackbox team is releasing the “Startup Compass”, a tool built to be a prescription for premature scaling by mapping a company’s progress along “5 core interdependent dimensions”, according to Herrmann: Customers, Product, Team, Business Model and Financials. The Compass provides entrepreneurs with a dashboard to monitor their progress along these dimensions, helping them to set better priorities on a monthly basis — and also help them locate any inconsistencies in these dimensions.
According to Herrmann, many startups have trouble deciding which priorities to follow, not to mention measuring their effectiveness once they do, “almost always landing in the proverbial grey zone”. He gave these questions as classic examples of startup uncertainty: “Is a 5 percent increase in retention good? Do I have enough users to declare product/market fit? Is now the right time to step on the gas pedal and scale?”
The Compass, then, is a simple benchmarking tool designed to reduce this grey zone by assessing a startup’s type and stage of development, and then comparing that data to that of other startups of the same type and stage — on 25 key performance indicators — to help them get a better sense of their current location (and the efficacy of their direction).
Source: Techcrunch.com | August 29, 2011


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The American Cable Association praised the FCC for its decision Thursday to grant Cable One a waiver of its set-top integration ban for an HD set-top, saying it hopes that means the FCC will follow suit for other ACA members that "want relief from costly set-top box design mandates."
The FCC had initially said that its waiver policy for low-cost boxes, one-way would not include ones with HD capability. But Cable One argued that almost all cable nets would be offered in HD, and that granting the waiver would promote the sale of HD sets.
The FCC agreed that the one-way HD set-top would be an appropriate option for consumers, and so Thursday effectively modified the waiver to include them.
"Although Cable One's request does not meet the low-cost, limited-capability waiver standard articulated in the 2005 Deferral Order because the device has functionality beyond that which is necessary to promote the ability to view digital signals on analog television sets," the FCC said "we believe that, with the passage of time, it is appropriate to add HD functionality to the list of one-way capabilities that can qualify for a waiver of the general rule."
The waiver is of the FCC's 2005 decision to require cable operators to separate the channel-surfing and security functions of their set-top boxes in order to spur a retail market in the boxes. "We believe that a one-way, low-cost box with HD capability is unlikely to present a significant impediment to the development of a competitive retail market for navigation devices," the commission said.
The commission also modified its requirement that HD boxes have to have an IEEE connection to allow for home networking and recording, saying the added costs would outweigh the benefits.
The Consumer Electronics Association disagrees that granting the HD waiver will not adversely affect the market for retail competitors to the boxes. The FCC concedes that since this is the first waiver to a cable operator for an HD set-top, so it will have to monitor the market. It is requiring Cable One to file an annual report on the market where it is deploying the box (Dyersburg, Tenn.).
The FCC created the waiver policy partly in recognition of the additional expense and hardship it might cause smaller and medium-sized cable operators.
"The FCC reached the proper conclusion that a waiver was the best outcome for Cable ONE and its customers," said ACA President Matthew Polka, whose group represents smaller and mid-sized operators. "Burdening small and medium-sized cable operators with unnecessary regulatory costs means they will have less capital to invest in their networks and rural America will fail to enjoy technological parity with densely populated cities and suburbs."


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SHANDONG ZHISHANG CHEMICAL CO.LTD
Raw materials into the third quarter winners, price surges have received much attention
As an upstream link in the pharmaceutical industry, the development of the API industry is inseparable and even consistent with the development of the pharmaceutical industry. According to the...
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Lawmakers demanded documents from the Federal Reserve relating to the purchases of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. stock by Stephen Friedman, the former Goldman executive who stepped down as chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York last year because of a controversy over those purchases.
Mr. Friedman's Goldman stock purchases, which occurred in December 2008 and January 2009, raised "serious questions about the integrity of the Fed's operations," Edolphus Towns, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said in a letter to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday.
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Press & Media
9 Wellness Events In Hong Kong This September 2021 - Tatler
Welcome back to our monthly series where we round up the best health and wellness events in Hong Kong.
From a New Moon gathering at the Four Seasons, to the opening of Hong Kong’s first female-only wellness studio, and a Mid-Autumn Festival gong bath, you’ll be all zenned out and prepared for 2021’s final Mercury in retrograde coming later this month.
Global Wellness Day 2021: 8 Hong Kong Events In June - Tatler
Looking to recharge over the weekend? Global Wellness Day (June 12) falls on a Saturday this year, beginning our three-day Dragon Boat Festival weekend on a high note.
From a full day of complimentary wellness classes at Hong Kong’s luxury hotels, to a unique beachside breathwork workshop, we list out the best wellness events happening in June to celebrate Global Wellness Day 2021.
Hong Kong’s Top Wellness Retreats & Founders - Compare Retreats Magazine
When it comes to year end, everyone needs a reset. It’s a crucial time to rest and reflect on the busy months prior. In normal times, many of us would be travelling home to spend the holidays with family or booking in for a wellness vacation to completely unwind and unplug from it all, but with the ongoing pandemic, it almost feels like a distant memory. Luckily, Hong Kong is blessed with an abundance of wellness retreats led by industry experts—plus they’re all within distance of under an hour from the city. Here are the top wellness retreats and founders that will elevate a holistic holiday at home.
Inside the Happiness Factory Supercharged Summer Retreat - Liv Magazine
Ever thought about splurging on a staycation retreat right here in the city? Check out The Happiness Factory and its seasonal retreats at The Peninsula!
It’s looking to be another staycation summer this year, so we’re super grateful that here in Hong Kong we have the option to escape without having to leave the city! Local wellness retreats are becoming increasingly popular as a way for Hongkongers to reset and destress, and what better place to do so than overlooking the iconic Victoria Harbour from The Peninsula Hotel?
Women of Wellness 2022: Joyce Au-Yeung - Liv Magazine
As the Chief Health Officer at Cigna, Joyce Au-Yeung lives and breathes wellbeing. After observing the many obstacles to wellness faced by individuals in the corporate sector, she launched Happiness Factory with a mission to make Hong Kong healthier and happier through bespoke wellness experiences.


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By Andy Sambidge
Luxury car maker says many markets saw double digit growth during 2009 despite overall decline.
BMW Group Middle East has reported a nine percent decrease in sales in 2009 compared to the previous year.
The company said the BMW brand managed to gain a four percent increase in market share against its core competitors, despite the premium automotive sector being down 25 percent.
With a total of 14,557 BMW and MINI vehicles sold across 14 Middle East markets, the group recorded positive sales growth for a number of importers with several markets recording double digit growth, the car maker said in a statement.
Top performing markets included Lebanon, where sales increased by 48 percent (1,001 units), Syria, which reported growth of 53 percent (878 units) and Saudi Arabia where sales improved by 27 percent (2,555 units).
BMW's Abu Dhabi sales also grew six percent to 2,607 units, while Bahrain saw a two percent increase to 656 units.
"To grow market share against our core competitors and to record double digit growth in several markets is a good result given the challenges we faced throughout 2009," said James Crichton, sales and marketing director of BMW Group Middle East.
He added that the launch of the flagship 7 Series model, which was the best-selling car in the Middle East last year, helped the company "weather the challenging market conditions".
Another area of business that delivered strong growth, according to Crichton, was BMW Premium Selection, the company's approved used-car programme, which achieved an increase of 25 percent in total sales in the eight importer markets where the programme is available.
Crichton added: "We anticipate some of the challenges faced in 2009 will remain, but are confident that BMW Group Middle East is in a strong position to achieve growth during 2010."
The BMW brand happens to be one of my favorites, yet I refuse to purchase one while living here since I cannot understand why BMW is more expensive here than in north america and some EU countries, yet other brands like Range Rover, Porsche, Audi are cheaper than those respective countries.
HD you are totally right, maybe BMW forgot to re-adjust their pricing as the world and Dubai has changed! I still remember what a BMW representative told me in 2007: "Its amazing, it doesn't matter how much we increase our prices, we still can't seem to keep up with the demand". I guess this explains your comment on why prices are so high... and BMW still did not realize that things are not the same!
A long time ago when they were just building their SZR outlet the prices were a lot cheaper than the Euro price, we couldn't figure out how they did it! Those days have gone for ever, I should let them go!
To be fair to BMW, I think the USD has depreciated with respect to the EUR, which might explain part of the price increase


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When HTC Taiwan teased a Spring surprise for March 20, press couldn’t help themselves but jump to the wild idea that HTC was going to unveil an HTC 11. Seriously, look at this. Forget the fact that we don’t even fully know that an HTC 11 will ever show up because the U line is supposed to be the company’s new, new going forward, but that’s just absurd. The U Ultra just went on sale all of a week ago, yet HTC is going to unveil another flagship? Just, stop.
Anyways, today is March 20, the day of the Spring surprise and HTC has revealed that surprise to be a sapphire version of the U Ultra. It’s available elsewhere (not in the US) in limited quantities, features sapphire front glass, and includes 128GB of internal storage. That’s the surprise. Surprise!
Back to Galaxy S8 talk.


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"Sizeable share" of new jobs will be in low-wage sectors, report predicts
Alabama employment numbers saw a slight bump from June 2013 to June 2014 with the addition of 5,200 jobs, according to data from the Center For Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Of the 5,200 new jobs around the state, 2,800 are in the goods producing sector and 2,400 are with service providing firms.
The quarterly report also pointed out that Alabama’s construction industry has lost 1,100 employees over the last year, despite building construction and engineering construction firms adding 500 workers each.
Manufacturing saw an increase in the workforce, with 3,900 new workers overall. Within the manufacturing sector, motor vehicle parts manufacturing added 2,300.
As numbers climb across the board in manufacturing, “Automobile and parts manufacturing and certain segments of the services sector will continue as the state’s major economic drivers during 2014.”
We reported earlier this month that the auto industry continues to be a primary employer in Alabama. This trend will continue, according to the report, which predicted the motor vehicle manufacturing sector could add as many as 3,000 jobs this year.
Government jobs were the hardest hit over the last year. From June 2013 to June 2014, 1,800 government jobs were lost in Alabama, with 1,600 of them being federal jobs.
The report also predicted that the states economy would improve steadily during the second half of the year. By 2015, employment is expected to jump by around 1 percent.
As we previously reported, Alabama’s unemployment is currently at 7 percent, which CBER translates to 144, 991 (seasonally adjusted) workers looking for employment.
Nationally, the economy is expected to grow at a slightly faster pace in the second half of the year, the report stated. However, wages would most likely not increase.
“A sizeable share of job creation is likely to continue to be in relatively low-wage sectors, causing many consumers to remain cautious,” the report stated.
Ryan Phillips is the Online Editor and Digital Producer for the Birmingham Business Journal
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“Tintin in the Congo,” an illustrated work removed from the children’s section of Borders Group, Inc., stores in Britain because of allegations of racism, will receive similar treatment by the superstore chain in the United States.
“Borders is committed to carrying a wide range of materials and supporting our customers’ right to choose what to read and what to buy. That said, we also are also committed to acting responsibly as a retailer and with sensitivity to all of the communities we serve,” according to a Borders statement issued Monday.
“Therefore, with respect to the specific title ‘Tintin in the Congo,’ which could be considered offensive by some of our customers, we have decided to place this title in a section of our store intended primarily for adults — the graphic novels section. We believe adults have the capacity to evaluate this work within historical context and make their own decision whether to read it or not.
“Other ‘Tintin’ titles will remain in the children’s section.”
David Enright, a London-based human-rights lawyer, was shopping recently at Borders with his family when he came upon the book, first published in 1931, and opened it to find what he characterized as racist abuse.
“The material suggests to (children) that Africans are subhuman, that they are imbeciles, that they’re half savage,” Enright told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
In Britain, the book also will be stocked with graphic novels.
Ann Binkley, a spokeswoman for Borders in the U.S., said no complaints have been received in this country. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is publishing the book in the U.S. in September, one of many “Tintin” works being reissued to mark the centennial of author-cartoonist Herge, the pen name of Georges Remi.
“This particular title, one of three originally unpublished in the U.S., may be considered somewhat controversial, as it reflects the colonial attitudes of the time it was created,” reads a statement on Little Brown’s Web site.
“Herge depicts African people according to the stereotypes of the time period, but in this edition it will be contextualized for the reader in an explanatory preface.”
The book is the second in a series of 23 tracing the adventures of Tintin, an intrepid reporter, and his dog, Snowy. The series has sold 220 million copies worldwide and been translated in 77 languages.
But “Tintin in the Congo” has been widely criticized as racist by fans and critics alike.
In it, Remi depicts the white hero’s adventures in the Congo against the backdrop of an idiotic, chimpanzee-like native population that eventually comes to worship Tintin — and his dog — as gods.
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Remi later said he was embarrassed by the book, and some editions have had the more objectionable content removed. When an unexpurgated edition was brought out in Britain in 2005, it came wrapped with a warning and was written with a forward explaining the work’s colonial context.
Africa was hardly the only part of the world portrayed in stereotypes by Remi. “Tintin in the Land of the Soviets” was a rough take on Communist society, while “Tintin in America” was equally critical of capitalism in the U.S.
Remi, a native of Belgium, died in 1983. Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson each plan to direct at least one film in a series of three movies based on the “Tintin” adventures.


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Blockchain solution developer Pundi X is excited to announce that its products and services is now be available in Turkey via distribution by platform-as-a-solution company OVO Dijital Servisler A.S.
The distribution of Pundi X products in Turkey will primarily focus on business owners looking to facilitate easy in-store cryptocurrency exchange. How this will work is that Pundi X will focus on setting up physical cryptocurrency exchange spots, where trading cryptocurrency is as easy as traditional money exchange.
The timing of the collaboration between Pundi X and OVO is especially apt. According to research conducted by The World Economic Forum (WEF), Turkey is the 4th in the world with 16% share in the interest for cryptocurrencies, and also the top-ranked country in the Eurozone.
Hakan Akyüz, the General Manager of OVO, emphasizes the collaboration’s compliance with Turkish rules and regulations. “Pundi X platform is fully compliant to the new crypto asset regulation announced by the Central Bank of Republic of Turkey on Apr 16, 2021,” he said. “There is [even] no need for large sums for this as there is no sub-transaction limit on the platform. In other words, consumers who are interested in cryptocurrencies will be able to visit any Pundi X point and perform crypto transactions even in small amounts like 5 Turkish lira.”
OVO holds years of experience enabling mobile payments in Turkey. Among some of their products include the oWallet which leverages Apple Wallet and Android Wallet tech to easily give insights into customer spending habits and help companies improve their relationships with their customers.
Turkish business owners will be able to use Pundi X products such as the XPOS (which are capable of enabling blockchain-based transactions with a card swipe) and the XPASS (which acts as a digital wallet for digital assets) to facilitate the ownership of crypto assets for their customers.
Businesses interested in becoming Pundi X dealers will now be able to select their preferred starter packs—including all the technological infrastructure and marketing materials. Now 100 limited spots with an offer of $1500 can be applied from pundixturkiye.com.
Distribution of Pundi X products will first aim to hit 81 cities all over Turkey, with at least one Pundi X transaction point each. In the country’s largest city of Istanbul, Pundi X aims to have at least one point for each of the city’s 39 districts.
Overall, the collaboration between Pundi X and OVO shows just how much potential there is behind cryptocurrency. With digital transactions these days now becoming more of a necessity than ever, Pundi X’s expansion in Turkey could set the stage for a society where people have more control over their digital assets than ever.


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Singer Jessica is looking tremendous as the cover model for Chinese fashion magazine, 'OK!'
Ahead of the release on May 15, shots of the gorgeous Jessica looking classy in red lipstick, beret, and more have been dropped. She even goes for a girly, lovely look with a fashionable twist on the school girl look.
SEE ALSO: Jessica says she cried a lot in her 20s
Meanwhile her solo music release is set for May 17, so you should be seeing even more of her soon!


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The 2016 Tiguan gets sharp, sporty styling with a rugged appeal.
The 2016 VW Tiguan will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15. As a preview, Italian website alVolante has come out with its rendition of the upcoming crossover.
The 2016 Tiguan will move out of the PQ35 Golf-sourced platform and adopt the new MQB platform. High-strength materials will be used in its construction and it is expected to be substantially lighter than the present generation, by almost 100 kg, says the website.
The rendering shows the compact dimensions of the SUV and highlights its sporty character as well while at the same retaining its rugged appeal. The new Tiguan has been reported to get an increase of 5 centimeters taking the length to almost 4.5 meters. The wheelbase will also grow by 8 centimeters to 2.68 meters.
The 2016 Tiguan at its launch is likely to get five petrol and four diesel engines. The petrol range will have a choice of 1.4- and 2.0-liter TSI engines generating outputs varying from 125 bhp to 220 bhp. The diesel options are likely to be the 1.6- and 2.0-liter TDI mills capable of 120 bhp and 240 bhp respectively; with the latter getting twin-turbocharging. Front-wheel drive will be standard with 4MOTION electronic all-wheel drive offered on top-end trims.
Safety features such as lane departure warning, park assist and collision avoidance radar systems should be part of the kit on the higher derivatives.
The website has stated that sales for the compact crossover will begin in European markets by May 2016 with a starting price of EUR 23,000 (INR 17.32 lakhs). The Indian market will also see the launch take place sometime in 2016.


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Now that the lock-ups are coming off Google’s stock, insiders are beginning to sell. Wayne Rosing, senior VP for engineering, sold 5,000 shares at nearly $178 apiece this week, according to this filing. And David Drummond, the company’s general counsel, sold 50,130 shares at prices ranging from $171.33 to $178.80, according to this filing. More to come, no doubt.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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Burgundy Red S8
Currently, there are only Midnight Black, Orchid Grey, Arctic Silver on most markets and only for the S8 Rose Pink. The special colors blue and gold are not available in a lot of places.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S9 Is Codenamed Star
For the new Burgundy Red Edition, Samsung is now planning the exclusive launch in its home country of South Korea: The “distinctive edition will be available in Korea from 28 November, before it is launched in selected markets,” the company announced. Which markets will belong to this is not yet known. So whether the red S8 will come to Europe is not yet known.Samsung is in negotiations with mobile operators worldwide.
Samsung’s new strategy to gradually bring out new colors for the Galaxy top model has apparently already proven itself. The customers appreciate the new variants and the greater choice, which has finally triggered the purchase incentive for some customers.


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If everyone is waiting for news of the PS5 Pro, Sony for its part is preparing to launch the production of a new model of its classic PS5.
Between prototypes sent around the globe, and rumors suggesting a release for 2023, the PS5 Pro is on everyone’s lips. It will happen, that’s for sure, but in the meantime, Sony has other plans for its PS5.
A PS5 Slim while waiting for the PS5 Pro?
With the current shortages, Sony is having a hard time selling its classic PS5s and has even missed the goals it had set for itself, but that does not prevent it from already preparing the sequel and adapting to overcome the problem. out of stock.
According to new documents, Sony has just certified a new PS5 console model with the Japanese ministry responsible for verifying compliance with technological standards.
If it is confirmed that this PS5 “CFI-1200” will be equipped witha new wireless systemnothing can however assure us that it will be more powerful than its big sister, although the Taiwanese site Digitimes had already reported that a PS5 console equipped with a new 6nm AMD processor was to go into production in 2022.
As our colleagues at VGC point out, this new machine would ultimately only be a slight overhaul of the console we currently knowwith the aim of reducing material costs and finding an alternative to the shortages plaguing the industry. An idea already mentioned last year by the financial manager of the firm.
So it could be here thatan optimized “Slim” PS5 which would then serve as a buffer while Sony could polish up its next PS5 Pro.
After all, since the PS1, all Sony consoles have been entitled to their Slim version so far, why not the PS5?


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In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reporter, Mikhailo Vesovic, head of the strategic analysis, service and globalization department of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the achievements of participating in the China International Import Expo for two consecutive years have made the Serbian side feel positive about the upcoming China International Import Expo.
The 3rd CIIE held in Shanghai is full of expectations, hoping to show plug products to Chinese manufacturers in order to expand exports to China.
Vesovic said that the past two CIIEs have made significant contributions to the development of economic and trade cooperation between Serbia and China, which demonstrates its importance. The Serbian side has undoubtedly gained tangible benefits, especially in terms of expanding trade scale and increasing local food exports.
He said: “Although the new crown epidemic has hindered bilateral economic and trade exchanges, our food exports in the first eight months of this year have increased by about 50%, and related products have been exhibited at the CIIE. This is also our decision to participate again. The reason for the meeting.”
On October 22, in Belgrade, Serbia, Mikhailo Vesovic, head of the strategic analysis, service and globalization department of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was interviewed. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Zhongyu
Vesovic also stated that although online transactions and online shopping platforms have kept the world economy in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic, the face-to-face communication opportunities provided by the CIIE will be more conducive to the establishment of new interpersonal and business contacts between enterprises.
“Last year, we established contacts with 250 Chinese companies, and the contract profit was about 3 million euros,” he said. During the third CIIE, 12 Serbian companies will showcase their products at a 200-square-meter booth and seek cooperation with Chinese manufacturers. .
Speaking of the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, Vesovic believes that in addition to the continuous expansion of trade exchanges, the initiative will also bring more investment to the Serbian side, thereby opening up new areas for cooperation between Serbia and China and the entire European region.
Vesovic said: “The joint construction of the’Belt and Road’ has achieved many results, and many infrastructure construction and investment projects have landed.”
He said that some Chinese companies have now become important pillars in the Serbia-related industrial chain. He took the Serbia Company of China Hegang Group as an example.
The company’s steel products provide sources of supply for the metal manufacturing and mechanical engineering industries, and its downstream products have also become an indispensable factor for the development of the “Industry 4.0” and the automobile industry.
Vesovic emphasized that the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” is one of the main boosts to the success of Serbia-China economic and trade cooperation, and it “creates an opportunity for us to upgrade bilateral technical cooperation.”


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Martin Graham Arthur has been appointed as director of product operations at Hard Rock Digital, the interactive gaming and sports betting arm of Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming. Arthur officially started his new position last month and announced the appointment on his LinkedIn page.
With over four years of experience at Flutter International division, a part of Flutter Entertainment, Arthur brings a wealth of industry knowledge to his new role. At Flutter International, he served as vice president of product and program management in the US. Prior to that, he worked as associated director for product and program management of sports at The Stars Group, before its acquisition by Flutter.
Arthur also spent eight years in various roles at PokerStars, which is now part of Flutter. His roles included senior product manager, product manager, and payment services manager. “I am incredibly excited to be taking on a new challenge with Hard Rock Digital as director of product operations,” Arthur said. “Ready to rock with some familiar faces and a talented team.”
In March, Hard Rock Digital announced a partnership with Playtech, which also included Playtech taking a minority stake in the business. This deal enables Hard Rock Digital to license a range of Playtech’s technology solutions and igaming content, including slots, random number generator, and live dealer table games in the US and Canada. Hard Rock Digital is also accessing additional software and services solutions from Playtech, including its IMS player management platform and certain ancillary services.
Hard Rock Digital operates in several US markets, including Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. The company has been expanding its offerings and partnerships, and Martin Graham Arthur’s appointment signals continued growth and development within the organization.


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AUSTRALIANS are plugged into technology for more than 10 hours a day, and grannies are just as tech-savvy as Gen Y, a survey shows.
Older people watch more television, and younger people talk more on their smartphones, according to a McCrindle Research survey of 961 people.
But people spend roughly the same time on the internet, video games and tablets.
The survey showed all people spend on average 10 hours and 19 minutes a day using electronic media devices.
Mark McCrindle, director of McCrindle Research, said the results were similar across the generations.
He said those who were 68 and older were, in fact, spending more time on electronic media than the Baby Boomers and Gen Xs, and almost as much as Gen Y.
The survey shows that many people spend time on more than one device, multiplying their screen time.
Mr McCrindle said those who entered adulthood prior to the 1990s mostly consumed traditional broadcast media, while younger people were shaped by the internet.
Four generations of women from the Stuart family of Balwyn illustrate the survey's findings. The matriarch, Eileen, 102, looks at smartphones and tablets to view family photos, and, until a few years ago, was an avid computer user.
Her daughter-in-law, Jocelyn, has an Apple Mac while her grand-daughter Belinda, 37, and great grand-daughter Sarah, 3, are regular users of computers, smartphones and tablets.
Originally published as We watch screens for 10 hours a day