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Iris Van der Veken (pictured), who served as the Responsible Jewellery Council’s (RJC) executive director for three years, will become executive director and secretary general of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030.
The Watch & Jewellery Initiative is the sustainability drive cofounded last year by Cartier and Kering, in association with the RJC. Cartier is owned by Richemont, a rival conglomerate to Kering.
Van der Veken will be based in Geneva. A team will soon be set up to support her in her new role. The group is in the process of developing its governance structure.
Van der Veken tells JCK that this new group will differ from the RJC in that her old group is a standards-setting body that serves as a baseline. The Watch & Jewellery Initiative commits members to ambitious targets in climate, diversity, health and safety, labor standards, as well as developing craftsmanship in the new generation.
“These companies are bolder than others and will hopefully inspire others,” she says.
Companies that have joined the group include Swarovski, Pandora, Rosy Blue, and Chanel, as well as the brands within the Kering and Richemont stables.
“What will come out of this is the opportunity for these companies to learn from each other,” Van der Veken says, “and then build some tools for the larger industry.”
While most of the companies that have joined so far are big names, Van der Veken hopes it will attract smaller companies too.
In February, Kering, Richemont, and Van der Veken all resigned from the RJC to protest what they saw as the group’s reluctance to suspend Russian diamond miner Alrosa in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Alrosa eventually suspended itself. Kering and Richemont have since rejoined the RJC. Former Rio Tinto executive John Hall is now its acting executive director.
Before coming to the RJC, Van der Veken was director of public affairs and policy international for the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). She has also worked as chief operating officer for Ann Demeulemeester, a Belgian luxury fashion house; as an adviser for strategy and corporate social responsibility for Signet Jewelers; and as a manager of corporate affairs at Rosy Blue.
Cyrille Vigneron, president and CEO of Cartier International, said in a statement: “Under Iris’ leadership, we will be able to accelerate change and enable action throughout the global jewellery and watch supply chain.”
In the same statement, Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s chief sustainability officer and head of international institutional affairs, said the appointment marked “an exciting new chapter” in the Watch & Jewelry Initiative 2030.
Photo courtesy of Iris Van der VekenFollow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


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Texas governor vetoes Internet sales tax bill
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry vetoed his first bill of the year Monday, a measure that would have expanded the number of Internet retailers required to collect Texas' sales tax.
The bill would have required companies that contract with marketing companies inside Texas to collect the state's sales tax. Federal law requires companies with a physical presence inside a state to collect that state's sales tax, and the bill would have expanded the definition to include contractual agreements.
Big retailers like Amazon.com had threatened to cut off all relationships with marketers inside Texas if the bill became law. Advocates said the bill would have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in new state revenue, while opponents said it would add nothing to state coffers and shut down dozens of small businesses.
Texas store owners have complained that Internet retailers have an unfair price advantage because they are not required to collect state sales tax. But Perry said he was afraid this bill would have unintended consequences.
"My strong preference is to conduct a thorough policy discussion with Texas lawmakers, consumers, retailers and technology experts - and with other states and even the federal government - about interstate commerce and the structure of state sales taxes in the 21st century," Perry said. "That conversation is under way, and I believe that a consensus can and should be reached."
The Alliance for Main Street Fairness, a group advocating for the law, said it hoped the measure might survive in other legislation now under consideration in a special session to balance the state budget.
"We are undeterred by today's veto because legislation necessary to balance the budget and fully fund schools is likely to pass in a special session," said Eric Bearse, spokesman for the alliance. "We remain confident the governor will sign legislation that will level the playing field for brick-and-mortar businesses that create local jobs, pay local property taxes and collect the sales tax. We expect to be victorious."
Four other states have passed similar legislation and it is under consideration in 13 more. Online retailers have filed suit against a similar law in New York and have canceled contracts with companies in Illinois.
A separate measure to establish a standardized approach to sales tax collection from Internet sales has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

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According to engadget (citing TouchPal as well as an internal source), HTC aims to replace Swype with TouchPal as the default input method in upcoming devices, including the new HTC One M9. The official TouchPal Twitter account also tweeted the engadget article about this, further confirming the move. What prompted this move? The CEO of CooTek, the company behind TouchPal, says it's because of their better contextual prediction and language support. If you actually look at the supported languages, you'll...
Paranoid Android Team Open Sources HALO
We applaud new and interesting open source developments that look to find novel ways to solve a problem—things like the Xposed framework and OpenPDroid. It is these sort of projects that exemplify what open source is, and why we at XDA embrace it. It is also for that very same reason why we’re excited about a new open source project, HALO from the creators of the Paranoid Android ROM.
HALO, as previously discussed, brings notifications (conceptually derived from Facebook’s Chat Heads feature) from applications into a floating window and allows you to interact with that application. While this is similar to the Samsung Multi-window functionality, it differs in one key point: It is now open source! Any source-based ROM is able to make use of what the Paranoid Android team has done and bring this functionality to their users with minimal changes. From PA’s Google+ post, the developer of the ROM needs to look at these two commits:
HALO extends Android as it is based on the AOSP source, while also granting app developers the ability to bring the visual aspect to their application. Below is a nice overview of the project and if you like what you see, definitely head on over to the github commits and get involved.
Want something on the XDA Portal? Send us a tip!
Many people are under the impression that once Apple finally launches its smartwatch, the market for wearables will suddenly become mainstream and be taken to the next level. Taking an idea that already exists and making it incredibly successful isn't something new to Apple, but does the Apple Watch have what it takes? The wearable hasn't even shipped yet, but has already won multiple awards and has been featured on numerous fashion magazine covers. Do you think the Apple Watch will be a huge success? Let us know your thoughts.
The smartphone landscape is drastically changing its focus. What was once a North-America-centric monopoly of high-specification phones is now merely an afterimage of the past. The meat of the game is elsewhere now; emerging markets looking for good bang-for-buck are what OEMs are increasingly aiming towards, and in this new game the old players must adapt-or-die. Xiaomi has grown at one of the most notable rates in the industry, leading it to become the world's most valuable start-up; and its...


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Sleepworth: 25 years of making quality mattresses for Filipinos
Unlike its competitors, Sleepworth doesn’t spend much on advertising. But chances are, you’ve already used or may in fact be currently using one of their products (please take a minute to look at your mattress just to be sure!).
If so, that won’t be surprising since Sleepworth mattresses had been available in major outlets around the country, including SM malls, Puregold, and Rustans for the past two decades. And now that Sleepworth is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the industry, its parent company Home Expressions Concepts, Inc. (HECI) is planning to roll out various promos to reintroduce the brand to the public this 2015.
The company invited selected bloggers to tour their factory in Cainta, Rizal last May 28. During the event, Mrs. Filipinas Katly-Torres and Mr. Myke Torres (Sleepworth’s founder and general manager, respectively) took turns speaking to the bloggers.
Mrs. Torres recounted the company’s brief history, dating back to the 1980s when it was still specializing in supplying raw materials for the more-established bed makers during that time. Eventually, Sleepworth not only became a significant player in the industry.
Instead, it positioned itself and achieved huge success as a pioneer especially in the use of kapok (silk cotton) as the main material in making mattresses and pillows as well as in adding surface ornamentation to the said items. Mrs. Torres further takes pride that her company holds several patents regarding these, a fact that can easily be confirmed through the website of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
Mr. Torres, for his part, stressed that their mattresses will always remain reasonably-priced since they are marketed for middle to lower-income Filipino families. “We plan to be able to export our products in other Southeast Asian countries in the future,” he said.
What are the secrets behind Sleepworth’s continued success in the industry? Mrs. Torres said the first one is to put their customers in mind all the time. “Sa pangalan pa lang e. We want our buyers to experience a worthy sleep,” she explained. The affable 73-year-old lady went on to recount how she felt truly elated whenever she visits establishments that use Sleepworth mattresses.
“Kahit malayo pa lang, alam ko na agad kung anong taon namin nilabas yung ginagamit nila,” she said with a hearty laugh. She added that from the beginning, her company has made it a point to hire employees (or “pillow stuffers,” as she describe them) from communities near the facility. “Nakakatuwa kasi kahit paano, umaangat ang buhay nila dahil sa Sleepworth,” she said, adding that some of her long-time employees were eventually able to finance their children’s education through college.
Know more about Sleepworth pillows and mattresses through the brand’s official website (http://sleepworth.com/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/sleepworth)


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After last month’s piece on Indonesia, I thought it would be worth taking a closer look at Brazil. If Indonesia’s mobile economy is the new tiger of Southeast Asia, then Brazil’s is the jaguar of South America – just as formidable, with a character all its own. It’s the fifth largest country in the world, with 212 million people. Like Indonesia, it’s a very young country, with a median age of 32. Here are some more interesting facts about Brazil:
- Brazilians use social media more than almost any nation in the world, averaging 3 hours and 34 minutes a day. That’s more time spent than Indonesians!
- Of the 149 million internet users in Brazil, 139 million are mobile.
- 67% of the adult population has smartphones.
- Brazilians downloaded over 7.3 billion apps in 2018, ranking 4th in the world.
Brazil’s people are highly clustered in major cities. 87% of Brazilians live in an urban center, and with a population of over 21 million, the greater metro area of Sao Paolo is one of the largest in the world. This huge user base of urban, young, mobile-first consumers has given rise to homegrown start-ups in a variety of mobile verticals, from 99 (ride-hailing) to iFood (food delivery), lending (Creditas), and banking (Nubank).
Similar to the story playing out Indonesia, many of these local heroes have already grown to unicorn status, fueled by huge infusions of cash from international VC firms and strategic investors from China. In January of last year, 99 received $100 million in funding from and then was acquired at a billion dollar valuation by Didi, China’s answer to Uber. Nine months ago, iFood received $500 million in funding. And Nubank, the most valuable startup in Latin America, is currently in discussions with global investors on a $1 billion dollar round which would value the company at up to $10 billion, making it one of the largest fintech companies in the world. Clearly, Brazil’s mobile economy has made it to the big leagues.
Of all the major verticals in Brazil’s mobile landscape, fintech is perhaps the most dynamic. Brazil has over 60 million people unbanked, representing over 40% of the adult population. Brazil’s banking industry is highly consolidated, with the top 5 banks controlling 82% of all banked assets. Similar to the “Big 3” automobile companies in the US in the post-war era, Brazil’s banks enjoy monopoly power, only extending credit to a select few and otherwise charging rates that would be considered usurious elsewhere – imagine credit card rates of 270%! Of the reasons why so many Brazilians don’t have bank accounts, too high interest rates and lack of trust are among the most cited.
It’s an industry ripe for disruption, and more fintech start ups – 370 to be precise -- have launched in Brazil than in any other Latin American country. They are attacking opportunities in payments/remittances, business and consumer lending, wealth management, insurance, and trading. As these new entrants gain traction, we can imagine how the new financial ecosystem will evolve. As analysts at Goldman Sachs have described, a “re-bundling” of the myriad financial services offered by traditional banks will occur, only by API. Fintech infrastructure software companies like Plaid and TrueLayer will enable, say, an asset-based lender like Creditas can to offer its loans to customers of Nubank directly on Nubank’s app. In this way, neobanks like Nubank have the opportunity to become financial services “super-apps,” acting like a portal that can offer their customers everything from home loans to investments from one interface. The investors who are currently valuing Nubank at $10 billion USD are making a big bet this will happen.
But interestingly, the major fintechs face unexpected competition in capturing the value from increased financial inclusion. As we saw in Indonesia, service-based apps, especially on-demand apps like ride-hailing or food delivery, are now driving greater financial inclusion in Brazil. You may recall the anecdote about how a driver for Go-Jek, the Indonesian Uber, was able to qualify for a home mortgage because of his work history. The on-demand “local super-app” model has originated in Asia. China’s Meituan Dianping is perhaps the best example. Likely the most valuable app you’ve never heard of, $44 billion Meituan began as a group buy platform for local/small merchants of goods and services, expanded to food delivery, and evolved into a platform where over 400 million users access services ranging from restaurant reviews and reservations to hotel and home rentals, to movie tickets and travel booking. Meituan generates huge value for small/local businesses by leveraging data about customer consumption habits and price sensitivity.
Brazil’s iFood and primary competitor Rappi are following this script. Beginning with one value proposition – delivering restaurant meals or groceries – they are morphing into platforms that are integrating into both their merchant’s operations and consumers’ financial lives. iFood, for example, started iFood Shop, a marketplace for restaurant goods where restaurants can purchase needed supplies using money generated from the platform. Combined with an analytics platform that helps restaurants optimize their product mix by seeing cuisine trends from the whole market, iFood becomes a SaaS-like super-app for its merchants as well as for its customers.
Brazil, then, shows all the hallmarks of the new mobile economy playbook established in China. Players like Nubank and iFood are growing at exponential rates and are likely to converge and compete in many areas as super-apps, much like how Meituan now competes with Alipay. Those who benefit most from this convergence are Brazil’s currently unbanked, who will be brought into the financial fold via these new super-apps and have their lives transformed for the better. The only losers will be the incumbents from the old economy, whether banks or grocery stores, who still think the things that used to give them monopoly power, like real estate, physical distribution and access to traditional capital, hold the same value. They are no match for the new generation of super-apps.


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Tolar x BOOSTO Partnership Announcement
As another mark of the company’s dedication to #MakingthebetterBlockchain, BOOSTO, the decentralized app (DApp) that caters to the needs of influencers and developers, announces a new key partnership with Tolar(Known for its Hashnet), a faster and safer ledger beyond blockchain. The partnership blossomed from Tolars’s victory at the Ian Balina’s startup pitch competition.
Tolar Hashnet, an open source, community governed crypto-currency featuring scalable, fast, secure, and fair transactions. Who’s founder is serving as the principal of COTRUGLI Business School. Tolar’s decision to collaborate with BOOSTO’s protocol and influencer network is a way to spread out awareness for the upcoming ICO(September 15, 2018). Tolar is constantly looking for other protocols and marketing channels that can increase the utility value of the Tolar token, and BOOSTO is a perfect fit.
BOOSTO will furnish protocol integration for Tolar Hashnet, allowing users to use Tolar token on BOOSTO protocol, and in turn, Tolar will provide a better and faster blockchain network for BOOSTO to build on. Likewise, Tolar users can now access BOOSTO’s network of more than 350,000 social media influencers. Invites are now open for users of one of these platforms to join the others’ Telegram groups as well (BOOSTO, Tolar).
Through blockchain technology, BOOSTO’s mission is to serve as the most effective influencer marketing ecosystem. By serving as both a protocol and a social token, BOOSTO works to free creators and consumers from the stranglehold that traditional app stores enjoy over the marketplace. Whereas the conventional app stores take up to 65% of profits, the BOOSTO model allows developers and influencers to split profits upon agreement using smart contract, thereby decentralizing the process and increasing revenue opportunities.
During Q2 2018, BOOSTO launched the SocialBook DApp (www.socialbook.io), a search tool that permits companies and individuals to seek the best possible influencers for collaboration. The company now also offers Crypto Influencers (www.cryptoinfluence.io), a free public tool based on the same technology that aggregates data to promote responsible partnering and investing.
To learn more about BOOSTO, visit the company’s official website, www.boosto.io.
BOOSTO is an influencer driven decentralized App store, aims to empower global influencers and developers through unleashing the full potential of influencer led communities, by using blockchain as a foundation of trust and tokens as incentives to build various interactive decentralized applications.


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The Coronavirus outbreak in China could have an impact on the iPhone 12 launch later this year. Apple engineers usually tend to fly to China during this time of the year to work on upcoming new iPhones and its assembly process with the company’s supply chain partners.
However, due to the Coronavirus outbreak and the shutdown in China, Apple has restricted the travel of its employees to the country to “business-critical” situations. Apple engineers usually work closely with engineers from Hon Hai, the company’s biggest manufacturing partner, for upcoming iPhones. While Apple has other manufacturing partners like Wistron, Hon Hai has the most advanced manufacturing facilities which is why it tends to handle the production of new iPhones.
Apple works with Foxconn on a number of prototypes for its new iPhones during this time of the year. It is in the late stages of engineering validation” around this time in which Foxconn will assemble a small number of units that will then be tested by engineers from both companies. Any delay in this phase will leave Apple with little time to decide on the component orders required for the mass production of the new iPhones.
Following the engineering validation, engineers of both companies work on setting up new assembly runs and do trial runs in March and April. This is followed by final adjustments in April and May so that the final production line is up and ready by June.
Foxconn has had to delay the opening of its Shenzhen and Zhengzhou factories after the Lunar New Year holiday due to coronavirus. The company expects to resume at least half the production across its factories by the end of February. As of now, most of Hon Hai/Foxconn’s senior officials are working remotely from Taipei and are yet to return to China.
While Apple and Foxconn can fly their engineers to other parts of the world for engineering validation, the process will end up taking a lot longer.
“You can fly those engineers somewhere else but there’s knowledge about how you make a product in that environment. It’s not that it can’t be taught but it’s a hard thing to move,” said Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, a former Apple engineer.
The Coronavirus outbreak has affected not only Apple but other smartphone companies as well. Almost all of them operate out of China and the virus outbreak has affected their development cycle as well. If things start returning to normal in China from early next month, Apple might just be able to launch the iPhone 12 in September but the device could possibly be in short supply for the initial few weeks.[Via Reuters]


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The official Click Frenzy sale might be over, but don't put away your wallets so soon: many retailers are continuing their sales today, so there's still time to get some early Christmas shopping in. Here are all the Click Frenzy sales that you can still take advantage of today!
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The Tesla Model 3, like most electric vehicles, uses regenerative braking to help trickle charge the car’s battery and extend the range. In theory, one could use the regenerative powers of the car’s motors to charge the battery by having the whole thing towed, and now a Model 3 owner has put that to the test.
Click Frenzy gives Aussies discounts on a range of products across the internet, but even more exciting for intense deal-hunters are the limited flash sales, where you can get ridiculous deals like a $4 GoPro or a $5 Dyson hairdryer. Here are all the flash deals we know of so far, ahead of Click Frenzy's 7pm AEDT start.
It's deals time. As is customary every November, retailers discounting all manner of games, phones, electronics, board games, you name it. Click Frenzy kicks things off this evening, but there's plenty of sales later this week with Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner. As for Click Frenzy, here's the best of the bunch.
The November Click Frenzy sale officially kicks off at 7pm tonight. This is when the very best deals will appear on the site - with many expected to sell out in minutes.
Fortunately, there's a sneaky way to get a 30-minute head start on other shoppers to ensure you don't miss out. Here are the details!
Last week I wrote how Devolver announced they wouldn't be releasing Mother Russia Bleeds, a visceral side-scrolling brawler, in Australia and New Zealand. At the time, the publisher blamed censors for not approving of the game, even though Mother Russia Bleeds wasn't listed by the Classification Board or New Zealand's equivalent, the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC).
Being gamers themselves, the OFLC opted to fire back at Devolver on Twitter this morning. Amidst all of that, the publisher was able to confirm that the co-op brawler has been banned from sale in Australia.
Since our deep dive into the culture of crunch underpinning Red Dead Redemption 2, and how ingratiated it is throughout the industry, developers have been a little more open about the human cost of making games.
At Blizzcon this year, I took the opportunity to ask multiple Blizzard developers on how their attitude towards crunch, and how they manage it within their own teams.
You just bought a new Nintendo Switch. Now it’s time to figure out what games you want to play. We’ve got you covered.
When Blizzard’s sole Diablo announcement at this year’s BlizzCon turned out to be a game for phones, it set off a firestorm of angry reactions from fans who had hoped for a new Diablo on PC. As it turns out, Kotaku has learned, Blizzard had originally planned to tease Diablo 4, but pulled those plans at the last minute.
Yesterday, during a BlizzCon Q&A shortly after the announcement of mobile game Diablo Immortal, a fan in a red shirt approached the mic. "Just was wondering," he said in a deadpan tone, "is this an out-of-season April Fool's joke?" The audience cheered.
Antarctica is owned by no one, but there are plenty of countries interested in this frozen island continent at the bottom of the Earth.
While there are some regulations on who can do what there, scientific research has no definition in Antarctic law. So any research by a country conducted in or about Antarctica can be interpreted as legitimate Antarctic science.
The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy X has been beaten at the final hurdle. A rival manufacturer from China has unveiled the world's first folding smartphone, a 7.8-inch monster allegedly powered by a Snapdragon 8150 CPU.
If the leaked videos are any indication, this technology isn't ready for prime time just yet. See for yourself below.
A day before Halloween, Google has reworked its logo into an online multiplayer game called The Great Ghoul Duel to help people get into the spirit of things. While the company has featured games on its homepage before, this is the first that actually lets you play against other random strangers around the world.
NBN Co has launched a new Enterprise Ethernet product over its broadband access network for business and government customers. Boasting point-to-point fibre connections with 'symmetrical' speeds of up to 1Gbps, it has been billed as the network's first internationally compliant wholesale offering. Here are the details.
Diablo III is basically Gauntlet on steroids and with better menus, which both helps and hurts its newest iteration on the Switch. The much-anticipated Switch port, which will be released November 2, teases at being the go-to couch multiplayer game Diablo III was always meant to be, and in some cases, succeeds at it.
Yet where its Switch iteration shines, unfortunately, is its single-player.


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ have finally landed in Malaysia. They retail at RM2,699 and RM3,099 respectively, but if you do not wish to pay full price for the devices, you can also sign up for a contract with one of our local telcos, and enjoy the new phablets at a subsidised price. All four major telcos – Maxis, Celcom, Digi and U Mobile, are offering these latest phablets, but how do their plans stack up against one another?
The consumer launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ will be happening tomorrow, but it looks like U Mobile is ready with its bundle. The telco has unveiled its Galaxy Note 5 bundle, offering the device from as low as RM1,299 when you sign up for a contract with its postpaid plans.
Now that Maxis has finally revamped its MaxisONE postpaid plans to offer more data than before while maintaining the same unlimited calls and SMS to all networks, how does it compare to the rest of the postpaid plans in the market?
Here’s an updated list of postpaid plans offered in Malaysia by the four major telcos in the country – Maxis, Celcom, Digi and U Mobile.
[Update: 06/08/2015] Still using an old U Mobile prepaid plan? You can now switch to Power Prepaid and get 1GB of internet free each month, for life.
U Mobile’s big event is scheduled for tomorrow, 23 July 2015, but it looks like the promotional materials for the “industry-changing proposition” have already been released. U Mobile will be introducing a new prepaid pack that comes with free basic internet, free high-speed internet every month, free call minutes, and more.
U Mobile’s “Industry-Changing” launch will be happening tomorrow. The telco promises to give consumers “great value in the form of greater voice and mobile data allocations, as well as a string of value-added services”.
We already know that it involves giving “free Internet for life” with their on-going #FreeInternetForLife campaign, but nobody’s sure what exactly will be announced tomorrow. What could it be?


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Unlocking the Risks: The Critical Consequences of Inadequate Security in Dealerships
The incident at a dealership in Spokane underscores the significant risks and consequences of inadequate security measures in commercial establishments. On October 24, 2023, thieves breached the dealership by rappelling through the ceiling into an office and stealing multiple sets of keys, leading to the theft of eight vehicles including luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes Benz. This bold heist, following a similar break-in months prior, prompted the installation of additional security cameras and the sealing of the entry point used by the thieves. Two suspects were arrested, with charges pending against a third. The stolen vehicles were eventually recovered, and the police continued investigating the crime.
The implications of not having key security measures at commercial establishments can be severe and multifaceted. This incident is a stark reminder of this reality.
Theft and Vandalism: Businesses without security measures are vulnerable to theft and vandalism. Thieves target these places because there’s a higher chance of success without the risk of being caught.
Financial Loss: A lack of security infrastructure like cameras, alarms, and inventory systems can lead to significant financial losses. Assets can be siphoned off without a trace, compounding the costs beyond the value of the stolen items.
Reputational Damage: A company’s reputation can suffer greatly after a security breach. Customers lose trust in the company’s ability to protect their data or ensure the safety of their transactions.
Legal Liability: There may be legal repercussions for failing to secure a business properly. The liability for damages and losses may fall on the business if it is found negligent in providing adequate security.
Increased Security Costs Post-Breach: Often, businesses end up spending more on security after a breach due to the need for upgrades and possibly higher insurance premiums. We recommend adding more security for keys with a iSafe Pro, before an event such as this occurs.
Crime Attraction: A business known to have poor security can become a magnet for criminal activity, not just as a one-off event but as a recurring target.
In conclusion, the consequences of not having key security measures range from tangible losses, like property theft, to intangible ones, such as reputational damage and legal issues. This incident is a real-world example of how security lapses can lead to dramatic consequences, and it provides a cautionary tale for other businesses to heed. Implementing robust security measures is not just a precautionary measure but an essential component of responsible business management.


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Independents in Northern Ireland were this week celebrating a major sales opportunity after Derry was named the 2013 UK City of Culture. The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association said the year needed to be about much more...
The British Herb Trade Association hopes to get Brits cooking by encouraging them to "make ordinary meals extraordinary". Recipes will be printed in women's, food and lifestyle magazines in a bid to drive sales of potted and packet...
A new trade body has been set up to give goat dairy producers a stronger voice. The Goat Dairy Trade Association is made up of seven companies, including Delamere Dairy, St Helen's Farm and Anthony Rowcliffe, and will discuss key issues...
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With their wealth of farming knowledge and expertise on nose to tail butchery and native breeds, it quickly becomes clear
You won’t miss it when you give it; but patients could miss it if you don’t.
The global grocery sector has few rivals when it comes to sheer size, growth rate and appetite. Here are the players leaving the rest of the competition behind
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Recap: Everything Apple Announced Today in Under 3 Minutes
Apple didn't hold an official event to make major announcements this week, but there was a mini press release extravaganza that saw the company introduce new hardware products, a new app, and improvements to existing devices.
A new 9.7-inch iPad debuted with an impressively low $329 price point, and there's now a red aluminum iPhone 7, both of which go on sale this Friday, March 24 at 8:01 AM Pacific Time. New Apple Watch bands are out, there are iPhone cases in new colors, Apple is about to release an app for making videos, and the iPhone SE and the iPad mini 4 got new minimum storage tiers and pricing drops.
We've recapped everything Apple announced today in the video below, and we've rounded up all of our new product coverage.
- Apple Debuts New 9.7-Inch iPad With A9 Chip to Replace iPad Air 2, Starting at $329
- iPad Mini 4 With 128GB of Storage Now Starts at $399 as 32GB Model Discontinued
- Apple Unveils Special Edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- Apple Announces Video Creation iOS App 'Clips'
- Apple Doubles iPhone SE Storage to 32GB and 128GB
- Apple Watch Gets New Striped Woven Nylon, Classic Buckle, and Standalone Nike Sport Bands
- Apple Launches New Silicone and Leather iPhone 7 Case Colors
- Apple Discontinues iPad Mini 2
- Swift Playgrounds Now Available in Five Additional Languages
While we saw new devices today, there's still quite a bit on the horizon. The much-rumored ~10-inch iPad with a revamped design has yet to make an appearance, and we're still awaiting a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, too, along with Kaby Lake Macs and the highly anticipated iPhone 8.
With no event coming up in the near future, we may be waiting until June's Worldwide Developers Conference or the fall to see many of these new releases but make sure to keep an eye on MacRumors for the latest rumors on Apple's launch plans.
Apple plans to announce new products with press releases on its website this week, a proven source familiar with the matter told MacRumors. While the products that Apple plans to announce have not been disclosed, there are rumors about new iPads, Macs, and accessories. It is unclear exactly what will be announced this week. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reiterated that Apple is planning new...
Apple today announced new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M3 chip, improved external display support, Wi-Fi 6E, and more. Apple says that the new MacBook Air is up to 60% faster than the M1 model and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. With a faster and more efficient Neural Engine, Apple says that the MacBook Air continues to be "the best consumer laptop for...
Apple Maps has been providing navigational guidance to Apple users for almost 13 and a half years now, and much has changed about the app in that time. However, according to data from Canalys, the overwhelming majority of iPhones in the U.S. still have Google Maps downloaded as an alternative to Apple Maps, which comes preinstalled on all iPhones. We want to hear from MacRumors readers. Which do...
Apple does not plan to hold a traditional event to unveil new iPads and Macs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Instead, he said Apple plans to announce the products on its website with a "series of online videos and marketing campaigns." If this plan is accurate, we can expect the new products to be announced with press releases on the Apple Newsroom website. Gurman expects Apple to...
Apple TV+ today gained over 50 movies, adding to its back catalog of content for a limited time. The collection includes a large number of popular and classic titles. Subscribers can access the movies in a "Great Movies on Apple TV+" section in the Apple TV app. Some titles are also available in 3D. Movies in the collection include: 21 Jump Street 300 American Sniper Argo ...


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Microsoft is stepping up its retail strategy to sell the Surface tablet and other Microsoft products this holiday season by posting job openings for a dozen “pop-up” stores around the United States. The company is seeking to staff temporary stores on top of the 31 Microsoft Stores already open or about to open.
In retail parlance, pop-up stores are store locations using short-term leases to occupy vacant space in shopping malls. They are usually set up for the holiday shopping season, opening sometime in October and operating into early January.
The Microsoft ads seek to fill temporary positions for stores in Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Louis, two locations in Miami as well as locations in Natick and Braintree, Mass., Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The pop-up store strategy demonstrates Microsoft’s determination to make a big push with Surface, the company’s first personal computer in which the software and hardware are both made by Microsoft. Before the advent of the Surface, Microsoft left hardware manufacturing to the PC OEMs.
But its plans to produce and market the Surface are Redmond’s way of emulating the Apple model of integrating hardware and software together rather than licensing its Windows operating system (OS) to hardware manufacturers. It will still do that with its pending Windows 8 OS, due to be released the same day as the Surface, Oct. 26.
By design, some Microsoft Stores are located close to Apple retail stores in the same malls. At the Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, Calif., for instance, the Apple and Microsoft stores are just 10 steps across from each other. Microsoft said it plans to open a total of 75 permanent stores by 2014. Apple currently operates 373 stores worldwide, 249 of which are in the United States, according to a spokesperson.
Microsoft Stores already sell computers from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and others. Now some of those OEMs are irked about Microsoft competing against them with the Surface while others have altered their tablet product roadmap in response to Surface.
Assuming that the pop-up stores offer the same array of products as the existing Microsoft Stores, the OEM tablets and other computers will share shelf space with the Surface.
Microsoft followers are also reading the company’s help wanted ads for other insights into its Surface strategy, noting the posting of an ad for a senior engineer “to work on our next generation Surface.”
Currently, two versions of Surface are in the works, one running Windows 8 for the x86-based processor platform, the other running Windows RT for ARM-based platform. Microsoft has said that initially only the Windows RT versions will be sold starting Oct. 26; the Windows 8 Pro x86 version is expected to go on sale about 90 days later.
The “next generation” reference is interpreted to mean what might be called the Surface 2. The ad says the software engineer will join a team including electrical, design and mechanical engineers and others.


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The post (+) Cryptocurrency Analysis: Altcoins Surge as Bitcoin Forks Again appeared first on CryptoCoinsNews.
[…] The post ‘Metronome’: SegWit2x Developer Jeff Garzik is Also Building an Altcoin appeared first on CryptoCoinsNews.
UAE Central Bank Governor Mubarak Rashed Al Mansouri issued critical remarks about bitcoin during an event this week.
BitGive Foundation, a nonprofit organization, announced the launch of the beta version of GiveTrack, a blockchain-based platform that allows donors to donate bitcoin to charitable causes and track those donations in real time. Connie Gallippi, founder of BitGive, made the announcement on October 24, 2017 at Money20/20, a four-day payments and finance event in Las […]
The rise of bitcoin along with other cryptocurrencies represents a watershed moment for the world of digital innovation. But the growth in the market capitalization and complexity of these assets has spawned the need for an “assurance service” that provides auditing, verification, monitoring and reporting around them. Verady, LLC, a company with a […]
Malta’s government has proposed new rules for investment funds that plan to invest in cryptocurrencies.
A report titled “Consumer Digital Payments — US,” which was released on October 11 by Moody’s analyst Stephen Sohn and team, reassures the payments sector that blockchain technology is a distant threat. Moody’s thinks that blockchain technology is a disruptor and poses a potential long-term competitive threat to the payments sector. The group highlights a […]
The post How to Buy NEO in 3 Simple Steps: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on 99 Bitcoins. What Is NEO? NEO, formally known as Antshares, was founded in 2014 as a way to bring together smart contracts—a digital identity system—and the exchange of digital assets. With this novel vision, Antshares became China’s first open-source […]
A promising new player entering the cryptocurrency exchange space, Alttradex has announced its ICO will take place on the 25th of October. The state of the art platform which is heavily influenced by traditional FX platforms puts a heavy emphasis on transparency and customer support. Alttradex is built with upcoming regulations in mind and is […]
When someone thinks about logistics, the first thing that comes to mind is DHL, UPS and, why not, Amazon or other major service providers involved in the global delivery system. More than 88% of the world’s packages are managed by a third party company. They take the package forwarding it through one of these large […]


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Nigerian naira strengthened to its degree that is strongest in casual trading since at least April as supplies of this U.S. money surged in front side of an auction set for next week by the bank that is central.
The unit that is local 440 naira per buck on Wednesday from the peak of 477 naira last week, according to abokifx.com, which collates rates from street traders in Lagos, the nation’s hub that is commercial. The machine weakened 0.4% to 387.15 naira per dollar at the time of 8.53am on Wednesday in the spot market that is official.
The parallel rates went 5% weaker than the state price of 380 naira if the bank that is main dollar sales to bureau de modification operators in March, widening up to 20% at a point, as Africa’s most populous country went into lockdown to retain the spread of coronavirus.
The Central Bank that is abuja-based of said it will resume sale of foreign money to traders on Sept. 7 as the lockdown eases and worldwide routes resume, increasing the demand for the greenback by organizations and leisure travelers. The lending company that is main to market at 384 naira to a dollar to dealers, who’ll then sell at 386 naira to get rid of users.
Central bank planned dollar sales strengthens naira on black market.
Many dealers who hoarded money that is foreign releasing it “to the market since they don’t understand where the price will settle on Monday,” Aminu Gwadabe, president associated with Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria, said by phone. “They are dumping, individuals are not willing to get.” Nigerian naira strengthened to its degree that is strongest in casual trading.
The bank that is central struggling to clear a backlog of foreign-exchange need by international investors taking their profit and locals looking for imports. The shortage was exacerbated by the outbreak of Covid-19 together with slump in the cost of crude, which accounts for more than 90% associated with nation’s exchange that is foreign and more than half of government revenue.


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Samsung on Thursday launched world’s first digital camera with 4G wireless LTE connectivity. The Galaxy camera is equipped with Google’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, enabling users to use various apps..
Tag Archives: Samsung
Samsung ordered to pay its former employee $ 5.5 million in compensation for patented technologies he invented while working for Samsung
Seoul Central District Court has ordered Samsung to pay a former employee W6 billion ($5, 54, 0424) in compensation for patented technologies he invented while working for Samsung. The former worker, identified..
Samsung North America today announced that it will provide $3 million to support residents of East Coast communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Samsung pledged $3 million to the American Red Cross through..
Samsung posted a monthly record with sales of 1.15 million TV sets in the North American market in October. This is equivalent to selling one TV every three seconds. Samsung has seen..
As black holes go, Sagittarius A is relatively low-key. The black hole at the center of our galaxy emits very little energy for its size, giving off roughly as much energy as..
AMD today announced its collaboration with Microsoft for more than 125 Windows 8-based PC designs from leading OEMs including ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and more. With a hardware..
Samsung announces production of Industry’s First 2GB LPDDR3 Mobile Memory Using 30nm-class technology
Samsung has begun mass producing the industry’s first two gigabyte (GB), low power double-data-rate 3 (LPDDR3) memory, using 30 nanometer (nm) class technology, for next-generation mobile devices. The new LPDDR3, which marks..
Samsung is seeking a complete sales ban on its rival LG Display’s advanced flat-screen televisions using organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. On Wednesday, Samsung filed the injunction request with the Seoul Central..
Samsung today announced that the GALAXY S III smartphone has achieved 20 million unit sales in just 100 days since its debut in May 2012. As Samsung’s most successful smartphone to date,..
Mobile phones with ST’s new pressure sensor will not only know on which floor of a building it is located but also on which step of the staircase
STMicroelectronics has introduced a new pressure sensor that allows mobile phones and other portable devices to calculate their vertical elevation relative to sea-level with very high accuracy. This means that the mobile..


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Good news for Nick Denton & Co., his Gawker Media reports that revenues are up by 45% in first half of 2009. So much for that “adcopalypse” where Denton spoke about 40% decreases in ads online last year, and warned media outlets to cut their costs why they still could. Gawker Media certainly did that, but it hardly hurt them, it would seem. They even brought back the pageview bonuses.
Thord Daniel Hedengren is a designer, writer, and blogger, and also the former editor of The Blog Herald. He used to be a hotshot in the gaming industry in Sweden, but sold everything and went International. Most recently he wrote a book called Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, and does loads of kickass design.


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EA Play Live event called off for 2022 – Destructoid
Electronic Arts will share more info about its projects when the ‘time is right’
The summer draws closer with each day, and one publisher is already backing out of their summer showcase. Electronic Arts confirmed today that it won’t be hosting the usual EA Play Live event this year.
EA confirms to IGN that there won’t be a showcase this year. Rather, it will be releasing more information about its games when the “time is right for each of them.” Here’s the full statement EA shared with IGN:
“We love EA Play Live as it’s our way of connecting with our players and sharing what’s new with all of you. However, this year things aren’t lining up to show you everything on one date. We have exciting things happening at our world-class studios and this year we’ll reveal much more about these projects when the time is right for each of them. We look forward to spending time with you throughout the year!”
EA Play Live has been Electronic Arts’ go-to showcase since it stopped appearing at E3. It was a mix of all-day streaming and a live, in-person event, though the pandemic meant last year’s EA Play was held online.
It leaves the summer a little shaky, especially as E3 has already backed out of any in-person plans. While there’s been a rise of physical events returning, others have been a bit more cautious due to ongoing health concerns. PAX East 2022 is being hosted in Boston, for example, but will require proof of vaccination. The streaming Summer Games Fest, hosted by Geoff Keighley, is expected to return this year too.
As is, EA has been sharing a bit about a few games already. Motive showed off its audio work on the Dead Space remake and confirmed a 2023 window. As for other studios, and the annual sports lineup? We’ll hear more when the “time is right.”


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A vending machine in Berlin was selling a €2 (about $2.19) t-shirt to shoppers.
At this throw away price, it is expected that there would be queues of buyers outside the venue. But no one bought it. Strange isn’t it?
Though there were people flocking to the machine to benefit from the bumper sale, when they saw the catch, however, they changed their minds.
But why did they turn away?
In order to buy the €2 t-shirt, shoppers had to first watch a video which showed shocking images of the production conditions that went into creating the t-shirt by people who made those tees…
– the exploited under-age sweatshop laborers who worked for up to 16 hours a day for as little as 13 cents an hour.
“People want fashion at a bargain but would they still buy it if they knew how it was made? Meet Manisha, one of millions making our cheap clothing for as little as 13 cents an hour each day for 16 hours,” reads the video.
Then the question “Do you still want to buy this €2 t-shirt?” flashes up on the screen, followed by the options “buy” and “donate”.
When the shoppers were confronted with the reality, not surprisingly, most chose to donate to the cause instead of supporting the cheap labor.
The video was released on Fashion Revolution Day which commemorates the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013 that killed more than 1,000 garment workers who had been making clothing in unsafe conditions for American brands like J.C. Penney, Benetton, and Walmart.


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Praise for ‘majority’ of people who stayed at home in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Worthing
The Coastguard carried out proactive patrols between Bognor and Worthing at the request of Arun District Council.
In a post on social media, a Coastguard spokesman said: “We’re pleased to report that most people are following the current advice and staying at home...
“Words of advice were given to some people however it’s great to see the majority are staying home and following Government guidelines.
“We will be back out tomorrow ensuring that people staying safe.”
A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
Stay safe, and best wishes.


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New York Times Best Books 2020
New York beaches might not be open this summer, but that doesn’t mean beach reads have been canceled (you just might have to read them on a nice sunny bench somewhere else). Take a look at some of . In addition to Massiminos new book, weve included eight other space-themed books (for all ages!) by an impressive crew of authors thatll keep you entertained as we navigate these strange times. .
Ron Roecker’s Debut “Why Ball Wouldn’t Bounce” Joins Dr. Seuss, Silverstein, Jimmy Kimmel on “Best Children’s Books of All-Time” List, as Highly Anticipated Follow-Up “Why Inch Got a Foot” premieres . From story time with Julie Andrews to a deep dive into the governments failure to respond to Hurricane Katrina .
Here are the best new cocktail and spirits books of 2020, including titles set to release this summer. Its never too early to put in your preorder. . The author of “The Revenant,” the historical novel adapted into the Oscar-winning movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, will be publishing his first new work of fiction in nearly 20 years. .
New York Times Best Books 2020 : As lockdowns ease across the United States, millions of Americans are set to take tentative steps outdoors to celebrate Memorial Day. But public health officials are still concerned that if people . S[HD+]- watch Survive the Night FULL Movie Online Free? HQ Reddit Video [DVD-ENGLISH] Survive the Night (2020) Full Movie Watch online free Dailymotion [#Survive the Night] Google .
The James Beard Foundation held its annual media awards ceremony on Wednesday (virtually, of course). Among this year’s book winners were Toni Tipton-Martin for “Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of . Twenty years ago, podcasts didnt exist. Fifteen years ago, podcasts were more or less entirely for the tech-savvy early adopter, listener and producer alike. Now, across large sections of society, .


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Today in books and publishing: Meet the oddball authority on poetry; e-book prices aren't falling for libraries; not-so-young adults; Anne Carson's new book.
Fatal literary attraction. Literary agents have to pass on manuscripts all the time, and most authors get accustomed to rejection. But some get vengeful instead. That seems to be the case in the recent assault Pam van Hylckama Vlieg sustained in San Francisco. Vlieg is an agent at the Larsen Pomada Literary Agency who maintains an active presence on social media sites, including geolocation site Foursquare. She was in her car when a stranger approached her, wrecking her side mirror, then grabbing and slamming her into the steering wheel. Her dog scared the attacker off, but Vlieg was rattled. After getting in touch with the police, Vlieg recalled a particularly nasty email she received from an author she'd rejected. The cops used this information to trace the assailant who, sure enough, turned out to be the spurned author. Who knew working as a literary agent could be so risky! [Los Angeles Times]
Libraries will pay more for e-books. E-book prices may be falling sharply for consumers after the big settlement three publishers made with the DoJ over alleged e-book price collusion, but libraries are losing out. Hachette has announced that it will raise e-book prices on thousands of its titles by a whopping 220 percent on OverDrive, the service many libraries use to obtain the right to distribute e-books. In February, Random House went even further when they spiked e-book prices by up to 300 percent for libraries. Explaining the increase, a Hachette representative writes, "We believe these terms fairly reflect the value to the library customer, that the ebooks will not need periodic replacement as do print copies, and there is no limit on amount of borrowing activity per ebook copy." Libraries who want to get e-books at current price levels have to act before October 1, when these huge hikes kick in. [Digital Book World]
Stephen Burt, the unusual authority on poetry. When you think about leading voices in the field of poetry, you might call to mind a stern pedant like Harold Bloom, or maybe an amiable but perhaps stuffy professor like Helen Vendler. But why not a cross-dressing WNBA expert who's also fluent in science fiction and indie fandom? That's an apt description of Stephen Burt, a 41-year-old Harvard English professor seen as one of today's leading poetry critics. In his New York Times profile of Burt, Mark Oppenheimer writes, "That Burt sometimes wears a dress and talks hyperkinetically about obscure indie bands like Sarge or the graphic novels of Posy Simmonds has not diminished his influence but enhanced it." In the field of poetry criticism, which skews toward more advanced ages, Burt unpacks poetry's place in the present and "flourishes amid the hipsters and the sonneteers," according to Southwest Review editor Willard Spiegelman. [The New York Times]
Over half of Y.A. books bought by adults. A new study from Bowker Market Research backs up what we knew all along—adults remain the most significant driving factor in the popularity of young adult fiction. The research shows that 55 percent of young adult book buyers are over 18. Twenty-eight percent are over 30. And more often than not they're buying the books for their own enjoyment, not as a gift for a young 'un: 78 percent of surveyed adult Y.A. buyers say they intend to read the books they've purchased themselves. Discussing the biannual report, Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer in the Digital Age, Bowker VP Kelly Gallagher says the high number of Y.A. books being consumed on e-readers tipped her off to the fact that a high percentage of teen-lit readers aren't teens. "The investigation into who is reading Y.A. books began when we noticed a disparity between the number of Y.A. e-books being purchased and the relatively low number of kids who claim to read e-books," she says. The Hunger Games series plays a large role in attracting adult readers to Y.A., but Gallagher believes, "our data shows it’s a much larger phenomenon than readership of this single series." [Publishers Weekly]
Anne Carson follows up on Autobiography of Red. Anne Carson's 1998 offering Autobiography of Red was that most rare of books: a best-seller written in verse. Random House has announced that Carson will soon release a sequel, Red Doc, which "takes its mythic boy-hero into the twenty-first century to tell a story all its own of love, loss, and the power of memory." [Poetry Foundation]
DFW endnote generator. Looking for some meticulously researched factoids on absurdly silly topics? This randomized generator of David Foster Wallace endnotes should do the trick. [Hudson Hongo]
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The government of Italy’s new Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is selling-off its luxury cars on eBay to cut costs and satisfy public demand for an end to extravagance.
In the first wave of sell-offs, there will be 170 of the much loathed “auto blu”, the ubiquitous dark blue executive saloons used to ferry thousands of state officials to work – and in some cases to the shops or the theatre.
Leading the economy drive, or the list of shame – depending on your point of view – is the Interior Ministry, which is hoping to flog 78 vehicles, including 40 BMW 5 Series.
The Defence Ministry has nine Maserati Quattroporte and eight BMWs among the 51 vehicles it has put on the market. In 2011, Ignazio La Russa, then Defence Minister in the final Berlusconi government, attempted to justify the purchase of 19 of the Maserati saloons, each costing €117,000 (£96,600), excluding the cost of armour-plating, and capable of 170 mph. When Mr La Russa was asked why he was spending €2.5m (£2.06m) on cars, while slashing defence spending, he replied that at least the vehicles were Italian.
The Justice Ministry didn’t have this excuse when the Italian press this week queried its decision to purchase a 400 BHP supercharged Jaguar to ferry an official to meetings through Rome’s traffic-clogged streets. The ministry has put this car, plus 20 others, including Lancias, Audis and Volvos, for sale on eBay.
The money from the sales will come in useful, though no-one doubts the symbolic value of the auction is even more important. Announcing plans for the car sale at a cabinet meeting, Mr Renzi said: “Selling off the auto blu is particularly significant for the change in the relationship between government and citizens that it signifies.”
But there’s a long way to go. There are around 60,000 auto blu in Italy, underlining how these chauffeured cars appear to be at the disposal of every tin-pot public official. In comparison, the UK has around 200 chauffeured cars permanently at the disposal of state officials.
And worse, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) has accused the government of deceiving the public. M5S MPs claimed that despite selling 170 cars, new vehicles were due to be purchased under a contract agreed by the government of Mario Monti.


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Oktoberfest Szczecin is not only gastronomy, but also great fun.
This year, the beer festival will once again be held in Szczecin, combining Bavarian tradition with local character.
During the event, there will be no shortage of hop decorations, Bavarian delicacies, live music and an interesting offer of craft beers. Aleja Kwiatowa will be filled with stands, among which everyone will find their favorite brewery. Pilzner, lager, bock, porter, pale ale, wheat, or maybe flavored?
Oktoberfest Szczecin is not only delicious beer and food, but also great fun. Consumption will be accompanied by beer tastings and shows, a stage where they will host, quizzes and competitions as well as live music with shared feasting.
The event is part of a series of events organized as part of the "Colorful Alley" project.
The event will take place in compliance with all sanitary rules, so that everyone who visits the Szczecin beer festival feels safe.


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Skoda Auto has inaugurated one of its largest workshop facilities in India, in association with Dr. Auto Technologies, at Navi Mumbai inMaharashtra.
The company says the new facility will further strengthen its position in Maharashtra and push forward its campaign of establishing a strong foothold in the western markets. The new workshop facility is spread across 34,000 square feet. The workspace is equipped with 23 bays, which can service 7,000 Skoda vehicles per annum, with more than 50 dedicated aftersales personnel.
The service outlet sports Skoda’s new corporate identity and design as a part of its global redesigning process. The Czech auto manufacturer, under the purview of the ‘India 2.0’ project aims to have at least twice as many sales and service touchpoints, as it does today, by 2022.
Commenting on the inauguration of the new service outlet, Zac Hollis, brand director, Skoda Auto India said, “Skoda Auto India is set to strengthen its presence pan India including key cities like Mumbai, as a part of the India 2.0 strategy of increasing the service touchpoints and being closer to the customers. The sheer size of the new facility at Navi Mumbai is a reflection of the region's potential for the brand and also highlights the increased focus on ensuring that more and more customers enjoy easy access to the brand’s customer centric aftersales solutions. We are confident that our partnership with Dr. Auto Technologies will play an important role, in scaling up the brand, by offering our customers a premium hassle-free ownership experience and utmost peace of mind.”
Vishal Sinha, dealer principal, Dr. Auto Technologies said, “We are delighted to partner with Skoda Auto India and introduce our new service outlet in Navi Mumbai. The modern architecture and streamlined business processes will enable us to deliver an unmatched service experience. The advancement of Skoda Auto makes us more confident and committed to our valued customers.”


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ASU alum's social venture spreads international change
In a final hurrah from Arizona State University, new graduate Jeff Malkoon sold as many possessions as he could, packed his bags and traveled to a half-dozen Latin American countries for six months. Volunteering with South American nonprofit organization TECHO: Un Techo para mi Pais (Spanish for “A Roof for my Country”), Malkoon decided to find a way to continue working with the charity once he returned to Phoenix.
“For me, it was Uruguay – but it’s the same deal in France or anywhere else in the world – and you’re standing in a grocery store in the aisle where peanut butter would be, and the only thing you see is Skippy or Jiff,” Malkoon says. “And you know exactly where it’s made. You know exactly what conglomerate owns it.”
Malkoon, who graduated from ASU’s School of Politics and Global Studies in 2009 and returned for a master’s in nonprofit studies with the College of Public Programs, came up with a solution.
Like the founders of TOMS Shoes and Ben & Jerry’s before him, Malkoon felt the call of social enterprise. With his friend Michael McGillicuddy, he experimented with peanut butter formulas in his mom’s kitchen for months before founding Peanut Butter Americano, a social venture that donates part of the proceeds from the dark chocolate peanut butter to TECHO. The nonprofit fights areas of extreme poverty by constructing housing for at-risk families in 19 countries.
Thanks to a community of locavores and supporters of small business, in its first year of business, despite losing one of its cofounders, Peanut Butter Americano flourished, donating more than $3,000 to TECHO, spreading to 16 stores across Arizona and adding two almond butter flavors to the brand’s enterprise of four distinct peanut butter flavors: white chocolate, dark chocolate, cinnamon honey and classic.
Sales haven’t slowed since Peanut Butter Americano sold its first jar more than a year ago. Malkoon credits the venture’s success to a high demand for his product in local farmers markets.
“We’re Arizona’s only nut butter company as far as I know … and I think there is a real demand for that in the farmers market world here in the Valley and around the state,” Malkoon says. “We’ve kind of filled that gap in a way. It just seems like it was a really big gap. There was a lot of demand for the products that we brought to the market.”
Peanut Butter Americano is used by local bakeries, and sold at farmers markets across the Valley, including Phoenix Public Market, Tempe Farmers Market and Scottsdale Farmers Market. Malkoon is also in talks with AJ’s Fine Foods and Whole Foods to put his products on the shelves.
“This past year in Phoenix there’s been a lot of support in our community for locally-produced, fresh and especially healthful products,” Malkoon says. “People are really out for those things in this market.”
As director of sales and events, Teresa Malkoon spends each weekend at Peanut Butter Americano’s farmers market events loudly proclaiming her son’s peanut butter as "the most delicious peanut butter on Earth." She’s noticed a growing community of consumers who are educated about the positives of supporting local products and businesses.
“People take out good local products, especially good local gourmet products, because people who support farmers markets … tend to embrace their communities and want their tax money and the dollars to stay in their communities,” Teresa says.
As Peanut Butter Americano expands in Arizona, Malkoon builds the courage to bring his product back to Uruguay and stock the shelves there.
“In five-years time, we’ll be selling our products internationally, no doubt,” Malkoon says. “One of our founding goals was to bring our products down to South America and really try and make this their company.”
Written by Adrianna Ovnicek


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St. Kitts & Nevis Make Changes To Entry Requirements
Effective immediately, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has ended all COVID-19-related entry testing and vaccination requirements.
The announcement indicates that the Federation is now open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. Additionally, travellers will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the Federation.
This change comes under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, who also serves as Minister of Health.
Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, said: “The removal of entry testing and vaccination requirements comes at a time when traveller confidence is on the rise. The combination of increasing demand and more seamless travel processes will make St. Kitts even more desirable to visitors abroad. We are pleased to communicate the removal of restrictions which would improve the destination’s travel experience.”
Those travellers considering a last-minute escape can book now through Aug. 30 to take advantage of St. Kitts’ summer promotion, Sweet Side of Summer, featuring up to three nights free at participating hotels.
Exceptional accommodations are amplified by an array of cultural, relaxation, culinary and outdoor adventure activities.
In November, culinary takes the stage with the St. Kitts annual Grill Fest, showcasing local grill masters and exceptional food and drink.


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch) - Tommy Hilfiger Corp. said late Wednesday that it will pay more than $18 million to cover back taxes to the U.S. as it settles a federal probe related to commissions paid in Hong Kong.
However, the meter could still be running because the apparel-maker and retailer still has to come to terms with Hong Kong's tax department as well as shareholders who have filed a class-action suit.
Tommy Hilfiger TOM shares jumped 98 cents to $14.60 in post-market trading.
The company said that it no longer faces criminal tax charges and that the 11-month investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York will be closed. The probe dealt with the commission the company paid to a purchasing office in Hong Kong.
In a statement released after the trading session ended, Hilfiger said the U.S. attorney agreed not to criminally prosecute the U.S.-based subsidiary, the Hong Kong-based parent or any affiliates "for any offenses relating to underpayment of Hong Kong taxes as a result of activities attributed to Tommy Hilfiger Ltd."
The pact not to prosecute is subject to certain "understandings," according to the company, including implementing a number of recommendations made by a special committee of the company's board. The company also must put in place an ethics and compliance program and must provide information on demand to the U.S. Attorney's Office during a three-year monitoring program.
"We have worked hard for nearly a year to cooperate fully with the United States Attorney's Office, and are pleased that it has determined to close its investigation," Chief Executive David Dyer said. The company disclosed the investigation last September.
Hilfiger, however, will amend its income-tax returns for the fiscal years ending March 31, 2001, through 2004 by reducing the buying-office commission rates that were at the heart of the probe.
As a result, Tommy Hilfiger USA expects to pay about $15.4 million more in federal income taxes plus another $2.7 million in interest costs. For fiscal 2005, the buying-office commission rate adjustment will run upwards of $12 million, after taking into account about $15 million of tax reserves already set aside.
In June, Hilfiger lowered its revenue and profit expectations for the quarter and said it would put "provisions" of $30 million to $40 million more into its reserve account to cover issues relating to the probe.
On Wednesday, the company also said that it has filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint of the class-action lawsuit filed by shareholders. Hilfiger said it expects a hearing will be held in October.
The company is still negotiating a settlement offer that was rejected by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Dept. and noted that there are no assurances that a resolution will not have a material effect on the company.
Later Wednesday, the company said its 2006 fiscal first-quarter net loss will be smaller than the prior year's though revenue declined compared.
Net revenue for the first quarter was $319 million, down from $329 million in the year-ago period. The company expects to report full results in September.


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According to multiple reports, India has announced increased tariffs on 28 U.S. exports, including apples, almonds, and walnuts.
U.S. apple exports to India will be hit with 70% tariffs.
This comes on the heels of an announcement from earlier this month from the U.S. saying India’s preferential trade treatment was being withdrawn.
USDA data shows U.S. almond exports to India are worth $543 million yearly and India is the largest buyer of U.S. almonds. India is also the second-largest buyer of U.S. apples, with a value of $156 million last year.


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Digest: Penella Acorn's CEO
EmptyAcorn Media Group, a boutique DVD production and distribution company, said Monday that it has promoted Miguel Penella to CEO effective April 1, replacing founder Peter Edwards who will remain chairman of the board. Acorn, best known for delivering British TV programming via DVD, expects to release 71 titles this year in the U.S. and rack up $80 million worldwide revenue. Penella was president of the company's catalog and online direct-to-consumer division Acorn Direct and is a former vp at Time-Life.
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. said Monday that it is weighing a potential sale of the company and other options, as an investor group seeks control of the company. Shares of Take-Two surged 8.4% to $22.61, their highest level since late 2005, giving the third-largest U.S. video game publisher a market value of about $1.7 billion. Take-Two said it was reviewing alternatives that it could raise with the investor group, which owns 46% of shares and wants to take control of the board and oust CEO Paul Eibeler. Separately on Monday, JPMorgan Securities cut its rating on Take-Two from "overweight" to "neutral," citing risk to current valuation and increased uncertainty about the future.
Barry Diller's IAC/InterActive Corp. said Monday that its Ticketmaster division bought a majority stake in online fan club echomusic. The transaction will help the companies build brand awareness, increase fan memberships and drive ticket sales for clients, IAC and echomusic said. The companies also will look to enhance their relationship with iLike and IAC properties including Ask.com and CitySearch to create channels for music discovery and distribution. Shares of IAC/InterActive gained 1.2% on Monday to $37.02.


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The US model, who stars with her family on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, was snapped on an authentic looking subway train at a launch party in the Big Apple.
Posing alongside fellow model Ashley Sky, Kendall reached up and held onto a ceiling handrail while smiling at the camera.
While Ashley showed her wild side in a leopard print all-in-one, Kendall kept it cool and casual in a black vest top, dark blue skinny jeans and bright red sandals.
The bash was held to mark the summer issue of fashion magazine Galore and Kendall and Ashley certainly caused a stir by posing together.
Standing alongside Ashley with her right hand resting on her shoulder, Kendall was also pictured blowing the camera a kiss!


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Sony looks like it is set to announce a new SmartWatch model next week at the Mobile Asia Expo 2013 in Shanghai. Seperately, Intel is experimenting with a on smart watch too.
Sony Mobile has tweeted a messages hinting on an upcoming smart wristwear, with words like "Wearable tech is in our DNA. Remember WALKMAN, now??" and "One in three smartphone users want smart wrist wear."
Sony is already offering a SmartWatch, which is essentially an Internet-linked wristwatch powered by Android software and operates as a companion to Android-powered smarthones; it gets online by connecting wirelessly to a wearer's Android smartphone using Bluetooth technology. The device offers personal information from a user's smartphone, screen alert notifications of key events like an incoming call, or receives Facebook and Twitter updates.
Sony also recently announced the Open SmartWatch Project for developers, where they will be able to create and flash alternative firmware to the current SmartWatch, by sharing technical details and instructions.
Wearable computers and smart watches have been in the spotlight recently, with reports that Apple, Google and Samsung are all working on products.
Sony is holding a media event in Shanghai next week where besides the Smartwatch news, it is expected to announcem the company's 6.4-inch phablet.
Regarding Intel, the information about an experimental smartwatch that has been in the works was confirmed by Justin Rattner, chief technology officer of Intel.
"Actually, we are looking at novel display devices. The watch is kind of - if you want to put the time on it, that's fine. But if you are talking about texting today, would not it be nice if you could just look at your wrist?" said Justin Rattner at Bloomberg's Next Big Thing conference, reports Venture Beat website.
Rattner did not disclose any additional informnation.


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In Thailand, there are more mobile phone subscriptions than people – the Mobile Banking therefore recorded a huge boom. After Ripple entered recently into a partnership with a technology transfer company that includes the company now with its largest commercial Bank, SCB.
Rib brings Services to Thailand
Shortly after the partnership with DeeMoney, which enables more than 1 Million Thais to send money home, cooperates Ripple now with Thailand’s largest Bank, the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB).
Since Thailand is among the users of mobile banking at the top, was the digital solution of the SCB in the case of the customer has always been very popular. Now, customers can send thanks to the RippleNet-technology, cross-border payments directly from their mobile devices.
Arthit Sriumporn, SVP in the Commercial Banking division of SCB, said:
“The Siam Commercial Bank is more than 100 years old and with more than 1,000 branches across the country, the largest Bank in Thailand. We support a wide range of clients, from retail to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporations. Our emphasis is always on enriching the customer experience, and RippleNet has helped us with Transfers.“
Thanks to the penchant of Thai people for mobile Banking, compared to the visit of the branches of the 100-year-old SCB was forced in the last decade, digital innovations to introduce. This has made the Bank number one in the Thai market for mobile Banking.
Focus: money from Thailand to send
While DeeMoney is currently focused mainly on enabling living abroad Thais to send money faster and cheaper to the home environment, the SCB mainly to customers who want to send money from Thailand out. This relates mainly to other countries in Southeast Asia such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
“When people have so much of convenience used to do your Bank transactions from your phone, we have the expectations of the customers on all of our services increases. Customers, who send money to their family and friends outside of Thailand, didn’t like it, that it still means to visit a branch, many forms to fill out and then wait up to five days on the money until it gets there.“
Recent estimates suggest that the number of migrant workers is in Thailand to nearly 5 million. The need to send money to their relatives in the home has brought the transfer market to a massive amount of 68 billion dollars.
The use of the RippleNet technology will enable the Bank’s customers to transfer money faster, cheaper and more convenient.
“We have developed SCB Easy, an App running on Ripple, and it will enable our customers to send from your phone money to family and friends abroad. The Transfers occur in real time, but are still cheaper than the five-day procedure. We have used RippleNet to connect with Bank partners around the world, which has helped us to open more corridors and to serve more customers quickly and easily.“
Focus on the growing tourism market
The SCB is also about the transfer market, in addition to the growing tourism sector in Thailand. With over 38 million visitors in 2018, the country is by far the most popular destination in Southeast Asia.
The Bank wants to put the visitors now have an App available, with Goods and services without the hassle of Exchange of currencies can pay for.
“We are working on a QR Code-based App that enables tourists to make the QR Code-payment in Thailand than your home country mobile. Tourists can simply scan the QR Code to pay instantly for something, without having to worry about exchange rates or having large quantities of currency to carry around. This is something New on the market that will change the tourism landscape and life will make better.“


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Barnes and Noble has announced that they will be offering special K-12 Educators discounts every weekend in January 2018. You can use your free Educator Discount Card to enjoy 25% off almost everything in store–every Saturday and Sunday in January–while also enjoying special discounts in Cafe and NOOK.
In addition, there is an opportunity for online savings at barnesandnoble.com the weekend of Jan. 27th and 28th.
Find out what’s happening at a Barnes & Noble near you during the Educator Appreciation Month, by clicking here.
Happy New Year!


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UT researchers project rising temperatures will decrease tomato production
Global production of processing tomatoes is projected to decrease 6% by 2050, according to a recent study co-authored by University of Texas researchers, which would increase costs for future supplies of ketchup, salsa and pasta sauce.
The study is part of a decadelong effort to understand the effects of climate change on agriculture and to create a sustainable future for Texas and beyond.
As the climate changes, a reduction is occurring in the production of processing tomatoes, which are found in popular consumables such as barbecue or pizza sauces, said Dev Niyogi, a UT geological sciences professor and co-author of the study. The research also found that previous conclusions from studies on climate change’s effect on cereal crops, like corn, soybeans and wheat, can now be extended to specialty crops such as tomatoes.
“The important thing here is we should not look at climate change as something that is going to be bad for the economy,” Niyogi said. “What we should understand is that climate change knowledge helps us develop tools that improve the economy.”
Processing tomatoes, which grow on vines in virtually raw, unmanaged environments in comparison with other crops, are particularly vulnerable to increasing temperatures, Niyogi said. Even if warmer climates could grow tomatoes in 2050, co-author Davide Cammarano said agriculturists might not have the needed water resources.
“Only three (regions) produce almost 70% of all the processing tomatoes produced in the world,” said Cammarano, a professor in the agroecology department at Aarhus University. “These three are California, Italy and China. In California and Italy, the current production would not be sustainable to keep … especially the southern part of California and all the main region of Italy because of the increase in air temperature.”
Cooler regions that produce tomatoes, such as northern California, parts of Canada and parts of China, will have a slight advantage in increasing productivity compared with growing regions in Mediterranean climates, Niyogi said.
“In many parts of the world you have tomatoes as a very staple part of their food,” Niyogi said. The study's findings "would mean that companies need to invest in the production process (and) need to understand that there could be more vulnerability coming in, and then just develop some strategies going forward to account for these vulnerabilities such that the impacts are minimized.”
If agriculturists act on these strategies well in advance, they can minimize the negative impact changing temperatures have on the valuable crop, Niyogi said. However, if action is not taken, Niyogi said consumers might have a higher price to pay later.
“We will be studying the effect of management practices … like, is it feasible to have change in crops in different regions?” Niyogi said. “How can we use machine learning or artificial intelligence to come up with a better strategy? What kind of adaptive approaches like whether irrigation or some other planting aspects could be used? Is there something in the supply chain that could be better undertaken?”
This story was originally published by The Daily Texan, the independent newspaper produced by University of Texas students.


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In Sydney yesterday morning, Allergan officially launched into Australia a new addition to their Juvéderm® filler family. Juvéderm® VOLITE™, which is available now, was introduced for the first time to a selection of media and industry professionals at an exclusive breakfast event and sit-down education session.
The seminar was led by three industry leaders, including leading plastic surgeon Dr Steven Liew, specialist Dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald and renowned aesthetic physician Dr Joseph Hkeik. Drs Hkeik and Liew had been trialling the new Juvéderm® VOLITE™ product on their own patients and were able to present some of their results to attendees, along with other key insights into their respective fields of specialty, including Dr McDonald’s masterclass on skin anatomy and the use of hyaluronic acid.
Juvéderm® VOLITE™ has been designed for the improvement of skin quality, predominantly hydration and elasticity, in addition to the treatment of fine lines. It can be used to treat the face, neck and décolletage, and is administered through multiple shallow injections into the skin with one treatment – taking around 20 minutes. Improvement in texture and dermal hydration is said to last clients around 9 months. Before and after imaging displayed at the media showcase demonstrated some impressive results after just one treatment, including noticeable increases in radiance, texture and overall ‘glow’.
Composed of purified synthesised hyaluronic acid, the new filler uses VYCROSS™ technology, in which chains of HA are crosslinked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE), producing a tight network of HA chains, which increases resistance to degradation, improving durability and biocompatibility of the gel.
Leading Australian Plastic Surgeon Dr Steven Liew says; “We are living in a flawless skin world where everyone is under substantial pressure to maintain peak skin condition, which requires significant time, money and effort. In Australia our environment makes hydration of the skin particularly challenging. Therefore, having options to help support this is very important.”
Specialist Dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald adds, “As a dermatologist, I am constantly seeing women and men who are significantly concerned with their skin. Notably, uneven skin texture and acne scarring, which can have a negative effect on quality of life and can cause low self-esteem.”
The new product development comes as a response to Allergan’s latest independent research, in which insights emphasise the high interest and prioritisation of skin quality among Australians. A recent consumer survey of 3000 Australian men and women (18-65) found that most common skin concerns amongst women were uneven skin complexion (35%), fine lines and wrinkles (34%) and acne scarring (19%). Half (50%) of the respondents with concerns about fine lines and wrinkles said they would consider professional treatment for these issues.
Allergan representatives also emphasised education as one of the company’s main new focuses in Australia moving forward, introducing media to three new priority steps that consumers should be taking before undergoing aesthetic medical procedures. These include ‘Check It’, encouraging qualification checks on chosen practitioners, ‘See It’, which tells consumers to check the name of the product before treatment, and ‘Find It’, pertaining to checking clinic and practitioner licencing and registration details prior to treatment.
Allergan also confirmed that a new product would be released ‘year on year’ in order to keep up with demand and competition, so stay tuned for the next fresh new release in 2020!
For more news and updates, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.


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iPad Mini-Me “October”.. (Look Out Droid)
We’ve heard the 7.85″ ‘iPad mini’ rumours before, but it seems Apple are upping the ante with insiders now saying the 7-8″ iPad will be out before the end of the year, possibly October.
Just last week, Apple’s principal rival Google announced its own branded 7″ tab made by Asus, called Nexus 7 – with a super powerful quad-core processor running Droid’s Jelly Bean 4.1 – the next instalment of software from the Google gurus.
However, John Gruber, on Daring Fireball blog says “instead of cutting these [display] sheets into 3.5-inch 480Ã—320 displays for the iPhone 3GS, they’ll cut them into 7.85-inch 1024Ã—768 displays for the smaller iPad.”
Google’s Nexus 7 released this month, on the other hand, boasts a 1280 x 800 display.
Apple’s current 9.7″ iPad models currently hold around 61% of the tab market globally but with the number of tablets sold set to rise dramatically in 2012 and beyond – a whopping 107 million are to be bought by tablet hungry consumers this year alone say analysts IDC – there could still be room for plenty players.
And at $299 locally ($319 in retailers) it will be hard to resist Nexus 7 for many budget conscious consumers – and could make the iPad 3 which costs $539 locally, look pricey by comparison.
But “mini” iPad could also have a mini pricetag with many suggesting a RRP of US$250.
|Five million tablets could be sold in Oz alone this year – many to people who already own one, analysts Deloitte predicts.
Even software giant Microsoft has decided to dip its toes into the tab markets releasing an own branded device running on its forthcoming platform Windows 8.
Apple’s global share of the tabs pie is to grow this year to 62.5% – up from 58% in 2011, IDC predicted earlier this year, meaning Cupertino will be wanting to hold on to its market domination.


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In this week’s LATAM RoundUp: DMEXCO will have its first Brazilian pavilion, with IAB Brazil and Mobile Marketing Association already confirmed in the event; SmartClip should grow programmatic video in Brazil so that they represent 30% of local revenues this year; Instagram reveals numbers of their user base in Brazil.
DMEXCO will have a Brazilian pavilion in 2016
DMEXCO will have a pavilion dedicated to Brazil for the first time this year. The announcement was made by Frank Schneider, Christian Muche, DMEXCO main organisers, and Celeny da Silva, Brazilian partner, during a meeting in Cannes.
According to Celeny, the goal is to help Brazilian players who aim to expand their operations internationally through partnerships and deals with American and European ad tech companies. They did not disclose a target of Brazilian participants, but 50,000 people from 90 countries are expected in the event, which happens in September, in Cologne, Germany.
IAB Brazil and Mobile Marketing Association Brazil are confirmed for the event. Softer (Association for the Excellence of Brazilian Software) and the Abradi (Brazilian Association of Digital Agents) will lead the selection of companies that will take part in the event.
SmartClip: programmatic video revenues to jump from 5% to 30% in Brazil
Brazil is a strong market for video advertising, in which TV still plays a great role for the audience. SmartClip bets on that: the company has partnered with LG, Philips, and Samsung to sell the inventory on SmartTVs in the country. Pieter Van Den Bergh (pictured left), video programmatic consultant, SmartClip, spoke to ExchangeWire Brazil about the local scenario — he expects that the company’s programmatic video revenues, which represented 5% of the total in 2015, will represent 30% this year.
“More than 20 brands are using SmartClip solutions in Brazil in their digital video strategies, thanks to a growing demand for programmatic trading pushed by agencies and advertisers”, said Van Den Bergh.
This way, brands start dealing with automation with other partners, lowering barriers and any resistance they had against it. “I believe the path [to evolve the local market] is in growth of knowledge and experience working with it: being open for change and openly searching for more information on the topic. It is important to accept that automation will not increase results by 100% in a day. The challenge remains to improve results, step by step, but also focus in effectively managing your campaign.”
He recognises that the Brazilian players are “definitely discovering all the opportunities of online video”, but they still have to evolve. He admits that sometimes they need to explain to agencies that the online world is bigger than just Google and Facebook, and requires planning. “Finally, the fact that you can measure a lot of KPIs in online advertising does not mean that you have to optimise them all. You have to focus in how to apply the right format and the right strategy to your goal.”
Instagram: 35 million users in Brazil
Instagram revealed their official recent numbers worldwide, and Brazilians are their second-biggest audience. The user base reached 35 million people, only behind the United States. Since January, the social network achieved a million new users in the country per month. In total, they have 300 million daily users.


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In a week dominated by the Trump inauguration, Trident misfires and Tech twitter debates, there was news aplenty to savour for B2B marketers everywhere.
'Marketing tactic' of the week…
…goes to events – which according to the latest IPA Bellwether report revealed that event budgets rose for the 13th consecutive quarter in Q42016. No surprise really given in-person events were rated the most effective B2B tactic last year in a CMI study (for the 6th year running). In an increasingly digital world, events provide the opportunity to give audiences first hand experience of brands – reaching the parts online ads just can’t reach. Check out some expert opinions on the report here.
'Unconventional wisdom' of the week…
…goes to the folk at General Electric who prove that you can fight fire with fire (well, technically the sound of fire). Find out how in this new 360 degree video short. Thumbs up again GE for showing B2B marketing needn’t be dull.
'Mental stimulation' of the week…
…comes courtesy of McKinsey and its new executive guide to sparking creativity in teams. According to neuroscientists at Emory University, to perceive things differently we must bombard our brains with things we have never encountered – in short, getting out there in the real world rather than trying to brainstorm in the confines of the office. Essentially, we need to force our lazy brains to recategorise information through first hand experiences – so we can imagine ‘truly novel alternatives’. Get creative here.
'Dumbing down' of the week…
…goes to the smartphone. According to MIT, there’s a burgeoning number of tech savvy folk saying enough is enough and casting aside their smartphones to embrace a new generation of dumb phones. Who knows – as employees battle their smartphone addiction and struggle to find the right work-life balance, could we see more people turn off the smartphone at the end of the working day and instead turn on one of these dumb devices? Brands like the Light Phone are showing they can be simple, elegant and strangely alluring. Check out the full story here.
'Most hypnotic site experience' of the week…
…goes to Astronaut. Imagine being able to take a peek at a random series of YouTube videos uploaded last week that have almost zero previous views. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Take it for a spin here.
...New report shows 4 out of 5 smartphone users check their phone within 15 mins of waking up.
...Ambulances in Stockholm can now interrupt music to let you know there’s an emergency.
...Global PC shipments are in decline (of course), but four of the six biggest brands are experiencing sales increases.
...Mobile internet use passes desktop usage for the first time. Yes, really.
This is the week that was. We hope you had a good one.


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Hundreds of employees at Tyson Foods have decided not to relocate to the company’s headquarters in Arkansas next year as the company consolidates its corporate offices.
The workers are reportedly from two of its largest business units, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Tyson announced in October that it planned to close its offices in Chicago, Downers Grove, Ill., and Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Those corporate employees work in the prepared foods, beef and pork divisions. About 1,000 employees total work in those locations, the company has said.
CHICAGO FACES MORE CORPORATE DEPARTURES AS TYSON FOODS MOVES TO ARKANSAS
Tyson set a deadline of Nov. 14 to decide if they would relocate.
About three-quarters of the 500 employees in Tyson’s South Dakota office told the company they wouldn’t make the move.
More than 90% of the employees in Tyson’s Chicago office have declined to relocate, people told the Journal.
Nationwide, the meat company has about 120,000 employees, with about 114,000 of them working in production plants.
TYSON FOODS LATEST LARGE BUSINESS TO FLEE CHICAGO, WHAT SPARKED THE EXODUS?
.”I’m confident the plan we have in place ensures business continuity and positions us for long-term success,” said Tyson Chief Executive Donnie King in a statement. “We knew there would be a variety of responses when we announced the consolidation of our corporate locations.”
|TSN||TYSON FOODS INC.||60.76||-0.62||-1.01%|
Some key managers have planned to leave instead of relocate including the leader of its beef and pork unit.
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Tyson’s beef and pork division makes up almost half the company’s $53 billion in revenue in its 2022 fiscal year.