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Thailand (/ˈtaɪlænd/TY-land or /ˈtaɪlənd/TY-lənd;Thai:ประเทศไทย, rtgs:Prathet Thai), officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai:ราชอาณาจักรไทย, rtgs:Ratcha-anachak Thai; IPA:[râːt.tɕʰá.ʔāː.nāː.tɕàk tʰāj]), formerly known as Siam (Thai:สยาม; rtgs:Sayam), is a country at the centre of the Indochinese peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
The 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup was the 7th FIFA Futsal World Cup, an international futsal tournament that took place from 1–18 November 2012 in Thailand. An extra four teams (increase to 24 from 20 at the 2008 event in Brazil) were competing at this World Cup.
Brazil defended their title, winning it for the fifth time, by defeating Spain in a rematch of the 2008 final 3–2 after extra time.
The host nation, Thailand, qualified automatically.
The matches were originally due to take place across four venues. Due to construction delays and failure to meet the security requirement, early matches scheduled at the Bangkok Futsal Arena were moved to the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium. After the final inspection on 5 November, FIFA announced that the Bangkok Futsal Arena had not sufficiently met the criteria. The two quarter-final matches would be played at Nimibutr Stadium, while Hua Mark Indoor Stadium would host the semifinals and the final.
Bangkok — Thailand’s planned reopening of the resort island Phuket in July to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20% so far ... They will be given a green light to travel elsewhere in Thailand after 14 days.
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s planned reopening of the resort island Phuket next month to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20% so far ... They will be given a green light to travel elsewhere in Thailand after 14 days.
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand's planned reopening of the resort island Phuket next month to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20 per cent so far ... They will be given a green light to travel elsewhere in Thailand after 14 days.
HCMC - Vietnam has imposed a combined duty of 47.64%, including 42.99% for antidumping and 4.65% for countervailing, on certain sugar products imported from Thailand... into sugar products from Thailand following a petition from domestic sugar producers.
AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing partner in Southeast Asia has missed a delivery target in Thailand and shipments to other countries in the region have been delayed, the latest setback for a shot that was meant to be the backbone of the global inoculation effort.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The central banks of Malaysia and Thailand on Friday launched a cross-border QR code payment linkage between the two countries, enabling consumers and merchants in both countries to make and receive instant cross-border payments ... in Thailand.
"I left him with my mum," said the Myanmar migrant worker, 26, who is living in Thailand... Su and her husband are among the 1.7 million Myanmar nationals working in neighboring Thailand, according to the Migrant Workers Group, and part of a vital network of overseas workers who support relatives at home.
Isham berkata rampasan kuasa yang berlaku di Thailand pada 2006 dan 2014 berpunca daripada restu diberikan pihak monarki dan peristiwa tersebut boleh dijadikan iktibar ia juga boleh berlaku di Malaysia... so kita nak restore balik demokrasi kita terpaksa buat macam Thailand pula,” katanya.
Export of rapeseed meal increased due to higher buying by South Korea and Thailand during the period ... Of the total exports of rapeseed meal during April-May, exports to South Korea stood at 1.48 lakh tonnes and Thailand at 54,230 tonnes.
"He (De Paula) did not perform well in the two earlier matches, but I saw a lot of improvement in the final match (against Thailand). Against the UAE, he was not as mobile while against Vietnam he showed a bit more movement and he was definitely more involved in the game against Thailand.
Deliberations are ongoing and details of the listing could change, they said ... Carsome was founded in 2015 and has expanded its presence to Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore in recent years ... Its regional rival, Singaporean used car platform Carro, raised US$360 million in June to fuel expansion in Thailand and Indonesia before pursuing a US listing ... �.
BANGKOK, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand announced on Friday to further ease restrictions on restaurant dine-in services in the capital Bangkok and three other provinces as the government struggled to strike a balance between pandemic containment and easing economic pains from the third wave of outbreak.


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…New members enhance value and scope of expansive business-to-business Internet trading
Seven of the most prominent global financial institutions, with profits totaling more than $3.6
billion, have joined Identrus™ LLC, the world's leading provider of identity trust for global
business-to-business Internet commerce. The new financial institutions join 35 existing
Identrus financial institutions that are acting as Identrus Certificate Authorities and have
corporate customers in more than 133 countries. The new Identrus Certificate Authorities are in
the process of establishing capabilities to certify their corporate customers as trusted
trading partners for business-to-business commerce on the Internet.
The new Identrus Certificate Authorities are: AIB Group (Ireland), Bank of Ireland, The Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd., Banco Sabadell (Spain), Banesto (Spain), Crédit Lyonnais (France) and
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (United States). Because Identrus launched its fully
active global trust system in 2000, these financial institutions will be able to issue secure,
crypto-enabled Identrus Global IDs as soon as their internal security infrastructures are
"Our new Identrus Certificate Authorities can quickly assist their corporate customers in
profiting on the Internet through identity certainty, application security and risk
management," said Identrus President and CEO Guy S. Tallent. "And now that member financial
institutions are already deploying Identrus Connected services, both the roadway and the
roadmap to profit are clear."
Identrus Global IDs will enable customers to participate in business-to-business Internet
commerce as trusted trading partners within a global community of similarly certified trading
partners. Identrus certified trading partners or systems can conclusively identify their
counterparts, lower their transaction costs, extend their market reach, and compile an
auditable record of their transactions. The new Identrus Certificate Authorities expand the
universe of such trading partners, exponentially increasing the value of the system.
Identrus Connected services on the Internet will enable trading partners to carry out a
virtually infinite range of business-to-business Internet commerce activities, not just
financial services. Financial institutions are steadily going live, certifying their corporate
customers and providing Identrus Connected services.
As the Internet's only global trust system, Identrus LLC for the first time lets companies
manage their business-to-business e-commerce risks through a trusted relationship with their
financial institution. Identrus also eliminates the time, cost and complexity of building trust
relationships with customers and suppliers around the globe. The world's most prominent
financial institutions and technology companies are deploying a growing number of applications
for secure e-mail, e-marketplaces, international trade, contract signing, online payments,
commercial banking and more on the open Identrus infrastructure. For more information, please
Beaupre & Co. Public Relations, Inc.
This press release was distributed by ResponseSource Press Release Wire on behalf of Pleon in the following categories: Consumer Technology, Personal Finance, Business & Finance, Computing & Telecoms, for more information visit https://pressreleasewire.responsesource.com/about.

domain: news


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Optoma has begun shipping the device it hopes will make 4K projecting more accessible to the average consumer.
The $1,499 street-priced UHD50, first unveiled at CES in January, features 2,400 lumens, a 500,000:1 contrast ratio, RGBRGB color wheel and HDR10 with Rec.2020/DCI-P3 wide color gamut compatibility. It also boasts 15 percent vertical lens shift and a 1.3x zoom, with the ability to display a 4K Ultra HD image up to 300 inches.
The projector, which features a lamp light source and a Texas Instruments DLP chip, comes with two HDMI 2.0 inputs with HDCP 2.2 support.
It’s currently available through Amazon, Fry’s Electronics and BestBuy.com.
Optoma’s previous entry-level 4K projector was priced at $1,999.


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Largest online retailer Amazon closes its service in occupied Crimea
The largest U.S. online retailer, Amazon, has warned customers in Russian-occupied Crimea they will have to delete their accounts by February 13, and those not removed voluntarily will be deleted by the company itself, Russian news agency TASS has reported.
"Your AWS account has registered billing address in the region of Crimea,” reads a letter to customers from Amazon quoted by TASS.
“Due to the economic sanctions recently announced by the U.S. government that prohibit the export or supply of services in Crimea, you have to remove all the resources of the AWS and cancel your AWS account by 1200 Pacific Time on Friday, February 13, 2015.”
Since the beginning of February, Google has also limited the provision of some of its services to residents of the Russian-annexed Ukrainian territory of Crimea. In particular, users are now unable to download or update programs from Google’s app store.


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[image from TheVox]
My new post at LAist, "What Would Don Draper Tweet?" shares words from Hank Wasiak, ad man extraordinaire who started in advertising during the 60s and who is now fully embracing social media's potential to enhance the effectiveness of campaigns in his industry He's even incorporating social media into the class he's teaching next semester at USC's Marshall School of Business.
If “Mad Men” has taught us anything, it’s that advertising is all about the client and the product. But a “Mad Man” for the technology age urges ad firms to put the Don Draper era behind them and consider the consumer in a new manner: through the lens and the interactive venue of today’s social media tools.
By his own admission last week at the 140 Characters Conference (held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood), Hank Wasiak has lived the “Mad Men” experience. He explained to the crowd of Twitter enthusiasts (this writer among them) that he had started at an advertising firm that he described as “the mirror image” of the fictional Sterling Cooper, an image that included similar clients, attitudes toward sex and drinking, and where they were “smoking something a lot stronger than Lucky Strikes.” It was a time, he says, when “the guys in suits showed us what we wanted to be and what we wanted to buy.” Until now, the essentials of advertising hadn’t changed. But after having witnessed everything in the business for the last five decades, he realized that “social media created the watershed moment.”
To read the rest of the post, click here.
Other posts at LAist:


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This year's damp spring followed by the summer heatwave has resulted in a bountiful crop of summer fruit.
Jam making equipment, including boiling pans, thermometers, preserving jars and gingham labels, has seen a 2,000 per cent sales increase this year according to Homebase.
In July, distributor RH Amar said orders for Certo pectin, a gelling agent used for production in jam, were up 19 per cent compared to last year, and Silver Spoon confirmed a surge in sales of jam sugar.
The WI, whose members preserved nearly 12m pounds of fruit during the Second World War to help feed the nation, has long been famed for its members' jam making skills.
Janice Langley, chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, told the Daily Mail she was encourged to see a renewed interest emerging in the pastime.
She said: "The recent glut of fruit will hopefully encourage more people to try making their own jam for the first time and see how easy it is to make the most of our great local produce".
Director of The Guild of Jam and Preserve Makers Rosemary Jamerson agreed, saying many new WI members joined hoping to learn traditional skills.
"Whereas people used to come and see it as a bit lightweight and just something to try once which they hadn't done before, now they are taking it seriously because they want to know what is in their food and where it comes from,' she said. 'The rising interest is great. People want to be engaged with what they are eating nowadays," she added.
The Duchess of Cambridge and supermodel Kate Moss are both rumoured to be fans of making jam when taking time out from their busy lifestyles. It was reported last month that Ms Moss has hoping to launch her own range of plum conserve made from fruit grown on her Cotswold estate.
Jam sales have suffered in recent years as consumers have made the switch from preserves to other sugary spreads, including peanut butter and chocolate spread.
Peanut butter sales grew 20 per cent to reach £52m during 2013, and sales of chocolate spread rose almost 25 per cent to £46m. However, jam continues to hold the biggest market sector, despite sales flatlining at £118m.


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In Part 2 of the NJSBA video series on vaping and its effect on New Jersey schools, host Ray Pinney explores what regulations are in place to deny teens access to the vaping market.
Cristina Martins, of the Tobacco Free for a Healthy New Jersey and the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, explains that students as young as middle school are vaping, though the legal age to purchase vaping products is 21.
Seventy-four percent of teen users report that they obtained vaping devices from retail stores, Martins said. More information is in the video being posted today.
See part one of the series here.


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Ola Electric shared video on Twitter showing the S1 Air electric scooter being tested on a tarmac ahead of its launch this month. Various colored S1 Air scooters can be seen driving side by side on the tarmac. Riders can be seen speeding up and leaning their scooters as they race side by side, demonstrating their abilities.
The company has confirmed that deliveries and test rides of the scooter will begin in July, while OEMs have started taking pre-orders, but the purchase window hasn’t opened yet.The scooter is expected to sell for $84,999 and up to $109,000 (ex-showroom).
The S1 Air is expected to have a top speed of 85 km/h and a range of up to 165 km per charge. Design-wise, the Ola S1 Air looks identical to the S1 and S1 Pro. It will be available in five two-tone paint themes – Coral Allure, Neo Mint, Porcelain White, Jet Black and Liquid Silver.
Ola Electric has started building a second factory in India, which is expected to be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the country. The 115-acre battery gigafactory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu is expected to have an annual production capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) at full capacity.
The company will begin operations early next year with an initial capacity of 5GWh and will expand further in stages. The factory will be able to produce batteries for electric vehicles as well as other battery solutions. The new Gigafcatory will play a vital role in Ola Electric’s EV journey as the OEM aims to become a holistic player in the space.
First published date: Jul 9, 2023 at 15:14 PM USST


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What do antivirus software provider Quick Heal Technologies and public internet services in India have in common? The year 1995. It’s when public internet services first began in India, and also when Quick Heal released its first antivirus product for Windows 3.1.
Soon after its birth alongside the retail internet, Quick Heal went on to become the market leader of India’s consumer antivirus space. According to its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) filing in 2016, Quick Heal had a 30% share in the retail segment according to a report by global management & strategy consulting firm Zinnov. It achieved this on the back of a robust physical distribution model.


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Amongst the bad news is some good news for Huawei owners. A leak has shown off EMUI 10 on the Android Q upgrade for Huawei smartphones, and the early imagery makes it look pretty good.
Shared by website FunkyHuawei.club, it’s confirmed that this build of EMUI 10 is running on Android Q, according to XDA Developers. It runs on a Huawei P30 Pro (only just), but there’s enough to get a feel for the next version of Android on Huawei.
There remains, of course, some doubt over how this upgrade will actually happen, as the looming US trade ban would likely prevent a wide-ranging Android Q upgrade program, but it seems that some users might be able to get it, and that’s better news than none.
Visually, there’s not too many changes, but the new Android Q permissions are shown off – including the new “only use location while phone in use” permission – as well as a slightly refined camera app layout.
The other screenshots show features from the OS that we’re pretty familiar with, but the new permissions screen shows what will be coming with Android Q:
There’s also a couple of screenshots showing off Android Q’s new dark mode with Huawei’s EMUI 10. This affects a few visible elements, including the Settings app and the Google widget on the home screen.
Beyond that, 9to5Google observes that there’s really not too much else made clear by the screenshots, and that’s a fair assessment. Some users who’ve flashed the leaked build report that it’s faster than EMUI 9.1, and that, despite being an early leaked build, it’s very stable and quite usable with no major functionality unavailable.
This is all very promising, and so we hope that Huawei is able to work out a way to license Android going forward so that it can bring this great update to its users.


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When Nintendo launched the Wii, it didn't feature the latest graphics, but became a runaway success thanks to its then-novel controller. Now in the era of Kinect, the company prepares the new Wii U to replace its aging console without such an advantage -- and it appears to be delivering another underpowered system.
Developers have expressed disappointment with the Wii U's hardware, saying it can't even match the graphics firepower of the Xbox 360 and PS3. Given that those consoles are a bit long in the tooth, too, the fact that Nintendo couldn't surpass them is a bit puzzling, to say the least. As Hot Hardware points out, the IBM Power CPU and the Radeon 4000-based graphics rumored to be in the Wii U should be able to match the existing systems' performance.
To add insult to injury, it appears that the Wii U's biggest potential selling point -- a touchscreen controller -- has its own limitations. Supposedly the new console can only handle input from a solitary touchscreen controller, so you can't have multiple players using multiple touchscreens.
The Wii U's best advantage might be timing. It could launch just in time for the holiday shopping season, and the novelty of a next-generation console could power sales until Microsoft or Sony gets its act together and releases its own new hardware. In the case of Microsoft, it's looking more likely that the Xbox "Durango" won't reach store shelves until the end of 2013.
Nintendo has emphasized game play and simplicity over high-def graphics in the past, and it seems like it will need to roll out that reasoning again with the Wii U. Are you interested in the new Nintendo console, given its potentially less-than-exciting hardware gains? Let us know in the comments below.


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MONTREAL — BCE Inc. had $574 million in profit in the first quarter before adjustments — a 14.1 per cent increase from the same time last year, as its wireless networks and media operations powered revenue growth.
The Montreal-based company’s adjusted profit was $580 million, or 75 cents per common share — three cents a share ahead of analyst estimates.
Its Bell telecommunications business provided $4.3 billion of revenue, up 11.6 per cent from $3.9 billion a year earlier.
Bell’s profit before certain items was $1.6 billion, up 6.6 per cent from the same time last year.
BCE’s overall operating revenue was $4.9 billion, up 9.9 per cent from $4.5 billion in the first quarter of 2011.
Analysts’ estimates compiled by Thomson Reuters put revenue at $4.96 billion. and adjusted earnings per share was estimated at 73 cents.
The telecom giant has been expanding its media business by leaps and bounds, including repurchasing broadcaster CTV Inc. in the second quarter of 2011.
It’s in the process of buying a large stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment — owner of Toronto’s major league hockey. basketball and soccer teams, among other things — and Astral Media, another radio and television company.
Those deals are yet to close but the Competition Bureau moved the MLSE deal forward on Wednesday when it announced it wouldn’t block the deal, which BCE is doing in partnership with rival Rogers Communications Inc.
BCE has also announced plans to acquire Montreal-based specialty broadcaster Astral Media for $3.4-billion. That deal is expected to go through by this fall.
BCE’s proposed of Astral Media aims to create a media powerhouse that provide digital content to consumers online on their personal computers and tablets and on mobile devices like smartphones as well as traditional TV screens.
“We look forward to welcoming Montreal-based Astral Media to the Bell team later this year as Bell works to expand our media leadership, delivering the best content across the best networks to any broadband screens our customers choose,” BCE chief executive George Cope said in the Thursday announcement.
He said Astral is expected to add to BCE’s cash flow and earnings after the deal closes.
“Our execution in the first quarter demonstrated a solid start to the year, highlighted by strong wireless performance, stabilizing Business Markets performance, continued competitive price discounting in residential wireline, and Media results that delivered a strong contribution to earnings and cash flow.”
BCE is Canada’s largest communications company, and a longtime staple in investment portfolios designed to profit from steady growth companies with a solidly dependable dividend.
Aside from wireless and landline telephone services, broadband Internet and satellite TV, it also owns the CTV television network, a variety of specialty television channels and the former Chum radio stations.


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Restaurant now serving dinners
Dinner is now being served Thursday through Saturday nights at Mountain Shadows, 2223 W. Colorado Ave.
The business, which first opened at that address in 1991, was previously a breakfast-and-lunch eatery. But owners Kasie Swain and Ben Zook decided to add a dinner menu in hopes of satisfying existing customers and attracting new ones.
Five different entrees are offered, as well as sides, appetizers and salads.
Also available are different types of non-alcoholic beverages. A liquor license has been applied for.
Mountain Shadows is open daily.
For more information, call 633-2122.
Technical services offered
Tech Expert Connection Ltd. recently opened at 2616 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 22.
The business offers technology repairs and service, as well as business support, services, research and development.
The store manager is Ken Loflin and technical manager is Chris Finan, who between them have 21 years experience in the field. According to Loflin, they chose the Westside because they believe it has a need for technical services.
A limited liability company, T.E.C. Ltd. is open Monday through Saturday. The phone is 635-5189, and e-mail is firstname.lastname@example.org.
Editor's note: If you know any Westside locations not listed here, or you find that any of this information has changed, please let us know at 471-6776.
Westside Pioneer/press release


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WACO, TEXAS — Nine of 10 households invest more in real estate than they do in the stock market, and that fact continues to drive demand for the $120 billion remodeling industry each year, according to DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen.
The national remodeling franchise, which averages more than 20,000 jobs a year, recently conducted its annual poll of its franchise network to identify kitchen and bath trends for 2003. The emerging trends for bathrooms include: oversized “rain” showerheads; showers with body sprays and steam showers; solid surface shower walls; earth tones in tile; radiantly heated tile floors; and traditional styled cabinetry.
The results for kitchen trends include quartz countertops; use of more solid surface materials such as Corian; increasing demand for the commercial look of stainless steel appliances; an open extension into the family room, incorporating fireplaces, family seating and gathering places; and under-cabinet lighting or “hockey puck” lighting under cabinets
The survey revealed that maple is still a popular finish with caramel or ivory glazes in both the kitchen and bath. Hickory, however, is gaining a wider audience, and dark finishes such as “merlot” are expected to become more popular in 2003.
In addition, more homeowners are paying attention to various light sources in their remodeling projects. Indirect, task and ambient lighting are now considered when designing kitchens and baths. Cans and recessed lighting will continue to be prominent in 2003 designs.
“With the size of our franchise network and the variety of jobs we do across the board, we’ve found that we have a keen sense of emerging trends,” said Doug Dwyer, president of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen. “Whether it’s a high-end fixture, a surface finish, or a simple color choice, our remodelers are quick to identify key design elements. The 2003 trends are good predictions as more and more homeowners invest in their homes.”
Based in Waco, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen has been in more than 2 million homes. It is an associate company of The Dwyer Group, a multi-franchise holding company, which includes the Mr. Rooter plumbing franchise. The company is a national member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the International Franchising Association.


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The Galaxy S21 FE is likely to make its official debut later next month, while a tipster revealed that Samsung has produced a very pitiful number of units so far. According to the information, industry insider Max Jambor claimed that the company has made just 10,000 Galaxy S21 FE units so far.
Usually, smartphone makers begin the mass production of a product nearly 5-6 weeks ahead of its official launch. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 are gaining good response from consumers globally, Galaxy S22 series is just around the corner.
Therefore, it’s expected that the Korean tech giant is focussing on marketing its newly released foldable phones instead of the Galaxy S21 FE, Still, the device is most anticipated by Samsung fans as it will bring Galaxy S21 flagship-like features and capabilities at a comparatively reduced price.
As per the previous reports, the Galaxy S21 FE will feature both Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 SoC for different markets. At the same time, it will have a triple rear camera setup consisting of a wide-angle camera, an ultra-wide shooter, and a telephoto lens, plus, a 31MP selfie camera.
On the front, it is likely to come with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The device will feature four eye-catching colors including Gray, Light Green, Light Violet and White.
Google confirms Galaxy S23 FE coming in two SoC variants
Google Play Console database confirmed that Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE will be available in two SoC variants. The company is about to introduce a handful of new Fan Edition products including a smartphone, two tablets, and a pair of wireless earbuds.
In a recent development, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE surfaced on the Google Play Console database, which not only confirmed that two SoC variants are coming but an image of the phone also got shared. The device will have Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chips, based on market/region.
In addition, the S23 Fan Edition will bring 8GB of RAM, well, at least one of its variants will. It’s easily possible this will be the only RAM variant, though. Android 13 is also confirmed, while One UI 5.1 will be included on top of it as well as eligibility of 4 OS plus 5 years of security updates.
Here’s when Samsung Galaxy Z Fold rival by OnePlus going official!
OnePlus will launch its first foldable smartphone – the OnePlus Open on October 19. A reliable source revealed the launch date, following OnePlus’ announcement about the “soon” arrival of its first foldable handset.
The upcoming OnePlus Open reportedly features a form factor of OPPO Find N2. After Google’s Pixel Fold, the OnePlus Open will compete with Samsung, which has dominated the international foldable market.
Notably, the Chinese phone maker kicked out China’s BOE in favor of Samsung Display. This decision led the vendor delay the unveiling of the foldable phone as major change in its OLED panel supply chain.
OnePlus today announced that #OnePlusOpen is launching “soon”
Now let me tell you what soon means: The very first foldable smartphone from @OnePlus is launching October 19th! 🗓
I’m truly excited about this device!
— Max Jambor (@MaxJmb) September 20, 2023
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus gains sequential improvement
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S24 Plus featuring the unreleased Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor visited Geekbench. Following its first appearance on the benchmark platform in late July, the Galaxy S24 Plus scored slightly better points in the fresh test.
According to the input, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, powering the Galaxy S24 Plus, scored 2240 points and 6743 points in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core tests. For reference, the device reached up to 2242/6730 and 2233/6661 as of July 2023.
The South Korean tech giant will also introduce the Exynos 2400-powered Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus. These variants will be available in certain markets including Europe, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra only equipped with the Snapdragon chipset.


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Hyderabad, Telangana [India]: It was quite a fashionable affair at a recent Runway show held at Le Meridian Hyderabad. Starlife Hyderabad had organised this fashion show which had some great designs on display & ensured who’s who of the city was present.
Shafeeq Rahman Editor in Chief & M.A Malik C.E.O of “City Hi-Life” Magazine organisers idea was to bring in talented designers and actors under one roof as due to pandemic lot of designers work had come to a sudden halt. The show was full of entertainment as we saw a lot of kids walking the runway too.
Starlife Hyderabad’s main focus was to bring the deserving talent in front of media and give them an opportunity be it in fashion shows, films, or music videos.
Kovid Mittal who flew from Bangalore not only walked the runway but had showcased a few of his men’s lines from his last collection, “It’s always good to be back on-ramp from where I had begun my journey. It’s so great to see Starlife Hyderabad organising such events as India has a lot of talent and they need such platforms to be discovered” said the Model turned Actor.
The event followed all required protocols of safe distancing when it came to the audience’s seating arrangement.
Follow Kovid Mittal on Instagram: @kovid_mittal


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Blackpink's Jennie surrounded by high level security at Paris fashion show gets a nod of approval from Blinks
As Blackpink's Jennie takes over Chanel's fashion show in Paris, Blinks have been simultaneously appreciating the security provided to the star upon her arrival. Check out!
Zoom TV Digital
Updated Oct 4, 2022 | 05:28 PM IST
Jennie's security gets a nod of approval from Blinks
Lo and behold, Jennie
Kim is finally here! The Blackpink
rapper never fails to make a glamorous entrance and of course, this time was no different. Looking like a million bucks for a Paris fashion show
, believe it or not, it's not just her ensemble that Blinks
have been raging about.
For those of you who may not be aware, Jennie is currently in Paris, living her best life as the global brand ambassador of luxury powerhouse Chanel
. As the brand unveiled their spring summer 2023 collection today, October 4, it was only fair that Jen be seated front row at the glitzy event.
Decked in a short white dress, if the loud cheers and screams from outside the venue are anything to go by, it comes as no surprise that Jennie immediately turned into the 'main event' of the show. And to top it off, even her security detail is being praised massively.
Yep, that's right!
Gaining massive praise from fans at the moment is Chanel's security for Jennie as the star strutted out of her car with utmost panache. Even inside the venue, she was surrounded by guards, much to the delight of Blinks who have been worrying nonstop about her privacy being invaded in the past few weeks.
And with this, it is mighty clear that Jennie sure does hold a significant amount of influence to her name!
Furthermore, these past couple of days have been quite good for Blinks considering how Blackpink's agency YG Entertainment finally stepped in to protect the rapper from the culprit who had been leaking her personal photos.
"We are announcing that we have officially commissioned the police to investigate the person who first distributed BLACKPINK's Jennie's personal photos. YG has been continuously monitoring the content and submitted a complaint in September after collecting information," reads a snippet of their statement.


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Economist Names 2019 “The Year of Vegan”
Source: The Economist
For the past half-century, veganism has been a minority within a minority. In America in 2015, according to one survey, 3.4% of the population were vegetarian and just 0.4% were vegan. But 2019 will be the year veganism goes mainstream. Interest in a way of life in which people eschew not just meat and leather, but all animal products including eggs, wool and silk, is soaring, especially among millennials. Fully a quarter of 25- to 34-year-old Americans say they are vegans or vegetarians.


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Most consumers these days are well acquainted with the range of technologies available to help them fork over money quickly and easily – without using cash – to pay for just about any type of product or service.
Most people have multiple credit card accounts, of course. But increasingly even carrying cards is becoming passé, because anyone with a smartphone and a mobile-pay app can simply scan information stored on their phone into a reader and walk away with their purchase.
But even the tech-iest of consumers may be out of the loop when it comes to one of the most interesting payment methods in the marketplace: Bitcoin.
People around the world are racking up more than 100,000 financial transactions every day using a kind of currency that doesn’t actually exist. Bitcoins are found only in the world of virtual reality, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used to buy real merchandise.
Bitcoins are a way of using and moving money without a bank account or credit card. Individuals can use dollars to purchase Bitcoins, store them in a virtual wallet linked to their smartphone and then scan their account information at participating establishments to pay for merchandise or for other purposes.
Eight million users have set up Bitcoin wallets. Some $3.5 billion worth of Bitcoins are now in circulation, and 88,000 merchants accept them as a form of payment.
The growing use of a six-year-old currency that exists only in online accounts was a topic of discussion recently during the national Risk Insurance Management Society conference in New Orleans.
In a session that explored the insurance risk potentially posed by Bitcoin, Ty Sagalow, CEO and founder of Innovation Insurance Group, described the currency’s somewhat mysterious roots.
Bitcoins, he said, were created in 2009 by a super-geeky computer coder named Satoshi Nakamoto, who thought through how the system might work, wrote tens of thousands of lines of code and pressed a button on his computer keyboard. Voila! Bitcoin was born – or at least announced over the Internet.
Whether a person named Satoshi Nakamoto actually exists remains a topic of speculation, Sagalow acknowledged. But whoever masterminded Bitcoins did a good enough job to convince a lot of people the currency has staying power.
Sagalow said it’s no surprise that the use of Bitcoins still raises eyebrows among skeptics, given the “shady” nature of its early history.
“It was first used for the purpose of buying illegal drugs, or to pay for murder for hire – some really bad stuff,” he says.
But gradually Bitcoin rose above its dark past and began winning over Silicon Valley-funded corporations who liked both its technological and investment appeal.
Bitcoin today is valued in the marketplace in much the same way as any other currency. They fluctuate against other the money, and in early May one Bitcoin was valued at $235.80.
Regulated exchanges for the currency now exist, but the full regulatory aspects of Bitcoin use are yet to be explored, and that will involve myriad state and federal agencies, Sagalow said.
Robert Parisi, who’s managing director with giant insurance broker Marsh USA, told risk managers who attended the local conference that insurance companies aren’t yet sure how to approach the matter of covering Bitcoin or its use.
“Bitcoin has some volatility, so you can’t have the same approach to storing it as you would a commodity,” he said, adding that the currency has a certain “perishable” quality.
Parisi said the currency’s price volatility is one aspect of Bitcoin that concerns insurance carriers. An upward move in price can benefit an owner, but the currency’s value can quickly turn the other way, and trying to understand exactly how a Bitcoin is created and what causes its fluctuations “is a very complex problem,” he said.
In addition, the security of Bitcoin use hasn’t been fully tested.
Bitcoins held by an individual or business are protected in much the same way a safe deposit box at a bank secures valuables. Once stored in a virtual wallet, the currency can only be removed or accessed through the use of two “keys” – or codes – one held by the Bitcoins’ owner and the other held publicly.
“A person could lose the thumb drive that has the private key on it, then they’re no longer able to unlock their Bitcoin wallet,” Parisi said.
Still, noting that the great majority of people in the world do not have bank accounts or credit cards, but a surprisingly large number have smart phones, some experts think Bitcoin could become a simple and reliable currency for millions of people.
“I honestly believe that Bitcoin is the cutting edge of where monetary systems may be going,” James Kirtland, a vice president with Voya Financial Inc. told the audience. He did not suggest, however, that the transition would occur quickly.
“The biggest hurdle we have with Bitcoin is, we don’t know enough about it,” he said.
CoinDesk Research recently released a report on Bitcoin use worldwide. Here are a few findings:
The total amount of Bitcoin investment into start-up businesses by venture capital firms reached $676 million in first-quarter 2015.
Bitcoin’s price stabilized after a rocky start, recently hitting $235.
More than 8 million people have set up Bitcoin “wallets.”
The number of merchants who accept Bitcoin has reached 88,000.
Bitcoin’s market capitalization reached $3.4 billion.
Source: State of Bitcoin, Q1 2015, CoinDesk Research.


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Have a background in cyber-security? Know enough about code to spot a vulnerable back door? Then DJI has an offer you can’t refuse. Of course, you can refuse it. But by accepting it, you could earn as much as $30,000 US. That’s right: thirty grand.
DJI today announced what it’s calling a ‘Bug Bounty’ – rewards for identifying security issues with DJI software. Officially called the DJI Threat Identification Reward Program, it’s part of what the company describes as “an expanded commitment to work with researchers and others to responsibly discover, disclose and remediate issues that could affect the security of DJI’s software.”
Think of it as a scavenger hunt for code issues. The bigger the issue, the bigger the potential reward. And by extending the invitation to anyone out there, the company is effectively tapping into the brainpower of anyone who loves a challenge (and/or a reward) across the planet. Plus, many companies have learned the hard way that it’s people on the outside who are often in the best position to spot potential issues or vulnerabilities.
“Security researchers, academic scholars and independent experts often provide a valuable service by analyzing the code in DJI’s apps and other software products and bringing concerns to public attention,” said DJI Director of Technical Standards Walter Stockwell. “DJI wants to learn from their experiences as we constantly strive to improve our products, and we are willing to pay rewards for the discoveries they make.”
The new program is an interesting, proactive approach to several challenges the company recently faced. One was the hacking issue, where some owners of DJI products began essentially disabling or removing DJI software. This was especially a concern with the Geospatial Environment Online, or GEO system – which is a geofence designed specifically to keep drones away from restricted airspace and other sensitive locations.
Some argued the software was too restrictive. However, removing the geofence meant people could fly their drones into illegal or even dangerous situations, which is not a good thing for the recreation/industry as a whole. TDC covered the issue in some depth here.
The other recent issue was a guidance (now being re-assessed, apparently) by the US Army to stop using DJI products. According to research that was not disclosed, the instruction suggested DJI products were at risk of cyber-vulnerability.
In the midst of all that, there were isolated complaints about potential software and safety issues with the Spark. DJI has since improved the Spark software, and a mandatory firmware upgrade goes into effect September 1st. (After that, any Sparks with older firmware will effectively be grounded until the update is made.) There’s also been plenty of chatter this summer in forums and on Facebook about privacy issues in general: Just how much personal data is shared when you fly a DJI product?
Well, the company has clearly been listening. Already, DJI has announced that a coming app upgrade will include a new mode. When enabled, that mode will ensure that data cannot be transmitted over the internet. Today’s announcement takes things further, and makes it clear the company is looking for assistance to stress-test and optimize its software in multiple sectors:
“The DJI Threat Identification Reward Program aims to gather insights from researchers and others who discover issues that may create threats to the integrity of our users’ private data, such as their personal information or details of the photos, videos and flight logs they create,” states the release.
“The program is also seeking issues that may cause app crashes or affect flight safety, such as DJI’s geofencing restrictions, flight altitude limits and power warnings.”
And yes, if you find something significant that needs to be addressed, you could be in for some serious money. The full program terms haven’t been released yet, but they are coming soon on a new website. For the moment, DJI is saying the rewards will range from $100 to $30,000, “depending on the potential impact of the threat.”
IT/software security pros who think they’ve already found something – it can be related to DJI’s servers, apps or hardware – can submit as of today. Send reports to firstname.lastname@example.org and your submission will be reviewed.
DJI also says a new and even more comprehensive internal software review, evaluation and approval process is coming to the company itself in order to make its software more bulletproof (secure, reliable, stable). But this is the first time it has opened up the lines of communication to the broader community beyond DJI – where there’s a wealth of untapped knowledge.
“We want to engage with the research community and respond to their reasonable concerns with a common goal of cooperation and improvement,” says DJI’s Walter Stockwell. “We value input from researchers into our products who believe in our mission to enable customers to use DJI products that are stable, reliable and trustworthy.”


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Spotify HiFi Price Predictions, Will Spotify HiFi Get Cancelled
Spotify is one of the most amazing music streaming platforms all around the globe, which gives music lovers access to the most exquisite music tracks. The freemium and premium plans give you access to the music catalog free of cost as well as in budget-friendly plans. With the growth in the music industry, more music platforms were launched to facilitate music lovers. These platforms offer exceptional services to enhance their audience.
Spotify has been offering quality features, but audio streaming seems low compared to newly launched platforms that offer HD and Ultra HD music streaming. There was a need to upgrade Spotify and launch High-quality audio streaming services that would offer lossless audio. Spotify HiFi was designed and was in the plan to be launched to offer high-quality streaming services. In this breakdown, I will be sharing the features of Spotify HiFi and its possible launching.
Spotify HiFi is an upgrade designed to provide high-quality music streaming to users. With competitor platforms offering HD and Ultra HD streaming and lossless audio streams. It was necessary for Spotify to launch high-quality audio streaming features to compete with other platforms. According to Spotify, “high-quality music streaming” was the most requested new feature for the users. It will allow Spotify Premium subscribers to upgrade their membership. so that they may be able to listen to much higher quality and lossless audio streams over Spotify connect.
The initial idea of Spotify HiFi was shown in 2017 to create a high-quality music streaming service for music lovers. On 22nd February 2021, the company officially announced that they will be going to launch Spotify HiFi by the end of 2021. But till now, we don’t have any news when this upgrade will be going to launch. There was also a concern about whether it will match the existing lossless audio-providing platforms like Tidal, Qubuz, Amazon Music HD, and Apple Music. Moreover, Apple Music and Amazon are offering lossless streaming for no extra subscription charges.
Spotify HiFi Release Date
In February 2021, Spotify promised that they will be going to launch Spotify Hifi in 2021. The announcement makes us believe that the launch will be expected at the end of 2021 rather than immediately. As the year was near to end, there was hope that Spotify Hifi would be launched as a Christmas gift, but now comes 2022, and still, there is no Spotify Hifi.
Spotify finally responded to the queries on its community forum by saying,” we are fully aware of the importance of Spotify HiFi for music lovers. We feel the same and are extremely excited to deliver this amazing upgrade to the Premium users. But we don’t have the timing details to share with you. We will be going to update you from time to time”. So frustratingly, we have to wait for more for the launch of this amazing music streaming giant.
Why Spotify HiFi Hasn’t Come Yet
Spotify HiFi was expected to be launched by the end of 2021, but still, there is no confirmation. Whether it will launch in 2022 or we will have to be more patient. On launching failure, Spotify’s Spokesman said, “The service was caught in licensing negotiations and added that Spotify is in constant dialogue with the music labels about bringing this amazing feature to the market.”
There were strong hopes that the feature would be launched soon when a Reddit user spotted a HiFi icon in their Spotify iOS application. But hopes have been diminished so many times, and we are still waiting for it. The release date may also depend on the type of device you are using. It will deliver high-quality streams through Spotify Connect. So it is possible that newer Connect devices could get the HiFi upgrade before certain older devices.
The subscription plan of Spotify HiFi will be an important factor for its growth and uptake. The streaming giant hasn’t yet announced the prices. But based on the stiff competition of the rival platforms, the plan will be near to other competitors. A couple of music streaming platforms are offering CD-quality subscription costs of 9.99$ per month to 14.99$ per month. Apple Music’s new lossless and high-resolution streaming tier is free for all Apple music subscribers. Tidal, which has recently launched lossless streaming, is offering these premier features in a standard plan subscription.
Amazon Music, the most budget-friendly high streaming platform premium plan, costs 12.99$ per month for prime members and 14.99$ per month for non-prime members. Then Amazon decided to make its Amazon Music HD plan free for all Amazon Music listeners. Thus reducing the subscription plans up to 7.99$ to 9.99$ for its prime and non-prime members. The premium plans for standard quality streams of Spotify costs from 9.99$ per month for Basic users to 14.99$ per month for the family plans.
When you consider the context and rival competitors. Most analysts expect the premium plan of Spotify HiFi may lie between 15$ per month to 20$ per month. Rival competitors hope that premium plans will be nearer to the latter amount, I-e 20$ per month.
Spotify and its rival music streaming platforms offer a free trial on their premium plans. Spotify already offers a 30-day free trial on the Spotify Premium plan; Amazon Music HD offers new subscribers a 90-day free trial. Tidal offers a 30-day free trial, and Deezer offers a 30-day free trial on its premium services. Therefore, what may the premium plans cost? There will be some sort of free trial for the HiFi users for both Spotify Premium users looking to upgrade or the new Spotify users. Who may be away from Spotify services due to a lack of higher quality streaming.
An important thing is” keep an eye on this page, as I will alert you in case of any news regarding the Spotify Hifi free trial.”
Also See: Spotify vs Tidal
The music streaming offered by Spotify Premium subscriptions varies from 160Kbps to 320 Kbps. Whereas the music streaming in lossless format or HD format may range from 1400Kbps to 2000Kbps. Spotify HiFi will offer music in lossless audio format with CD quality, for which the music streaming rate is 1411Kbps; therefore, it will be an amazing addition to the Spotify family.
Spotify hasn’t yet revealed the details of its higher-quality streams. But it’s worth mentioning that in 2017 when Spotify HiFi made its official debut, premium subscribers were offered 1411Kbps music streaming. The HiFi version of Tidal streams at 9216Kbps, whereas other platforms like Amazon and Qubuz also offer high-resolution streaming. It will be unlikely to offer high-resolution audio. As it has already pegged HiFi as CD-quality rather than higher than CD-quality. Apple Music offers three tiers of high-resolution streaming as CD quality(16-bit/44.1KHz), Apple Music lossless(24-bit/48KHz), and Hi-Res lossless (Up to 24-bit/192KHz).
Spotify has not revealed whether it will follow the footsteps of competitors like Amazon Music, Tidal, and Apple Music. In their support of new audio streams such as 360 Reality Audio tracks and Dolby Atmos Music.
Spotify has confirmed that CD-quality streaming will be compatible with Spotify Connect, which is the easiest way of playing music streams from the native Spotify application on a phone or a tablet to a connect compatible device over wi-fi. The finer details regarding Spotify Connect compatibility have not been revealed yet, but it is assumed that Spotify HiFi subscribers will be able to play high-quality streaming between their devices like mobiles and PC’s and ever-increasing Spotify Connect-enabled speakers, TVs, and audio Systems.
Spotify Connect has been one of the most popular music streaming features. Therefore, the majority of networked streaming devices should support the protocol. Spotify’s representatives say,” We are working with some of the world’s biggest speaker manufacturers to make Spotify HiFi accessible to as many music lovers as possible through Spotify connect. Are we going to see Spotify HiFi launch alongside high-end-Spotify-branded Speaker? We will be finding out very soon.
Spotify has a massive collection of more than 80 million music tracks and 4 million podcasts, but how many of those tracks will be available in CD-quality to Hifi subscribers. The company has not released any information regarding the Hifi catalog collection, but it will likely be in millions to challenge its rivals. For Example, Qobuz claims to offer the most extensive catalog of CD-quality lossless and High-resolution albums, which are nearly 60 million. Moreover, Amazon Music HD claims to have a collection of 60 million songs in HD. There is no reason to think that Spotify will not be offering a massive whooping collection.
Spotify’s music streaming platform is not only known for its massive music collection. But its catalog is among the smartest and most versatile. Its popular Discover Weekly feature uses Al and Machine learning to generate a playlist of 30 songs. That are relevant to your listening habits, so there is no doubt the HiFi will be offering very high-quality CD content for music lovers. The company has also invested heavily in podcasts, including Renegades: Born in the USA, featuring Barak Obama and Bruce Springsteen. The updates will be coming soon about Spotify HiFi, but one thing is for sure, the competition is not going away.
Will Spotify HiFi Offer Spatial Audio
Spatial audio is a 3D technology that helps create a more fascinating soundscape by using head-tracking to have a theatre-like experience. With Spatial audio, the sounds can be placed anywhere in the hemisphere. As with high-resolution audio, Spotify has not revealed anything about the Spatial audio. Which means the tracks have been encoded with 3D surrounding effects. However, the Spotify competitors like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Tidal do offer Spatial audio tracks in its format. Like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 reality Audio. Spotify may have Spatial audio plans, yet they have not been revealed. But by the time, now, Spotify lacks features of Spatial audio as compared to its major music streaming rivals.
Will Spotify HiFi Get Cancelled
Spotify has been known for rejecting the high-profile features that never quite took off. And achieved the desired results, so there may be a possibility that if Spotify HiFi may not be able to compete with its competitors, it might get canceled. For Example, Spotify recently pulled the plug on Car Thing. A small touch screen display that you could install on a car dashboard. For on-the-road Spotify streaming to enjoy your most favorite music tracks. Spotify said they closed production due to product demand and Supply chain issues.
Spotify also has a history of constant testing and experimentation to bring out new creative thoughts to expand its organization. During this testing process, new features can disappear or even can reappear without any explanations. But with Spotify seeming willing to cancel features that are not working, it also likes to experiment. And Spotify HiFi could be the project that Spotify is looking to tinker with indefinitely.
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms that has been the ultimate choice of the music lovers. Over the last few years, many music streaming rivals have offered exquisite features to music lovers. To compete with these rivals, Spotify plans to upgrade its premium services and offers high-quality music streams. Which was the consistent demand of music lovers. Spotify’s upgrade, namely Spotify HiFi, made its official debut streaming music at 1411Kbps. Which was an awesome feature for Spotify users. The Spotify HiFi was expected to be launched by the end of 2021. As announced by Spotify owners in February 2021. But it was not launched in 2021, and still, we are waiting for the music streaming giant.
The features and Premier Services of Spotify HiFi were not officially revealed. But it is obvious that the streaming platform will offer exquisite services. And Spotify lovers will not be needing any other platform for listening to their music tracks. Moreover, it will be competing with its rivals that have been launched after Spotify but offering sensational features to enjoy high-quality music. Spotify may also have the habit of nixing high-profile features when they are not competing, but Spotify HiFi seems to be the project they are willing to keep tinker indefinitely because, for them, they have created an exquisite platform, and it will succeed.


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- OurTowns app seeks to connect local councils, businesses and events together
- The City of Vincent has uploaded all its businesses and events to the app
- The app service will look to be rolled out to all suburbs in WA over time
Launched earlier this year, the community connections app OurTowns is now live on both the Apple and Google app stores for free, together with a list of all of the City of Vincent’s businesses and events.
OurTowns has been working closely with the Perth council’s placemaking teams, local businesses and event organisers to ensure the content and information is in line with consumer’s needs and expectations.
John Carey, state member for Perth, in which the Town of Vincent sits, praised the initiative.
“OurTowns is a great new app for our local City of Vincent community: it enables you to find out about a thousand small businesses in our area and updates each week on upcoming local events.
“The ultimate plan is for this app to be used in each local community across Perth – and it’s brilliant to have it starting in the City of Vincent.”
John Carey MLA
The person behind OurTowns is local real estate agent and entrepreneur, Marc Drexel.
“In my experience as former Chair of The Mt Hawthorn Hub and as Founding Director of The Town Team Movement, I was always being asked why a hyperlocal business and events directory did not exist. So, I decided to develop a solution to this very real problem,” Mr Drexel said.
The new app seems to have gone down well with the locals, too.
“OurTowns has already seen a huge interest from the Vincent businesses and event organisers that are desperately keen to connect with their local audiences in a meaningful way,” said Lei, owner of local business Dear Green Café.
“We’re really excited about the OurTowns offering – helping us to easily connect to customers”.
Mario, owner of high-profile Mt Hawthorn restaurant Spritz Spizzicheria, also warmly welcomed the move.
“If the past year has taught us one thing it is the need to support the local businesses who are the lifeblood of our communities and to celebrate our ability to meet up and have experiences within the areas, we love and cherish,” he said.
On the back of this City of Vincent product testing, consumer feedback and planned user experience enhancements, OurTowns will be rolled out to all Western Australian suburbs. OurTowns are currently seeking registrations of interest to invest in this very important community lead initiative.


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The G20 rolls into Brisbane next week and with this will come delays!
With an estimated 30 State aircraft, 4000 delegates and 3000 media as part of the entourage, the movement of air and sea freight around and through the deemed red zone needs to be considered by all.
This will include restrictions in relation to Brisbane airport freight, cargo terminals and businesses within the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD) and peripheral districts.
Access to the Brisbane CBD will come under strict security controls effective 10 November – 17 November 2014 with even the simple delivery of express parcels or small consignments being severely compromised in terms of delivery times and security. In addition, Friday 14 November 2014 has been gazetted as a public holiday for Brisbane.
There will be disruptions to the adjacent road networks and significant delays are expected. Freight terminals have advised that they will remain accessible, however, access will be highly regulated and time consuming with particular size and weight restrictions being applied by security on all freight at all access points.


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Flipkart has launched a new program in India called “Sell Back” that aims to reduce the large amount of e-waste generated in India from old mobile phones. The program will provide customers with a reliable platform to resell their old smartphones for a fair price and earn Flipkart Electronic Gift Voucher in return.
The program will support buying back all mobile phones, whether it was purchased from Flipkart or not. The company has plans to expand the program to more categories of devices later on too. To begin with, the program is going live in 1,700 pin codes in cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Patna.
To use the program, customers can follow these steps:
- Open the Flipkart app and select “Sell back” from the options in the bottom bar.
- Answer 3 questions to assess the value of the used mobile phone.
- Post customer confirmation, a Flipkart executive will pick up the product from their doorstep within 48 hours.
- Post verification, Flipkart voucher to be issued within a few hours, as per the confirmed sell back value. .
Commenting on the launch of the program, Prakash Sikaria, Senior Vice President and Head of Flipkart’s Growth Charter, said:
At Flipkart, we continuously work towards bringing smart tech-enabled solutions to help our customers purchase the latest, desired products at best prices. As people continue to upgrade their devices, there is a growing market for reselling devices that is highly unorganized and difficult to navigate. With Flipkart’s Sell Back Program, we aim to help organize this market. As the Indian consumer electronics industry witnesses rapid growth, this program will further our efforts towards reducing the generation of e-waste – which is a crucial step in creating a sustainable economy.


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DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co and Dow Chemical Co will work to develop cost-effective ways of using carbon fiber in high-volume cars and trucks as the No.2 U.S. automaker moves to cut vehicle weight to improve overall fuel economy.
The joint venture with Dow Automotive Systems mean Ford could start using components made from advanced carbon fiber composites in its vehicle lineup before the end of this decade. Dow Automotive is a unit of Dow Chemical .
Weight reduction is one way for automakers to boost the efficiency of their fleets in anticipation of rising oil prices and stricter fuel economy standards for upcoming model years.
By 2020, Ford aims to cut between 250 pounds and 750 pounds from its new cars and trucks, partly by using lighter materials. Shedding that weight will reduce the strain on the vehicle's engine, allowing it to wring out more miles per gallon.
Lighter materials can also help Ford improve the range of its electric and hybrid vehicles on a single charge.
"Reducing weight will benefit the efficiency of every Ford vehicle," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford's chief technical officer. "However, it's particularly critical to improving the range of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles."
The Obama administration said automakers would have to boost the average fuel efficiency of their cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by the 2025 model year.
Preliminary U.S. data shows that the average fuel economy for cars and trucks made for the 2011 model year was 22.8 miles per gallon. Ford's fuel economy was 21.3 miles per gallon, according to the data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
FROM RACE CARS TO HOCKEY STICKS
The Ford deal comes after General Motors Co signed a similar pact late last year with Teijin Ltd to develop advanced carbon fiber composites for GM vehicles worldwide.
GM said carbon fiber is costly, but is 10 times stronger than regular-grade steel and one-quarter of steel's weight.
Using carbon fiber in lieu of conventional steel can lower the weight of a vehicle component by up to 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Cutting a car's weight by 10 percent can improve fuel economy by as much as 8 percent.
Carbon fiber, already used in racing cars and products like hockey sticks, is not new to the auto industry. BMW , for example, uses the material in its M3 coupe.
Yet carbon fiber's high cost has blocked its wide-scale use. Industry experts say one way to lower the overall cost of carbon fiber is to find cheaper ways of preparing those materials.
Teams at Ford and Dow Automotive are seeking inexpensive sources of carbon fiber suitable for vehicle production and will explore ways to build carbon fiber components on a large scale.
Dow brings to the partnership an expertise in materials science and high-volume polymer processing. Dow has partnerships with Turkish company AKSA and the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to make carbon fiber and its variants.
Last month, the Obama administration announced it would provide $14.2 million in funding to spur development of stronger and lighter materials.
(Reporting By Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Matt Driskill)


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Published on 8th December 2017
After more than eight years at BioAnalyt, Simone K. Frey has decided to leave to pursue her entrepreneurial and venture capital activities. Simone transformed BioAnalyt from a university spin-off into a profitable, growing company with customers in over 80 countries. We will miss her but are excited for her new journey. She will leave this year, but will maintain a strong relationship with the company as business and market adviser.
Since Dr. Anna Zhenchuk joined BioAnalyt in 2012 as Technical Director, she has developed new products and provided hands-on support to customers in over 30 countries. Starting in 2018, she is taking over the role as managing director. Anna has a background in biotechnology as well as business administration and has lived in 6 countries. In her new role, she is excited to continue BioAnalyt’s vision, backed by a committed team: Democratizing nutritional testing and driving transparency in food and nutrition.


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Shares dropped over 10 per cent for De La Rue this afternoon, after the currency maker warned against rising costs and supply shortages.
The company warned 2023 profits would be hit, stating it saw “substantial degree of uncertainty in the outlook”.
“The board now expects that adjusted operating profit for full year 2023 will be broadly flat versus full year 2022, and weighted towards the second half”, the Basingstoke based firm said.
The rising cost of raw materials such as the chemicals and polymer has battered the supply chains, which are only worsened by freight cost hikes.
While chief executive Clive Vacher said the company was “working hard to bat away” the problems, the company missed analyst expectations.
The 201-year-old firm reported an adjusted operating profit of £36.4m for the full year, down from £38.1m the previous year. Revenue also dipped to £375.1m, from £397.4m.
Commenting on the results, AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould said: “De La Rue’s shares have had a great run under CEO Clive Vacher and investors will be hoping that the firm is not returning to type with its latest profit warning and admission that even the forecast of flat operating earnings is reliant upon a pick-up in the second half.”
“The market had swelled something – the shares had already all but halved over the past year. DLAR won’t be the last firm to be tripped up by rising input costs this year but given its patchy track record investors may be less forgiving than they would be with other companies.
“It now remains to be seen whether the share price slides tempts anyone to revive talk of a takeover bid, a tale that never seems to go stale”
Shares are down over 37 per cent in the year to date.


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ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- (WJXT) -- Detectives are looking for four men linked to a nationwide crime ring who stole 19 Apple iPods from the Orange Park Toys R Us in late April, the Clay County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday.
On April 28, deputies said, four Hispanic men walked into the toy retailer's store on Wells Road near Blanding Boulevard.
Investigators said two men distracted employees as a third picked the lock on an electronics storage room.
The men are believed to be part of a large group that has been committing similar crimes at Toys R Us stores in other states, according to detectives. The Sheriff's Office said it was unable to tell News4Jax which states.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith believes the thefts could be an "inside job," saying they be focused solely on Toys R Us stores because one of them may know the system?
"This tells me this may be someone who is a former employee of Toys R Us, or a current employee," Smith said. "That's why they are using a chain store because they are built or designed the same way or have the same locking mechanism and security systems. So they don't have to study it because they are going to be the same from state to state."
Smith said the men captured on security footage at the Orange Park store may never even be recognized by someone in the state of Florida.
"They will recruit people from different parts of the country. So more than likely, they are not from this area," he said. "These types of organized crime rings are responsible for over $30 billion worth of theft per year. So they recruit the right people, usually someone without a criminal record, so if they do get a fingerprint, they won't show up on the database."
Anyone with information about the men seen in the surveillance images is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (904) 264-6512.


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This article is more than 1 year old
Smash up your kid's Bluetooth-connected Cayla 'surveillance' doll, Germany urges parents
Or switch it off, bin it, bury it, whatever's necessary
Germany's Federal Network Agency, or Bundesnetzagentur, has banned Genesis Toys' Cayla doll as an illegal surveillance device.
"Items that conceal cameras or microphones and that are capable of transmitting a signal, and therefore can transmit data without detection, compromise people's privacy," said agency president Jochen Homann in a statement. "This applies in particular to children's toys. The Cayla doll has been banned in Germany."
Calya's deportation and exile comes two months after privacy advocacy groups urged US and EU regulators to deal with the potentially privacy-infringing doll.
The Bluetooth-enabled toy comes with a microphone and is designed to capture children's speech so it can be analyzed using Nuance's speech recognition software, in conjunction with mobile apps.
Privacy and consumer protection groups have complained that the doll has been programmed to advertise to children, lacks security, and provides insufficient privacy guarantees about how captured data and personal information will be used.
Neither Genesis Toys, the Hong Kong-based maker of the doll, nor Nuance responded to requests for comment.
Germany's network watchdog said any toy capable of transmitting signals and surreptitiously recording audio or video without detection is unlawful. The danger, the agency claims, is that anything a child or someone else says in the vicinity of the doll can be transmitted without parents' knowledge. Also, lack of network security could allow the toy to be turned into a listening device, the agency suggests.
UK-based security research group Pen Test Partners has demonstrated that the toy's local database can be hacked. It also suggests the doll is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, a backdoor attack, and pairing with an arbitrary Bluetooth device. The firm refers to Cayla as "a bluetooth headset, dressed up as a doll."
Along similar lines, other tech-enabled toys, like Mattel's Hello Barbie doll in 2015, have been shown to lack adequate cybersecurity controls.
The agency's rules state that buyers of unlawful espionage devices may be required to destroy them and to provide proof of destruction in the form of a confirmation letter from a waste management facility.
In what might be read as an effort to encourage parents to destroy the doll, the Bundesnetzagentur says it assumes that "parents will take it upon themselves to make sure the doll does not pose a risk." However, its product notice also makes clear that the agency has "no plans at present to instigate any regulatory proceedings against the parents."
So any violence against Cayla is strictly discretionary. ®


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Finding a balance between forward-thinking renovation and historic preservation at the former Dayton's flagship store in downtown Minneapolis hasn't been easy. Now, nearly two years after the store closed and ambitious redevelopment plans were unveiled, progress still seems slow. However, the developer, Chicago-based Telos Group, is unfazed by the delays.
The interior construction that will create a massive interior multi-story atrium is imminent, but so far the work that has been completed is hardly noticeable to anyone passing by. Although the plan was always to retain the historic exterior of the iconic century-old Dayton's store, interior space is due for massive updates. To date, however, the alterations have been largely behind the scenes.
Progress has been steady, according to Brian Whiting, Telos Group president. Even though much of what has been done isn't visible at this point, work is proceeded according to plan, although slower than originally planned.
To date, a major office tenant has yet to be signed. The food court and expected first retail stores will not be opening this summer as once hoped; instead, their debut has been postponed until 2020. Still, the developers are not worried. With a similar big money renovation of downtown Chicago's Old Main Post Office, Telos Group and other members of the Dayton's refurbishment team, point to their ability to weather delays and setbacks. The New York firm at the helm of both renovations, 601 W. Cos, has more than $1 billion allocated for the combined projects.
Ironing Out Conflicting Concerns
Some of the delays are attributed to the demands of historic preservation restrictions in both cities. Another facet of the hard work necessary is simply the amount of effort and oversight involved in transformed huge spaces designed for another purpose into the mixed use vision of investors, architects, builders and developers. Finding the right mix of dramatic open space, retail, office and service uses is complicated. And renovation of any kind is typically fraught unexpected delays.
Cutting through the floors of an existing building while maintaining structural integrity is, understandably, a nail-biting experience. But, at the former downtown Dayton's store, that is the innovative change that comes next. A new multi-story atrium, designed to extend upward from the basement through the building's second floor, is a major design feature of the new space, but it also became a major stumbling block. Approvals from state and federal authorities were slow to be granted.
The former Dayton's store is on the National Register of Historic Places, which qualifies the building for some federal tax credits, but also requires compliance with stringent guidelines. The new atrium, however, will transform the iconic retail space into a modern light-filled office and retail complex, connected by Skywalk to other downtown Minneapolis buildings.
Disagreement centered around the size of the atrium, with preservation officials ruling that planned alterations changed the historic building's character "too significantly," thereby disallowing certain tax credits. An agreement was reached last month, however, when developers agreed to minimize the opening by about 25 percent. Projected costs have risen from original estimates of $190 million to approximately $214 million, according to reports.
Moving Forward Once Again
Now, crews will begin the long-awaited work, and it is time, says Project Director Don Kohlenberger, president of redevelopment consulting firm Hightower Initiatives, to get moving once again. Other familiar parts of the old Dayton's store, including fourth floor Art Deco bathrooms and the roof of the Sky Room Restaurant, will be retained. The developer notes that there is a lot of nostalgia attached to the former retail store, and that future tenants will be allowed the option of determining how some specific spaces will be used. The original auditorium and the former Oak Grill fall into that category. To date, no future uses have been announced.
Although a new timeline is not definitive, the development team plans to showcase the refurbished building's new spaces with Skywalk displays open to the public, and on social media. In addition, a "demonstration space" will occupy approximately 24,000 square feet on the fifth floor, enabling prospective tenants to preview possible finish out ideas. It's all part of the effort to secure new tenants for the building's 92,000 square feet of rentable space that will be available upon completion of the construction. The new display space is expected to be complete by the end of November.
It is also possible that the old Dayton's will not be entirely forgotten, even when the renovation is complete. Developers gained control of the stylized Dayton's trademark, and are reportedly considering some sort of retail outlet at the revitalized mixed-use building, with items that will display the beloved former brand, a unique way to tie the past to the future in downtown Minneapolis. Such renovations of older commercial buildings is happening all over the Minneapolis area, including commercial buildings in Anoka County.


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Hours from the official release of The Witcher 3's Hearts of Stone expansion, the special edition has been delayed in North America.
The Witcher 3 developer CD Projekt RED has revealed that the Hearts of Stone special edition will not make its release date today. The delay affects all North American orders and it's due to "logistical reasons," according to a new post on the game's forums.
The boxed version of the expansion includes two physical Gwent card decks.
"We are working with GameStop to fix this situation as soon as possible and deeply apologize for the inconvenience," said the studio's Marcin Momot.
Hearts of Stone is available now digitally on PSN, Xbox Games Store, Steam, and GOG. This is the game's first expansion and it brings around ten hours of new content, new quests, characters, and a new game mechanic.


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In an announcement that likely won't surprise gamers themselves, researchers who analyzed the behaviors of thousands of online gamers -- mostly those playing massively multiplayer online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft -- found that loners are the outliers, not the norm, and that online gaming can actually enhance one's social life.
Reporting in The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, researchers at North Carolina State University, York University, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology say they traveled to more than 20 gaming events in Canada and the UK that ranged from 20-player events in bars to 2,500-player competitions in convention centers. After observing thousands of gamers in these settings, the researchers conducted an in-depth survey with nearly 400 of them.
The researchers were looking for how these players communicated with others in both their online and offline worlds, and found that instead of eliminating social interactions, online gaming supplemented them. They say players weren't just gaming, they were watching other games, talking, drinking, and chatting online.
"Gamers aren't the antisocial basement-dwellers we see in pop culture stereotypes; they're highly social people," Dr. Nick Taylor, an assistant professor of communication at NC State and lead author of the study, said in a school news release. "This won't be a surprise to the gaming community, but it's worth telling everyone else. Loners are the outliers in gaming, not the norm."
Of course, Dr. Taylor and his team were observing gamers in social settings, not in their basements, and they don't explain how they chose the gamers they surveyed more closely, but it's possible that -- intentionally or not -- they surveyed people who were simply more social and willing to be, you know, surveyed.
Still, at the very least the researchers established that, at least in social gaming settings outside the confines of our dark basements, players are socially engaged, and on several levels. Whether those players are outliers or the norm, and what percentage of their gaming time is spent at social events versus in the privacy of their own homes, seem to be matters for future study.


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Amazon is pushing the FTC to fish or cut bait (because this is a family blog) regarding Amazon’s proposal to acquire MGM:
Amazon recently certified to the FTC that it had provided all the information requested by antitrust investigators, according to people familiar with the matter. That certification triggered a ticking clock for the FTC that expires in mid-March, the people said. If the commission doesn’t file a legal challenge before the deadline, Amazon could be free to consummate the deal.
The FTC currently has also the authority to unwind mergers and acquisitions after the fact, and to continue investigations pursuant to such post hoc disassemblies even after their nominal clock regarding the merger/acquisition has expired.
That authority means there’s no real deadline, and the government can continue to interfere with private enterprise whenever they take the notion to.
The deadline is a good one, and it should be transformed into a real one: if the FTC does not rule on the matter (itself a questionable government authority, but that’s for another discussion) by a time certain, then the merger/acquisition should go forward unfettered, and the FTC should be required to sit down and shut up. If there’s a real problem with the merger/acquisition, well, we have already on the books perfectly serviceable anti-trust tools.
There’s just no reason for Government to dither and stall on any merger/acquisition or to continue to harass after the fact.


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Youtube TV's latest, flexible offering allows access to standalone networks within one app and its top features including unlimited DVR space, without requiring users to subscribe to the base plan.
Windows 11 Preview in Beta Channel comes with Tablet-optimized taskbar
windows 11 insider preview
Windows 11 Dev Channel finally brings Task Manager with a right click, and more
windows 11 promo
Hbo max RSS
HBO Max cuts 36 titles from its catalog, according to a report from NPR. The company has pulled kid-friendly content from its streaming platform this week in a series of recent cost-cutting moves.
Streaming services have overtaken cable TV, and become the most popular medium to consume content on television. Nielsen's report indicates viewers have merely migrated, and not changed consumption.
HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services are merging. A unified service offering content from both platforms should arrive next year. The new service will have ad-free and ad-lite subscriptions.
WarnerMedia is rolling out a new upgraded version of the HBO Max app on Apple TV devices that will perform better. It includes other features and enhancements like user curation and a new "binge mode"
Warner Bros. Discovery, which recently got merged with AT&T-owned WarnerMedia, is now merging its streaming platform Discovery Plus with HBO Max as well, as announced by CFO Funnar Wiedenfels.
Users from 15 European countries will now be able to enjoy HBO Max services including series and movies from Warner Bros., HBO, DC, Cartoon Network, and Max Originals, starting March 8th, 2022.
The new offering will available in the first week of June and will be $5 cheaper than the standard plan. It will feature access to the platform's entire catalog excluding Warner Bros.' latest movies.
AT&T and Discovery have announced that WarnerMedia is merging with the latter company to create a unified portfolio of content and and stronger presence in the video streaming market.
HBO Max shows are now more easily accessible to customers with visual impairment or disabilities with the platform's new audio descriptions. The new feature is rolling out on the web and mobile.
WarnerMedia has announced that its HBO Max streaming service is expanding outside the U.S. for the first time in June, starting with 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean.
WarnerMedia's streaming service, which launches earlier this year, is now making its way to Amazon's smart TV platform, allowing users to watch popular HBO shows and movies, such as Game of Thrones.
HBO announced today that because of it's brand confusion, it's going to be killing off its HBO Go and HBO Now apps in favor of just HBO. Obviously, the new HBO Max will remain what it is.
WarnerMedia has announced that the upcoming HBO Max streaming service will be available on Apple devices at launch, complete with Apple TV integration and at no additional cost for HBO subscribers.
WarnerMedia revealed today that it is launching its new streaming service, HBO Max, on May 27. The service will offer up to 10,000 hours of content from Max Originals, HBO, Warner Bros., and more.
WarnerMedia and Google have struck a licensing agreement that will allow the Mountain View giant to include HBO and Cinemax as part of its YouTube TV offering. HBO Max will also be available.
Soon, you'll have an abundance of video streaming services to choose from and it could end up putting a dent in your wallet. Today, WarnerMedia's announced HBO Max, which is set to arrive in 2020.


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In an attempt to increase the number of tests carried out every day, and to ensure that tests are carried out at every corner of the country, the Central Government has launched the nation's first mobile testing laboratory.
The mobile testing laboratory was flagged off from Delhi, by Dr Harsh Vardhan Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
The Rapid Response Mobile Laboratory is a result of a collaboration between the Department of Biotechnology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vizag based Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone - an enterprise that promotes domestic manufacturing of medical devices.
Interestingly the iLAB was built in an impressive eight days, and is equipped to carry out tests for TB and HIV, in addition to the infection Covid-19 virus. The government plans to use the mobile unit to test for other diseases and viruses after the Covid-19 situation passes.
The Mobile Laboratory can conduct as many as 60 Covid-19 tests in a single, in addition to 200 other tests. It is also equipped with two sets of machines that help double its output capacity to 500 tests during an eight hour period.
The Central Government says that the Rapid Response Mobile Laboratory has been produced according to the guidelines set by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certification.
Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that a total of 50 mobile testing facilities will be manufactured, and will be deployed across remote locations in the country in order to speed up Covid-19 testing and treatments.
And talking about mobility, this mobile testing laboratory is built strong enough to be lifted and loaded onto goods trains so that it can be literally be sent anywhere across the nation.
Thoughts About The Rapid Response Mobile Laboratory
This is a good initiative taken up by the Central Government. The country needs better, more efficient testing and we think the Rapid Response Mobile Laboratory will help.
What we're unsure about is why only one of these was ordered. Kinda makes more sense to have launched all 50 at the same time. Well that's what happens when most of the government wants independent credit and no one really cares about the logistics of it all.


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The Mississippi ABC has experienced unprecedented growth in its liquor orders over the last four months, the Mississippi Department of Revenues said Friday in a release.
“We are experiencing a 29% increase in case sales. We have shipped over 1,330,000 cases of wine and spirits in the last 4 months. This has resulted in orders taking an average of one week for delivery. We currently have approximately 100,000 cases in our system waiting to be delivered,” the release stated.
In the effort to catch up with the orders, the ABC is temporarily suspending the ability to place liquor orders beginning today, July 10th.
“We will continue to ship every day next week to get these orders out and will resume regular ordering July 20th,” the department noted. “We appreciate your patience while we work to get caught up and resume the next day delivery to which our partners have become accustomed.”
The full order is below.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching and have affected many supply chain industries worldwide. Mississippi is not immune to these effects, as the Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control has experienced record liquor sales coupled with suppliers struggling to maintain inventory nationwide. Since March 2, 2020, the Mississippi ABC has shipped over 1,330,000 cases of wines & spirits for an average daily shipment of 19,112 cases. This represents an increase of nearly 300,000 additional cases shipped compared to the same time period of the prior year for an increase of 29%. The ABC warehouse lines are designed to hold 17,000 cases, which leaves ABC employees continuously filling the lines on top of shipping record cases every night. The demand has taken its toll on not only ABC’s equipment but also its employees. ABC added two overtime days in April, May, and June for a total of six additional shifts for both the day crew and night crew. To further complicate matters, ABC has experienced out of stock inventory for a number of items that the suppliers are having difficulty keeping in stock due to the inflated demands. In a state that permittees are accustomed to receiving liquor orders within 1-2 days of ordering (excluding weekends and holidays), customers are now waiting one week on average for deliveries to arrive.
In an effort to better serve all Mississippi liquor permittees, beginning Friday, July 10, 2020 at 2:00am, the Mississippi Department of Revenue is temporarily suspending all new liquor orders and special orders until Monday, July 20, 2020. Permittees will still have access to TAP and will be able to use all other functions, but there will be no access to the “New Order” links for retail and special orders. This will allow all liquor orders already placed to be shipped out to clear the system of orders, which will in turn minimize the delays in shipping that all liquor permittees are currently experiencing. It will also allow ABC to restock inventory on a large number of out of stock and understocked items. The Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control prides itself on providing great customer service, and we strongly believe this strategy will aid in our ability to return to the normal delivery schedule that was expected prior to the high demands from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Release from the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
The Department of Revenue has reversed course and will NOT suspend order for 10 days.
Here is their latest release:
To our ABC Partners
The Mississippi ABC made a decision to temporarily suspend our liquor ordering system to try to remedy the unprecedented backlog of orders currently in our system. This step would have allowed permittees to receive prior orders during the week of July 13th but not place new orders during this week. This action was needed catch up with the increased demand we have experienced over the last four months.
We have received numerous concerns from you, our partners, over this step and are taking another look at our options. In the meantime, we will be bringing our order system back on line today with the same order limits that were previously in place. Our hope is to find a solution that will allow the ABC to clear up the backlog while still providing our customers with the services they need to keep their businesses running smoothly.
Please be aware that with the current orders in our system, you will experience delivery times of one week or more until we can find a way to get this backlog cleared. We thank you for your patience with us while we search for a viable solution to meet everyone’s needs. We know we are all in this together.


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The Iowa Attorney General has been tapped to lead an e-cigarette company’s initiatives to reduce tobacco use in those under the age of 21.
San Francisco-based JUUL Labs, the maker of the e-cigarette device, announced Wednesday it would support state and federal initiatives to raise the minimum purchasing age for tobacco products as a part of a $30 million initiative over the next three years.
Part of that funding initiative includes research and a panel of public health officials and experts assembled and led by Tom Miller, the Iowa Attorney General, to keep e-cigarettes — or electronic nicotine delivery systems — out of the hands of young people.
“JUUL has pledged to work with me and others to keep their products from kids,” Miller said in a statement Wednesday on the Attorney General’s website.
In its announcement, the company said it was engaging with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s nationwide “blitz” campaign announced Tuesday to crack down on the sale of e-cigarettes to underage individuals in brick-and-mortar and online retailers.
“The blitz, which started April 6 and will continue to the end of the month, has already revealed numerous violations of the law,” according to an FDA statement on the campaign.
The FDA also contacted manufacturers, and sent an official request for information directly to JUUL Labs on Tuesday. The federal agency requested documents to help officials “to better understand the reportedly high rates of youth use and the particular youth appeal of these products,” according to the letter.
According to the FDA, more than two million middle and high school students were used e-cigarettes in 2016.
Other studies, including one from the medical journal the BMJ, have shown young individuals who vape are more likely to take up smoking later on.
JUUL Labs officials stated in the announcement they hope to continue helping adult smokers transition from cigarettes, but has recognized the fact young people are using their products is an issue.
“JUUL executives have stated from the start that they do not want kids using the product,” Miller said in the statement. “They sell directly only to people age 21 and older. JUUL has been outstandingly successful in the adult market.
“They don’t need sales to adolescents to succeed. Indeed, current youth use is far more harmful to JUUL than the cash generated.”
In 1998, Miller and attorneys general of 45 other states signed a settlement agreement with the four largest tobacco companies in the United States to settle suits on state health care costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses.
The agreement — the largest in U.S. history — called for companies to pay the 46 states $206 billion over 25 years, and continue annual payments after that based on the number of cigarettes sold nationwide.
Iowa received about $50.9 million from that settlement this month. The state has received more than $1.2 billion in payments in the past 20 years.
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