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"We have noted that Australia said it welcomes China's development and hope that Australia will turn its words into concrete actions, act in line with the spirit of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to regional peace and stability," Wang said. Enditem
Li said in his congratulatory message that China and Sri Lanka enjoy traditional friendship, and recent years have seen their strategic partnership developing vigorously, which features sincere mutual help and time-hornored friendship, and their practical cooperation in various fields constantly broadening and deepening.
Over four decades ago, leaders of China and the United States made the handshake across the vast Pacific Ocean, he added, noting that what made this possible was that both countries adhered to the principle of mutual respect and seeking common ground while putting aside differences.
"Cambodia is highly confident that China, a hub of global business and investment, will not only open its market access for Cambodia's products in this current state, but also consider further liberalization for the kingdom's export," Sorasak said.
Chinese FM calls for cooperation instead of decoupling in China-U.S. ties
What they want is to revive McCarthyism in an attempt to undermine U.S. relations with China, stoke hostility between the two peoples, and erode trust between the two countries, Wang said.
"We are always ready to develop a China-U.S. relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation based on coordination, cooperation and stability," he added.
Wei Shangjin, professor of finance and economics at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business and School of International and Public Affairs, said forcing TikTok to be sold cheaply to a "very American" buyer will endanger many U.S. firms in the Chinese market, according to an opinion published by Project Syndicate on Thursday.
"Two or three weeks after beginning testing in the new lab, the MOH initiated plans to add labs. Since that time more and more labs have been brought into service," Mahdi said.
In return, China sent 12 vessels containing more than 1,000 containers of raw materials to supply the struggling garment factories in Cambodia in mid-March. Moreover, China also sent medical experts and COVID-19-testing devices to help support Cambodia's combat against the virus, he said.
Xi also said that Comrade Le Kha Phieu was a close comrade and friend for the CPC and the Chinese people, adding that he had made outstanding contributions to the development of China-Vietnam relations featuring "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation."


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The SXSW Music Conference and Festival is announcing a Keynote Conversation with Snoop Dogg. The keynote takes place on Friday, March 20 at 11:00AM in Ballroom A of the the Austin Convention Center.
Multi-platinum artist, actor and entertainment icon Snoop Dogg is at the forefront of pop culture with award-winning albums and songs, multiple films, lifestyle products, philanthropic efforts and digital ventures, including his YouTube original series “GGN News.” Snoop Dogg has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and received multiple GRAMMY® nominations.
Since 1993, he has released twelve albums and collaborated with artists across all genres. Snoop defines hip-hop history. He’s set records with his seminal album Doggystyle, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 800,000 copies in the first week. Throughout his career, Snoop’s produced chart-topping hits including “Gin & Juice,” “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,”…
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|iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 have officially been released. (Photo: MacRumors)
Details of all the new updates
With the launch of iOS 14.3, Apple introduced ProRAW, a new image format exclusively for the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. If ProRAW is enabled, users can access all of the information provided by the image signal processor, combining the benefits of both DSLR and RAW photos with computational photography. Third-party apps such as Halide and Darkroom can also take advantage of the ProRAW format.
The update also adds compatibility to AirPods Max – earphones that offer technologies iOS can take advantage of such as Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio, which Apple has just launched. Apple says the update enables high fidelity audio for rich sound, Adaptive EQ for adjusting sound in real-time to the personal fit of the ear cushions, Active Noise Cancellation for blocking environmental noise, Transparency mode to hear the environment around you, and Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for a theater-like experience, according to MacRumors.
Apple Fitness + also benefits from this update, turning home workouts into an integrated Apple experience. With the app, users can start a workout and keep track of their fitness stats provided by the Apple Watch right on the app screen with a video stream from one of Apple’s instructors.
|Apple Fitness + also benefits from this update. (Photo: CNet)
Siri in iOS 14 is able to replicate all manner of sounds, from animals to alarms, musical instruments, and more. You can ask Siri questions like “what does a humpback whale sound like?” or “what does a lion sound like?” to have Siri play the sound of a whale or a lion. Apple added hundreds of different sounds, and on iPhone and iPad, Siri will also display a picture of the animal or device and then link to more information from Wikipedia after playing the sound.
Other changes that can be found in the update include the “AirTags” setup process, which may launch in a near future. Apple may have been intending to launch AirTags alongside the AirPods Max, but the timing for such a product isn’t ideal due to the global pandemic and social restrictions.
New wallpaper, emojis and more
Finally, the iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 updates provide 8 new wallpaper options, new emojis, and improved icons on the operating system. The updates also offer other minor changes, such as specific air qualification recommendations for each region, introduction of Ecosia Search Engine, and other camera additions.
How to update iOS 14.3?
According to Apple Insider, the update comes after Apple announced the launch of AirPods Max on December 15 as well as Apple Fitness + on December 14. These new updates can be installed at Settings> General> Software update.


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A new study
in the May 2013 Journal of Medical Internet Research illustrates just
how easy it is for fake online pharmacies to advertise via social media outlets
such as Facebook and Twitter.
Researcher Tim Mackey and co-author Dr. Bryan
Liang set up dummy, no-prescription-required pharmacy websites, then created
advertising for the dummy sites on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and
Google+. They found that in the 10
months that their fake ads were running, close to 3,000 unique visitors went to
the dummy sites in search of drugs that required no prescription. Surprisingly, though they had visits from all
over the globe, the highest percentage of web traffic to their fake sites (54%)
came from the United States.
PSM applauds the members of the House of Representatives for passing HR 1919, “Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013.”
Today, our system of prescription drug distribution heavily relies on trusting the entity you’re dealing with and their judgment. If a mistake is made, or anyone farther back in the supply chain makes a mistake in purchasing a substandard drug product, there is no ability for a good actor down the line to know this. Criminals have taken advantage of this fact, and such incidents are growing in number every year. Life-saving medications that treat osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, and many other serious medical conditions have been faked just in the last few years, as the rules of the road have failed to keep up with the innovative nature of the criminals that prey on American patients.


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Business houses are excited about working with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation.
This as FBC today unveiled its revamped website.
FBC Chief Executive, Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the revamped website will greatly benefit its business partners in terms of promoting their products.
Five Squares Group CEO, Anil Serewiratne says this is an exciting journey and something they will use to advance their business.
“It’s only getting better and better in terms of the service they provide and the facilities that they provide, the more innovative in the market they come up with for the customers to take advantage of, and I wouldn’t say that we are customers to each other, we are business partners.”
Fiji Development Bank Chief Executive, Saud Minam says the platform is sure to enhance services.
“This is the most used app in the country today and the number one radio and TV stations, so we feel that yes, to reach our target segment, this is one of the best ways to advertise our products on FBC platforms.”
The FBC News website also gives clients an opportunity to reach a wider target market by way of businesses being able to have a five-second brand video pre-roll before every single video on the website.
Sayed-Khaiyum says it will also continue with sponsored links to increase traffic on clients’ websites.


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Denny’s was once the chain restaurant king of breakfast, ’til McDonald’s came along and stole the crown. Today, 1550 unit Denny’s doesn’t even rank in the top 5 in the $83 billion breakfast market (McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King, and IHOP).
To make matters worse, franchise unit sales were down 7.2% last quarter - a time when its value positioning should be giving it a boost.
So Denny’s hatched a bold plan to get some attention.
On Tuesday, February 3, they gave away a Grand Slam breakfast to anyone who showed up at all but two of its 1,550 restaurants nationwide. (The Grand Slam includes two eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausages and two pancakes and normally sells for $5.99.)
According to an article in USA Today, Denny’s invested about $5 million on the entire promotion, including food costs, labor costs and airing a :30 commercial on Sunday’s Super Bowl.
"We’re re-acquainting America with Denny’s," says CEO Nelson Marchioli. "We’ve never been thanked this much — and folks are saying they’ll come back."
The gambit earned Denny’s something that money alone can’t buy: positive public relations, and lots of it. By Denny’s estimates, it got $50 million in free news coverage, almost all of it positive. No injuries — or police issues — were reported at any locations, say Denny’s officials.
Marchioli implied that they made up quite a bit of their costs on high-margin beverages not included in the Grand Slam giveaway. "…he concedes: If you factor in the profits from all of Tuesday’s drink orders — which are far more profitable than food orders — ‘we’ll do better than break even.’ And, yes, he just may do it again."


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Engineering goods exporters are demanding that they should get steel at global prices as domestic rates are higher.
New Delhi: The government has decided to set up a committee under the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to look into availability of steel at competitive prices for engineering goods exporters, an official said.
"The committee will submit its report to steel and commerce ministries within two months. It will suggest measures which will be a win-win situation for both steel producers and engineering exporters," the official added.
Engineering goods exporters are demanding that they should get steel at global prices as domestic rates are higher. However, steel producers state that freight charges and cost of production is high in the country, which push up prices.
The decision to set up the committee, which will also have members from the engineering sector, was taken during a meeting last week between the senior officials of steel and commerce ministries and exporters.
In that meeting, engineering players said steel should be made available at competitive rates so that outbound shipments can be pushed further.
Another official said that if steel prices are "so high, then how are engineering exports recording healthy growth rate".
The country's engineering exports rose by 6.36 per cent to USD 83.7 billion in 2018-19 from USD 78.7 billion in 2017-18.
These exports accounts for over 25 per cent of the country's total merchandise exports, which stood at USD 331 billion last fiscal.
Shipments to North America and Europe constitute about 40 per cent of the total engineering exports.
Engineering exports include transport equipment, capital goods, other machinery/equipment and light engineering products like castings, forgings and fasteners.
According to a report of the World Steel Association (worldsteel), India's crude steel production in 2018 was at 106.5 million tonnes, up by 4.9 per cent from 101.5 million tonnes in 2017.
Since 2011-12, India's exports have been hovering at around USD 300 billion. During 2017-18, the shipments aggregated at USD 303 billion.
Promoting exports helps a country to create jobs, boost manufacturing and earn more foreign exchange.


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National Semiconductor Corp., a maker of analog and power management chips, posted a 40 percent rise in quarterly earnings on Thursday, but its outlook for the current quarter disappointed Wall Street.
Though the reported earnings beat expectations, the stock fell 3.6 percent to $23.50 in extended trade as the company's revenue forecast for the fiscal second quarter was short of analysts' average forecast.
Net income for the first quarter ended August 27 rose to $120.1 million, or 35 cents per share, from $85.6 million, or 24 cents per share, a year earlier amid strong demand for its most-profitable products. Net sales rose to $541.4 million from $493.8 million.
Analysts, on average, expected the company to earn 32 cents per share in the first quarter on revenue of $538 million, according Reuters Estimates.
The company also declared a cash dividend of 3 cents per share payable on October 10 to investors of record on September 18.
The Santa Clara, California-based company makes a variety of chips for tasks such as regulating battery use in portable devices, processing digital audio and regulating temperatures. It competes with Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE:ADI - news), Europe's STMicroelectronics (STM.PA) and Texas Instruments Inc.
(NYSE:TXN - news).
National Semiconductor reported a gross profit margin of 61.7 percent, up from 56.2 percent a year earlier, as the company sold more higher-profit analog products.
The company said it expects second-quarter revenue to fall about 2 percent to 5 percent from the first quarter, mainly because of lower revenue from foundries, or chip fabrication operations.
The decline would result in second quarter revenue of $514 million to $531 million, missing analysts' average estimate of $553.3 million. Analysts expect second-quarter profit excluding items to be 34 cents.
National Semiconductor also said it sees lower gross profit margins in the second quarter compared with the first quarter, although the margin should remain above 60 percent. The company has said it is targeting margins of 65 percent.
Its shares had closed on Thursday 0.8 percent higher at $24.39 on the New York Stock Exchange.


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WASHINGTON — A variety of consumer advocates, produce industry groups and others praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which were released last week.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest said that these new guidelines offered clearer, more specific advice than the guidelines have in the past.
“Rather than just giving the vague advice to lower sugar intake, they now recommend drinking water in place of soda and other sugary drinks, which are by far the largest source of sugar in Americans' diets,” Margo Wootan, CSPI nutrition policy director, said in an official statement. “Importantly, the Guidelines call for ‘an immediate, deliberate reduction in the sodium content of foods’ and for ‘effective policies to limit food and beverage marketing to children.’”
Officials at the Produce for Better Health Foundation noted that the guidelines urge consumers to fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables during meals — a maxim that PBH has been using in its nutrition education efforts for years.
“We've used the half your plate message as a way to explain the quantity of fruits and vegetables that are needed, ever since the 2005 dietary guidelines changed the recommended servings or cups of fruits and vegetables needed by consumers, which varies widely depending on age, gender and physical activity levels,” said Elizabeth Pivonka, president and chief executive officer of PBH.
And, the Nutrition Keys initiative — a voluntary front-of-pack labeling program launched in January by the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, could help consumers follow the new guidelines, FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin suggested in the group's official statement on the new guidelines.
“Today's supermarkets play an integral role in helping customers lead healthy lives by offering a wide variety of nutritious foods and providing health and wellness information … The Nutrition Keys initiative … will help shoppers implement the Dietary Guidelines by including information about sodium, saturated fat, calories and sugar on the front of food and beverage packages beginning later this year,” Sarasin said.
“The icon will inform consumers about how the nutrients in each product fit into a balanced and healthy diet as part of the new federal daily dietary guidelines, including up to two nutrients to encourage such as potassium, dietary fiber, calcium and vitamin D.”


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Andrew Alexander of the Daily Mail asks how we can value Dixons
From the shareholders' vantage point, Dixons, the parent of Freeserve, has had a fabulous year. But - from the same point of view - Dixons, the High Street retailer, was otherwise not going anywhere in particular.
The stock fell 23p to 1329p on the unveiling of full-year profits up 9% to £231m, more or less as expected. But the share price is still two and a half times its level 12 months ago. The shares rocketed when the company announced Freeserve and the then novel concept of free access to the Internet.
With the flotation of this innovative arm later this month, the City was looking for portents and signs from Dixons. However, the company was giving little away. All that chief executive John Clare would admit to was being exceed-ingly bullish, both about Freeserve and the wonders of the Internet in general.
Wasn't the bubble going to burst some time? Clare said No. It was a question of the bubble filling, with access expanding dramatically and e-commerce booming in every direction. Might not the Internet take business from the High Street stores? That would not be a problem, he said, insisting that the public would still come out to shop, particularly for big-ticket items. He underlined the point by promising another 3,000 jobs this year.
However, big-ticket items - whether from Dixons or its Currys, PC World, or Link stores - present some tricky marketing problems. Prices keep plunging.
For example, you can now buy a video recorder for £80. A multimedia personal computer selling for £850 a year ago is now yours for less than £450.
It requires energetic salesman-ship to persuade people to buy things that are sure to become cheaper. Gone are the easy days of inflation, when people needed little cajoling to buy something before it went up. An added complication for the company this year has been that customers delayed purchases in anticipation of the arrival of digital television.
All in all, it has been a tricky year, with retail sales in the High Street generally having gone through some slow patches.
In the circumstances, Dixons has done well to push up the retail operating profit in the year to May by 4% to £201m. The main boost came in the second half. Like-for-like sales were up 2% for the year, 6% in that second six months.
The dividend for the full year is up 20% to 15.3p a share. For what it is worth, the earnings per share of 38.7p put the stock on a hefty 34-times multiple. Valuing Freeserve, now that others offer competing Internet services, has to be a leap in the dark.
It is certainly hard to see what Dixons might do as an encore to Freeserve. It is cautious about expanding outside Britain. It is 'looking at Europe'.
It is also looking at a capital reconstruction, given that its business is flush with cash or near-cash to the tune of £270m. Finance director Ian Livingston would not be drawn on whether cash might be returned to shareholders. If the business is in a cautious mood about overseas expansion, this will be welcome news to shareholders.
In 1987, Dixons bought Silo, the third-largest power retailer in the US - and retired hurt a few years later.
Continental Europe is not, of course, as savagely competitive as the US. And there is the consoling thought that, having got its fingers badly burned in the first case, Dixons is unlikely to make a move across the Channel unless the attractions look very strong.
Analysts predict profits for this year in the £255m to £270m range, with a choice of buy, sell and hold recommendations.
Clare indicated to analysts that he would be disappointed if he could not boost profits at 15% a year compound for the next five years.
That sounds impressive. But, with so much riding on Freeserve, the stock remains hard to value. It is not for widows and orphans, at any rate.
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The latest report from the Commerce Department reveals that the United States is facing a major inflationary problem. Consumer prices have surged to their highest levels in several months, rising by a staggering 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. This news is likely to create significant concern throughout the economy, with many experts fearing that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates to tackle this issue.
The report shows that consumer prices increased by 0.6% from December to January, a significant rise from the 0.2% increase that was recorded from November to December. When volatile food and energy prices are excluded, core inflation also rose by 0.6% in January, up from the 0.4% increase seen in December. These figures are alarming and indicate that inflationary pressures are showing no signs of slowing down.
The Federal Reserve has been grappling with this issue for some time, with inflation having remained above its 2% target for several months. This has resulted in the Fed raising interest rates multiple times, which has caused concern among some experts who believe that this could have a negative impact on economic growth.
However, based on the latest data, it appears that the Fed may have no other choice but to continue increasing interest rates to address inflation. If prices continue to rise at this pace, the economy could become overheated, leading to further price increases and potentially even a recession.
This news is particularly concerning for consumers, who are already struggling with rising prices for goods and services. As inflationary pressures continue to mount, many may find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
In conclusion, the latest report from the Commerce Department indicates that the U.S. economy is facing a significant inflationary problem. The Federal Reserve has already taken action to address this issue, but based on the latest data, it appears that further rate hikes may be necessary to prevent inflation from spiraling out of control. This news is likely to cause significant concern for both individuals and businesses throughout the country.


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Federal court rules that Kentucky liquor laws are unfair to grocery stores
For years, customers have wanted to buy wine at The Kroger Co. stores in Kentucky, said Tim McGurk, public affairs manager for the company’s Mid South Division in Louisville. In fact, it has been the most requested item the stores don’t stock.
The reason customers can’t buy wine is because Kentucky forbids the sale of wine and spirits at grocery stores and gas stations. But a federal judge’s decision today may change that.
U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II ruled that the prohibition violates the U.S. Constitution, a decision that McGurk welcomed.
“This is something that’s been very important to our customers for many years,” said McGurk, who also chairs the Kentucky Grocers and Convenience Stores Association, which has lobbied the General Assembly for a change in the law for many years.
Heyburn’s ruling was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Louisville.
As Business First previously reported, a group of Kentucky grocers filed a federal lawsuit last year challenging the Kentucky law.
The lawsuit was filed by Maxwell’s Pic-Pac Inc. and the Food with Wine Coalition.
“We’re very pleased with the ruling,” said Steve Pitt, an attorney with Wyatt Tarrant & Combs LLP, which represents Maxwell’s and the Food with Wine Coalition. “We think it demonstrates the unfairness that has occurred in the marketplace here for years and will serve to correct that problem.”
In his ruling, Heyburn said the Kentucky laws and administrative regulations preventing grocery stores from obtaining licenses to sell package liquor and wine is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Heyburn stayed enforcement of his decision pending a hearing to consider any unresolved issues in the case, which he was expected to schedule next week, Pitt said. Once the judge removes the stay, the defendants will have 30 days to file an appeal of Heyburn’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, he said.
The defendants in the case are Tony Dehner, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and Danny Reed, distilled spirits administrator of the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Peter Ervin, general counsel for the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kevin Eigelbach covers these beats: Financial services, residential real estate, property and casualty insurance, construction, unions, engineers, architects, agriculture, South End, Southwest County, Bullitt County.
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Automakers Report Strong August Sales
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
NPR's business news starts with auto sales on a fast track.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GREENE: Automakers are proving to be a bright spot in a slow-growing economy. The major carmakers reported sales figures up in the month of August, and Chrysler lead the pack with a sales jump of 15 percent. One of Chrysler's big sellers was the Ram pickup truck, but the company also reported brisk sales of its new Dodge Dart compact. Ford got a boost from its pickup trucks and SUVs. Ford says its August sales were up 13 percent. GM said sales were up 10 percent, and the company, in part, credited their advertising during the London Olympics. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.


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Google’s Wear OS may well have died a slow death by now, if not for Fossil Group. In 2016, it went all-in on the smartwatch platform, across not only the Fossil brand but also its accessory licensing deals with a whole host of designer names including Michael Kors, Emporio Armani, Skagen and Diesel.
That makes the news this week that Google is paying $40 million for new smartwatch technology, developed by Fossil Group, all the more intriguing. Not only has Fossil succeeded in making Wear OS fashionable, it’s now having an impact on future features, too.
This is good news for Google and its rather interesting recent history with hardware acquisitions. Let’s put that $40m into perspective. Google (well, Alphabet) paid $3.2 billion for smart-home company Nest in 2014, it bought Motorola for $12.5bn in 2012 then later sold it to Lenovo at a gargantuan loss for $2.9bn. It paid $1.1bn for part of HTC’s smartphone team in early 2018. You get the gist: $40m is peanuts to a company like Alphabet.
Greg McKelvey, executive vice president and chief strategy and digital officer for Fossil Group, says the smartwatch technology has been in development for "several years".
"Fossil Group and Google have been partners for years," he says. "We are deeply integrated as a team and will continue to be. This deal reflects our continued partnership with Google and our shared investment in the wearables space."
Quite apart from the size of the transaction, though, is how Google is treating it. The deal includes “a portion” of Fossil Group’s R&D team moving over to Google, with more than 200 remaining, and the mysterious technology will roll out first on Fossil Group smartwatches, across various brands, and then to the wider Wear OS cohort.
This isn’t a big acquisition that could soon turn messy internally: see Nest. It doesn’t seem to be straightforward patent protection either, as per Motorola, because who else would it make business sense for Fossil Group to partner with, if not Google? Tizen? Apple? And unlike in the case of the HTC design team, where it’s unclear how much input they had on the Pixel 3, plans have already been made to deploy the technology and talent in question. We won’t know until this mysterious technology is revealed, but it appears that Google is making a smart hardware move to bolster Wear OS: focus on the platform and the technology and allow its impressive roster of fashion and watch partners to do what they do best.
Don’t forget this is the Wear OS that was abandoned by Samsung, Asus, Huawei and Sony, either for their own proprietary smartwatch operating systems or for no substantial smartwatch strategies at all. In Sony’s case it retreated into its crazy e-paper strapped FES Watch. Alongside Fossil, brands such as TAG Heuer, Montblanc and Casio have continued to support Wear OS, but none have made much of an impact.
“Make no mistake, Fossil plays a key role,” says Ramon Llamas, research director at IDC’s Devices and Displays team. “Wear OS needed a champion, just like any other platform and device category (see Samsung and Android). Because Fossil Group has sub-brands that appeal to a wide audience, like Kate Spade and Michael Kors for women and Diesel for men, it was able to reach far beyond the tech enthusiasts and into an already-hungry market segment that was used to buying and upgrading watches. And that has been a significant contribution for Google.”
Fossil Group hasn’t released figures on its Wear OS smartwatch sales, but there are some signs that 2018 was the year its investments started to pay off. Michael Kors reported in its earnings call for the quarter up to September 29. 2018 that its Access smartwatches “outperformed” its broader watch and jewellery segment.
IDC’s Quarterly Wearable Devices Tracker estimates that a total of 4.4m Wear OS smartwatches were sold in 2018 versus 4m Tizen watches (Samsung) and 21.7m Apple Watches.
People are quite happy to have Google and Samsung in their pocket, in their car, in their home, but the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to our wrists. Apple is the only tech brand with the desirability and design appeal to make an everyday smartwatch work at mass scale, and even Apple has collaborated on accessories with Hermès and Coach.
A fitness-focused Pixel Watch is perhaps what the internet thinks it wants this week, but what Google needs for Wear OS, more than one ‘killer’ device that will disappoint as every wearable before it has done, is innovation in the form of useful features wrapped up in good-looking packages. Plural. With this deal, it appears that Google has leaned into this idea, at least when it comes to smartwatches. Stacey Burr, VP for product management for Wear OS, Google, declined to comment for this piece but a Google spokesperson told us: "This is part of our commitment to the growth of the wearables space – by making this innovation available to our entire partner ecosystem."
The best watches for less than £1,000
“Google has always had a focus on platforms and services, but it has also had a hand in hardware (see Google Assistant, Pixel, and Pixel Buds),” says Llamas. “But first, I think Google needs to have a platform in place before moving onto hardware. A lot of reaction to this was that Google would build a Pixel Watch, something that many in the market have been hoping for. I don’t see it that way. If anything, it’s a way to develop the platform.”
So, what exactly is Google getting for $40m? Neither company will say, other than that the technology has “evolved” from Fossil Group’s acquisition of activity-tracker maker Misfit. That suggests it is in the health and fitness space. In order to catch up with Apple, Fitbit and consumer health tech startups, this could be anything from on-wrist ECG, detection of atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea or non-invasive glucose monitoring. Misfit’s expertise was focused around sleep tracking, as well as steps, so that could be a real possibility.
The addition of built-in GPS and heart-rate tracking on Fossil Group’s 4th-gen Wear OS smartwatches, though, was a welcome move but not reliable enough to match dedicated sports watches. The only other tweaks it has made to Wear OS over the years have come in the form of micro-apps including outfit-matching watch faces on Kate Spade smartwatches and Instagram integrations on Michael Kors models. These have been well designed, glanceable features, thoughtfully created with each brands’ customers in mind, but remain minor additions when zooming out and looking at where smartwatch and lifestyle tech is heading.
“Fossil Group’s comments on this being a new market technology are a bit cryptic,” says Llamas, “and hints that it could be something else entirely. And that’s a good thing, too, since the smartwatch market is far from being a mature one.”
More great stories from WIRED
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Big Plays in the Online Gambling Space
NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage:
NEW YORK, April 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Before COVID-19 transformed the world, many sectors were already moving toward digital adoption and adaption; the global pandemic has hastened that transition in many ways. The world revolves around smartphones, laptops, computer and digital devices as almost anything can be done online—from seeing a doctor to attending school. Even as hope for the pandemic ending surges, the trend to live life online is likely here to stay. The founders of Lottery.com (Profile), which recently entered a definitive merger agreement with Trident Acquisitions Corp. (NASDAQ: TDAC) to become a publicly listed company, recognized the shifting trend years ago and were pioneers in addressing the untapped online global lottery market. The company has found a way to combine blockchain with other cutting-edge technology to provide at-home lottery participation, with the end goal of being a leader in the huge lottery and sports betting markets. Now the company is timing its entrance into another hot public market: investor appetite for special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs. The gambling space could see unprecedented growth as the pandemic eases and the economy recovers. Some of the big players in the space have online options and are looking to benefit from all things digital. Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) offers B Connected Online, a robust, attractive online player community. Caesars Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) has Caesars Casino & Sportsbook where users can participate in world-class casino games and wager on sports. Wynn Resorts Limited's (NASDAQ: WYNN) WynnBET is a premier casino and sports betting app that was just awarded an online sports betting permit in Virginia, and Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NASDAQ: LVS) is reportedly eyeing online betting opportunities.
- Valued at $398 billion, the global lottery market tops out at more than the SaaS, video games and film industries combined.
- Lottery.com has announced a definitive agreement to become a public company through a business combination with Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation (SPAC) Trident Acquisitions Corp.
- The company has created a suite of high-margin lottery products, with operations in 12 U.S. states and plans for expansion.
- Future gross revenue forecasts estimate $71 million in 2021, $279 million in 2022 and $571 million in 2023.
Click here to view the custom infographic of the Lottery.com editorial.


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Retail merchants in two U.S. states sued Robinhood Markets Thursday over its resolution to stop purchase orders on GameStop (GME) and different so-called “meme shares” swept up within the Reddit-fueled buying and selling frenzy.
The separate fits slam Robinhood over a choice that had instant repercussions for impacted shares. GameStop, which had been hovering for days on brief squeezing and mass hypothesis, started tumbling downward after Robinhood, a serious retail buying and selling hub, applied the maintain.
Massachusetts resident Brendon Nelson alleged Robinhood tried to “sluggish the expansion of GME” with out professional trigger, a transfer he mentioned advantages Robinhood’s institutional traders over its purchasers in violation of its buyer settlement. He filed a class action suit in New York federal courtroom.
The opposite case, filed by Richard Joseph Gatz in Chicago federal courtroom, alleged Robinhood “brought about irreparable hurt” to retail merchants of Nokia, AMC Theaters and BlackBerry when it disabled purchase orders Thursday, in line with Bloomberg.
Robinhood didn’t instantly reply with remark.


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September 29, 2015
Aguilera connects with roots on Ecuador hunger relief trip
Christina Aguilera has visited Haiti, Rwanda and Guatemala on relief effort trips, but last week in Ecuador she not only ...
September 22, 2015
Taco Bell in Chicago debuts with beer and sangria
Taco Bell customers in Chicago can now have beer with their burritos and sangria with their soft tacos. The chain opened a ...
September 15, 2015
Wine and tapas? Taco Bell to serve them in Chicago
What kind of wine pairs best with a Chalupa? Taco Bell customers in Chicago and San Francisco will soon be able to find out.
September 01, 2015
McDonald's will launch all day breakfast on Oct. 6
If you're one of those people who hates missing the end of breakfast hours at McDonald's, hang on just a little longer: the ...
August 27, 2015
Ruling could ease way for unionizing at fast-food chains
It could be easier for unions to bargain for better pay and working conditions on behalf of millions of workers at ...
August 12, 2015
As Chinese yuan falls more, some see little cause for alarm
A free-falling Chinese currency could make China's goods cheaper for foreigners, squeeze Western companies, discourage ...
August 11, 2015
US stocks, oil prices sink after China currency move
A move by China's government to devalue its currency set off a sharp sell-off in global financial markets Tuesday as ...
July 23, 2015
As sales fall in US, McDonald's eyes variety of changes
McDonald's is looking at variety of changes to win back customers in the U.S.: A new value message to replace the Dollar ...
July 15, 2015
US stocks open mostly lower as earnings news flows in
U.S. stocks are opening mostly lower as the market loses steam after a four-day winning streak. Several stocks were moving ...
June 10, 2015
'Throwing shade'; Taco Bell execs bone up on youth lingo
Taco Bell executives are studying a strange new vocabulary emerging on this side of the border — the lingo of its young ...
May 26, 2015
Taco Bell, Pizza Hut: Artificial ingredients getting booted
Taco Bell and Pizza Hut say they're getting rid of artificial colors and flavors, making them the latest big food companies ...
May 19, 2015
Fried chicken chain KFC resurrects Colonel Sanders for ads
KFC is bringing back Colonel Sanders as the fried chicken chain seeks to refresh its image by harkening back to its past.
May 14, 2015
In Instagram age, Chili's pays for buns with photo appeal
Chili's says it's spending about $750,000 a year for an egg wash that gives its burger buns a photogenic glaze. It's part of ...
April 27, 2015
Burger King sales jump, boosted by a spicy Whopper
The home of the Whopper enjoyed its biggest sales jump in nearly a decade during the first quarter, boosted by a new flavor ...
April 22, 2015
McDonald's plots turnaround as sales continue to slide
McDonald's plans to unwrap a plan next month that it says will help turn around sales declines around the world. CEO Steve ...
April 22, 2015
US stocks open slightly higher; Yum Brands among gainers
U.S. stocks are edging higher in early trading as traders pore over more earnings news. Yum Brands rose 4 percent Wednesday ...
April 21, 2015
Sales at Taco Bell, KFC help Yum top 1Q profit forecast
Yum Brands Inc.'s first-quarter profit fell but still topped Wall Street expectations as global sales jumped at its Taco Bell ...


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With June now just around the corner, 2016 is proving a promising year for E3 2016. In addition to the possibility of seeing more from Sony’s PlayStation VR, Microsoft executive Phil Spencer has also confirmed that we’ll be hearing more about Xbox One’s anniversary. Now, it has recently been announced that this year’s E3 will host a public event – a first for the annual entertainment expo.
E3 Live (via. NeoGAF) will last three days, spanning June 14-16. The event won’t be taking place at the L.A Convention Centre where the main event is held, however, but will unfold at L.A Live in downtown Los Angeles. Beginning on June 14, E3 Live will include gameplay demos, live entertainment, exclusive merchandise and appearances from “industry personalities”, according to its site.
The event will open its doors at 5PM PDT on Tuesday June 14, and will run from 12PM to 10PM the following Wednesday. On Thursday, the doors will open at 12PM again.
Though the event will be free to attend, you’ll need to register to receive a ticket. According to the site, tickets will give you five hours inside E3 Live. You can register over on E3 Live 2016’s official site.
The main E3 2016 event will kick off on June 14, and will run till June 16.


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After Kickstarter craze, Pebble watches ship Jan. 23
The much anticipated smartphone connected Pebble wristwatch that raised $10.26 million last May through advance orders on the Kickstarter website will finally ship starting Jan. 23, creator Eric Migicovsky said Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Using a prototype, Migicovsky set a new "crowdfunding" record with his wristwatch campaign and his Palo Alto company Pebble Technology has been working ever since to finalize product designs and arrange for manufacturing.
Migicovsky originally predicted shipments would start last September.
Patrick covers technology.
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Ontario's new retail pot plan 'puts profit over public health' says former Obama drug adviser
Kevin Sabet was a drug control policy adviser in the White House for both Republicans and Democrats
When most people talk about Canada's impending legalization of marijuana, they talk about the future. When Kevin Sabet talks about it, he worries about history repeating.
I think it's a really bad move- Kevin Sabet
"There are huge misconceptions, I often feel like we're living in 1918, not 2018," he said."When I say 1918, I mean 1918 for tobacco when everyone thought that smoking cigarettes was no problem and we had a new industry that was just starting."
In 1918, soldiers returning home from the trenches of the First World War brought cigarettes home with them and unwittingly sowed the seeds of one of 20th century's biggest health epidemics.
"We hadn't had tobacco related deaths before the 20th century because we hadn't had a lot of cigarettes, which actually gave us the most deadly form of tobacco we've ever seen. I feel like we're like that with marijuana."
Preventing 'the next big tobacco'
A former drug control policy adviser to the White House under both the Democrats and Republicans, Sabet is the President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a public health organization opposed to marijuana legalization and commercialization in the United States.
He said the sudden about-face by Ontario's newly-elected Progressive Conservative government away from a public monopoly on marijuana sales to a mixed public-private is "a really bad move."
"When I see the government monopoly being tossed out the window in favour of a private program that really puts private profit over public health.. I worry about that," he said. "I think it's a really bad move."
"They are moving from a government monopoly to private retail and that's going to open the door to all the marketing and promotion and normalization that already is a huge problem for our already legal drugs."
"We've seen how that turned out for pharmaceuticals like opiates, which are highly dangerous and we've seen how that turned out for tobacco and alcohol."
Big investors lining up to cash-in on pot
In fact, Sabet points out, some of the same players have already expressed their willingness to provide Canadians with legal marijuana on a massive scale.
Constellation Brands, the maker of some of the most popular wines and beers in the world, has already paid $5 billion for Canopy Growth, the world's largest publicly traded licensed producer of marijuana in Smith Falls, Ont.
Several notable Canadian brands have also expressed an interest in legal bud, including Molson, which has mused publicly about a THC infused beer and Shopper's Drug Mart, which hopes to branch out in sales of medical marijuana online.
"We're already seeing the private market salivating in Canada, waiting to be that next addiction for profit substance and I don't see how that helps us."
'Not your Woodstock weed'
Why that worries Sabet is the combination of savvy corporate marketing and increasingly intense levels of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana.
"Today's marijuana is not your Woodstock weed," he said. "I think there's a wild misperception about what today's marijuana experience really is."
There are signs too that marijuana sold on the street is stronger than it used to be. According to a 2017 report from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an American healthcare organization that helps people struggling with addiction, said the concentration of THC in marijuana has risen three-fold in the last two decades, from four per cent in 1994 to 12 per cent in 2014.
Sabet notes that marijuana sold commercially in some states goes even further and is available in highly concentrated forms, such as hash, wax, or shatter with no rules or limits on the concentration of marijuana's active ingredient.
"It's not four per cent THC, which is the ingredient that gets you high. It's up to 99 per cent THC and there are no limits on THC," he said. "I'm really concerned especially how today's high potent marijuana is going to contribute to mental illness."
Potent pot and drug-induced psychosis
Anecdotally, one only has to look as far as the story of Mark Phillips, a lawyer from a prominent Toronto family, who pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm in April, after he attacked a St. Thomas family with a baseball bat, calling them terrorists.
During Phillips' court appearance, his lawyer and psychiatrist said he was suffering from a drug-induced psychosis.
His lawyer, Steve Kurka told Justice John Skowronski that Phillips, whose mental health had been declining in the months and weeks leading up to the December 2017 baseball bat attack, smoked three or four joints before driving to London and then nearby St. Thomas, getting into arguments with people he believed to be Muslims targeting him along the way.
"[It] doesn't shock me," Sabet said of the Phillips case. "Today's highly potent THC can have an aggressive violent effect. I'm not going to say everybody is going to have a psychotic breakdown. We're going to see stuff like this become more and more common."
Despite his concerns about pot, Sabet said he doesn't want to see Canada go back to the days of arresting people for simple pot possession, nor does he see a problem with people growing the plant at home on a small scale either.
"I don't care about that," he said. "The issue is when you make this a legal market and advertise it and throw it to the forces who are in the business of promotion. They are in the business of advertising and commercialization and pot shops next to your kid's school and billboards and coupons and products, that's my worry."
Sabet believes the real Reefer Madness is giving private companies control of retail sales, where they can use marijuana as a tool in their pursuit of profit at the cost of public health.
"I worry that Canada is following the example of the United States in terms of this new industry which promotes, recklessly advertises, makes wild claims, ignores all harms and absolutely focuses on advertising to kids."


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KOLKATA: Research body C-DoT has dialed the telecom department to bar Chinese network vendors Huawei and ZTE from bidding in the communication ministry’s Rs 20,000-crore broadband venture involving the roll out of a national optic fibre network (NOFN) that will take high-speed internet to the hinterlands.
The research body, in an internal note to telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar, saysIndiamust keep Huawei and ZTE out of sensitive government projects in the aftermath of a recentUScongressional report that warned both Chinese gear-makers pose a security threat to telecom networks worldwide.
“It may be a worthwhile to look into options of isolating Huawei and ZTE from competing in the NOFN tenders since both companies are not allowed to compete in US tenders based on security risk, and this is well documented and orchestrated by the US House of Representatives in their intelligence report,” says C-DoT executive director VVR Shastry in an internal note to Chandrasekhar, reviewed by ET, adding that several European countries, Canada and Australia had already stopped buying network gear from both Chinese vendors following the US alert.
State-owned C-DoT also criticised the government’s decision not to select a fibre technology developed by it for the Rs 20,000-crore initiative to lay optic fibre connecting all panchayats in the country, claiming this would undermine six years of research. The technology, known as GPON or ‘Gigabit Passive Optical Network’ is reckoned to be a preferred fibre technology standard by telcos as it supports triple-play services, comprising voice, data and video signals.
In fact, C-DoT has urged DoT to allow 100% domestic sourcing of GPON gear for the NOFN venture by tweaking preferential market access (PMA) norms, in light of “a 22% cost disadvantage for electronics manufactured in India compared to imports”.
Under the PMA notification, indigenous C-DoT products will have 75% share while the balance 25% may be sourced from global vendors for the NOFN project. But what may tilt the balance towards non-Indian products is a PMA clause that states price of indigenous products must match the L1 price quoted by non-Indian vendors.


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Macy’s Inc., the 162-year-old Cincinnati-based departmental store company founded by a Rowland Hussey Macy back in the 1850s, said that the company's operational losses could climb up to $1.11 billion over Q1, 2020, as the company was forced to shut down all of its 775 stores since March 18th adding Macy's would become smaller over the coming days amid growing health crisis, raising a red flag for the potential stakeholders.
Besides, according to Macy’s Inc.’s Thursday’s statement, the century-old retailer was expecting an operating loss between $905 million and $1.11 billion over its first quarter of the year with sales slipping between $3 billion to $3.03 billion, down from a sales figure worth of $5.50 billion compared to the same time a year earlier, as millions of American nationals were avoiding malls and stores over pandemic fears.
In point of fact, latest downbeat remarks from Macy’s Inc., one of the largest departmental store chains across the United States, comes over the heels of a growing grudge among a gauge of leading brick-and-mortar stores, as several retailers including J.C.
Penney, Neiman Marcus Group alongside J. Crew had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month in order to grapple with a gusting wave of market uncertainties alongside mounting debt-piles.
Brick-and-mortar stores to adopt unprecedented measures as Macy's Inc.
to become smaller
Meanwhile, as the global-scale pandemic outbreak had forced a raft of major US retailers to tap credit lines, cancel dividend payouts and share repurchase programs alongside lay off tens of thousands of employees to smooth along the forced closures and Macy’s Inc.
had hired investment bank Lazard Ltd. to vent out a way to strengthen its finances, addressing that the Macy's Inc. would become smaller over the upcoming months, the company Chief Executive, Jeff Gennette said in a conference call with the investors on Thursday (May 21st), “We anticipate that our sales recovery will be gradual and that for a period of time, we will be a smaller company.
” Concomitantly, despite doodling in a downbeat outlook earlier in the day, NYSE-listed shares’ prices of Macy’s Inc. had wrapped up Thursday’s market 6.02 per cent higher to $5.38 after surging as much as 4.28 per cent in pre-market trading.


text: Samsung Semiconductor Inc claims it has developed the first integrated system chip, combining processor, memory and modem functionality on a single ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The San Jose, California-based semiconductor company said yesterday it has licensed the ARM9 family of processors (specifically the ARM9TDMI and ARM920T chip sets) and integrated them with its own Memory Merged Logic (MML) and mixed-signal technologies. Samsung says it will use the system-on-a-chip (SOC) to expand its opportunities in the mobile communications market; marketing the solution to, among others, PDA (personal digital assistant), smartphone and set-top box vendors. Integrating key processing, memory and signal processing functionalities on one chip provides multiple benefits, says Samsung’s director of ASIC marketing, Farzad Zarrinfar. It reduces the chip’s power consumption and dramatically increases the bandwidth between the system components, which means quicker downloading and processing of information. By embedding the processor and the DRAM together we can achieve a bandwidth of over 17 gigabytes per second, which will make tasks like web browsing a lot smoother and faster, he said. Samsung isn’t the only chip manufacturer making noises about system-on-a-chip products. IBM Corp also reckons it has developed a world first integrated ASIC, which it also plans to market and sell in the mobile telecoms devices space. Reynette Au, VP worldwide marketing for ARM, says it doesn’t so much matter who developed the technology first as who will get the chips into products fastest. It’s a race to see who’s going to get production quality parts out, Reynette said. There are lots of other manufacturers touting the capability, but Samsung seems to be the furthest along the road in terms of getting product to market. Furthermore, Reynette added the key wasn’t just to produce products quickly but to do so in a fashion that delivers the kind of SOC that hits a particular product at a specific price point. As well as announcing its SOC, Samsung also said it had joined the ARM consortium for the Microsoft Windows CE operating system, designed to optimize development of CE-based mobile devices based on ARM technology. Samsung said it will work with the consortium to develop solutions using the ARM920T chipset and any device will be able to support the latest edition of Windows CE platform builder version 2.11.


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Never heard of Ads Direct? That’s strange, because according to their press releases, they are the #1 Performance Marketing Company in the world. Yes, despite there being tons of other companies in the industry that have been doing this a lot longer, and in theory a lot better, this company has been sending press releases out lately claiming that they are not only one of the top companies in the industry, but the #1 company in the industry.
I bet you didn’t know that they also won an award for being the #1 Performance Marketing Company in the World? Yes, according to a press release, Ads Direct has been awarded as the #1 Performance Marketing Company in the world, by none other than, themselves. Yes, they have made up a non-existent award and given it to themselves.
Why care about this type of crap? Among other things, there are tons of companies in the industry that deserve awards – and perhaps in the future they will be one of them. It obviously is a huge slap in the face for those companies that actually win awards and are voted by people as actual top performance marketing companies. We give out awards in this publication to real performance marketing companies that are voted by our readers, as does several other publication and even Affiliate Summit.
Worst than that, it hurts our industry when companies issue completely false and deceptive statements about themselves and the industry. We expect people to pump their business—but not to a degree that are patently false. Ads Direct isn’t just looking stupid but is hurting other people with these claims. The industry has been told by the FTC that we need to clean up our act, stop making false claims — and here is a company promoting itself as something they are clearly not. While it may not be that big of a deal, it goes back to the problem in our industry of those who think they can say anything, promote products anyway, even if it’s completely false and deceptive.
Note Below, the screenshot of the press release on their site


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CS MEDICA expands presence on Amazon – launches in Germany
CS MEDICA A/S (”CS MEDICA” or the ”Company”) announces today that the Company has expanded its presence on Amazon sales platform and is now also distributed on the German Amazon site.
CS MEDICA continues to expand the availability of CANNANSEN products through sales channels and can announce that CANNASEN® CBD Arthritis Gel , Psoriasis Gel, Pain Patch, CBD PSOR+ATOPIC Lotion and Anti-Hair Loss Serum, are now available on Amazon Germany webshop.
The company has already been launched on Amazon in Sweden and is now continuing its strategic efforts with additional sales channels in Europe.
CEO Lone Henriksen comments:
“We are glad to see that our hard efforts are paying off with the further expansion of our sales channels and that we are now also represented in Germany by Amazon. We see that this is a growing market with great potential.”
For more information about CS MEDICA, please contact:
Lone Henriksen, CEO
Phone: + (45) 71 20 30 47
CS MEDICA A/S is a Danish medico cannabis company founded in 2011. CS MEDICA is committed to developing, manufacturing, and commercializing over-the-counter (OTC) medical device products containing cannabinoids. The Company runs its business through the two fully-owned subsidiaries, Galaxa Pharma A/S (distributor and representative of foreign manufacturers in the Nordic, registered medical device product distributor) and CanNordic A/S (Medical device developer and seller (BtB), registered medical device product manufacturer). CS MEDICA distributes products across the European borders and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The company is listed on Spotlight Stock Market in Stockholm (symbol: “CSMED”). For more information about CS MEDICA cs-medica.com.


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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City will be the latest addition to the PS2 Classics collection, with Rockstar announcing its arrival on the Playstation Network this week.
The digital offering will land in North America on January 29th for $9.99, and in Europe the following day on January 30th for 7.99.
"Ever since the releases of San Andreas for PSN and Vice City on iOS and Android, we’ve received more than a few requests from the community wondering when they’d be able to touch down at Escobar International and return to the neon-lit streets and sun-splashed shores of Ocean Beach on their PS3," Rockstar stated in an announcement post. "Today we can confirm that it won’t be long now…"
The company went on to tease other ‘classic’ Rockstar titles on the way to Sony’s digital service in the weeks and months ahead.”


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More Creator Shows are coming to Snapchat, featuring celebrities such as Serena Williams, Kevin Hart, Arnold Schwarzenegger, alongside online creators such as Emma Chamberlain, Loren Grey and Rickey Thompson.
The three to five-minute shows will have eight to 10 episodes a season and will be available to watch on the Discovery page within the app.
Snap has said that the content will be first-person vertical videos around the themes beauty, fitness, dance, and fashion amongst others.
The vertical media platform is also offering updates for officiated accounts, with a highlights collection similar to competitor Instagram, with both allowing a curation of video and photo content for profiles
The Creator Show launch follows the format addition of Snapchat Shows, which Snap says tripled audience retention in the app every day for the last year.
Snap is further diversifying its content by leaning into the gaming space. Game developer Zynga released a battle royale game in June 2019 as part of Snap Games.
“Snap Games is all about exploring new ways for friends to play together and Tiny Royale is the perfect example of that," head of Snap Games Will Wu said.


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G-III Apparel Group has reported a 25 percent increase in net sales in the second quarter to 605.2 million dollars.
The company reported net income of 36.3 million dollars or 74 cents per diluted share, compared to 19.2 million dollars or 39 cents per diluted share in the prior year’s quarter. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was 39 cents compared to 41 cents in the same period last year.
Commenting on the trading update, Morris Goldfarb, G-III’s chairman and CEO, said: “We are pleased to have completed our previously announced acquisition of the remaining 81 percent of the iconic Karl Lagerfeld brand, further expanding our global reach. In the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we continued to see significant year-over-year sales growth across our power brands.”
Updated FY outlook
Updating its guidance for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2023, the company said it now expects net sales of approximately 3.15 billion dollars and net income of between 182 million dollars and 187 million dollars or between 3.69 dollars and 3.79 dollars per diluted share.
The company is anticipating non-GAAP net income for fiscal 2023 of between 177 million dollars and 182 million dollars or between 3.60 dollars and 3.70 dollars per diluted share.
The company is projecting full-year adjusted EBITDA of between 318 million dollars and 323 million dollars compared to 350.2 million dollars in fiscal 2022.
For the third quarter, the company expects net sales of approximately 1.07 billion dollars compared to 1.02 billion dollars in the same period last year and net income to be between 83 million dollars and 88 million dollars or 1.70 dollars and 1.80 dollars per diluted share.
The company is anticipating non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of between 87 million dollars and 92 million dollars or between 1.80 dollars and 1.90 dollars per diluted share.


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“The issue of transparent and fair pricing for retail users (individuals and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in the foreign exchange market has been raised in various fora and in public interactions,” RBI said in a release.
“Such a mechanism will provide transparency while enhancing competition and lead to better pricing for retail customers,” the central bank added.
RBI said banks may charge their retail customers a pre-agreed flat fee towards administrative expenses, which should be publicly declared. Overall, this would bring down the total cost faced by the retail customer in the foreign exchange market. Facilitating direct access of retail customers to the market, rather than through price-setting by their banks, would also bring down the risk that banks face in warehousing transactions.
The FX-Retail platform can be accessed by any customer of a bank who needs to purchase or sell US Dollar against the Rupee for delivery on cash basis -- same day, tomorrow basis - next day or spot basis -- two days after the date of transaction.
There is no cap on the number of transactions per customer during a day, and the total amount of transactions of a customer shall be subject to the limit assigned by its bank. The central bank prescribed that the size of a single transaction is not allowed to exceed $5 million.
CCIL will not levy transaction charges if such transactions do not exceed $50,000 per day, RBI said.
A transaction charge of 0.0004 per cent shall be charged by the CCIL for transactions more than $50,000.
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The brand new Koenigsegg Agera R has been recently taken to the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the supercar has made its dynamic debut.
After it was officially presented to the public back in March, in a world premiere, during the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the Koenigsegg Agera R is being placed into the spotlights once again, this time with the carmaker bringing it to the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The supercar in question is available in both right- and left-hand drive and it has a detachable and stowable hard top and 120 liters of luggage space.
Koenigsegg says that the Agera R can accelerate from 0 to 300 km/h in just 14.53 seconds and the 300 km/h to 0 braking is made in 6.66 seconds. The 0 to 200 mph sprint takes 17.68 seconds and the 200 mph to 0 deceleration takes 72.8 seconds. The Koenigsegg Agera R can reach a top speed of 440 km/h (273 mph) and its rev limiter has been raised from 7,250 rpm to 7,500 rpm. Power has also went up from 940 HP to 960 HP and the total output, on E85 fuel, stands at 1,140 HP.


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Low unemployment masks Hawaii’s unhealthy economy
Grassroot president says high taxes, regulations discourage higher-paying jobs
News Release from Grassroot Institute, April 5, 2018
HONOLULU >> Hawaii might have the lowest jobless rate in the nation, at 2.1 percent, but that is only hiding an unhealthy state economy, says Keli‘i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
“Low unemployment does not mean Hawaii’s economy is healthy. It masks the fact that higher-paying jobs are dodging the state, and helps account for Hawaii’s slower-than-expected annual economic growth overall,” Akina said.
Eugene Tian, the state's chief economist, told The Associated Press that Hawaii’s economic growth rate should be about 3 percent a year; instead, it's been about about half that.
Local economist Paul Brewbaker told the news service that Hawaii's growth rate has lagged the nation’s for the past decade, growing just 1.6 percent a year since 2009, compared to the national average of 2.1 percent.
The Associated Press cited the tourism boom as a reason for the surge of jobs in the hotel and restaurant industries, while better-paying tech jobs have headed to Utah, Colorado, Idaho and elsewhere.
Akina said that despite its low unemployment rate, Hawaii’s economy is hurt by low economic freedom, based on factors such as tax rates, regulations and government spending.
Hawaii ranks 45th in terms of economic freedom, according to the Economic Freedom of North America Report, produced by the Fraser Institute and co-published by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
He said Hawaii’s taxes on consumers goods are the highest in the nation, while its income tax is second highest in the nation, behind only California. Hawaii also has the most income tax brackets among all 50 states: 12.
In terms of regulations, Hawaii has the “most burdensome” occupational licensing laws in the country, according to a nationwide study last year by the Institute for Justice.
The average requirements for the 63 types of jobs in the state that require licenses are $438 in fees, 988 days of education or experience — nearly three years — and around two exams.
“Occupational licensing laws serve as a barrier to many Hawaii residents seeking meaningful employment, whether they are hoping to start a business or simply looking for a job,” said Akina. “Lifting such burdens would allow people here to be more economically flexible and earn higher incomes.”


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It’s a well-known fact that most Americans prefer to drive cars with automatic gearboxes over ones with manual transmissions, while others are unsure of how to drive stick at all.
So it’s no surprise that Chrysler -- whose manual transmission 2013 Dodge Dart launched earlier this year -- is working hard to bring automatic and dual-clutch versions to market as soon as possible.
Chrysler took the unusual step of launching its new compact car back in June with a manual-only red Rallye special edition, with the automatic version it showed to the press during the introductory drive event following a few months later.
According to Automotive News (subscription required), the lack of automatic Dodge Darts has left many would-be customers who are unfamiliar with manual transmissions waiting for a test-drive.
2013 Dodge Dart test drive, Austin, Texas, April 2012
2013 Dodge Dart test drive, Austin, Texas, April 2012Enlarge Photo
Luckily for dealers and customers alike, production of 2013 Darts -- complete with Hyundai-sourced six-speed automatic transmission --has recently started, with cars expected at dealers in the next few weeks.
The 2013 Dodge Dart is Chrysler’s first compact car for many years, and aims to compete directly with cars like the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic.
Designed to offer 100,000 different build variants, the 2013 Dart will eventually be available with a choice of three different engines, three different gearboxes, and five different trim levels.
The idea, Chrysler says, is to offer a compact car that fits everyone’s needs -- from those wanting a small, high gas-mileage car to those who want a sporty performance sedan on a tight budget.
Offering all these choices, not to mention building them without relying on the traditional option list, engine and trim groupings you’d find most automakers using, is a big task for any automaker.
And that’s why Chrysler, rather smartly, is rolling out engine options and transmission options one-by-one.


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Schneider Electric is launching a new modular, retrofit, and more affordable solution that adds smart panel functionality to standard home electrical systems.
According to the Boston-based manufacturer of energy management solutions, the new solution, including new Square D Control Relays and the Schneider Energy Monitor, gives homeowners access to nationwide app-based control with easier installation and at a lower cost than current smart panel options.
The company says the installation of the new solution will give “millions of homeowners” the benefits of smart panels, including circuit-level-control to save energy and enhance safety, along with system-wide energy monitoring. This includes either updating the Square D QO Plug-on Neutral electrical panel or installing a new panel, with both allowing homeowners to add smart functionality only where it’s needed to manage energy use and reduce utility bills.
In a statement, Pape Ndaw, senior vice president of the company’s Home & Distribution Hub-North America, says homeowners are facing new challenges in powering homes with resiliency issues from the electric grid and the rising cost of energy.
“We are excited to bring to market an easy-to-install solution that empowers homeowners nationwide to address these issues,” Ndaw says. Unlike some smart panels, this allows homeowners to control only the loads they need to control with the app, making this a cost-effective solution for app-based monitoring and control of home energy usage.”
Schneider Electric in 2021 launched the Square D Energy Center for new homes in California, enabling the convergence of residential distributed energy resources, including utility power, solar power, energy storage and generators.
In January, Schneider Electric introduced the Schneider Home energy management solution. Schneider Home includes a home battery for clean energy storage, a high-power solar inverter, a smart electrical panel, an electric vehicle charter, and connected electric sockets and light switches, all controlled by the Schneider Home app.
According to Schneider Electric, these solutions can be quickly and easily installed by a licensed electrician. The Square D Control Relays are designed to snap directly onto the Square D QO Plug-on Neutral breakers, while the Schneider Energy Monitor can be added directly into the panel at the same time. Commissioning for both devices can be done quickly through the app, allowing the homeowner to now monitor and control their energy use conveniently from their mobile device.
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Felsomat USA will host Innovation Day on June 10 at its U.S. headquarters in Schaumburg.
Displaying 1-10 of 162 results for
To assist manufacturers on their Industry 4.0 journey, global engineering technologies company Renishaw has partnered with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology. Renishaw provided the center with industrial metrology and additive manufacturing equipment to help companies adopt new manufacturing strategies and accelerate implementation of new digital technologies.
AT&T Business is working with MxD in Chicago to demonstrate how digital solutions can help manufacturers optimize operations, increase safety and reduce costs.
Because its president saw opportunities to improve efficiency and an immediate need to make up for capacity lost due to impending worker retirements, Daiwa Steel Tube is set to save more than $1 million a year.
Includes new functions for efficient electrical and automation design of industrial equipment
How flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) can be extended to do more.
To Reflect Maturity of IoT Marketplace, places new focus on technology innovation that fosters business transformation
New ERP solutions refute the software’s "complex and unwieldy" reputation.
While it is typically up to the design engineers or the customer to specify the materials needed for a part, sometimes even materials within specs seem just a little more difficult to machine.
FT Precision Uses CAD/CAM Software to increase engine part production.


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Germany’s retail industry registered a 19.2% drop in IT hiring activity in November 2022 when compared with the previous month, according to GlobalData’s Job Analytics database.
The industry’s overall hiring is decreased by 4.9% in November 2022 when compared with October 2022.
Out of the retail industry’s total hiring activity, IT jobs claimed a 2.49% share in November 2022, recording a decrease of 0.57% over the last three-month average share.
Top five job classifications in Germany’s retail industry’s IT recruitment activity in November 2022
Out of the total job titles, the top five roles commanded a 100% share in the overall IT recruitment activity of Germany’s retail industry in November 2022.
1) Software and Web Developers, Programmers, and Testers recorded a share of 53.85% in November 2022, registering a 60.19% decline over the previous month.
2) Database and Network Administrators and Architects claimed a 21.79% share, a decrease of 35.85% over the previous month.
3) Computer and Information Analysts held a share of 14.74%, registering an 8% decline from October 2022.
4) Miscellaneous Computer Occupations captured a share of 6.41%, down 70.59% over the previous month.
Top five retail companies in Germany’s IT recruitment activity in November 2022
The top five companies, in terms of number of jobs as tracked by GlobalData, have accounted for a combined average decline of 21.59% share in the overall IT recruitment activity of Germany’s retail industry during November 2022 over October 2022.
Hornbach Holding AGKGaA posted 36 IT jobs in November 2022 and registered a drop of 2.7% over the previous month, followed by Inter IKEA Holding with 33 jobs and a 725% growth. Schwarz Unternehmenskommunikation GmbHKG with 28 IT jobs and Zalando with 26 jobs, recorded a 55.56% growth and a 13.04% growth, respectively, while VorwerkKG recorded a decline of 84.04% with 15 job postings during November 2022.
Junior Level job postings dominate in November 2022
Junior Level jobs held a share of 73.72%, down by 46.26% from October 2022. Entry Level positions with a 16.03% share, registered a decline of 52.83% compared with the previous month.
In the third place was Mid Level job ads with a 10.26% share, down 73.77% over October 2022.


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Ebay, Kindle and Skype are ‘greenest’ apps going
Ebay has been named the best app for encouraging sustainable behaviour with Kindle, Skype, and Google Maps also making it into the top ten.
The study, carried out by consultancy firm WSP, considers number of downloads, stickability (whether an app is used often or deleted) and positive environmental impact. (Scroll down for full list).
Ebay scored highly in all three categories due to its popularity and promotion of circular thinking through re-using items and reducing waste
The Kindle app came second as it is also one of the most downloaded apps and eliminates the need to print and distribute paper books.
Andy Porter, head of digital at WSP, said: “What we learnt from this study is that the most sustainable apps are not necessarily the greenest ones, but rather, the most popular programmes are part of our day to day living and enhance citizen’s lifestyle choices.
“Ebay and Kindle have led the way in showing other apps that accessibility and simplicity can have a huge impact on the sustainability of consumer behaviour. Three in four people in the UK use smartphones, so there’s huge potential for the technology to be a catalyst for action and promote the circular sharing economy.”
Sharing is caring
Airbnb was the highest ranked sharing economy app at number eight, just days after new Energy Minister Matthew Hancock pledged to make Britain the global centre of the sharing economy.
Skype ranked fourth, reportedly because it enables businesses, friends and families to communicate without the need for long journeys, while Spotify came in at 17 because it reduces the need to manufacture and distribute CD’s.
Google Maps ranked sixth thanks to the potential savings on time and fuel, as a recent NAVTEQ study found people driving with GPS used 12% less fuel. Google recently partnered with Sainsbury’s to deliver a food-waste reduction app.
Top 20 sustainable apps
5) Seafood Watch
6) Google Maps
7) Freecycle + Trash Nothing
13) Good Fish Guide
14) Love Food Hate Waste
16) Fuel Monitor
19) Making of Making
© Faversham House Ltd 2023 edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.


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Despite seeing a huge growth in app downloads, the Google Play Store continues to lag far, far behind the Apple App Store in terms of revenue generated from apps.
The latest report by mobile analytics firm App Annie reveals the App Store's revenue is a whopping 80 percent more than what Google earned from the Play Store in the third quarter of 2015, signifying a huge increase in disparity over Apple's 70 percent lead in the second quarter.
Google, however, is following growth down a different path. While the App Store makes money, the Play Store is seeing more downloads. According to App Annie, Google saw 90 percent more downloads for Android apps over iOS apps in the quarter from July to September, up from the 85 percent lead during the previous three months.
The differences in growth can be attributed to where Apple and Google are taking their products. Apple, which is slowly but surely establishing a stronghold in the Chinese market, sees its revenue growth from the popularity of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the country.
Thanks to Apple's adoption of large-screen smartphones, a product the company previously scorned, Chinese customers have quickly picked up the new iPhones, some even resorting to incredible measures to buy a new phone.
App Store revenue is mostly generated by games, such as Tencent's The Legend of Mir 2 and The King of Fighters' 98 Ultimate Match and NetEase' Fantasy Westward Journey. Other revenue generators include social video apps iCast Show and MiaoPai and Uber competitor Didi Dache.
Google, meanwhile, retains a strong presence in emerging markets such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil, where smartphone users are not likely to buy premium apps or make a lot of in-app purchases. India, in particular, is a bright spot for Google, as it is the third-largest market for Android app downloads, only next to the U.S. and Brazil, while also being the third largest smartphone market.
"It is equally important to note that smartphone penetration in the country remains at 10 to 15 percent range with tremendous room for growth," adds App Annie.
The rise of popular social networking and messaging apps, particularly Facebook and WhatsApp, helped drove the growth of downloads in India. Security apps such as 360 Mobile Security and file sharing utilities such as SHAREit are also popular.
However, revenue generation for the Play Store is limited to smaller, more developed countries led by Japan, followed by the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan and Germany.
Photo: Brian Snelson | Flickr


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Say hello to the Jaguar F-Type rally car.
Now, these won't be going into service anywhere, as they're just one-off prototypes built to honor the old-school Jaguar XK 120.
The XK 120 competed in and won various rallies in its time.
Since the XK 120 turns 70 this year, Jaguar saw fit to build a couple F-Types in its honor.
Under the body, Jaguar installed hand-built competition suspension components with softer springs that can handle abuse in the dirt.
Motorsport-derived wheels and tires are built to handle atypical terrain, there's a limited-slip differential to help keep the power down and a hydraulic handbrake lets the driver fishtail the car at will.
There's also a set of upgraded brakes and a roll cage to prioritize safety.
Both cars sport the F-Type's base engine, a 2.0-liter I4 gas engine putting out a hair less than 300 horsepower.
The car's design is actually borrowed from another F-Type special edition -- the F-Type Checkered Flag Limited Edition.
Keep scrolling to check out even more pictures of the F-Type rally car.


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The global marble market is evaluated at 17,592.11 USD million in 2020 and is expected to witness a CAGR of over 4.50%, globally, during the forecast period.
The COVID-19 pandemic had wreaked havoc on the workplace. Its impact has been significant in the construction industry, however, it varies by sector. Construction industries and workers are particularly exposed to the pandemic’s sharp drop in economic activity since construction is sensitive to economic cycles. The United States is one of the largest construction industries in the world. The construction investments in the country have declined due to the rapidly growing cases. The country’s construction spending fell from USD 1,436.73 billion in March 2020 to USD 1,364.57 billion in July 2020. However, the hotels’ construction dipped by 1% in 2020 and was expected to further dip by 0.7% in 2021. This, in turn, has negatively affected the demand for marble in 2020.
Key Highlights In the short term, the rapid growth in the construction industry is expected to drive the demand for marble across the world
However, the hazard related to marble dust that causes abrasion and irritation to the skin, and the outbreak of COVID-19 across the world are likely to hinder the growth of the market studied.
The increasing use of marble slabs and powder is likely to provide opportunities for the marble market, over the next five years. Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world, with the largest consumption from countries, such as China and India.
Key Market Trends
Building and Decoration Segment to Dominate the Market Studied
Marble is widely used in the building and construction industry for decorative and structural purposes, ranging from outdoor sculptures to walls, veneers, flooring, ornamental features, stairways and walkways. Marble finds its application in interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving, fireplace facing and hearth, and novelty items. Different marble varieties are used basically as both interior and exterior vertical wall cladding and flooring. Their use as structural elements (masonry), statues, epitaphs, graves, etc. is quantitatively less with funeral art accounting for the largest percentage. Marble is also widely used for decorative and structural purposes, ranging from outdoor sculptures to walls, veneers, flooring, ornamental features, stairways and walkways. Marble has become ever more popular for different applications, from use in large-scale construction projects to small do-it-yourself home renovations. In addition to traditional markets already accustomed to using marble, new markets in the Middle-East and Southeast Asia are now increasingly aware of the benefits of marble. Not only are houses of worship and other ceremonial structures use marble in construction, but also modern office complexes, hotels and airports. The use of marble increases aesthetic appeal, improves structural durability and has become increasingly affordable with its prices going down. The rising building industry is expected to drive the marble consumption in building and decoration application through the years to come. The global construction industry is expected to reach USD 8 trillion by 2030, primarily driven by countries, such as India, China, and the United States. China is in the midst of a construction mega-boom. The country has the largest building market in the world, making up 20% of all construction investment globally. The country alone is expected to spend nearly USD 13 trillion on buildings by 2030. Although construction activities in 2020 witnessed a temporary setback due to COVID-19’s impact, all the aforementioned developments are expected to drive the demand for marble in the construction industry through the years to come.
Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market Studied
Asia-Pacific is expected to be the dominating and fastest-growing market over the forecast period, owing to increasing government investment in building and construction industry in the region.
China is the largest single market for growth in the building sector. China has the largest new construction market globally, adding an average of 1.8-2.0 billion m2 (19 – 21 billion ft2 ) annually. The total floor area of Chinese buildings was expected to reach around 69 billion m2 (742 billion ft2) by 2020 and is projected to be 80 billion m2 (861 billion ft2) by 2030.
China is one of the leading countries in the construction of shopping centers. China’s shopping malls sector has enjoyed robust development over recent years, and 7,000 more malls are estimated to be opened by 2025. The total number of malls (with a gross floor area over 10,000 m2 and not operating on a strata-titled basis) in China’s top 30 cities is estimated to increase to 1,445 units in 2019, at an annual growth rate of 13%.
In India, the growing real estate business, which is mainly focused on the residential sector and commercial places, is key for the sector’s growth. The growing individual townships are driving the sector. The development of Palva industrial township, Zaheerabad integrated industrial township, and many other projects involving public and private investments with a total of USD 29.38 billion are boosting the sector.
The demand for residential housing has been increasing in cities, such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, due to the migration of people from rural areas to urban in search of jobs, higher education, and better life. In Mumbai, with developers focusing on timely execution, over INR 4,000 crore worth of ready-to-move-in luxury residential inventory is available in the south and south-central zones of the megapolis as against INR 2,800 crore a year ago and ultraluxury projects in the residential sector are coming up in south-central areas spanning Prabhadevi, Mahalaxmi, and Lower Parel in Mumbai.
Demand for residential housing in India has rushed due to increased urbanization and rising household income. Also, the Indian government has allowed FDI of up to 100% for settlement development and townships projects. This, in turn, is projected to increase the residential housing construction in the country.
Hence, all such market trends are expected to drive the demand for the marble market in the region, during the forecast period.
The market for marble is extremely fragmented in nature, where no top player accounts for a major chunk of the market. Some of the major companies are Fox Marble, Best Cheer Stone, Levantina y Asociados de Minerales, S.A, Kangli stone group, and China Kingstone Mining Holdings Limited, among others.
The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format 3 months of analyst support
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China’s demand for Mineral Raw Materials has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next decade, both production and demand will continue to grow. The Chinese economy maintains a high speed growth which has been stimulated by the consecutive increases of industrial output, import & export, consumer...
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This study focuses on China’s Mineral Raw Materials industry forecasts. In the two past decades, the industry has been growing at a fast pace. The dramatic expansions of the manufacturing capabilities and rising consumer consumptions in China have transformed China’s society and economy. China is one of the world’s...
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Australian Growth Company Awards 2023 launch announced
The 2023 Australian Growth Company Awards (AGCA), a program dedicated to recognising exceptional growth companies across Australia, have been launched. Nominations for the AGCA are open until Tuesday, 8 August 2023.
This prestigious awards ceremony announcing the 2023 winners will take place on Wednesday, 18 October 2023, at the Ivy Ballroom, Sydney. This popular event will bring together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Australia’s most innovative and successful businesses.
The 2023 headline sponsors include Hamilton Locke, ASX, Ansarada, Source, Findex, MA Financial Group, WTW, 2020 Exchange and Media Partner: Mergermarket.
The awards acknowledge excellence across various categories, including:
- Growth Company of the Year Award – awarded to the overall winner of the industry categories
- Consumer Goods Growth Company of the Year Award
- Financial Services Growth Company of the Year Award
- Business Services Growth Company of the Year Award
- Technology Growth Company of the Year Award
- Health & Life Sciences Growth Company of the Year Award
- Women in Leadership Award
- Deal of the Year Award (Advisors Award)
- Company to Watch Award
- Sustainability and Cleantech Award
The AGCA serves as a platform to showcase and recognise the outstanding accomplishments of companies that have demonstrated remarkable growth, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit. These awards highlight the pivotal role these companies play in driving economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and fostering innovation within the Australian business landscape.
The launch of the 2023 AGCA provides an unparalleled opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to gain recognition, showcase their achievements, and establish valuable connections with industry experts, investors, and potential partners.


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My husband Joseph Ball has talked about the Jersey Shore since we met more than seven years ago and not the “Jersey Shore” you see on TV. He talks about his Jersey Shore, the place where he grew up and the place that someday we’d take our son.
While we still have plans to take our new son on his first trip to the boardwalk to enjoy the sand, surf and waves – a treat for myself, a native New Englander who only knows the placid waters of Long Island Sound – the recent affects of Sandy on that once vibrant shoreline have him concerned and that’s why we’ve decided to help.
In partnership with Joe’s high school friend, Danielle Gletow - Founder & Executive Director of One Simple Wish, a nonprofit helping foster children and vulnerable families – we will be collecting items for babies and families affected by Sandy. Gletow is collecting goods through her nonprofit for an offshoot called Hope & Help for Victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Baby supplies such as food, pacifiers, new onesies, diapers and wipes are needed. – All used clothing is appreciated but not being accepted by One Simple Wish at this time.
We felt compelled to help because we couldn't imagine what we would do if we lost all the items that help us care for our son.
Please stop by Town Hall Drive, 1019 Main Street, Branford this Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to drop off items.
All goods will be donated through One Simple Wish to communities from Toms River to Hoboken and beyond, according to Gletow.
One Simple Wish has been recognized by the American Red Cross for relief efforts. All donations will benefit not only American Red Cross shelters but shelters throughout NJ; if you can not drop off items for babies this Saturday, please feel free to donate online through One Simple Wish or the American Red Cross.
The goods will be transported to New Jersey just before Thanksgiving. Thank you in advance for your donations.
For more information e-mail Nicole.firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, iconic anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam" has seen quite a bit of interesting goods released to mark the occasion. In the last year we've seen Gundam-themed wine cooler sleeves from a French cookware brand, Gundam head tofu you can paint with golden curry sauce, and even a Gundam model made from "Gundarium alloy" priced over $2,000.
It may not be Gundarium alloy, but three new stainless steel drinking bottles from Bandai are sure to be a Gundam fans ultimate drinking companion.
The 180ml thermoses, which are Teflon certified, use a vacuum two-layer structure to keep drinks hot or chilled for a long period of time and come in three different "Mobile Suit Gundam" motifs: Earth Federation Space Force, Principality of Zeon and Char Aznable: The Red Comet.
Read more stories from grape Japan.
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