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Cross-chain DeFi protocol Stargate is now live, allowing users to swap stablecoins between different chains through the protocol. In addition, the protocol's previous public sale of $STG had only two successful participants. In order to allow more people to participate, Stargate will allow users who pre-approved the auction contract or participated in the bonding curve to participate in the auction at the same terms as the original auction. The auction will release a total of 20 million tokens at $0.25, which will be locked for 12 months and then unlocked linearly over 6 months. It is reported that about 160 people met the conditions and the 20 million tokens will be divided equally among these users to avoid the Gas wars. Stargate is a protocol developed by the interoperability protocol LayerZero team, and SushiSwap co-founder 0xMaki has joined the LayerZero team.Source
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Google’s three pillars of expansion
At a Google press event this week, the company unveiled ambitious plans for expansion.
People often think of Google (GOOG) as a search company. While certainly the biggest search company in the world, it’s what Google does with its search technology that makes it
the cash-belching behemoth it is.
Google’s robust display advertising pays the bills, and that is the lion’s share of what they plan on rapidly expanding in the next few years.
Neal Mohan, Google’s Vice President of Product Management, said that display advertising is a $20 billion business right now. But there is no reason that growth can’t go to $40, $60, $80 billion and more in the coming years.
Why isn’t it that big yet? Inefficiencies. Publishers can’t reach their exact target audience and have a tough time getting their creative content through the process towards potential customer’s eyes. Google, hoping to make advertising easier for publishers, recently consolidated its advertising businesses under one Google Display brand.
As ads become more effective, they become more valuable to advertisers and Google makes more money. A virtuous cycle, Google hopes.
Google sees three big areas of growth over the next few years, according to Henrique de Castro, vice president of global media and platforms:
1. Mobile – Because being online doesn’t mean that you have to be in front of a computer anymore, potential ad viewers are online just about every second of every day. That equals more ads and more opportunity. Also, Google didn’t say this specifically, but they can do much more with their ads if Google know the location of its users. For instance, if I am walking down the street with my iPhone and I’m using Google maps, Google could slip in an ad for a restaurant that is up the next block.
The goal is not only to add more advertisements, but more relevant and efficient ones.
2. Google’s next big pillar of growth is television. Obviously, the GoogleTV platform is a huge part of that, and selling ads against programming will be part of it. However, de Castro told me that much more TV content is turning to IP services (Think Verizon VCast, Sprint and AT&T ) and Google is beginning to help those who push TV make money from advertising.
Television is a monster advertising pool and Google expects to see massive growth from this field.
3. Perhaps the most interesting is the company’s third pillar: Social Advertising. De Castro didn’t get into any details on this, but, for Google, it is in the same ballpark as the above domains in terms of opportunity. It isn’t certain whether this means that Google is venturing into their own ‘Google Me’ Facebook like product, or if it means making current ads more viral, or a combination of the two strategies. Google reps declined to elaborate.
Google’s ventures into social media have been a mixed bag, with Buzz faltering while YouTube continues to be an unmitigated success.
Google derives almost all of its money from display advertising, so how well it executes its plans in these three areas will determine whether it can continue its astronomical growth.

domain: news


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Tech adda was launched in the presence of renowned Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela. Tech adda is the newest addition to the world of electronic gadgets with its flagship store at Park Street. Mr. Nandan Saha, Managing Director, Tech adda and Ms Tarini Das, Business Head, Tech adda were also present during the launch at JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata.
Tech adda is a one-of-a-kind electronics store that specializes in the latest in gadgets and accessories with best pricing and top notch customer service and assistance. Tech adda is offering its patrons a unique experience, which is unmatched and unparalled in the country. The stores of the brand houses a corner of its kind called ‘WHAT’S NEW’ which displays the latest in gadgets and accessories.
The brand believes India is united in its diversity and people have various tastes and preferences. Hence, they have made available an extensive range of choices on accessories, smart devices and gadgets. From the wide range of offerings of Tech adda one can surely choose what suits them best.
Going beyond deals and discounts, Tech adda offers the ‘Best Value’ that is the right price for the right products, across all their offerings. Moreover, Tech adda stores are equipped with ‘Trained experts’ who have adequate knowledge to assist customers to buy the best suitable product. The brand plans on opening multiple stores across West Bengal and also expands to other states and union territories such as Bihar, Chattisgarh, North Eastern States and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the near future.
Connect with us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/sholoanabangaliana?ref=hl
Our You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nKhJo7Qd_riZIKxRO_RoA
Our Twitter Handle: @Sholoana1
Google+ ID: +Sholoana


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: E-commerce giant Amazon
’s largest campus building in the world is all set to open its doors in Hyderabad.
The campus has come up on a 10-acre parcel of land at Nanakramguda in Hyderabad’s IT hub. The new campus building, which is over 15 storeys high, is learnt to have a built-up area of around 3 million sq ft, including 1 million sq ft parking area.
According to sources, the building has been up and running since mid July but is not yet fully occupied and has been awaiting a formal inauguration. Sources said, the building currently houses around 7,000 people, which is slated to increase to about 9,000 by September end.
The campus, , will be unveiled next week by Telangana
chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the presence of Amazon's global real estate and facilities director John Schoettler and Amazon India senior VP and country manager Amit Agarwal.
While realty sources said the new campus has been built to accommodate around 12,000 people, Telangana IT principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan had earlier told TOI that it is expected to accommodate around 26,000 to 30,000 people as per indications given by Amazon officials to the state government. However, Amazon officials declined to divulge details.
“The new state-of-the-art campus is expected to be ready by 2019 and would house thousands of employees managing back-end operations for Amazon's various global business and technology teams,” the company had said in a release when the foundation stone was laid for the dedicated campus.
Amazon has been very bullish on Hyderabad, which also houses its largest India fulfilment centre spread over 4 lakh sq ft at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and will be expanded to 5.8 lakh sq ft by mid-2020.
While Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos had, in 2014, committed to invest $2 billion in India to take on domestic rivals like Flipkart and Paytm, it has since significantly ramped up its investments in the country to over $4 billion.


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“Toyota’s now disastrous foray into social media offers a demonstration of what skills an agency needs to play in that space. It’s now obvious that PR expertise is not an optional extra that ad agencies having a bit of a dabble in social media can do without. Although advertising has always had the potential to be controversial, for social media that possibility grows exponentially and that risk needs to be controlled. And as Saatchi & Saatchi has demonstrated, it now goes without saying that you actually need to understand social media before you start. You can’t start learning on the client’s time.”
I won’t bore you with the details, as the above post is very detailed … and this graphic is very telling …
There have been a few comments flying around to the effect that “any publicity is good publicity” – a notion I reject. Toyota doesn’t have an awareness problem … but it may have a perception problem. Something like this can only have a negative impact on the latter.
In mitigation, at least Australia is a small-ish territory (Pop. 22MM) , and I don’t think many of Toyota’s prospects will have been exposed to this (in Australia or elsewhere) … except us social media nerds that is …
A digital out-of-home campaign aimed at increasing awareness of Delta Airline’s flight schedule in the New York City area
accomplished its task – by a measure of more than 28%. From February to mid June, the airline and its ad agency, Digitas
, ran a campaign using both DOOH and traditional media. Edison Research, which surveyed consumers prior to the launch and during it, also found that business travelers’ perception of Delta’s international schedule increased by 26% and overall awareness by 15% (via Digital Sign Today).
How Delta Microtargets Business Travelers
When Delta Airlines wanted to reach business travelers just in the New York area last spring, it decided to test the idea of microtargeting with place-based media. So it teamed up with out-of-home vertical SeeSaw Networks to create multiple 15-second spots customized to a wide array of venues across five different digital out-of-home vendors.
‘s Southern Comfort
brand — weary of jostling for notice with other spirits brands during the narrow nightly window when they are permitted to advertise on cable — is taking its entire media buy digital, allowing it access to programs online it couldn’t touch on TV.
Ad Agency Creature Marketing Sherry to Younger Consumers
Seattle boutique shop Creature has developed a humorous Web site that’s meant to shed some light on the drink’s history, types and usage. The site, built for the Sherry Council of America, takes on the fusty image of the Spanish fortified wine.
Nike Stages a Takeover of Fuel TV for 6.0 Line
To promote its 6.0 line of action-sports gear this month, Nike is establishing a major promotional beachhead on Fuel TV, the News Corp.-owned cable outlet geared towards skaters, surfers and bikers. The deal allows the sportswear company to dominate the network for a set period of time.
Microsoft to Build Retail Stores Right Next to Apple’s?
I think most people in Marketing admire how Apple use their stores to build their brand story. Last winter, Microsoft announced that they’ll be opening retail stores; today, they confirmed that the first ones will be opening this fall. Some of them will apparently be located right next to Apple stores(!) The designs of the store aren’t public yet–but their recent “concept” store on the Redmond campus manages to look exactly like the love child of a Circuit City and a Walgreens.
[This – above – is a joke. That – below – is apparently real]
In the latest twist in the computer wars, Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner
stated publicly yesterday that attorneys for Apple demanded Microsoft pull its “Laptop Hunters” campaign that shows buyers comparing prices between Macs and PCs. And Apple’s keeping quiet on the subject. The campaign, created by Microsoft’s consumer ad agency, Crispin Porter & Bogusky
, began running in March and marked a new ad strategy from the software giant: painting rival Apple as pricey. By some measures, the ads have been successful in boosting Microsoft’s “value perception.”
Microsoft has reported a disappointing 17% slump in revenues as it was hit by competition from Google and Apple and falling demand for new computers. Results for the three months to June saw net profit for the period at $3.1bn (£1.9bn), down by 29% from the same period a year earlier. Revenue came in at $13.1bn, down 17% from a year ago.
A lot of peole have written about the Facebook WHOPPER® Sacrifice … “What would you do for a free WHOPPER(r)? Would you insult an elected official? Would you do a naked handstand? Would you go so far as to turn your back on friendship? Install WHOPPER(r) Sacrifice on your Facebook profile and we’ll reward you with a free flame-broiled WHOPPER(r) Sandwich when you sacrifice 10 of your friends*.”
My take? I think Crispin definitely produce a mixed bag of creativity – and for every Subservient Chicken/ whatever there are nine things you never hear about – but this one gets my vote. Brilliant!
And some news just in: their Whopper Virgin effort – which I liked less – also seems to have done pretty well …
‘s recent “Whopper Virgins” campaign is on track to replicate the online success of the fast feeder’s earlier viral success “Whopper Freakout,” but its impact on sales remains to be seen. The documentary-style video, courtesy of ad agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky
, appears to be breaking through the clutter. According to ComScore, Whoppervirgins.com had 242,000 unique visitors in December. By comparison, Whopperfreakout.com had 250,000 visitors during its first month, December 2007.
is no stranger to TV, what with fireworks displays and parades down Broadway. But the retail giant is coming to the small screen this holiday with a new 3D animated movie that was put together in collaboration with its agency of record, Mediaedge:cia.
Kraft branded entertainment for the holidays
Today, Nabisco-owned Kraft unveiled a new print and online campaign that narrates the story of three crackers: Ritz, Triscuit, and Wheat Thins. The new campaign comes at a time where brands expect increased eat-at-home consumption for the holidays. To create the campaign, Kraft contracted the services of four ad agencies: Euro RSCG, Momentum WW, the Starcom MediaVest Group and interactive agency Digitas. The campaign evolved from holiday recipe booklets that Kraft inserted in numerous holiday publications, including Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies Home Journal and Country Home. Over a million US magazine subscribers will be receiving a complementary copy of “The Tale of the Magical Crackers,” which tells the story of the three Kraft crackers that magically regenerate each time the narrator—a dog—of his care takers take a bite at them.
Diet Coke has long associated its brand with style and entertainment. Now it’s kicking off a new program that it hopes will continue this by melding branded entertainment with the latest in digital syndication strategies.
The “Style Series presented by Diet Coke” starts Tuesday with appearances by singers Robin Thicke
and Rihanna and designer Cynthia Rowley
. Fans can watch the show on billboards in Times Square
, through their mobile phones, online at Diet Coke.com and through ad placements on sites like People.com, Instyle.com and DailyMotion
. Two more specials are set for early ’09.
Publicis Groupe Media creates branded entertainment division
Publicis Groupe Media is launching a new division solely dedicated to branded entertainment: Core. The division aim to deliver “true branded entertainment that builds a deeper emotional relationship with consumers, and ensures clients’ products and services are seamlessly embedded within media channels.”


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What is the cloud conundrum? How does accurate time keeping relate to protecting British businesses after Brexit? How can retail innovations support the high street in 2021? Why will demand for cloud increase this year? Will cybersecurity strategies shift to focus on mobile devices? And how can organisations strengthen their IT immune systems? Find out the answers to these questions, and more, below in our latest Coverage Highlights:
We kicked off our engagement with HeleCloud with a great win! EMEA Head of Sales and Marketing, Marty Legg, speaks to Channel Partner Insights about his predictions for 2021, how Helecloud is planning to double its revenue from 2020, and what needs to change for AI, machine learning and automation to enable nearly 60% of B2B sellers.
Go Instore’s live video offering has seen unprecedented demand this year with the number of calls increasing 10,000%! Andre Hordagoda, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Go Instore speaks to Tech Round UK about the impact of COVID-19 has had on the business. Andre also shared how he, and his business partner Aman, founded Go Instore, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
With 49% of consumers planning to continue using online services even after restrictions lift, Andre comments on the worst year in retail in Retail Insight Network, highlighting how crucial it is for brands to invest in their digital channels to survive the current unrest in the retail market.
According to Gartner, 69% of corporate directors want to accelerate enterprise digital strategies and implementations to help deal with the ongoing disruption of the pandemic. Grant Duxbury, Director of Pre-Sales Engineering at Aptum, shares his thoughts with IT Pro Portal on where he thinks cloud computing will go in 2021.
“38% of organisations cited security and data protection as the primary barrier to transformation.” Part two of Aptum’s Cloud Impact Study launched in January, featuring in Information Age, amongst others, addressing the top security concerns and issues around compliance that businesses are facing during cloud migration.
Discussing the importance of keep MiFID II regulations after Brexit, Dion Travagliante, Head of North America at Hoptroff, features in this month’s Finance Monthly. With the Brexit deal being announced last-minute, Dion speaks about how crucial MiFID II is to navigate the financial landscape now that the UK has left the European Union, as well as how it can protect British businesses.
With recent research finding that missing operating systems or application patches to be the cause of nearly 60 percent of breaches in the past two years, Senior Product Manager at Ivanti, Todd Schell, discusses the importance of security patching and using automation to bolster compliance in IT Pro Portal.
Despite 93% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) saying they had effective solutions in place to enable a swift move to remote working, 92% also stated they need additional IT security measures to better enable remote workers. Nigel Seddon, VP of EMEA West at Ivanti talks through the findings with Help Net Security, as well as the importance of a zero-trust strategy, and how 87% of CISOs agree that mobile devices are the centre of the cyber security strategy.
VP of Global Business Development for Logicalis, Mick McNeil, speaks to CRN about his priorities for 2021, and the growth and momentum that Logicalis is seeing on both sides of the Atlantic. He also praised the innovative solutions the UK team is using to deliver growth and promote recovery.
“We’ve helped our customers deliver secure, modern cloud infrastructures, and that experience removed a lot of the fear in the mindset of leaders of our customers and clients, so they’re now thinking bigger and bolder in terms of the transformation that they can achieve.” In an interview with Microscope, Mick McNeil discusses the work Logicalis is doing with its strategic partners, Microsoft, and Cisco, and what the work means for its customers.
Claremont CEO, Mark Vivian, features in Search IT Channel this month, stressing the importance of upgrading to the latest version of Oracle E-Business Suite before the December 2021 deadline, and how Claremont is now booked through to mid-2021 with customers upgrading to the latest version.
For more information on how we can assist you in securing earned media coverage, or drive success and sales for your business get in touch at: firstname.lastname@example.org
An Award Winning B2B PR Consultancy
B2B Content Campaign of the Year – Champion Communications & MobileIron: Trouble at the Top
Best Use of Data in a Content Campaign – Champion Communications & MobileIron: Trouble at the Top
Shortlisted – B2B Campaign
of the Year (Aptum)
Best B2B Trade Campaign – Aptum
Best B2B Trade Campaign – Ivanti
Best Use of Data – Ivanti
Winner – Best Use of Data (Ivanti)
Winner – Best one-off Content Campaign (Ivanti)
Winner – Best Use of Data (Greenlight Commerce)
Winner – Best Content Campaign to Assist with Corporate Positioning (Greenlight Commerce)
Shortlisted – Best one-off Content Campaign (Aptum)
is a member of the PRCA
Shortlisted – B2B Technology Campaign: It’s not always sunny in the cloud – The Aptum Cloud Impact Study
Shortlisted – B2B Technology Campaign: The Public Sector Problem
Shortlisted – Best corporate decision-maker targeted campaign: Trouble at the Top, MobileIron
Winner: gold – best pr campaign, go instore
Winner: bronze – best corporate decision maker targeted campaign, Ivanti


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The goal now is to accelerate CIRTEC’s growth by continuing to improve and expand the services Cirtec offers its medical device customers.
East Longmeadow, MA (PRWEB) September 16, 2014
CIRTEC Medical Systems’ Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Brian Highley as CEO of CIRTEC.
“I am delighted to be joining CIRTEC at this exciting point for the Company.” noted Brian Highley. “The company has made great strides improving engineering and operational performance while sustaining strong organic growth over the past two years. The goal now is to accelerate CIRTEC’s growth by continuing to improve and expand the services Cirtec offers its medical device customers.”
Brian is a twenty-year veteran of the medical device industry. He joins CIRTEC from Nypro, where he served as VP and GM of their Medical Device and Consumer Health Segment. Prior to that Brian served as General Manger, Design Engineering and NPI for FlexMedical. Additionally he was Vice President of Design and Development at Avail prior to their acquisition by Flextronics. He has also held engineering roles at Baxter, Medtronic, Smith & Nephew and Philips Medical.
About CIRTEC Medical Systems, LLC
For over 25 years, CIRTEC has been a leader in providing outsourced design, development and manufacturing services for the medical device industry. The company specializes in providing first-class solutions for active and passive implantable devices as well as minimally invasive surgical, diagnostic and delivery systems and their peripherals.


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Norwich business bosses welcome BID ideas
Proposals for Norwich businesses to contribute to a pot of cash which could be used to make the city centre a better place have been outlined to bosses,
As reported in the Evening News, a questionnaire was sent to more than 1,000 businesses asking them to have their say on what improvements they would like to see made to the heart of the city.
As part of that questionnaire, businesses and organisations were asked by the Norwich City Centre Partnership whether they would support the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the city centre.
Businesses in that district would contribute an amount based on their rateable value – probably 1pc – which would go into a pot which could be used to make improvements.
Before a BID can get off the ground, it has to get at least 50pc support in votes cast and rateable value of votes cast – which protects the interests of both small and large organisations.
If a Norwich BID is set up, it would be up to a board, made up of business bosses, to decide how to spend the money, which could be about �600,000 a year – and even more if other funding streams can be unlocked.
About 40 businesses attended a meeting this week about the issue where Jacquie Kelly, director of the National BID Advisory Service, explained the success stories in other towns and cities, such as Rugby, Bristol, Bedford and Lincoln.
- 1 M&S to close 32 stores as part of move away from town centres
- 2 House swap sees woman move into home infested with fleas
- 3 Sweet Briar Road 'still on track' to reopen by end of May
- 4 Norwich man wins jackpot on BBC game show Pointless
- 5 Your chance to meet The Bill star who has moved to Norfolk
- 6 £3,000 worth of beauty products stolen from Sainsbury's store
- 7 High-end boutique reopens in its former shop
- 8 We built this city: Meet the firm behind some of Norwich's famous landmarks
- 9 5 affordable homes for first-time buyers currently for sale in Norwich
- 10 9 of the best Chinese restaurants with delivery in Norwich
Stefan Gurney, Norwich's city centre manager, said: 'It was a very constructive meeting and we had good feedback from businesses who felt it was a really worthwhile event.
'We were looking at some of the things which have been done nationally and whether we could look at that sort of thing in Norwich.'
Phil Cutting, landlord of The Murderers pub in Timberhill, was one of them. He said: 'I personally think anything that promotes Norwich as a city centre is great. 'The fact this will be in the hands of traders who will make the decisions makes it even better.'
• Do you have a business story? Call Shaun Lowthorpe on 01603 772471 or email firstname.lastname@example.org


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Six years after voters passed the California Green Chemistry Initiative, the state lays out its plan to get toxic products off shelves.
A UCSF researcher explains how public pressure on makeup manufacturers seems to work, and why it's "common sense" to keep plastic dishware out of the microwave.
Three youth-focused clothing chains, including San Francisco-based retailer Charlotte Russe, sell products with illegal levels of lead, according to an Oakland-based nonprofit group.
The tug, nicknamed “Captain Al,” had been totally submerged in the waters between Oakland and Alameda for at least fifteen years. But it was leaching lead paint into the water, so it had to come out.


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Nvidia used global illumination to prove we did land men on the moon
To kick off the launch of its new high-end Maxwell graphics chip, Nvidia used 3D imagery to debunk the moon-landing conspiracy. The chip maker’s researchers did that by reconstructing the moon landing using a “globally illuminated” 3D model of the lunar lander, the moon’s surface, and the astronauts.
That means the company used realistic lighting from true light sources to create the visual effects and shadows in its 3D landscape. The computer model employed separate 3D voxel grid structures that stored direct and indirect scene lighting that was used for the global illumination calculations. Such calculations take into account how light shines from direct sources and then bounces around off indirect sources.
The conspiracy theorists have long argued that the 1969 black-and-white image of astronaut Buzz Aldrin descending the ladder, a picture taken by astronaut Neil Armstrong, wasn’t possible because Aldrin should have been in the shadow of the lander.
But Nvidia’s researchers say the shadow argument can be countered by showing how indirect illumination from the moon’s surface lit the back of the lander and Aldrin. A high amount of reflected light bounces off the crystalline silt of the moon, and that was why Aldrin was so lit up.
Nvidia used voxels to store scene-lighting information along with a technique called cone tracing to gather indirect illumination. Then, it created a highly accurate 3D model to establish the proof.


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After the Bentley SUV concept received a lukewarm response at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, its makers Volkswagen had almost shelved the idea of putting the car into production. But all that is to change now.
According to the recent reports, the controversial super luxury 4X4 is likely to go into production in the next three years. Currently, the Bentley team is working on finalizing the design of the car.
In what can be said to be an official confirmation from Bentley, CEO Wolfgang Schreiber confirmed that they are going ahead with the SUV that will be styled on the lines of other Bentleys and will look nothing like the EXP 9F concept car from the 2012 Geneva motor show. Schreiber further said that the concept car was not designed as a styling exercise, but gauge the market response to the idea of a Bentley SUV. “If you saw the styling, you would say, ‘That is a real Bentley,’” said Schreiber.
He also affirmed that the SUV will come with a V8 and will have W12 engine as an option. Bentley SUV will share its platform with the upcoming Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. The outer shell of the car will be built in Europe while it will be assembled in Crewe.


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WTO in its report said that Vietnam should stop its cross over trade with China to recover the trade gap within the country.
Import –export of commodities between the two country should be done via the official mechanism rather than across the border.
Cross border trade is a legal international economic activity between two neighboring countries. Cross trade involves exchanging commodities in small volumes and values with less paper work and less official activities.
The objective of cross border trade was to facilitate the trade in border areas to manufacture and exchange goods in small volumes and values but the policy has failed to achieve its objective according to WTO as many traders prefer cross border trade to save their taxes.
Vietnam’s general statistics office reveals that 2014 has its export value up by 21.8% as compared to last year which was $23.7 billion recorded last year.
The WTO Center functions as a channel of online consultation, discussion and support for Vietnamese business associations and enterprises about the World Trade Organization and other legal international trade issues.
The center provides legal documents, updated information, publications and training materials on WTO and other legal issues of international economic integration, according to its website.
Vietnam practiced generally cross- border trade to export most of its agricultural products
According to VFA, China usually import from Vietnam through cross border transactions. In first five months of 2014 china’s import has rose to 50% to 600,000 tonnes from last year. Near about 64% consignments between Vietnam and China has been cancelled and also China forces Vietnam to export commodities at lower prices.
Most of the local farmers prefer to export their produce through cross border as it requires less official activities and has a great demand.
A local rice trader in the southern province of Tien Giang said that he prefer to sell his goods though border because of croos border ease.


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- Apple reports earnings after the close on Thursday.
- With the Fed out of the way, the road is cleared for the stock superpower.
- AAPL could help turn the entire market sentiment after Microsoft beat.
Apple is due to report earnings after the close on Thursday. With the Fed meeting ending today, investors will then focus on the tech sector to hopefully end the bearish mood currently hitting markets. Tech names along with a not-too-surprising Fed (https://www.fxstreet.com/macroeconomics/central-banks/fed) could turn things around. Sentiment is beginning to look overdone, but it is imperative to get solid earnings from the tech sector. So far the bank sector has disappointed, while the energy sector looks like it should outperform. This week as we mentioned in our preview note is key with 104 of the S&P 500 companies reporting.
Apple Stock News
Apple reports after the close on Thursday, January 27. Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to come in at $1.89 on revenue of $118.28 billion. Wall Street analysts also expect Apple to have sold 80 million iPhones in the last quarter. Bank of America certainly is looking to the upside as it outlines in a note out this morning. The bank sees iPhone sales coming in at 81 million and sees a strong revenue number of $121 million, well ahead of forecasts.
Analysts have been active this week on the name ahead of earnings. Earlier we reported on Goldman Sachs maintaining their $142 price target ahead of earnings, while Morgan Stanley expects strong iPhone deliveries to maintain bullish earnings.
As ever the commentary around earnings will be as important as the earnings themselves. Last time out the dreaded supply chain and chip issues came to light, so we will look for more clarity around these areas.
Apple Stock Forecast
$157 is big, very big. A break and it likely heads to $148, which is a huge volume profile support and the point of control. But breaking $157 does put in a new lower low and so continue the downtrend. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) both look quite stretched, but the RSI is not yet oversold. The MACD, meanwhile, is at its lowest since March of last year, and the histogram is also at its widest in a year. Earnings then could be the catalyst to turn this trend around.
Apple (AAPL) chart, daily


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The rumors started immediately after VW bought Ducati: VW included a motorcycle in the program. Not much more has come out than rumors.
But in the 70 years, VW bought NSU. And NSU engine blocks have already been successfully built into motorcycles. But then by hobbyists.
This would have been an official prototype


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Japan-based amusement store chain Round One Entertainment is opening a facility at Valley River Center, the mall operator announced Tuesday in a news release.
Round One, which is expected to open this winter, will offer bowling, arcade games, billiards, karaoke as well as food and beverage options.
The facility will occupy the former Gottschalks space, which was in the northwest anchor location of the mall. Gottschalks opened at Valley River Center in 2006, only to file for bankruptcy in 2009.
Retailer Forever 21 is expanding its location and relocating next to the entrance and plaza, according to the news release.
The mall also is redeveloping its front entrance and creating an outdoor plaza, which are expected to open this spring.


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Revolutionizing Banking in Africa: Absa Bank’s Journey Towards Digital Excellence and Inclusive Growth
Absa Bank Limited is part of Absa Group, with a presence in 12 countries across the African continent. Absa’s ambition is to sustainably create shared value and play an integral role in the life journey of customers and clients, empowering them to achieve more and to recommend Absa family, friends, and business associates. Absa aspires to be a truly purpose-led organisation by making a positive contribution to the wider world, putting its purpose at the core of everything it does. Absa is at the forefront of modern banking technology with state-of-the-art digital integration, as well as being established as a key part of South African society with branches across the nation.
Absa Bank Limited received numerous honours at the 2024 Global Banking & Finance Awards for South Africa, including Best Bank Management Team, Best Digital Bank, Best Digital Wallet, Digital Banking Customer Satisfaction & Happiness, Excellence in Innovation – Digital Colleague Onboarding, and Best Use of Biometrics by a Bank in South Africa. Also, Absa IdeaLab was awarded for Excellence in Innovation – Digital Engagement Platform. Absa IdeaLab, designed, developed, and hosted by Absa’s Digital Product team, is an internal idea submission platform, as well as a knowledge transfer tool.
To find out more about the bank’s continuing success story, Global Banking & Finance Review’s Philip Fothergill spoke to Mr. Subash Sharma, Chief Digital Officer at Absa, Everyday Banking, and congratulated him on Absa’s extensive roster of awards.
“We’re really proud of this particular achievement,” said Mr. Sharma. “It’s a testament to all the colleagues who work within Absa, coming together and producing the goods to be able to earn these esteemed awards.”
With a solid background in mechanical engineering as well as business leadership, Mr. Sharma’s experience and expertise lend themselves to a strategic vision that drives digital innovation. “Our innovation is always commercially led; we look for commercial outcomes and we put the objectives that we are trying to meet ahead of everything else,” he explained. “We don’t believe in doing innovation for the sake of innovation. Rather, it’s about how we use innovation to create results. I guess my technical background is an enabler to this, but as a leader, what I focus on is creating a culture of innovation that is not just one-dimensional, but an entire environment of colleagues coming together to be able to produce these commercial outcomes.”
Absa has been on the front line of integrating biometric technologies for enhanced security, and Mr. Sharma went on to discuss the strategic importance of this technical innovation and its impact on customer trust and banking security.
“This has helped us in two ways. One, we provide the only Digital Fraud Warranty in our market. So, in other words, for any fraud that occurs for a customer while transacting digitally, we provide a money-back warranty. We would not be able to provide that warranty had we not had the confidence in our fraud and security capabilities, of which biometrics is one of the key components.
“Security has become a competitive advantage for Absa. We look at biometric security in particular, over and above all the different aspects of what we call a security layer,” he said. “This has helped us in two ways. One, we provide the only Digital Fraud Warranty in our market. So, in other words, for any fraud that occurs for a customer while transacting digitally, we provide a money-back warranty. We would not be able to provide that warranty had we not had the confidence in our fraud and security capabilities, of which biometrics is one of the key components.
“The second is when we look at onboarding a customer, verifying the customer, or operationally, doing things like PIN and password resets. Our vast biometric capabilities allow us to conduct these operations digitally, end-to-end, without the need for human intervention. So, in both aspects, biometrics plays a significant role in providing us with a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”
Among the innovations and services Absa provides is the Absa IdeaLab. “As I said before, creating a culture or environment where innovation thrives is critical, because we don’t believe innovation happens in the mind of one or two individuals,” Mr. Sharma asserted. “The IdeaLab was created as a platform that allows colleagues from across the bank, even across the continent, to be able to log their ideas and have project teams build on those ideas, have other people vote on them and build them up into something that can be taken to market. The IdeaLab also provides employees and colleagues with access to learning materials, innovation materials, innovation techniques, presentation skills, pitch skills, the ability to create business cases. So, it fosters an environment of always-on innovation, and this culminates in various hackathons that we hold throughout the year where we take the best ideas, build on them, and then take them to market.”
Given the largely digital world we now live in and how digital banking is rapidly evolving, Mr. Sharma offered his perspective on how Absa maintains its competitive edge and the big upcoming trends in digital banking that it plans to accommodate.
“We see people moving away not only from cash, but also in some cases from cards,” he said. “The adoption of digital wallets is becoming quite prevalent. We see digital currency, the world of the metaverse, and AR and VR also becoming key trends. In our view, as digital becomes the centre of a wide variety of banking products and services, the use of AI and GenAI is becoming a significant trend, particularly in terms of conversations and chat. The way we believe we need to set ourselves up and be competitive going into the future is by not only focusing on creating technical skills or technical capabilities, what we call ‘table stakes.’ We also look at enhancing and creating new digital products that are born digital. An example of this is our ChatWallet, which we have recently launched and is the first of its kind in the world.”
On the digital transformation journey, improved customer relations and satisfaction go hand-in-hand with security. Mr. Sharma shared an example of digital innovation directly enhancing customer service that underscores the importance of earning customers’ trust.
“With the trend of digital migration, we believe that fraud security has become vital,” he said. “In the lives of our customers, there is nothing that creates more anxiety than that feeling of being defrauded, the feeling of not being secure, the feeling of losing your hard-earned money. What we have created in our digital capability, over and above the warranty that we provide our customers, is the assurance that should anything happen, we are the safety net to make sure that your money is protected”.
“We have created a security hub within our digital estates that allows customers to monitor whether they are being spoken about on the dark web, and whether their security credentials or personal data are being shared. They can be alerted should these activities be happening. We then provide them with the capability to secure themselves, not only from a banking perspective but in their daily lives. I think in helping our customers manage these things, we have found a better relationship between what the bank does and the needs of the customer.”
With sustainability being such a watchword these days, Mr. Sharma pointed out how increasingly important it has become for Absa to ensure that its digital growth is sustainable, both in terms of business and its impact on society and the environment.
“As a group, our ESG strategy is quite significant,” he said. “We have three main goals and areas that we’re focusing on. First and foremost, we want to promote financial inclusion; second, we want to make sure that we promote diversity and inclusion, and third, we need to make sure that we do this in a climate-sensitive and environmentally friendly way.”
Furthering the topic of inclusion, he went on to describe the ChatWallet platform, Absa’s all-in-one banking solution that allows customers to bank freely. “There are no recurring monthly charges associated with ChatWallet, and customers are able to get access to a bank colleague by simply having a conversation on WhatsApp. What this does is reduce the barrier to entry and promote significant financial inclusion amongst those who currently don’t have bank accounts. This is one particular example of how we, as digital innovators are providing opportunities for financial inclusion. And in all of the themes that we’ve spoken about in terms of our strategy, digital is a significant contributor.”
Mr. Sharma concluded by highlighting a number of key strategic initiatives that Absa is focusing on to further strengthen its position as a leader in digital banking.
“If we look at the trends, we see significant work being done in the adoption of wallets, and we through our API marketplace and our wallet products that we have launched in the market are at the forefront of these particular trends. We are also at the forefront of the security trends that we see playing a significantly more vital part in the digital landscape of financial services. With the combination of both our digital and business capabilities, what we are doing now is to ensure that we design products and services that are born digital, are fit for purpose, and meet the needs of our customers not only for today, but as part of the evolving landscape of our country and our continent.”
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Blockchain pet adoptions
The blockchain concept underpins digital currencies, such as BitCoin. It acts as a distributed register that holds all transactions of the currency in an encrypted and immutable table. The technology is not limited to cryptocurrencies though, there are many other applications that might benefit from such as secure information system. Writing in the International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, a team from India explain how a blockchain might be used in pet adoption.
The team from the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, in Mysuru, explain that a blockchain can store transaction details associated with a given pet, its previous owners and the people adopting the animal. In addition, other details can be retrieved by using a hash value including the financial transaction that will have facilitated the adoption process, as it were.
The team concludes that their approach is far more secure than centralized systems and precludes "spoofing" whereby a malicious third party might intervene in a transaction and either remove funds from an account illegally or perhaps even steal the pet to be adopted.
More information: H.L. Gururaj et al. Adoption of pets in distributed network using blockchain technology, International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies (2020). DOI: 10.1504/IJBC.2020.108996


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AMD EPYC Milan Processors Flood Second Hand Marketplaces
AMD’s fourth-generation Genoa EPYC processor family based on the Zen 4 microarchitecture was launched just months ago. However, third-generation Milan EPYC processors have already flooded second-hand marketplaces like eBay and Aliexpress. These processors, including the 7773X, 7763, 7713P, and 7713, were launched in 2021 and many of them are 64-cores/128-threads. Prices have dropped significantly since the Genoa-based EPYC CPUs have become widely available in the market, with 64-core CPUs available for around $2,000.
In comparison, a pre-owned AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX, which is also 64-core/128-threads, sells for around $6,000. These processors are popular in workstation PCs, whereas EPYC is primarily geared towards servers.
AMD Going Big in China?
There are currently over 100 listings for EPYC processors on eBay, with many of them being sold in China. This suggests that AMD is making a big push into the Chinese market. The company has been expanding its presence in China for several years, and this move could be part of its strategy to gain a larger share of the server market in the country.
The availability of third-generation Milan EPYC processors on second-hand marketplaces is good news for those looking to upgrade their servers. With prices dropping significantly, it’s now more affordable to get your hands on a high-performance processor. However, it’s important to note that these processors may not come with a warranty, so buyers should exercise caution when making a purchase.Super Computing Power on the Cheap: 64-Core 3rd Gen EPYC Processors on Sale
Looking for a powerful workstation? Now is the best time to grab those 64-core chips and build yourself a supercomputer. With most vendors shipping from China and offering free international shipping, you can get more than 10 units per sale. There are also dozens of other listings for the older, 2nd generation “Rome” EPYC CPU that came out in 2019 and also sport 64-cores.
Aliexpress has hundreds of 3rd generation EPYC processors on sale, with some vendors offering at least 100 pieces. While exports of certain US computing components related to AI training to China are not allowed, it doesn’t extend to AMD EPYC or Intel XEON processors for now. It is likely that Chinese hyperscalers have started to receive large amounts of the latest EPYC processors and are fast-tracking server refreshes ahead of any abrupt decision by the US administration to ban sales of high-performance CPUs.
To build a powerful workstation, get two 7003 processors for a total of 256 threads and 128 cores, plug them into a compatible motherboard (e.g. the Supermicro H12DSi-NT6 or the ROME2D16-2L+), add in up to 4TB of ECC DDR4 memory and various bits and bobs (GPU, SSD, riser cards, PSU etc) depending on your use case. Going the DIY route is likely to save you a significant amount of money.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for super computing power on the cheap, now is the time to grab those 64-core 3rd gen EPYC processors on sale. With most vendors shipping from China and offering free international shipping, you can get more than 10 units per sale. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to build a powerful workstation and save money.
Introducing the CyberStation Performance Workstation by Broadberry
Looking for a high-performance workstation that can handle data-intensive tasks? Look no further than the CyberStation Performance by Broadberry. This powerful workstation boasts two 64-core EPYC 7713 CPUs, 16GB RAM, and no hard drive, all for just over $20,000 (excluding sales tax).
EPYC processors are still some of the most capable parts on the market, especially when it comes to number crunching and data-intensive tasks. In fact, the 7773X is ranked third in PassMark’s popular CPU mark benchmark, behind only the world’s fastest CPU, the EPYC 9654, and the Ryzen ThreadRipperPro 5995WX.
Why Choose the CyberStation Performance?
- Two 64-core EPYC 7713 CPUs
- 16GB RAM
- No hard drive
- Powerful performance for data-intensive tasks
- Competitive pricing at just over $20,000 (excluding sales tax)
Don’t miss out on the CyberStation Performance by Broadberry. Sign up for the Tech Leaks newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest technology news, guides, and walkthroughs.


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Summer Hot Spots Winner
Logan Hulslander, of Fort Myers, won a GoPro camera through a summer Insider promotion offered by The News-Press.
Hulslander, 26, saw a promo touting the giveaway on The News-Press Insider page while reading a series called “Summer Hot Spots,” which explores the variety of fitness activities and amenities across Southwest Florida.
“I read The News-Press online every day,” said Hulslander, a lifelong resident of Southwest Florida.
Hulslander says he is mainly interested in sports content, and follows The News-Press and individual sports reporters on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest news. He uses both a cell phone and laptop to access news-press.com.
The GoPro contest was sponsored through Insider, a membership program offering special events, extras and deals for subscribers of The News-Press. Visit news-press.com/insider to check out the latest offerings.
Be sure to come back for future Insider promotions like this one!


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Although Square Enix announced last month that the Hitman developer, IO Interactive was being sold, it's business as usual at the studio it seems. A new blog post has unveiled the June content schedule for Hitman. Quite a significant amount of content is in store for players, with new Escalation Contracts, a new Elusive Target, a game update, and more planned to land before the month is out.
The developer said the June content would be made available for players in a staggered schedule, with the first drop arriving on June 2. This will include two new Escalation Contracts with them consisting of 'The Spaggiari Subversion' on the Sapienza (Landslide) bonus mission, and 'The Asya Attunement' in Bangkok.
Next, arriving alongside the Escalation Contracts are ten new Featured Contracts created by community members, with the developer selecting the most impressive ones to include within the update.
The second half of June will see the entrance of Elusive Target #25, which the developer calls the penultimate one, and will arrive in Hokkaido. The developer promises more information about the upcoming Elusive Target and the aforementioned game update nearer to their release dates.
In Square Enix's recent financial results briefing, the publisher expressed interest in letting the Hitman series carry on, but whether it will be under IO Interactive or with another developer is currently unknown.


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Taco Bell is bringing again its widespread Volcano menu gadgets on June 29, 2023. Followers can look ahead to having fun with traditional gadgets just like the Volcano Burrito and Volcano Taco, in addition to the choice so as to add the spicy Magma Sauce to any dish. This marks the third time that Taco Bell has introduced again the Volcano menu since its preliminary launch in 1995. The fast-food chain additionally unveiled a brand new brand that includes a graphic volcano with smoke and lava. The announcement was made through a tweet on Thursday, March 16, and the menu will likely be accessible for a restricted time at collaborating US shops later this yr.
Taco Bell is thought for its willingness to cater to the calls for of its prospects, but it surely has additionally been identified to take away gadgets from its menu, a lot to the frustration of its followers. One notable instance of this was the removing of the Mexican Pizza in 2020, which prompted a web based petition and a Twitter marketing campaign led by Dolly Parton. After receiving widespread assist, Taco Bell promised to deliver again the favored merchandise in 2022.
The Volcano menu gadgets will likely be accessible to Taco Bell reward members on June 27, with common entry beginning on June 29. The retail costs of the gadgets haven’t but been revealed by the corporate. Along with the return of the Volcano menu, Taco Bell has additionally launched a brand new limited-time ice slush beverage known as the Breeze Freeze, which incorporates a Blue Raspberry or Wild Cherry base with a brand new tropical syrup that tastes of lime, passionfruit, pineapple, and mango.
At Taco Bell, the Breeze Freeze is priced at $2.99 for a 16-oz common and $3.19 for a 20-oz massive. Nevertheless, in the course of the restaurant’s Pleased Hours from 2:00 pm to five:00 pm EST at collaborating areas throughout the nation, prospects can seize any dimension common for simply $1.
Primarily based in Irvine, California, the favored fast-food chain affords Mexican-inspired delicacies. The model was established by American businessman Glen Bell in 1962 and has over 350 franchises and greater than 7,000 shops worldwide.


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News & Press Cuttings
Durham scoops up awards at Regional Grand Final
(22 October 2010)
JUDGES at the awards for the best business plans to come from graduates, undergraduates and staff from the North East universities said “the competition was tougher than ever this year.
At the awards ceremony at the Hilton in Gateshead last night the Business Award prize went to Newcastle University graduate Adam Soliman, who launched Charbrew last year with backing from Tyneside entrepreneur Dr Tony Trapp. His teas are now sold nationwide at Lakeland stores as, well as independent shops.
The Creativity & Design Awards was Won by Squirrel Audio. Durham University graduates Douglas Bourne and William Soutter are winning sales far their firm which sells audio products to musicians.
The Social Enterprise Award went to Emily Henderson of Durham University. Tatal Lifestyle Camps, which runs fitness camps for children in the school holidays.
And the Knowledge Transfer Award went to Durham Graphene Science which is run by Durham University's Dr Karl Caleman to develop and retail products containing graphene, a carbon nano-material that could potentially replace carbon fibre.
Brian Tanner, Dean of Knowledge Transfer at Durham University and Cofounder of Blueprint said “this
year's entries were excellent across the board and stand testament to an en¬terprise culture shared by all the region's universities."
“While the prizes and accolade are a huge part of the competition, it is the journey that the competitors take to reach the final that is most important.
"In the build-up to the final, the finalists are given access to some of the best business brains in the region as mentors and advisers and are introduced to some hugely influential networks which will no doubt prove invaluable as their businesses develop.
"It is this additional help and support that ensures so many of these business plans turn from a success on paper to a reality, which is so important for the region's economy."
Stephen Green, head of communications at the Entrepreneurs' Forum and one of the judges said: "For many, the plan and the competition is the first step into business, and it's critical that they use it as the platform to start conversations, make connections. and take the actions that will see their ambitions become a reality."
While it was a night of celebration for the winners and the final¬ists, there is some uncertainty over the future of the Blueprint Awards.
Brian Tanner said: "It was difficult not to let this year's final be overshadowed by the Comprehensive Spending Review and its impact on public-sector spending.
"Unless we can find a private sector replacement for One North East as the Blueprint Awards' major sponsor, we may have to make major modifications to next year's competition.
"Blueprint plays such an important role in bridging the business community and the region's universities and has a hugely positive impact on the North East's enterprise culture.
"It is absolutely essential that it continues."
For more information about the Blueprint Competition please visitwww.blueprintcompetition.co.uk


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One of the hallmarks of this bar — besides all the hooting and hollering — were the free peanuts that people could grab with their big beers and shots; after they were done, they just swept the shells onto the floor. But that was before politically correct folks put the kibosh on anything having to do with peanuts.
Still, you’ll find plenty of consolation prizes at the Stock Show this year, whether you’re looking to pig out on maple-bacon funnel cakes or graze on a growing number of vegetarian options. But beef still reigns as the top-selling chow at the Stock Show — beef in its many and varied forms. During the two weeks of festivities, more than 27,000 burger patties are sold, according to executive chef Jake Crabtree, who oversees every aspect of food service, up to and including the 1,000-person plated dinner for Citizens of the West served on the rodeo floor January 13.
Local beef and other products are important to Crabtree, whether they’re burger and hot dog buns from Aspen Baking or prime cuts from Buckhead Beef. If you’re hungry for a steak, stop in at the National Western Bar and Grill inside the Expo Hall, which becomes a fully functioning steakhouse for the duration of the show. The executive chef points out that it’s typical for the bar to go through 600 ribeyes and New York strips and 300 filets each year. To go along with those, rodeo fans also guzzle 1,600 gallons of beans and 2.3 million ounces of beer (none of which will be absorbed by peanut shells this year).
Do your part to take down a steer (or at least the tastiest parts); tickets are still on sale at nationalwestern.com.


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The Egyptian Ministry of State for Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements (MURIS) just selected Foster + Partners to design the masterplan for the Maspero Triangle District in downtown Cairo. The new masterplan aims to regenerate the district dominated by informal settlements and provide new residential, commercial and retail spaces while retaining the area’s unique character.
The regeneration scheme envisions a combination of private investment and public initiative, combining commercial and residential spaces along with mixed-use buildings and community spaces planned to occupy the central core of masterplan. According to the architects, this would allow the existing population to maintain their overlapping live-work relationships while providing more job opportunities on the edges of the site.
Nurturing the public realm is a pivotal aspect of the project designed to create and support communities and neighborhoods. By prioritizing pedestrian traffic, the project caters to both visitors and locals and boosts connectivity. Cafes, restaurants and shops would line the area surrounding the footbridge in Zamalek.
Related: Foster + Partners’ Droneport will launch aerial vehicles to deliver medical supplies in Africa
“We believe this is an exciting opportunity to transform the lives of the people that live in this neighbourhood – supporting the vibrant public realm by giving them greener community spaces, and a better place to live and work, while creating new spaces for offices, retail and residences. On the banks of the River Nile, the future of Maspero burns bright, and we are sure our sustainable model of development will set the benchmark for urban regeneration throughout the country,” said Grant Brooker, Senior Executive Partner at Foster + Partners.
+ Foster + Partners


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-- The 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit opened in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
-- Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will work with the ASEAN to advance all-round cooperation and maintain good momentum for development and prosperity in the region.
-- Xi said the China-ASEAN relationship has grown into the most successful and vibrant model for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and an exemplary effort to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said that China will work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to advance all-round cooperation and maintain good momentum for development and prosperity in the region.
Xi made the remarks via video when addressing the opening ceremony of the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the opening ceremony of the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit via video on Nov. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
"The China-ASEAN relationship has grown into the most successful and vibrant model for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and an exemplary effort to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said.
China continues to regard ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, he said.
This year's expo, which will conclude on Nov. 30, aims to deepen cooperation in trade, the digital economy, science and technology, health, and other fields to foster a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
GREATER ECONOMIC, TRADE COOPERATION
Xi said that as next year will mark the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, China will work with ASEAN to take their strategic partnership to a higher level.
China welcomes the signature of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and looks forward to its early entry into force, he said.
It will work with ASEAN members to sustain the smooth flow of trade, promote mutual investment, open up markets wider to each other, and foster deeply integrated industrial, supply and value chains, Xi said.
ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner. In the first 10 months, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN increased by 7 percent year on year to 3.79 trillion yuan (about 571.64 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 14.6 percent of China's foreign trade, according to China's General Administration of Customs.
This year's expo also highlights the RCEP, the world's biggest trade pact, which was signed earlier this month by 15 Asia-Pacific countries, including ASEAN's 10 member states and China. It was a massive move for regional economic integration, multilateralism and free trade.
"I believe that the RCEP will also provide a solid foundation for an open, inclusive, and rules-based global trade environment," said Myanmar President U Win Myint at the expo's opening ceremony.
Xu Ningning, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council, said that opening up the markets of the 15 countries to each other will bring about new changes and closer regional cooperation.
PROMOTING DIGITAL ECONOMY
Stressing the need to deepen cooperation on the digital economy, Xi said China and ASEAN could create more highlights of cooperation in such areas as smart cities, 5G, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, big data, blockchain and telemedicine, and strengthen the protection of data security and policy communication and coordination.
China will work with ASEAN on the China-ASEAN Information Harbor to advance digital connectivity and build a digital Silk Road, he added.
The added value of China's digital economy registered 35.8 trillion yuan in 2019, accounting for 36.2 percent of the country's GDP, up 1.4 percentage points from the previous year, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.
"China is one of the countries that are at the forefront in developing, investing and utilizing digital technology in the world. In this regard, advancing cooperation in the area of digital technology, under the Belt and Road Initiative, will be an important agenda in the future," said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen via video at the expo's opening ceremony.
It is estimated that ASEAN's digital economy will increase from 1.3 percent of the group's GDP in 2015 to 8.5 percent in 2025, according to ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi.
Myanmar President U Win Myint said that the digital economy is an important segment of sustainable development, "especially at a time when we are becoming increasingly reliant on digital technology for communication, education, health care, trade, investment, stock exchange, and other forms of business activities in theace of challenges posed by the global pandemic."
"We should also continue to encourage the exchange and transfer of modern technological know-how in order to facilitate a transition to the digital economy," said Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
CLOSER COOPERATION AGAINST COVID-19
President Xi said the two sides also need to strengthen cooperation against COVID-19 and enhance capacity building in public health.
China stands ready to work with ASEAN to enhance policy dialogue on public health, information sharing and cooperation on the production, development, and deployment of vaccines, Xi said.
"The COVID-19 crisis has made us realize the importance of friendship and international cooperation even more. We have witnessed weaknesses that need to be improved and strengths that need to be further enhanced and developed," Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said via video at the ceremony.
The crisis caused by the pandemic bears testimony to the greater need to uphold the principles of multilateralism and to strengthen international cooperation, said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.


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Apple is expected to launch three next-generation iPhone rumors in this year (2018). In addition to the current upgraded version of the iPhone X (5.8-inch), the iPhone X Plus with 6.5-inch OLED panels will be introduced. A new machine with a 6.1-inch LCD panel.
Among them, regarding the 6.1-inch LCD version of the new machine, recently it has begun to spread the news that the sales time will be delayed, after a few days ago, some analysts said that the 6.1-inch new machine will delay the production of one month after the mass production, the Japanese website broke the latest news. It is said that due to the low yield of LCD supplier Japan DISPLAY Inc (JDI), the 6.1-inch new machine will not be shipped until the end of November. If the content reported on the Japanese website is true, it may not be until December to start selling the 6.1-inch new machine.
Macotakara, a Japanese technology blog with high accuracy, has reported that Apple’s 6.1-inch new machine will be equipped with JDI‘s 3rd generation “Pixel Eyes” touch sensing system for 4-sided ultra-narrow bezel design. “Full ACTIVE (see photo)” LCD panel products, but this LCD panel product is required to produce very high precision, so JDI’s yield when mass production began in July was only 1%, so according to the relevant person pointed out The 6.1-inch new machine is the fastest to wait until the end of November 2018 to ship.
If the 6.1-inch new machine really has to wait until the end of November to ship, its sales time will be delayed until December.
In addition to the above 6.1-inch new machine news, Macotakara also pointed out that Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro products will use a narrow bezel design, and will cancel the 3.5mm headphone jack, the body size will also be smaller than the current model. Macotakara said that the next-generation iPad Pro will be 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch in the same size as the current model, and the next-generation 10.5-inch machine will be reduced to 247.5mm (height) x178.7mm (width) x6mm (thick), 12.9-inch products. It will also be reduced to 280mm (height) x 215mm (width) x 6.4mm (thickness).
According to the offer of the Harvest XQ Global Winner System, Apple fell 1.66% on the 27th to close at $190.98, the second consecutive trading day.
Japanese intelligence website taisy0 reported that Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty reported on July 24 that it is expected that the new 6.1-inch iPhone released this fall will have problems due to the production of backlight modules for LCD panels. Time may be delayed by one month, which may affect the performance of Apple’s 4th season of 2018 (July-September 2018).
Guo Minghao, who is known as the “strongest analyst on the surface of the earth”, pointed out that the next generation iPhone will be very colorful. The 6.1-inch model will have 5 colors, and the 6.5-inch machine will be launched in gold. Under the price and new color blessing, it is expected that the new iPhone will sell 70 million during the Q4 2018 period, boosting the overall iPhone shipments will increase significantly compared with the same period last year, of which LCD models will account for 55% of sales. And it is estimated that the proportion will be further expanded in 2019.
Nikkei Asian Review reported on June 8th that according to industry sources, Apple expects that the three new iPhone models to be launched this year will be the same as the current iPhone X, which will be equipped with TrueDepth for face recognition technology “Face ID“. Camera system (3D sensing technology).
According to the supply chain survey conducted by Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting, Hon Hai will be the largest assembly plant for the 2018 version of the iPhone. It will exclusively purchase all OEM orders for the 5.8-inch OLED version and 80-90% 6.5-inch OLED. Model orders and orders for 30% 6.1-inch LCD models. Heshuo will win 60% of the 6.1-inch model and 10-15% of the 6.5-inch model; the remaining orders will be won by Wistron (3231).


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Attend HostingCon 2014, the premier industry conference and trade show for web hosting and cloud services providers. The best and brightest from the industry will be in attendance to learn about the latest news, ideas and technology affecting their businesses. Whether you are showcasing your new services, or you are simply checking the pulse of the industry, this is your opportunity to meet and network with your business partners, in a fun and educational atmosphere.
HostingCon is proud to be celebrating its TENTH Anniversary in 2014! Join your peers this June 16 – 18 as we convene at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida to face the challenges of the present and think broadly about the future of the cloud computing and web hosting industry. We’re looking forward to meeting you in Miami Beach, Florida!
In the past few years, cloud hosting has become a desirable platform for businesses. With high availability, scalability, and access to more hardware power in an instant, enterprises of all sizes recognize the cloud is the future. While the cloud will have a part to play, many organizations remain committed to keeping some data in-house. … Continue Reading
While the Internet does not have traditional geographic borders, there remains a tendency for hosting companies to set up their businesses locally. As companies expand and customer bases increase, finding success means satisfying customers from all around the world. Not every customer wants to host their data in the country closest to you, and thinking … Continue Reading
ScienceLogic is hosting an Ultimate Cloud Championship (UCC) that kicks off at Interop Las Vegas. Voters will decide which cloud provider is the Ultimate Cloud Champion (and enter to win an iPad Mini) and the Cloud Champion will be announced at HostingCon. ScienceLogic Cloud Strategist, Jeremy Sherwood, wrote a series of blog posts pitting cloud … Continue Reading


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Realme is expected to launch a new smartphone called Realme Narzo 50i Prime and the same is making noise for the past couple of weeks as well. Now a new report appears online that reveals the specification details along with the design and launching date details. Without making any further delay let’s dive into the article to check out all the available details about the upcoming smartphone.
According to the latest information, the upcoming Realme Narzo 50i Prime will be official on June 22 and it is also reported that the device will be priced under 100 USD. The source also claims that the device will be available in the colour options such as Black and Green.
Going through the renders of the upcoming Realme Narzo 50i Prime, we can see that the device is featuring flat edges and a flat back. The back panel of the device will have a single camera with an LED flash. It is also revealed that the upcoming device will feature a dew-drop notch along with thin bezels and a big chin.
It is also revealed that the upcoming device will house a massive 5,000mAh battery. The device is expected to be available in 3GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB.
So let’s wait for the official launching of the device and we recommend you to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the technological world at your fingertips.
Read interesting news, reviews as well as tips & tricks on TechnoBugg website, and stay updated with the latest happenings of the tech world on the go with Technobugg App. Also follow on Google News and join our Telegram channel for the latest updates.


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CHICAGO — Kuma’s Corner is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a music fest this summer.
The famed burger chain, which celebrates heavy metal music, has already lined up bands Anthrax, Converge, Russian Circles, The Atlas Moth and Indian to perform at the June 27 party, according to a Kuma’s news release.
And, of course, there will be burgers, food exclusive to the fest, beer and cocktails, according to Kuma’s. Local artists, vendors and breweries will also be present.
Kuma’s started in 2005 at Belmont and Francisco avenues. It’s now expanded and has five locations, including one in the West Loop.
The fest will be held noon-10 p.m. June 27 at Brands Park, 3529 N. Elston Ave. General admission tickets are $39 and VIP tickets are $99 and can be bought at Kuma’s Corner locations or online starting Feb. 7.
VIP tickets will include exclusive beers, a private bar, limited edition merchandise and more.


text: Real estate outlets are mushrooming at housing estates and developments in a fierce show of rivalry Real estate agents are making their presence strongly felt on housing estates, even elbowing out long-time occupants of commercial spaces in order to set up shop. At Lido Garden, in Sham Tseng, for example property agencies have moved in at the ground level to take up space once occupied by a bakery, a Chinese herbal store and a beauty salon. The landlord, Cheung Kong (Holdings), decided to reorganise the trade mix of the 12 ground-floor shops in Lido Garden in order to generate a higher rental income. The ongoing sale of Wharf's Bellagio Phase Three, located next to Lido Garden, has prompted prospering real estate agencies such as Centaline Property Agency and Ricacorp Properties, as well as other smaller operators, to move fast into the shopping mall and take up retail space. A similar scenario is unfolding a few blocks away: ParknShop at Rhine Garden has been scaled down in size to make way for property agency Midland Realty. 'There are 16 real estate agencies along the Sham Tseng section of Castle Peak Road,' said Louis Chan, executive director of Centaline Property Agency, which has four branches in the district. Freddy Wu Yat-fat, chief executive at Hong Kong Property Services (Agency), which has two branches in Sham Tseng, said shop rents at Lido Garden had more than doubled to $100 per square foot since the new trade mix was introduced. 'It is too expensive for us,' he said. The shops at Lido went to the highest bidders among property agents in a close tender,' he said. Lido Garden is just a fraction of the neighbourhoods that have seen aggressive expansion on the part of property agents. According to figures from the Estate Agents Authority, by August, the number of estate agent branches had risen by 350 outlets to 3,686 compared with 3,341 last year, and 2,982 in 2003. With transactions soaring 86 per cent to $351.79 billion last year, realtors swung into their high-powered expansion drive early this year. This year Centaline Property Agency has added 40 branches to boost its chain to 300. Its associate Ricacorp Properties has enlarged its network to 150 outlets from 80. Rival group Midland Realty has expanded its chain to 244, after opening 37 branches since January. It will set up 10 new branches by the end of the year. Its subsidiary Hong Kong Property Services (Agency) has opened 30 stores, bringing the total number of outlets to 90 so far. Despite the hectic pace of real estate branch expansion, the competition for retail space was not as fierce as it was during the 1997 market boom, agents said. 'There are fewer players after the market slump,' said Simon Cheung Yick-wai, executive director at Centaline. At present, nearly 70 per cent of the market share is controlled by Centaline Property Agency, Ricacorp Properties, Midland Realty and Hong Kong Property. He said the number of estate agent outlets was still lower than the 1999 figure of 4,200. 'And the rent rate isn't as crazy as it was in 1997,' he added. Midland Realty holds the record for paying the highest rent for an outlet - $420,000 a month for a shop at Wonderland Villas in Lai King, near Kwai Chung during the market peak of 1997. Vincent Chan, executive director at Midland Realty, said the company would not pursue expansion at such 'outrageous' cost. 'We will be more cautious,' he said. Today, a monthly rent of $200,000 to $300,000 for a new outlet is considered the upper limit. Agents are wary of repeating their blind expansion strategy of eight years ago. 'Only a few of our outlets are being charged relatively high rents - most are reasonable,' said Mr Chan of Midland. But real estate agents are still the darlings among the landlords of retail shops. Landlord are less likely to soften their asking rents for real estate agents who have adopted a high-rent policy in order to weaken the market share of rivals. 'Our industry never enjoys low rents,' said Ivan Ho Shui-cheong, managing director at Ricacorp. 'Some of our rivals will pay a high premium for shops in strategic locations just to secure their presence. We have to play the game if we want to compete.'


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Crow Wing County business electronics collection set May 21
The Crow Wing County Land Services Department will conduct a business electronics collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 21 at the Crow Wing County Landfill Site.
This is an opportunity for businesses to dispose of any old electronics.
Equipment to be disposed will be unloaded and weighed, and businesses will be provided with a bill of lading for records. The cost to dispose of business electronics is 35 cents per pound.


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Ducati has unveiled its new 899 Panigale – and doesn’t it look fantastic!Read more
Ducati has released details and images of the motor that will power its new 1199 Panigale superbike. Called the Superquadro, it’s claimed to be aRead more
Postal strikes planned with the Royal Mail on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1.
With this in mind would you please allow extra days for delivery of your favourite magazine.


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Tourism agencies are turning to China's most popular social media app, WeChat, to try to get a bigger piece of the country's growing outbound tourism market.
The social messaging app launched an alliance on Tuesday with some 30 foreign tourism agencies, including the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), to encourage greater use of its in-app tools to reach Chinese visitors.
The number of tourists from China is rising steadily as the country develops. Last year, 149 million tourists travelled overseas, almost 15 per cent higher than the year before.
These tourists also spent more than US$130 billion (S$178 billion) overseas, leading some tourism experts to label Chinese visitors "walking wallets".
Thailand is the top foreign destination for Chinese tourists, while Singapore ranks seventh.
Dr Zhang Yang from the China Tourism Academy noted that the outbound tourism market has seen double-digit growth for the past 15 years. But the market is also changing as the Chinese become more well-travelled. Where they once travelled in tour groups, more are now opting for independent travel to "experience the local lifestyle", she said.
"When people travel abroad now, they find information on social platforms including WeChat. In the past, they travelled with travel agencies, but now they like to plan their trips themselves," said Dr Zhang.
The WeChat app has more than 1.1 billion monthly active users, who use it for everything from paying bills, booking train and plane tickets to researching attractions.
It also allows for mini-programs, which are sub-applications, that can be customised for various purposes, such as buying coupons, travel insurance or serving as travel guides.
The industry grouping - Welcome with WeChat Alliance - aims to support foreign tourism agencies in developing tools to reach out to Chinese consumers.
It is the latest move from a Chinese company to make things easier for tourists, both local and foreign, after e-payment giants Alipay and WeChat Pay said this month that they planned to open up their e-payment services to foreigners visiting China.
WeChat pointed out on Tuesday that STB was the first foreign tourism agency that launched its own WeChat mini-program for Chinese visitors to Singapore in 2017. It has two WeChat accounts and three mini-programs catering to different types of visitors.
STB's Northern China area director Nicky Seet said at the launch in Beijing that agencies had to continually review and expand the way they communicate with visitors.
Last year, more than 3.4 million visitors from China were in Singapore, a 6 per cent increase from 2017. They were also the top spenders in Singapore last year, spending more than $3.9 billion.
While experts say they see great potential in the Chinese tourist market, issues ranging from the language barrier to lack of information about destinations remain common problems faced by Chinese tourists.
Germany's National Tourist Board director for China Li Zhaohui noted a dearth of Mandarin-speaking guides in Europe. She said technology could help solve the problem. For example, its mini-program could have audio guides and translation functions.


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July 31, 2022
30 Leading Women Entrepreneurs Ruling the Marijuana Industry
According to the American Marijuana Organization, the marijuana industry is expected to raise $23 billion in legal sales. Currently, over 13,000 businesses are depending on marijuana to run. In addition to the medical use of the plant, you can see that the legalization of marijuana has benefits to it.
Amid all these waves and breakthroughs, some women are driving this growth. They have invested, revolutionized, studied, and taught about the marijuana industry. Below is a list of 30 leading women entrepreneurs shaping the marijuana industry.
#22 Jessica Cadmus, Rogue Paq Founder


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New information with respect to the upcoming 2013 Nissan GT-R tells us that Nissan will officially release their new model year on the 7th of November 2011. The new 2013 model year version boasts more power, more performance, even better handling and, as is de rigeur nowadays, better economy and cleaner emissions, says Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar.
Rumours suggests that the 2013 model will have around 550 horsepower, up from 523 in the 2012 version. Even improved Nurburgring lap time figures are being mentioned. Pistonheads reports that the new 2013 model could be as much as ten seconds faster per lap than the 2012 version, which would put the new car’s Ring lap time between 7:16.22 and 7:14.22. Times close to the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition and better than any other Porsche currently for sale.
According to Pistonheads, Kazutoshi Mizuno, ‘father of the GT-R’, said we could be seeing a difference of at least 7-8 seconds against the current GT-R ‘personal best’ of 7min 24secs. In fact he said ten seconds first, but corrected himself with the air of a man who thought it best to appear conservative.
He also mentioned that the new GT-R would be quicker through every corner by between 5 to 8km/h and 5km/h quicker on the final straight stretch, reaching a top speed of 296km/h.
The upcoming 2013 Nissan GT-R seems to become a true supercar-killer. We cannot wait to see the full lap video from the Ring.
Stay tuned for more on the 7th of November.


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Nintendo's Indie Direct earlier this year didn't get many people that excited - mostly because it was just an excuse to announce Wargroove and precious little else. But don't worry folks, salvation is around the corner - there's a new Nintendo Direct coming.

Today/tonight at 2pm PT, 5pm ET, and 10pm UK time, Nintendo will be doing a full-on Nintendo Direct live on YouTube. It'll last 35 minutes, and its main focus will be Fire Emblem: Three Houses which was announced last year. But expect other Switch titles to be talked about as well.
" And yet you went on liking me and being my friend."
2、The mind and sight distractedly commixed.Dadish 2(Unlock all levels)
1、With wit well blazoned, smiled, or made some moan.
2、Heard where his plants in others' orchards grew;People and stories
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Nintendo has announced that the NES Classic Edition (or NES Mini, if you prefer) will once again return to stores on June 29th, so if you have been wanting the classic console, here's your chance.

The replica console was originally launched in 2016 and sold out quickly, so if you're interested, best start making your plans now.

The console comes with thirty built-in classic games, ranging from Donkey Kong to the Legend of Zelda, and of course several Super Mario Bros. titles. It includes one classical controller, and an HDMI connection for your TV.

If you want to get more details on the console, or the games included, check out the official website. The NES Classic Edition will retail for $59.99/£59.99 MSRP.


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In 2008, Cisco Systems (s CSCO), typically one of the biggest shoppers in Silicon Valley bought only four companies, down from about 14 in 2007. In 2009, that stinginess might be coming to an end. In an interview with Barron’s Eric Savitz, Cisco CEO John Chambers noted that Cisco was always aggressive in buying companies during downturns because he thinks that is the best time. “Companies with cash are king, queen and the royal family,” he said, perhaps reminding the that he has $27 billion (in cash and short term investments) to spend.
Chambers told Savitz he expects consolidation in the networking sector, but said he is not interested in buying direct competitors. Makes sense — why buy when you can destroy them with your sales force? Instead, Cisco is focusing its energies on buying companies to expand into the consumer electronics arena. According to Reuters, Chambers has talked about making “stream of acquisitions” with focus on video. Chambers said a good acquisition for Cisco would be company that has 100 people and a product consumers are lining up to buy. While this Apple (s AAPL) envy might cost Cisco a few million, for some startups and their backers, Chambers’ words are nothing short of sweet music.
Question for our readers: Which startup(s) should Cisco buy?


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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Increased store traffic and a more productive sales mix helped Ingles Markets here post gains in sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year that ended Sept. 25, the retailer said last week.
“Given the extended recession and intensified competition for a smaller amount of consumer dollars, we're pleased with our growth in sales and customer traffic,” Ron Freeman, chief financial officer of Ingles, said in a conference call discussing results. “We believe we have reacted well in this difficult environment.”
Ingles reported quarterly net income of $8.5 million — a 63.5% increase from the same period a year ago — on sales of $856 million. Overall sales increased 2.1% and comparable-store sales, excluding gas, increased by 1.8%.
Store traffic was up by 5.4% for the quarter, more than making up for a lower average ticket per visit, Freeman said. Gross margins improved by 70 basis points in the quarter as customers bought more higher-margin items including produce, he added.
Sales for the fiscal year improved 4.3% to $3.4 billion, and net earnings of $31.7 million improved by 10.1%.
In its annual report filed with federal regulators last week, Ingles noted that annual perishable sales increased by 2.4% in 2010 while grocery sales were up by 0.6%. Rising prices for gasoline and milk helped those categories increase sales, the company added.
“In general, grocery segment sales increases excluding gasoline during fiscal 2010 were driven by effective promotions, cost competitiveness, service execution and expanded product selections,” Ingles said. “The company believes it is important to aggressively protect market share and customer traffic during difficult economic conditions and increased unemployment in its market area.”
Ingles said it expected “modest” sales gains in fiscal 2011 as executives anticipate the recovery would be gradual and choppy.
“I think, overall, [consumers] are feeling better, but like most things in the economy these days, I think it's going to be a slow incremental move forward,” Freeman said.
Capital expenditures are expected to increase from $92 million in fiscal 2010 to between $100 million and $140 million in 2011, the company said. Projects include a plan to expand its current distribution center in Asheville, funded in part by $99.7 million in tax-exempt Recovery Zone bonds.
|Inc/Share||34 cents||22 cents|
* EXCLUDING GAS.


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Several health-and-fitness trackers have gone on sale in China, revealing that messaging-app maker's efforts to become a software platform for wearables and eventually "everything."
We take a closer look at the LG G Watch, which Google showcased yesterday at its annual developer's conference in San Francisco.
Three game demos at E3 show how Sony's VR headset could be used in all sorts of ways: join us as we sword-fight, space-battle and street-luge virtually.
Packing a 13-megapixel shooter on its backside, the G Pro 2 features plenty of photo and video tools to keep you shutterbuggin' along.
Headlines described the sighting of waves on Titan this week, but it's really still smooth sailing on the impressively deep lakes of the Earth-ish moon.
Make a splash in Tom Daley's Speedos with a Google Maps Street View tour inside the London 2012 Aquatics Centre.
A swipe of your digit is all it takes for your unique prints to unlock the phone so you can pay for goods. Here's what CNET's Jessica Dolcourt thinks of it.
The fully dunkable Kyocera Hydro Plus is a competitively priced Android 4.0 handset for Cricket Wireless.
If you're looking for a camera that can dive underwater beyond 50 feet without a housing, Canon has something to show you.
Ninja's countertop cooker packs in more than what you might be used to in a slow cooker.


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The Chinese owned shot video app TikTok is in the process of creating a fund of $200 million which the company will use to retain its top users while also attracting new ones.
Analysts said that this was the signal of a growing company.
The new program aims to “help support ambitious creators who are seeking opportunities to foster a livelihood through their innovative content,” the video app company said in a statement on Thursday.
Distribution of the cash will be made later this year and this fund will become just one of the ways that users can earn money on the platform, TikTok said. Currently the more popular users on the platform can make money by livestreaming or through brand partnerships.
TikTok said that those users who are 18 years or older, reside in the United States and “consistently” post original videos according to the guidelines of the platform to be eligible for the cash doles.
The company will be accepting applications to enter the program starting next month. However there was no clarity on how many of the users’ application TikTok will accept or how much money will be given to the creators.
While not specifying how much money he company would be disbursing, a company spokesperson said that the $200 million is just the starting amount for the fund which will initially be spent to help the fledgling app to stay competitive and hold on to the top talent on the platform.
There are a number of challenges being faced by TikTok which includes a prospective ban on it by the United States government because of its Chinese ownership and claims of the app being a security risk for the country.
Earlier this week, the company had said that it will be hiring a total of 10,000 people in the US over the next three years which will be a significant increase from the current 1,400 employees that it has currently in the United States.
Some measures have been taken by TikTok to distance itself from China. In addition to a recent hiring of an American CEO, the company has also confirmed that its parent company is contemplating a corporate restructuring which could include setting up a headquarters for the video sharing app outside of China.
TikTok’s rivals are also however making moves to increase competition. A TikTok-like function called Reels is being launched by Instagram, owned by Facebook. This new feature will allow users to record and edit 15-second videos that will be set to music and audio and then upload the video to their stories and Instagram’s Explore feature.
A $100 million fund to “amplify” content from Black users was recently announced by YouTube, which lets users monetize their channels.
(Adapted from CNN.com)


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Scotland has emerged as the most expensive place to learn to drive, where the average cost per lesson with a driving school is £24.03.
The study by Ipsos MORI indicated that across the country prices for driving lessons vary significantly, with the average cost for an hour's lesson being £22.30.
To be prepared for the test, a candidate needs around 45 hours of tuition.
The average price in Scotland makes the overall cost of taking lessons £1,081.
The poll found that people in Wales get the best deal, with the average hourly rate of manual or automatic lessons being £19.99, taking the total to £899.55.
Yell.com also questioned its advertisers providing car servicing and repairs.
The survey found that the UK average price for an interim service (6,000 miles) for a Ford Focus or similar petrol car is £79, with the lowest price starting at £20 and the highest costing £200.
For a full service, the UK average price is £141, with the lowest starting at £35, rising right up to £375.
© Press Association 2010


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Earlier today Amazon launched their 'Amazon Prime Music' service, with over a million songs available at launch. The service can be accessed through all major platforms, including iOS and Android.
Amazon Echo Review: "Alexa, why are you so cool and frustrating at the same time?"
amazon echo promo
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Spotify has announced that it has now signed up 10 million paid subscribers around the world to use its streaming music service, which is double the number it had in December 2012.
The first developer beta of iOS 6 has a new feature that turns the iTunes Match music service from a download feature into a true online streaming music service.
Todays big news in the tech world is the launch of the streaming music service Spotify in the US. The service allows people to stream 15 million songs to their PC, Mac or smartphone device....
Apple's iTunes music service is still the leader in the downloadable music space but now it wants in on the ever growing cloud computing business. Before it does that with iTunes, however, it needs to...