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Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) has been diagnosed with multiple financial illnesses from its statement of comprehensive expenses, all the way down to its statement of cash flow, and sadly, all medical examinations administered seem to be provoking a null response. All this began in 2011, when the newly appointed CEO, Stephen Elop was followed shortly by a change of strategy, which included overhauling the company’s own Symbian O.S, in favor of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Windows phone, which now also runs in its Nokia Lumia 920 phones.
Someone would think, what kind of dose could have knocked out the former industry giant so expeditiously from the pack, and to the mid-level, then now, to a point where Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) is almost struggling to survive. Nonetheless, the answers can be derived from its books, which used to be so impressive to peruse, though not so for now, as they display the image of what a country buddy buddy would call ” the last kicks of a dying horse”; but the big question is, can Nokia still receive financial salvation?
Yost Partners was up 0.8% for the first quarter, while the Yost Focused Long Funds lost 5% net. The firm's benchmark, the MSCI World Index, declined by 5.2%. The funds' returns outperformed their benchmark due to their tilt toward value, high exposures to energy and financials and a bias toward quality. In his first-quarter letter Read More
The Finnish based mobile phone maker has a complicated portfolio, following its acquisitions in Siemens, the partnership now known as Nokia Siemens Network, and the Location & Commerce company, called NAVTEQ. Nokia has not recorded a positive EBITDA since 2010, and has even failed to Break Even. The good news is, it has probably escaped the wrath of Corporation tax, while everything else, is all bad news to Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK).
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK)’s non EBITDA sales have hit a snug over the last twelve months and analysts from Evli Bank Plc research division expect the figure to be negative for the calender year 2012. This is mainly because of lackluster sales figures following the abandonment of Symbian O.S.
The analysts claim that the adopted Windows Phone O.S has not been able to fill the gap, thereby leading to a decline in revenues. However, the analysts expect the company to begin recovery from 2013 onward, as Windows Phone OS is expected to gain popularity with time.
The EBITDA percentage of Net sales has fallen from about 17% in 2007 and 2008, to below 0% in 2012, while last year, it stood at about 7%. The analysts expect this rate to grow to about 3% in 2013, and 7% in 2014, albeit a slower growth in net sales. This means that the EBITDA growth will be highly influenced by implementation of some aggressive cost cutting measures.
Additionally, the sales figure also faces stiff challenge from current market dictators, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The analysts also claim that Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK)’s new Lumia phones have received better consumer reviews, as compared to Apple’s new iPhone 5. However, this is only so in the Nordic Countries, as recent surveys in U.S have indicated just the opposite. You cannot topple a market leader by claiming huge local market share, Nokia needs to replicate this globally, as does Apple iDevices, in order to start dreaming.
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK)’s cash reserves have been tasked with supporting the company since 2011, which has resulted in declines, as is well illustrated in the chart above, left. The analysts indicate that cash, which had been garnered during the happy times of the mobile phone leader from the early 21st century, has now declined to just over EUR 4 billion as per Q2 results. Nokia is expected to have less than EUR 2 billion by the end of 2012, although from 2013 onward, just as earlier mentioned, there should be steady marginal growth.
Consequently, Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) is expected to get some additional finances,as it still struggles to recoup itself out of the red zone. It is expected to get some bank loans to the tune of EUR 750 million in 2013, while in 2014, the mobile phone maker will get about EUR 1.2 billion worth of bonds for its credit needs. In total, 2014 will require a total funding of about EUR 1.8 billion including R&D Loan.
The year 2012 is probably the worst for Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK), as far as Net Debt to EBITDA ratio is concerned, as it is expected to stand at a historical high of more than 8.0 times, as compared to the other periods which boast an expected or actual below zero ratio. On the other hand, EBITDA to Interest expense has not been all that stable; the year 2011 recorded the best at 25 times, but the figure, just as expected, has plunged to negative territory in 2012, due to declining sales.
The analysts expect Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) to report Free cash flows of about EUR 700 million in 2013, and EUR 1.3 billion in the full year 2014. Additionally, they recommend a credit rating BB for the struggling company, and cite increased competition and cannibalizing strategy choices, as major contributors to Nokia’s current status. However, they do believe that cost cuts, along with introduction of new product ranges, are likely to have a huge impact on the company; this time around, a positive impact, come 2013.
In my opinion, Nokia’s fixed costs are the biggest impediments as the reduction in sales units should not be affecting the company so adversely as witnessed, if it did not have, for instance, EUR 5.35 billion in fixed costs in 2011.
At the time of this writing, Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK), was trading at $2.61, down $0.10 per share , or 3.52% decline from the previous close.


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The owner of a New Jersey pet store said that three rare, expensive birds that were stolen from the shop over the weekend have been returned, along with an apology note.
On Saturday, a couple and a young boy entered the Paterson Bird Store in Totowa and had a cat with them in a carrier, the store owner's said. They were not allowed inside the bird room with the cat, so the woman held on to the feline outside as the man kept the carrier.
The man then used the carrier to swipe the three birds worth about $1,800 — two Rosy Bourke Parakeets and an American Dilute Conure, according to store owner Philip Jasper.
"They used the son, who's 7 or 8 years old — he used him as a lookout while he's grabbing the birds. It's really very sad," Jasper said.
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A surveillance video at the store captured the whole incident, an employee said, adding that it appeared the man was looking at the prices of the birds to see which ones are the most expensive.
Five days later, on Thursday, Jasper said that the birds were returned to the store. Surveillance footage shows a man carrying a covered cage to the store, opening the shop's front door and setting the cage down inside. The man then jogged off.
There was a note along with the birds, Jasper said, that asked for forgiveness and to not "include his wife or his child in this." Jasper is crediting social media for outing the thieves.
While the owner is appreciative that the birds were returned, he said they were not in good health, saying they were thin and starving. Store employees are helping the birds recover, Jasper said.

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Halo Infinite is still slated to launch on Xbox One in 2021, according to 343's community manager.
Clearing up previously reported suggestions that the game is unlikely to release on Microsoft's current-gen console following difficulties getting it running on Xbox One S hardware, as well as the potential to delay the game into 2022, 343's John Junyszek responded to a tweet to assuage concerns.
Halo Infinite NOT Being Dropped From Xbox One
Check out the tweet below.
Hey Eric - we're seeing lots of fake "leaks" out there, so please don't believe everything you read. There are no plans to change our 2021 release or the devices and platforms we'll be supporting. We're building Halo Infinite to be the best it can be on each device/platform 👊
— John Junyszek (@Unyshek)
Previously, a Resetera user that was verified by mods suggested that the game could not only be delayed but skip current-gen hardware altogether.
The game's development has been under scrutiny recently, with Halo Infinite being delayed to 2021. A further report suggested that the delay was due to heavy outsourcing to third-party development studios, but it sounds as though the team believes it'll launch in 2021.


text: Kathy Kazava, President of the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA), spoke to the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville at their noon meeting on June 10 about the role the GFIA plays in promoting the food business in Georgia. The organization serves all involved in the food industry, from supermarkets to suppliers. In addition to providing networking activities, GFIA lobbies the Georgia Legislature on behalf of the food industry. A lobbyist for 24 years, Kazava cited the need for a trustworthy reputation and for personal contacts with legislators. A main goal is to educate legislators about the impact and effect of certain bills that would impact the food industry. She offered some examples of recent concerns. In one case, developers were planning to build a subdivision around the Blue Bell distribution center, which has heavy and loud truck deliveries late into the night. A legislative bill was passed that gave precedence to the pre-existing entity and freed it from complaints about noise. The bill allowing grocery stores to sell beer and wine on Sundays was a major victory for the food industry. Currently a bill allowing pharmacies in grocery stores to offer increased immunizations is before the Legislature. Kazava offered these examples to demonstrate the role of lobbyist organizations like her own. Another area where they are active is in studying regulations imposed by government agencies on the food industry. She creatively used the Four-Way Test as a way to talk about her goals as a lobbyist.


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Mazda Australia says it won't be drawn into a pricing war with Toyota this month despite the title of Australia's best selling car hanging in the balance.
With one month of the calendar year remaining, the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla are neck and neck in the overall sales race for 2014. The Mazda3 was the top selling nameplate for November, marginally outselling the Corolla with 3449 sales compared with 3264 transactions. However, the Corolla still leads the year-to-date tally by just 679 deliveries, fuelling speculation the two brands would engage in a pricing war to steal the best selling new car title at the death.
"We wouldn't even think about cut throat pricing because that's not the way we operate as a company," a Mazda spokesman said.
The Mazda3 remains the best selling private vehicle in the Australia car market, however thanks in part to its larger fleet appeal, the Corolla still has the outright lead with one month remaining.
In recent years, certain car makers have been known to pre-register vehicles or inflate demonstration numbers in order to boost their delivery figures on paper. But the spokesman said Mazda wouldn't partake in such strategies.
"Whether the Mazda3 finishes the year in first or not, we're very happy with the way it has been received in the Australian marketplace," the spokesman said.
"We will leave the car to sell naturally."
For the third consecutive calendar year, Mazda is set to eclipse 100,000 sales in Australia in 2014.
- Interested in buying Mazda 3? Visit our Mazda showroom for more information.


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A piece entitled Crowdfunding Vermont’s Startups ran today in the Burlington Free Press by Launcht CEO & Co-Founder Freeman White. The piece highlights the benefits that the pending crowdfunding legislation will bring to the startup community, connecting ideas with funding in a value-rich and meaningful way. As Freeman says in the article “Picture a bakery getting started with invested capital from people in the neighborhood. Picture a sustainable food project raising capital from its community. Both are possible with crowdfunding.” We are excited about the article and the potential of this new legislation.
Nonprofit work isn’t just for bleeding hearts anymore. It has evolved into its own competitive industry—thanks, in large part, to online crowdfunding. The research firm Massolution found that crowdfunding raised $34 billion in 2015 (a 167% jump from the year … Continue reading →


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Bill Litvin, vice president of sales and national account manager Giorgio Fresh, headquartered in Temple, PA, told The Produce News that the company now offers a line of stuffed Portabella mushrooms.
“The line includes Portabella Mushrooms stuffed with Cheese and Imitation Bacon Bits, Portabella Mushrooms stuffed with Imitation Flavored Crab and, Portabella Mushrooms stuffed with Parmesan Cheese, Artichokes and Spinach,” said Litvin. “Giorgio brings out the best in the Portabella mushroom by offering three tempting stuffed portabella mushroom products. Our Portabella’s are stuffed with flavorful fillings that make for a satisfying-yet-light lunch or dinner. Great health benefits and great taste come together in these three new delicious products from Giorgio. You can’t pick a better stuffed portabella mushroom.”
Each package of Giorgio Fresh’s new stuffed Portabella mushrooms features four large stuffed Portabella caps per tray. The package is four, eight-ounce over-wrapped trays and are available to retailers.
Litvin pointed out that according to a consumer trends’ report unveiled in July from The Produce Marketing Association, generational differences is one of the many factors influencing shopping behavior in the produce industry.
Litvin said the report stated that for the first time, there are four separate generations shopping: Millennials, Gen X-ers, Baby Boomers and Silents.
“The wide variety of ages, lifestyles by age and unique generational viewpoints in the marketplace is unprecedented,” said Litvin. “With more generations in the mix, the mushroom category has been tasked with striking a marketing balance of engaging one generation without alienating the others. Thankfully, due to the nutritional value and swapability of mushrooms, we continue to see purchases among all generations in the aisles.”
Another trend in the mushroom category, according to The Mushroom Council, is to blend mushrooms into meals. By blending finely-chopped, umami-rich mushrooms in place of ground meat in recipes, consumers are seamlessly adding an extra serving of vegetables to their plates. This allows recipes to be healthier without losing their taste or texture.
“Our opinion on specific trends such as organics and sustainability remain the same,” said Litvin. “These trends have helped contributed to sustained growth in the category. Because of them, consumers are doing their homework to constantly search for healthy products. They are also increasingly cognizant in purchasing products from retailers or companies like Giorgio who make sustainability practices a priority.
“We grow our mushrooms in a fully organic substrate without artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge,” he continued. “We are leading the way in Integrated Pest Management, including non-chemical and natural biological pest control techniques to limit the use of synthetic pesticides. We do not bio-engineer our mushrooms or use ionizing radiation. Our operations must pass stringent inspections to ensure that we continue to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture organic standards.”
Litvin also noted that throughout the economic downturn of recent years, the mushroom category has continued to see healthy sales growth.
“Throughout the economic downturn, the mushroom category experienced high demand and sustained growth, which we expect to remain as the economic recovery in the United States continues,” he said. “According to a recent shipment report from the Mushroom Council, through the end of April this year, there was a 5.2 percent increase in mushroom shipments in the United States in comparison to the same time period in 2012. Because of this, The Mushroom Council has predicted that if this progress continues, the mushroom category will have a record-breaking year for the greatest annual shipment increment in history. Giorgio continues to see double-digit increases in sales this year.”
Giorgio Fresh is pleased to support the Mushroom Council’s ‘Swap It or Top It’ campaign.
“We offered a wide variety of materials, such as shelf danglers, channel strips and posters to help promote the campaign and move more products,” said Litvin.
He extended an invitation to all visitors to the PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans, at booth number 129.
“We will be launching our new website and showcasing a new company video,” said Litvin. “As usual, we will be offering coffee and cappuccinos to all visitors who stop by.”


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AZORTE, Reliance Retail’s fashion-lifestyle store, takes on Zara and Mango
Reliance Retail on Thursday launched high-end fashion and lifestyle retail brand AZORTE in Bangalore in a bid to boost its presence in the luxury market in the country.
At approximately 18,000 square feet in size, the AZORTE store is the latest addition to Reliance Retail’s fashion and lifestyle portfolio, which will compete with Zara, owned by Mango and Industria de Diseno Textil SA, and will cater to millennials and Gen-Z.
“The mid-range fashion segment is one of the fastest growing consumer segments as Millennials and Generation Z increasingly demand the latest in international and contemporary Indian fashion,” said said Akhilesh Prasad, general manager of the fashion and lifestyle segment of Reliance Retail.
It will house high-end international and contemporary Indian fashion products and offer an assortment of Western and Indian clothing, footwear, fashion accessories, home, beauty and more, the company said in a statement.
The new store format includes technology interventions such as smart try-ons, fashion discovery stations, endless aisles and self-checkout kiosks. The company plans to increase its store presence in key markets over the coming months.
On Tuesday, Reliance Retail announced the launch of its fashion and lifestyle department store format – Reliance Centro.


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PLUS Malaysia has launched a new chatbot named "PLUS Texting Realtime Interface" (PUTRI). PUTRI is designed to have interactive conversations through its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning model with PLUS customers, and over time, handle over 70% of the 1,500 calls which PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre (TMC) receives on an average day. According to PLUS, majority of its calls are requests for standard highway information.
With PUTRI’s support, PLUS Malaysia looks to enhance its TMC service levels by allowing TMC personnel to focus more on emergency calls, conduct speedier and swifter coordination to assist customers in distress during traffic incidents. PUTRI also aims to provide faster responses and reduce the waiting period for PLUS customers. Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid, chief technology and innovation officer, PLUS Malaysia said PUTRI will be able to attend to multiple and simultaneous queries pertaining to PLUS highway service, toll fares, real-time traffic information, inquiries on PLUSMiles, product, facilities, promotions as well as events.
PUTRI is currently available in its beta version and is targeted to be fully completed by Q3 2020. It can be found on PLUS' official website, the PLUSMiles portal, and PLUS mobile app. According to a press release, it will soon be made available on social media platforms and WhatsApp with bilingual capability. In a statement to A+M, Shamsul said PLUS Malaysia will be promoting PUTRI on its owned and earned platforms, and will be using digital PR to organically grow its user base. He added that it took the company has invested less than RM500,000 for the chatbot and took less than six months to launch it.
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“The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated our lives to become more digitally dependent and tech-savvy. The increase of bandwidth usage in the country and the world is a sure sign that we are embracing the use of more gadgets, and communication experience is more robust today. Hence, our PUTRI will provide real time interface to the thousands of enquiries on straightforward highway information,” Shamsul said.
PLUS Malaysia is not the only brand creating a chatbot. Last year in January, AirAsia launched its chatbot named AVA (AirAsia Virtual Allstar) which aimed to deliver a more seamless, user-friendly experience to airasia.com and the app’s 3.3 million monthly active users, from flight bookings to browsing for deals to online shopping and customer support. Earlier this month, AirAsia also unveiled the chatbot's evolution, a virtual influencer named Miss AVA. Present mainly on Instagram, Miss AVA posts travel-related content. AirAsia first teased Miss AVA in an Instagram post last December, wishing her happy birthday and saying: "The new makeover looks great on you and something's brewing. Lookout for Miss AVA in 2020!"


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February 5, 2012
TechCrunch — February 5, 2012 | Rip Empson
Every year, Best Buy runs a big Super Bowl spot, and traditionally they go the route of hiring a big celebrity to hawk their brand message. Last year, it was “the Biebs” and Ozzy Osbourne. This year, Best Buy has opted for something a bit different, choosing to highlight innovators and give more than a nod to geeks in its tech-focused Super Bowl ad.
Drew Panayiotou,… read more


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Most Popular in:
Jun 08, 2015 | 02:10 PM CDT
SC Johnson becomes the first major consumer packaged goods company to offer product-specific fragrance disclosure to consumers, beginning with Glade.
Jun 05, 2015 | 10:10 AM CDT
SRS Aromatics Ltd. has recently been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for Sensient Fragrances S.A. materials.
Jun 01, 2015 | 03:13 PM CDT
Why is REACH registration so critical to the fragrance industry?
Jun 01, 2015 | 03:08 PM CDT
By: Brian Lawrence
Carrot Seed and Leaf Oil.
May 29, 2015 | 01:02 PM CDT
This is part two of a web series in which John King details how he applied perfumery ingredients and medieval inspirations from King John to create novel scents.
May 27, 2015 | 04:34 PM CDT
A community of scientists is now brainstorming about how to offer decent toilet systems in developing countries and they are working with fragrance experts.
May 26, 2015 | 10:47 AM CDT
New rules simplify access to biodiversity and establishment of benefits sharing.
May 15, 2015 | 04:27 PM CDT
The global flavors and fragrances market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% a new report says.
May 05, 2015 | 10:24 AM CDT
Today, on the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, John King describes how he applied perfumery ingredients and medieval inspirations from King John to create novel scents.
May 04, 2015 | 09:42 AM CDT
According to the findings of Seven Scent’s new global trends forecast, three fragrance notes are set to take off in Spring-Summer 2016.


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Samsung’s next foldable smartphone, presumably called the “Galaxy Fold 2” is set to make some big improvements over the emotional roller coaster that was the Galaxy Fold. Today, a couple of reports out of South Korea detail what we can expect from the Galaxy Fold 2, including some display specs and an unfortunate detail about the expected S Pen.
ETNews reports today a few details on what to expect from the Galaxy Fold 2’s display. There will apparently be a 7.7-inch internal display, slightly larger than last year’s panel. That internal display will also have a 120Hz refresh rate and use the same ultra-thin glass covering as the Galaxy Z Flip which launched earlier this year.
The external display will also get an upgrade, this time hitting 6.23-inches. The small 4.6-inch display on the original Fold was a complaint for many, so it’s nice to see Samsung offering much more real estate this time around. That panel, however, will be only 60Hz. It will be coated in regular Gorilla Glass, too, and both devices will use a hole-punch cutout for the camera.
These details also line up with a report from earlier this year, notably.
Moving on to the S Pen, apparently, the Galaxy Fold 2 won’t have one! It was widely expected that Samsung would offer this feature on its second-gen foldable, but a report from TheElec claims Samsung won’t be delivering. Why? Apparently, it comes down to technical reasons. Samsung hasn’t managed to figure out how to create cover glass which is durable enough for both folding and pressure from the stylus pen.
An analyst hints that the S Pen might have been possible with a plastic cover on the display, but it’s certainly a shame the Fold 2 won’t be able to deliver it. Still, the benefits of ultra-thin glass outweigh the benefits an S Pen would have delivered.
More on Samsung Galaxy Fold 2:
- Samsung reportedly lowering price of Galaxy Fold 2, prepping 5G Galaxy Z Flip
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Fold 2 details uncovered in code w/ ‘Zodiac’ project
- Alleged Galaxy Fold 2 leak lists full display specs, hole-punch, 120Hz
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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After the bloodbath that was the 2016 holiday season for major store chains like Macy’s (m, -0.98%) and Target (tgt, -0.43%) among many, it follows that job creation in the retail sector would be underwhelming in the aftermath.
But the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics job market report released on Friday showed it was an even bigger disaster than expected, with 30,700 jobs lost. Combined with similar job losses in February, the retail industry had its worse two-month job creation period since the depths of the Great Recession. And retail, which employs nearly 16 million Americans, was one of the very few industries to ditch jobs last month and certainly cut the most jobs by far of any industry.
In January, as the major retailers gave Wall Street their holiday season post mortems, one mass store closing announcement came after the other: J.C. Penney (jcp, -1.83%) was shedding 140 stores; Sears Holdings (shld, -2.29%) shuttering 75, Macy’s (m, -0.98%) paring its fleet by 100 locations. And specialty clothing chains have similarly been trying to get leaner, from The Gap (gps, -0.57%) and Abercrombie & Fitch (anf, -1.07%).


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The Eden Project confirmed today that the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes and Core education centre will reopen to visitors on Saturday July 4.
Eden’s 30-acre outdoor garden, shop and some food outlets are already open. The reopening of the Biomes and Core follow the latest Government directives announced today by the Prime Minister.
The Eden team has been working hard on a wide range of new measures to make sure that the safety, health and wellbeing of all staff and visitors remains top priority as national lockdown measures ease.
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Anyone wanting to visit Eden needs to pre-book through the website, www.edenproject.com . Timed ticketing has been successfully introduced to stagger entries and help maintain effective social distancing.
Announcing the new plans today, David Harland, executive director of the Eden Project, said: “Being able to reopen the Biomes and the Core is another giant step in welcoming back our visitors and offering them safe spaces to enjoy nature and connect to the wider world through all we have to offer.
“Since we reopened the outdoor gardens on June 6 we have had some lovely responses from visitors, many of whom have enjoyed the delights of our wider areas for the first time thanks to the new guided paths.”
David added that as the region’s biggest tourist attraction, Eden has been working closely with others in the industry to ensure that local people enjoying a day out, and visitors to Cornwall, have a safe and enjoyable experience.
He said: “Some things are a little different this summer, but the things that make Cornwall special – the incredible coastline, great attractions and warmly welcoming hospitality, the sense of freedom and that indescribable feeling that captures your heart – they’re still here and as special as ever. Our message to visitors is ‘please come – we can’t wait to see you!’”
Since the Eden outdoor gardens reopened, individuals and family groups have been using new and clearly marked trails, offering greater space in which to walk around and enjoy attractive views of the former clay quarry and its unique living collections.
This will continue with the reopening of the Biomes and Core. Visitors will be guided to enter the Rainforest Biome through a side entrance and then follow a well-marked one-way system around the biggest undercover rainforest in the world.
They will exit the Biome through the main doors and then follow a one-way path along the indoor link walkway before entering the Mediterranean Biome. After enjoying the stunning array of temperate displays there, visitors can take an exit to the outdoor gardens.
The Core, home of the acclaimed Infinity Blue sculpture, will also have a new one-way system to ensure the safest possible visit.
From July 4, Eden will also reopen its indoor café areas between the Biomes. New seating is being installed to ensure visitors can keep a safe distance apart as they enjoy a varied new menu.
At present Eden offers take-away food and drink from four outlets around the site, including coffees, pasties and ice cream.
New cleaning schedules have been introduced and protective screens and barriers are in place. All staff working at Eden have received training on safety protocols and where necessary wear personal protective equipment.
As an extra safety measure, the site is largely cash-free and relies on online, card and contactless payments.
Eden is welcoming in free of charge anyone who works in the NHS or the care industry plus one guest – but they must be pre-booked. Pre-booking online is also essential for existing Eden Project Members and Passholders while new visitors can also book via the website, but availability is limited.
Eden was able to trial some social distancing measures in the days before it closed on March 22 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Managers say that the lessons learned then have been valuable in the reopening plans and preparations.
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After taking a break last year, Facebook’s F8 is back as a fully-fledged developer conference online. The company released details on Wednesday with all the new tech it’s about to uncover.
In this article, we’re going over all the new announcements that Facebook has made during the 2021 F8 Refresh, including Messenger API for Instagram, Whatsapp Business API update, Login Connect, Spark AR and more.
Messenger API for Instagram finally available to all developers
Starting Wednesday, all developers can access the Messenger API for Instagram, allowing business to integrate Instagram DMs into their workflows of choice.
The move is said to make “more meaningful conversations that increase customer satisfaction and grow sales”, but it remains to be seen how will this API be implemented.
New updates for the WhatsApp Business API
Facebook has brought several new updates to the Whatsapp Business API to make it easier for businesses to get started.
First up, the API onboarding process now takes just five minutes, compared to the weeks users had to wait before. In addition, there are new messaging features, such as list messages (for up to 10 items) and reply buttons that allow people to make a quick selection.
Message businesses directly using Facebook Login Flow
Facebook has announced Login Connect with Messenger, a feature that’ll allow users to “opt into messaging with businesses directly from the Facebook Login flow.”
Facebook says that out of the total test participants who enabled Login Connect, more than 70% opted to message the business. The feature is still in closed beta testing and will be released in the coming months.
A new platform for building business apps
While introducing Business Apps, Facebook claims that they’ll be adding third-party tools built by independent developers. All these tools will be accessible to the millions of businesses currently on the Facebook Business Suite.
The developer platform to showcase and integrate these apps will be called Facebook Business Extension. Invitations to join the early access will start in the coming months.
Spark AR gets new capabilities
The company has previewed a new Multipeer API for Spark AR. This new API will allow creators to build effects “that deliver a coordinated experience across multiple call participants.” The new long-form capability will allow creators and developers to build AR experiences for video calling on Messenger, Instagram and Portal.
PyTorch becomes Facebook’s default AI/ML framework
Starting Wednesday, PyTorch will become Facebook’s default framework for building all of its AI and ML models. This will help the company to share its work as 0pen-source libraries and learn from the community’s efforts.
PyTorch is an open-source ML framework co-created by Facebook AI researchers in 2016 in collaboration with many other AI leaders.
Investing in ‘Girls in Tech’
Lastly, the company announced that it’d be donating $250,000 to Girls in Tech == a nonprofit organisation that focuses on bridging the current gender gap in tech.


text: The Government's new index tracking investment product will be launched on Monday, amid preliminary indications it may face a tepid reception from SAR and international investors. Brokers from the 16-company retail syndicate were briefed earlier this week on details and the timetable for the Tracker Fund of Hong Kong. According to a document presented to the retail managers and obtained by Business Post , the fund is scheduled for listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on November 12. The fund was devised by Exchange Fund Investment (EFI) as a way of selling part of the Government's $216 billion stock portfolio, with minimal disruption to the market. The portfolio was acquired during last year's controversial market intervention in an effort to stave off a speculative attack on the Hong Kong dollar. But early indications suggest the response to the units - which will represent the underlying stocks of the 33-constituent Hang Seng Index - may not be as enthusiastic as the Government had hoped. Institutional investors, already approached by joint global co-ordinator Goldman Sachs ahead of the roadshow, are understood to have given a lukewarm response. Feedback from large Singapore-based institutions suggested a lack of appetite for the fund. A poor response from big institutions indicated the Government had been misled over the degree of international demand for the fund, a broker at a retail manager for the syndicate said. One SAR fund manager also questioned the distribution capabilities of some of the joint lead managers, saying they may struggle to sell the fund widely overseas - particularly in the crucial US market. He said Goldman Sachs would have to 'throw its distribution power behind it' in order for the public offering to succeed. 'They really need a Merrill to sell it,' the manager said, referring to the world's biggest investment bank, Merrill Lynch. He warned that SAR investors, historically reluctant to buy index funds, were also suspicious of new products. And that the fact it was initiated by the Government might discourage some investors. However, he said international investors underweight in Asian stocks and reluctant to stock-pick from a distance might be lured to the fund as an easy entry to the Hong Kong market. 'It's going to be all about marketing, how well they sell it,' he said. 'If it doesn't fly in the US, then it's not going to succeed anywhere.' It appears the big winners from the fund could be brokers, who have been offered the attractive commission rate of 3.5 per cent for transactions. Of that amount, 1 per cent will be paid by the purchasing investor. Referring to its potential profitability, one member of the retail manager syndicate said: 'This could be like Japanese covered warrants in the late 1980s.' At that time, dealers made huge profits from brokerage fees because of high turnover of the warrants and mispricing by Japanese investors. Retail investors will be able to purchase up to 300,000 units in the fund. Minimum investment will be 1,000 units. Retail investors who qualify will also be offered loyalty bonus shares for retaining the units for a certain time. Next week's brand launch will be followed by an offer launch on October 24 and a two-week international roadshow the day after, involving EFI, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and lead fund manager for the syndicate, State Street Global Advisors. Three 'teams' will make presentations to investors in Europe, the US, Tokyo and Singapore in an effort to increase investor support. The date set for pricing of the units is November 8, following the closure of the institutional book on November 5. The Tracker Fund's units will be initially listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and authorities will later apply to have them quoted on London's SEAQ market. EFI has also devised a 'tap' mechanism, allowing it to feed more units into the fund based on the composition of the Hang Seng Index at the time, and according to demand.


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Ascend Fort Lee will be open for recreational weed order pick-ups on Thursday, NJ Advance Media has been told exclusively by the multi-state operator that owns the dispensary.
This dispensary received its site approval from the Fort Lee Planning Board late Monday, the last step the firm needed to begin adult weed sales and become the 21st store in New Jersey to offer recreational adult weed.
Montclair, which missed out on getting first crack at recreational marijuana sales when New Jersey allowed sales on April 21, is now looking at next month for adult-use sales.
Last week, the Township Council adopted a resolution allowing Ascend Wellness, which currently sells medical marijuana in town, to also sell adult-use cannabis.
Ascend's application for a state license is now with the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission, and company officials hope it will be approved at the CRC's next meeting on May 24.


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New games will be added to the Xbox Live Game Room on a weekly basis - but those updates won't begin until late April, according to a community manager in an official forum.
That's disappointing news for those anyone popped into Game Room after it launched last week, demoed a few free games and then wondered where the rest of the games were. Count me among them. There was very little in there that I'd consider buying outright. Tutankham? Asteroids Deluxe? Yars' Revenge? None really grabbed me past the demo phase. This really needs something like Elevator Action, Moon Patrol or Pole Position.


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Join DC Homebrewers Josh Hubner and Mike Stein as their "Wandering Belgian" IPA is released in DC. For the takeover, 5 Lost Rhino drafts will be on special for just $5 from 5-8 PM. Also, it's Tim P.'s birthday, so come celebrate the chilliest of all #dcbrews chillers and hoist a Rhino pint with the birthday boy.
DC Beer: Have you ever stopped to think about how many times @GuyFieri puts his hands directly into food on Triple D? People eat that food. Huh. 11 hours ago


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Tokyo Game Show Extends to Four Days
An additional day is planned for this year's Tokyo Game Show.
Representatives from Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA), a Japanese trade organization, announced that this year's Tokyo Game Show will feature an additional fourth day exclusively for press and industry members. E3's reorganization and expanding international interests for the convention are possible causes for the increased runtime.
The show will run from Thursday, September 20, to Sunday, September 23.


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Struggling to grow a tache or beard? Then here's some good news for you
In a bid to fit into the Middle East stereotype of thick facial hair, men from the region are now flying to Turkey for 'tache and beard transplants.
Since Wayne Rooney got his hair back via a hair transplant, the idea of men getting some help up top has become much less of an embarrassment. But the latest trend in hair growth assistance might take a bit longer to catch on over here.
According to reports in the Guardian, men in the Middle East are flocking to Turkey to give their beards and taches a boost.
The paper spoke to a doctor called Tulunay who says that 25 per cent of the hair transplants he does now are for the face and not the head. And the reason?
"Both in Turkey and in Arab countries facial hair is associated with masculinity, and its lack can cause social difficulties. In Turkish there is a word for it: köse – baldness of the face – and it is usually not considered a good thing," Tulunay said. "Businessmen come to me to get beard and moustache implants, because they say that business partners do not take them seriously if they don't sport facial hair."
There are even travel agents who specialize in transplant packages for men who want to give their face fuzz a boost. They claim that 75 per cent of their customers are from the Gulf but they hope to expand to Europe to help out men all around the continent.
The price, if you are asking for a friend, is about €1,700, but we’d prefer to stick to the cheaper options of eating your bread crusts.


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New technology fuels competition in settlement administration industry
- Jim Hammerand
- Staff writer
Punch card computers aren’t the fastest way to divide $40 million among members of a class action lawsuit. But they were in 1973, and Richard Hoyt was the guy doing it.
An expert witness and economist, Hoyt founded Analytics Inc. that year, but didn’t have any experience disbursing millions of dollars in complex litigation winnings to individuals across the nation. There weren’t many people who did.
“We figured it out. One thing led to another and that’s how my business grew,” Hoyt said.
He sold the Chanhassen-based company in 2002. Now Analytics is a gigantic player in the business of administering class-action settlements.
Analytics isn’t alone in Minnesota. A handful of firms both large and small, old and new, do the heavy lifting in data-intensive lawsuits. They notify potential members of class-action litigation, evaluate claims and disburse the spoils of litigation. They compete in an industry with sales estimated between $300 million and $400 million per year nationwide.
The industry has changed since the first firms formed to take advantage of the high volume of cases heard in Minnesota’s federal courts in the 1970s and 1980s. Competition has never been stiffer, according to the law firms that hire these companies and those who operate them.
Rob Shelquist, a class- and mass-action litigator with Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen, said the adaptation of new technology by settlement administrators has reduced labor costs and overhead, allowing for better returns to the plaintiffs and defendants who ultimately pay for the services.
“You see more competitors in the field, you see savings being driven by the leveraging of technology, and I think you’ve generally seen a downward pressure in pricing” for services, Shelquist said.
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CEO BRIDGE Healthcare Partners | Denver, CO
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Tim Cook’s stock is dropping. No, not his actual shares, though they are, too.
Rather, Cook is auctioning himself off for an hour-long lunch at the company’s Cupertino, Calif.-headquarters along with V.I.P. tickets to a keynote address at an Apple event. The highest bid currently stands at $125,000, or about 1,200 shares of Apple
which is quite a bit lower than what similar offers garnered in the prior three years.
In 2013, he offered up a coffee date, and it ended up going for $610,000. A year later, lunch went for $330,001. Then, in 2015, face time with the tech boss dropped to $200,000. To be fair, there’s still nine days to go, according to the Charitybuzz website, so anything can happen this year.
The proceeds go to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, a group “committed to the pursuit of a more just and peaceful world.”
As for the declining cost of noshing with Cook, who has served as CEO since 2011, perhaps the novelty is wearing off. Of course, the same might be said for the iPhone, which is expected to show its first year-over-year decline in unit sales when Apple reports earnings Tuesday afternoon.
Or maybe Apple fans are just too busy fixating on the results.
Many on Wall Street are predicting that it will be Apple’s worst in years due to a rare drop in both sales and profit. The stock has lost about 20% in the past year and was leaning lower in midday trading.


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Every so often, I like to take a look to see which shares have experienced meaningful insider buying. This is because insider buying is often regarded as a bullish indicator, as few people know a company and its intrinsic value better than its own directors.
A number of shares have reported meaningful insider recently. Here are a couple which have caught my eye:
Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)
According to a change of director’s interest notice, the Chairman of this appliance manufacturer has been topping up his position.
The notice reveals that Steven Fisher bought 1,221 shares via an on-market trade on 29 April. The Chairman paid a total of $32,119.14 for the shares, which equates to an average of $26.30 per share. This purchase lifted Mr Fisher’s holding to a total of 130,000 Breville shares.
With the Breville share price now trading at $25.83, investors have the opportunity to invest at an even cheaper price.
Analysts at UBS certainly think this would be a good idea. This morning the broker retained its buy rating and $35.70 price target on the company’s shares.
Based on the current Breville share price, this price target represents potential upside of 38% over the next 12 months.
Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS)
Another change of director’s interest notice reveals that one of this wholesale distributor’s new directors has already been buying shares. According to the notice, Margaret Haseltine bought 57,839 Metcash shares within just a few days of her appointment to the board.
The release advises that Ms Haseltine snapped up the shares through on-market trades between 4 May and 5 May for an average of ~$3.46 per share. This represents a total consideration of $199,784.90.
One broker that would be supportive of this purchase is Morgan Stanley. In March the broker put an overweight rating and $4.20 price target on the company’s shares.
So, with the Metcash share price currently trading at Ms Haseltine’s buy price of $3.46, this implies potential upside of 21% over the next 12 months.


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After a week of couture debuts, comes this news: Phoebe Philo is launching a new brand under her own name. LVMH, her home during her Céline years, has made a minority investment. First reported in the Business of Fashion but long rumored about, especially in the wake of her appearance on the ANDAM Fashion Jury on July 1, today’s announcement is set to shake fashion out of its pandemic torpor.
Few designers have had a larger impact on 21st century fashion—Philo turned Chloé and Céline into It brands during her tenures at those labels. And no one has been missed as much post-exit. Not long after Philo left Céline in 2017, an Instagram account with the handle @oldceline sprung up and editors and stylists lament her departure to this day. During her eight years at the house, Philo wardrobed many of the industry’s most powerful female arbiters, and a few important dudes, too; Kanye West at Coachella in the printed silk pajama shirt from spring 2011 played its own important role in Céline mania.
Philo was a female success story in a luxury fashion business dominated not just by male creative directors but often also by the male gaze.


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Auto manufacturers have finalized their incentive programs for the month of July, giving us info on the ten best deals available to shoppers looking for their next new car.
Read more ...
As the calendar transitions from summer to autumn, August has historically shown to have the lowest average transaction price of the year
If you’re shopping for a new car in July, we know you want to be informed about the best deals available.
Summer weather is hot during July, and so are summer car sales:
As in-car technology becomes more complex, infotainment systems have enjoyed increasing prominence in the minds of both car designers and vehicle shoppers.
Seven children died of heat stroke in early August 2012 after being left in vehicles reports KidsAndCars.org, a national nonprofit child safety organization working to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around motor vehicles.


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On 9th September 2015 the Taftie Expert Session on Industry 4.0 took place in Munich. Representatives of the different member organizations presented the current situation and potential for industry 4.0.
From Tekes we had Marita Paasi and Kari Penttinen who presented Industrial Internet -programme and told about other programmes.
Dr. Alexander Tettenborn, Head of Unit, Development of Digital Technologies" at the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy in Germany, expects a huge rising of ICT related revenue in various business sectors. There is a lot to do and there are still a lot of key issues to increase the digital economy such as strengthening young innovative start-ups and SMEs or developing international agreements and standards.
Many programs and projects are being initiated or have already been started in Germany recently with industry 4.0 content. Industry 4.0 is currently a buzzword in Germany but it stands also for a radical digital change in the industry and will have a profound effect on production and employees.
TAFTIE's members strengthen Europe's economic performance
TAFTIE is the European Association of leading national innovation agencies. It's members make a major contribution to strengthening Europe's economic performance by supporting product-, process- and services innovation by implementing their countries' national and – frequently – international Research, Development and Innovation Programmes.
See also the material of this event: Sub Contracting 2015
Michael Wiehl, Tekes, Munchen


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Netflix has released a teaser trailer for the next season of Stranger Things, and it’s probably the most 80s thing I’ve ever seen.
The teaser, which Netflix released on Twitter, shows a brand new addition to the fictional town of Hawking; the Starcourt Mall. The teaser acts as a cheesy VHS-style advert for the mall referencing several things from the golden era and is a stark reminder of how much things have changed over the years.
The Starcourt Mall, according to the teaser, is “one of the finest shopping facilities in America and beyond” and is home to several stores including The Gap, Waldenbooks, and Sam Goody. The latter of the two revealed that the date for the new series is likely 1984 thanks to promos of Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October and Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA appearing in their respective windows.
The promo ends with the line “coming next summer” which could be a hint at when we’ll be seeing Stranger Things Season 3, which would make sense given the previous news that we’d be waiting a while for the new season.
Check it out:
Ahoy! Something is coming… to Hawkins, Indiana! pic.twitter.com/BI4wFRVzvB
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) July 16, 2018


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Travelex Launches First FX ATM Click & Collect at Heathrow
Foreign exchange brand Travelex has launched what it calls the foreign exchange industry’s first ever foreign currency ATM click & collect service. It allows customers to pre-order foreign cash online before collecting it contact free from an airport ATM. Travelex FX ATM
The service, which has initially launched at London Heathrow Terminal 5, sees customers place their order via the Travelex website and then securely collect their currency from an ATM, using their phone and credentials. There are no collection fees and orders can be collected from the ATMs at any time of day.
The service is centred around a robust, secure wallet-based platform, which coupled with Travelex’s industry leading FX ATM processing ensures the service is quick and always available.
Currently, customers can withdraw up to US$800 or €800 via ATM click & collect, with further currencies and more ATMs at Heathrow in the pipeline. Travelex will also be launching the service at Brisbane Airport in Australia in the next few weeks, before expanding the service to more airports in the coming months.
The launch of the ATM click & collect service marks the latest stage in Travelex’s investment in digital transformation, with the company increasingly focussing on new digital solutions that meet changing customer demands. Earlier this year Travelex launched two new concept stores at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol which offer customers a more ‘digital first’ experience, including more ATMs than a traditional bureau. Travelex also continues to invest in and grow its suite of digital products, including multi-currency prepaid contactless cards and touch-and-go channels.
The launch of Travelex’s ATM click & collect service comes a few weeks after the company announced the creation of more than 1,200 jobs and more than 20 new contract renewals and wins, as both the international travel and foreign currency markets continue to recover strongly post-pandemic.
Dan Gilby, Strategy & Products Director, Travelex, said, “At Travelex, our mission is to simplify our customers’ access to international money, however and whenever. That mission continues with us delivering the world’s first foreign currency ATM click & collect service, which will enable our customers to not only access their currency in a new, fast and convenient way, but to do so at the best rates possible too.
“Customer trends continue to shift, and as they do so, we are pleased to be able to provide foreign currency cash solutions in new innovative ways, alongside our portfolio of digital products, including pre-paid currency cards.”
Fraser Brown, Director of Retail, Heathrow Airport said, “It is fantastic that passengers travelling through Heathrow will now be able to easily pre-order foreign currency online and collect it for free at airport ATMs.
“As the UK’s only hub airport our vision is to give passengers the best airport service in the world, so access to convenient services such as this from Travelex is so important to us – which is why we are proud to be the first airport in the world to have this service.”
Travelex will also be launching the service at Brisbane Airport in Australia in the next few weeks.


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Blockchain Ecosystem Exchange Launch
CrowdPoint's digital platform combines the power of big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology to create a shared services platform for decentralized exchanges and marketplaces. With international development teams across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Asian perimeter, CrowdPoint's goal is to democratize data behind human identity.
"At CrowdPoint, we deliver nextgen blockchain technologies. For the average global citizen, blockchain can be confusing and bewildering. It must seem everyone is becoming a billionaire overnight. This is likely because of the noise around businesses and currency models that use blockchain,"
The company has spent the last year in stealth integrating 11 market sector exchanges with its shared services technologies - nextgen blockchain, big data, and artificial intelligence. The shared services also include technologies that help small and medium-sized companies grow and compete like large enterprises. The company has deployed its web-based communication service that comes prepopulated with millions of ideal customer profiles. This feat is possible through a big data customer resource manager. Also included is a website builder that provides web hosting and design services. Users can quickly build their site while integrating directly into nextgen blockchain technology. The company has already onboarded over 1000 Distributors and Resellers to date. CrowdPoint helps them sell their products online on BEX.
CrowdPoint is passionate about the success of blockchain technology and views the current cryptocurrency hype as having the potential for similar pitfalls that caused the dot-com bubble. The company created BEX to get "Left of Bang" and decrease the likelihood of another potential bust. Through a solid public-private blockchain-powered assembly of exchanges and marketplaces, CrowdPoint focuses on more efficient e-commerce.
For more information, you can visit the following links:
This article may contain "forward-looking"


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Is $199 for Sony’s flagship games handheld cheap enough?
The pioneering PDA failed, but the team behind it didn’t.
We’ve rounded up the latest tech gear for the connected student.
Here are five great sport watches that have been put to the test. It’s almost like having a personal trainer.
The flash-storage kingpin puts Wi-Fi in two new solid-state devices.
Beats is releasing an all-new version of Beats Studio, its original model of headphones.
With the departure of Xbox chief Don Mattrick, the company’s future just got fuzzier.
The smartest smartwatch might not look or work much like a watch at all.
Here are some gadgets that can help you have fun and won’t weigh down your bag too much.
The unique camera is no longer dependent on a PC for photo sharing.
The one big new thing in Apple’s new portables is a doozy: far better battery life.
Apple showcased updates to its OS X software, MacBook Air and Mac Pro hardware lines, and a completely overhauled version of iOS. Here are the highlights.


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New Zealand dairy farmers have a message for their Canadian counterparts, who worry that a Pacific trade deal will put them at the mercy of world markets and devastate their industry: It’s not so bad.
But heavily protected Canadian farmers have reason for skepticism.
A deadlock over dairy has emerged as one of the chief impediments to completing the 12-nation, $300 billion US Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Canada and Japan reluctant to open protected markets, the United States unwilling to move before Canada does, and New Zealand refusing to back down from demands for more access to U.S., Japanese and Canadian markets.
- Trans-Pacific Partnership: Key issues preventing a deal
- Pacific trade deal worries dairy producers
- TPP talks could stall over Canada’s dairy hardball
Canada’s ruling Conservatives fear a backlash in October’s federal elections if they cut protections for dairy farmers, 80 per cent of whom live in vote-rich Quebec and Ontario, and allow in more imports.
New Zealand’s own dairy farmers have survived the removal of government subsidies during the 1980s and 1990s that had once made up a third of farm income.
The country’s shift to an open market has meant that the price of milk on supermarket shelves fluctuates with exchange rates and world milk prices. But farmers note that New Zealand still dominates a third of world trade in core dairy commodities.
Dairy farming may have to change
Andrew Kusabs, who has nearly 500 cows on two farms near Rotorua on the North Island, said New Zealand farmers first had to cope with losing their main export market when the United Kingdom joined the European common market in 1973, and then with the dismantling of quotas.
‘You feel sorry for them, but the world moves on, and you’ve got to go with it.’
– Andrew Kusabs, N.Z. dairy farmer
“It was traumatic for some people, but those that got their act together very quickly, they survived,” he said, noting that Canadian farmers, who have an average herd size of 80 cows compared to New Zealand’s 413, might just have to change the way they farm.
“You feel sorry for them, but the world moves on, and you’ve got to go with it.”
Dairy farmer Jvo Thum carries apparatus used to milk his cows at his farm in Granby. Losing subsidies will be tough in the short term but could benefit the Canadian dairy industry in the long run, say some New Zealand farmers, who lost their own subsidies in the 1980s and ’90s. (Christinne Muschi/Reuters)
Earl Rattray, a founding director of co-operative Fonterra , who has 250 cows in the North Island’s Waikato region, said deregulation “was one of those moments that made us wake up and grow as an industry.”
“Everyone said at the time, ‘what a disaster, the sky is falling in,’ but if you stand back and look at it now after 30 years, our industry … is nearly four times the size it was then.”
New Zealand seeking new export markets
New Zealand’s size and huge market share are unnerving for trading partners, however.
In New Zealand, where cows outnumber people, dairy is a huge part of the economy, accounting for seven per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product and a third of export income — mostly sold through Fonterra.
New Zealand’s domestic market consumes only five per cent of the 21.9 million metric tons of milk produced each year, leaving farmers hungry for new export destinations.
Cows on a pastoral farm near Hamilton, N.Z. New Zealand’s dairy industry dwarfs Canada’s, accounting for seven per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product and a third of export income. (Nigel Marple/Reuters)
In Canada, net dairy farm receipts of $6.07 billion Cdn are a drop in the bucket of the country’s $1.98 trillion economy.
Canada’s supply management system for dairy, poultry and eggs, in place since the 1970s, is designed to match production to domestic consumption by allowing licensed farmers to produce only a set amount of milk. Meanwhile, hefty tariffs — as high as 299 per cent on butter, for example — discourage imports.
The controls have kept prices high. One litre of Canadian milk cost, on average, $2.49 in May, compared to $1.96 for 1.9 litre in the United States.
Family businesses would suffer
Quebec farmers Jacinthe Guilbert and Mario Vincent, whose dairy herd consists of 80 cows, said scrapping supply management would mean the end of family-run farms like theirs.
‘It’s the best system in the world because it allows family businesses to live well.’
– Jacinthe Guilbert, Quebec dairy farmer
“It’s the best system in the world because it allows family businesses to live well,” said Guilbert, who took on a $2.5 million loan in 2010 to build a new barn.
Obtaining a bank loan was only possible because of supply management, she said, because the system ensures stable prices for milk.
Unlike New Zealand’s free-roaming, grass-eating cows, herds in the United States and Canada often live indoors. Canada’s milk production costs are nearly double those of New Zealand, according to a Boston Consulting Group study.
“We see the quota system a bit like buying a franchise from McDonald’s,” said Vincent. “It ensures that you won’t have 10 McDonald’s within a certain population. It makes sure you will have a guaranteed market.”
The United States, where average herd sizes top 1,000 in some states and which ships almost half the dairy exports within the TPP, is caught between offensive and defensive interests.
It wants to keep New Zealand on its side by allowing in more products such as butter, which currently has tariffs as high as $1.54 per kilogram, but balance imports with lucrative new export markets for U.S. milk, butter, cheese, whey and yoghurt.
“Dairymen in the United States are open to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and doing our part as long as we don’t have to shoulder the whole program,” said Brian Hardy, who runs 2,000 cattle over 2,000 acres in northern Utah, with family members.
“It’s really time that Canada stepped up to the plate and opened its market.”
Source – CBC Canada


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With Facebook under fire following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, privacy groups are now taking aim at the other major data-collecting company that rules the digital advertising landscape: Google.
Consumer privacy experts allege Google (GOOG), through its YouTube division, is gathering data on kids in ways that violate privacy laws. YouTube's "illegal collection has been going on for many years and involves tens of millions of U.S. children," the complaint alleges.
The company "has made substantial profits from the collection and use of personal data from children on YouTube," it adds.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the Center for Digital Democracy and 18 other privacy and consumer-protection groups are set to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission on Monday, asking it to crack down on YouTube's data collection practices for kids.
"It's the most popular site for kids in the world, and Google actively encourages the creation of children's content on the site," said Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. "Given that, Google has a responsibility to kids and families."
Instead, he said, "they are violating the only privacy law we have in this country."
That law, a 20-year-old rule known as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA), requires websites to either not collect data on children under 13 or collect it only after getting permission from that child's parents.
The consumer groups' complaint states: "This request for investigation presents overwhelming evidence that Google is violating COPPA by collecting personal data from children on YouTube without providing notice and obtaining prior verifiable parental consent. Thus, the FTC should investigate and take enforcement action against Google."
While there are other laws regarding the privacy of specific types of data—such as medical or financial information—COPPA is the only privacy law to protect an entire demographic.
That's a big deal for YouTube because the service is not intended for users under 13, according to its terms of service. But Google still needs to follow COPPA, consumer advocates say. That's because COPPA applies to any site that "knowingly" collects data from younger kids as well as sites that specifically target that group.
And YouTube is undeniably popular with tweens, or kids between 8 to 12 years old, and even younger children. A 2015 survey from nonprofit Common Sense Media found one-third of tweens could name a favorite YouTube channel, star or show.
YouTube is the best-known brand among kids aged 6 to 12, beating out the Disney Channel, McDonald's and Lego, according to an eMarketer study. The YouTube Kids app, which was also included in the survey, fell at a distant 48. It also estimated that nearly half of kids aged under 11 watch the platform.
"It would be hard to overstate the importance of YouTube," read the December 2017 study. Half of kids aged under 11 watch YouTube, it found. Among 8-to-12-year-olds, 45 percent have accounts on YouTube, it said.
As one legal blog put it, "Even if your site or app isn't intended for minors, but kids use it, you're still responsible for sticking to COPPA rules."
In a statement on Friday, YouTube said, "While we haven't received the complaint, protecting kids and families has always been a top priority for us. We will read the complaint thoroughly and evaluate if there are things we can do to improve. Because YouTube is not for children, we've invested significantly in the creation of the YouTube Kids app to offer an alternative specifically designed for children."
While the company launched YouTube Kids three years ago, children's content remains a big part of the main service. The third-most-viewed channel, Ryan ToysReview, stars a young boy and has 13 million subscribers. "Little Baby Bum," which features nursery rhymes, is the eighth-most-viewed channel.
Other child-centric channels like FunToys Collector, El Reino Infantil ("The Child King") and ChuChu TV and Nursery Rhymes are on the network's most-viewed list, according to user analytics firm SocialBlade. To be sure, parents could be watching these shows, but it's also likely that they are watching with their children or allowing their children to view YouTube on their own.
"YouTube actually encourages the creation of children's content for YouTube," the complaint alleges. It also claims the company has built a large marketing operating around its child viewers.
Even though YouTube's ad policies disallow targeting children under 13, the company allows descriptive tags that mark videos as child-related. A majority of its "Family & Parenting" videos are tagged with versions of the words "toy," "child," "kid," "toddler," or "baby," according to the complaint. It's possible, for example, to target ads with the keywords "children's toys."
Some of the advocacy groups behind the complaint have targeted YouTube in the past. In 2015, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood alleged that YouTube Kids over-advertises to children with ads that look like entertainment. They have also objected to stealth marketing posts from social-media influencers, leading the FTC to issue a reminder for users to clearly identify promotional posts.
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In-vitro meat is the (idea of) manufacturing of meat products through tissue- engineering technology cultured meat (= in-vitro meat = clean meat) could have . Cultured meat if the 'dumb down' approach of animal disenhancement is the wrong way to go about addressing animal suffering, then perhaps the 'build up'. A number of influential rabbis have begun taking on a new debate that is truly a sign of the times: whether cell-cultured pork meat would be. Cultured meat, also called clean meat or in vitro meat, is meat grown from in vitro animals cell culture instead of from slaughtered animals it is a form of cellular. No saturated fat, no heme iron, no growth hormone—cultured meat seems to have many potential benefits.
This infographic will show you everything you need to know about cultured meat, which might be on your plate sooner than you think. In early 2015, new harvest provided mark's lab with $50,000 to conduct additional research towards a completely animal-free system for growing cultured meat. Scientists have been culturing meat in labs for years, but just and other startups like finless foods, which is growing fish meat, have been. However, there is limited research examining public attitudes towards in vitro meat, thus we know little about the capacity for it be accepted by.
You can call it lab-grown, clean, or cultured meat — we have yet to settle on a term — but there's a good chance these products will replace. “our strategic alliance with memphis meats is an exciting way for cargill to explore the potential in growing the cultured meats segment of the. Rising global demand for meat will result in increased environmental pollution, energy consumption, and animal suffering cultured meat, produced in an. The backer of companies like the plant-based protein-maker beyond meat, and cultured-meat company memphis meats, tyson ventures' latest. Just look at indiebio alum memphis meats, a cultured meat company that announced late last month that it had raised $17 million in series a.
Facts about cultured meat cells from a single cow could produce 175 million quarter-pounders traditional farming methods would need 440,000 cows. Cultured meat: an ethical alternative to industrial animal farming policy paper industrial livestock production presents a growing problem on a global scale in. (cnn) the latest craze in the food industry, in vitro or clean meat, is produced by extracting stem cells from animals and then growing and.
In 2013, two people tasted a burger made from cultured meat live on the air, and for many, it was their first introduction to lab-grown meat and. Join us in san francisco on november 1, 2018 the cultured meat symposium discusses the role of technology for future meat this one day conference will. Cultured, shmeat, lab-grown, test-tube meat—however you prefer to reference it, in vitro meat has gone from a sci-fi fantasy concept to. America's largest meat company, tyson foods, this week (jan the world's biggest meat companies are betting on cell-cultured meat.
A few years back, pew research asked just over 1,000 adults in the united states, “would you eat meat that was grown in a lab” twenty. “cultured meat is a transformative concept in general,” nahmias says “we're running out of land, we're running out of water resources, and if. Meat grown in a laboratory could be on restaurant menus by the end of the year, one manufacturer has claimed in vitro animal products,.
- So far in 2018, at least five cultured meat startups have raised funds as this fledgling industry diversifies and grows.
- From september 3 -5, 2017, the 3rd international conference on cultured meat will take place in maastricht the conference is a unique,.
Soif a piece of beef is grown in a lab, without killing the cow, should vegetarians eat it. In the san francisco bay area in california, entrepreneurs at memphis meats hope to have their cell-cultured meatballs, hot dogs, and. “clean meat” has a certain ring to it, after all “labgrown cultured meat product” sounds like a cousin of pink slime it's the reason beef.Download cultured meat


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Commenting on the record production, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann said, "The enthusiasm our products incite makes us proud and confirms that the company's product strategy and model range are a winning combination, producing exceptionally desirable super sportscars."
The 4,000th Murcielago is a LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, which means that the car has an increased power of 670 hp from the 6.5 liter V12 engine and a reduced weight of 100 kg compared to the standard version. The SuperVeloce needs only 3.2 seconds to get to 100 km/h and has a top speed of 342 km/h.
According to Lamborghini, “This SuperVeloce will be delivered to Lamborghini's showroom in Hangzhou: China has become a strategically important market for Lamborghini's super sportscars. The Italian car manufacturer has a sales affiliate in China as well as seven dealers who have recorded an exponential increase in sales, with the Pacific-Asian area responsible for a quarter of all Lamborghini cars produced.”
“Murciélago series number 4,000 shows off its carbon fibre body painted in orange Arancione Atlas, a luxurious cockpit in Alcantara and carbon fibre inserts, black sports bucket seats with orange contrasting trim and an imposing rear spoiler which improves vehicle stability at high speeds.”


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This week was definitely an interesting for sneaker fiends of all walks of life. If you haven’t heard by now, the new Hyperdunks have finally hit Nike ID. While the new Nike SB Dunks will send you back in time with their tie-dye design, the Wolf Gray Air Jordan 3 Retro’s will supposedly drop this weekend and is coming with a superb apparel collection to accompany them.
While Nike had a slew of releases in store for us this week, the new Supra “Celestial’s” also hit shelves with it’s unique “dark sky” design which acts as the follow-up to the “Kamikazee’s”. Snoop Dogg has linked up with adidas once again to release a new sneaker in honor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Click below to catch the latest kicks that dropped this week.


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Saatchi & Saatchi last night released a new integrated campaign to launch the new-look Toyota Kluger.
The launch campaign titled “Built for families. Designed for attention” demonstrates that the new-look
Kluger has both function & form – delivering all the space and features a family needs from a modern SUV
as well as the style and looks to match.
The launch campaign directed by Tim Bullock from Scoundrel will be rolled out across a suite of TV spots
supported in social, outdoor and digital.
Toyota Motor Corporation Australia
Wayne Gabriel, Divisional Manager, National Marketing
Yolande Waldock, Corporate Manager, Brand Management & Communications
Hannah Roy, Manager, Marketing Communications – Commercial Vehicles & SUVs
Nadine Johnston, Brand & LTOA Manager, National Marketing Division
Saatchi & Saatchi


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If your bathroom is in need of a major makeover then keep on reading. This Old House currently listed a few of the hottest bathroom trends that were recently seen at the Kitchen and Bath Industry show.
The first involves giving your bathroom a high-tech twist. Technology is now invading the bathroom, with audio installations and ambiant lighting found in steam showers and cabinets. Even toilets are getting an upgrade, with recent models from Kohler having customizable seat temperatures.
Another trend that seems to be hitting bathrooms everywhere is seamless bathroom vanities with efficient storage designs. These modern vanities effectively make use of the space around them, but at the same time, provide enough visual appeal to make them the centerpieces of any room.
Finally, nature-inspired tiles of all shapes and sizes were being showcased at the event, according to the news outlet. From floral cherry blossoms to bamboo textures, these tiles are perfect for anyone who would like to transform their space into a relaxing, unforgettable sanctuary.


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The e-commerce start-up Collins has obtained SevenVentures, the media investing arm of ProSiebenSat.1, and German Media Pool’s media partner RTL II, as investors from September 1 in addition to Klambt media and other radio and TV channels in Germany and Switzerland. The Otto Group has a majority share in About You via the Holding Collins, Collins announced Thursday (September 1st) bringing the value of the start-up to EUR 300 million.
Brand awareness soars to over 50 per cent
Hannes Wiese, co-founder and manager of About You with responsibility for Operations & Finance, said: “We are very proud that such reputable investors are convinced by the success of About You. The new partnership with leading European media companies will further drive the scaling of the business operations. Admitting more investors depending on their strategic added value is quite conceivable for us.”
About You has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2014. The shop has an alleged 1 million active customers and brand awareness of over 50 per cent. The company said it had double-digit million sales in the 2015/16 fiscal year and now aims to double that sum. Collins is undertaking more business activities in Austria and Switzerland. Wiese noted: “Only very few companies have been able to achieve such a high corporate value in such a short space of time. Our aim is to increase growth significantly over the coming years.”
Suggestions for individually-tailored outfits
The online fashion shop, About You, has around 250 staff and has made a name for itself in e-commerce. The firm’s business concept caters to the individual needs of clients and targets men and women in the 20-40 age group. About You has over 100,000 articles and more than 800 brands in its range. Customers can, for instance, set up their own fashion profile and are shown products in a personal feed. About You has ben available in Austria and Switzerland since last autumn. The management team includes Tarek Müller, a digital expert and founder of several businesses, Sebastian Betz as well as Hannes Wiese, a former strategist at Roland Berger.


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At first glance, they look like art installations. Gleaming rods sprouting from the ground and staring at the sky with gaping mouths, like upturned mushrooms.
The Ulta Chaata – Hindi for ‘inverted umbrella’ – is an aesthetic piece of work in stainless steel. You would be hard put to guess it’s green tech for industrial use, that is, a device that generates clean water and energy.
It collects rain from the sky, filters the rainwater, and converts it into potable water. When it’s not raining, the device is a source of solar energy. You could even sit in its shade for a cup of coffee.
“In India, green technology for industrial use is dull and has zero design aspect to it,” says Samit Choksi, founder of Mumbai-based sustainable products firm ThinkPhi, which makes the Ulta Chaata.
“Companies spend money on green technology, but it is not visible. Solar, for instance, is a norm now, but you don’t ‘see’ it. Customers and employees will not climb onto the roof to see the solar panels a company has installed!” he tells Tech in Asia.
ThinkPhi, started by Samit and his wife Priya Vakil Choksi in 2015, is hoping to change that.
Since the company started marketing in November last year, it has bagged eight clients, including five blue-chip companies. Its projects are coming up in Pune, Gujarat, and Hyderabad, and it is in talks with a global furniture chain (take a smart guess, which one!) to set foot in the US.
Designs on green tech
Samit, a software architect and developer who studied at United World Colleges in Singapore, has no qualms admitting that Ulta Chaata was really Priya’s brainchild. Priya worked at architecture firm John Portman before starting her own green building consulting firm EdEn.
The couple have variously lived and worked in Singapore, the UK, the US, and India. The Ulta Chaata was born out of their passion for reducing climate change.
Samit says the initial model just allowed the harvesting of rainwater, which means it was useful only in the monsoon months. “We wanted to create a structure that was good looking, would require minimum area on ground and maximum area on top.”
That – and some inspiration from canopies at international airports – led to the umbrella-like shape.
Industrial giant Godrej was among its first few clients. “We got a bit of money from the Godrej deal, and decided to add other components. That is how we ended up integrating solar energy panels. Now the product is functional 365 days, not just during the rains.”
Built over a small 0.5 sq m foundation, the Ulta Chaata requires a 75 mm piping channel for the energy and water lines to be connected to a factory’s grid. A campus would, however, need to install at least five of them to be viable. “We can install only on a 300-sq-foot campus or more,” says Samit, a former Oracle employee.
A single structure can produce about 100,000 liters of drinking water – there are four levels of filtration before you can drink it – during one monsoon.
The base version of the product also generates 300 W of power. The more evolved ‘bolt’ version can go up to 2 KWP of solar cells.
Once installed, they can be monitored through a smart connector device called the Phi-Box (for instance, it will indicate when it is time to change the filters or how much water has been collected). One box can monitor 15 umbrellas at a time.
An area of 25 sq m covered with the Ulta Chaata can provide shaded seating for about 15 people.
From industry to consumer
“We charge companies around US$24 per sq foot,” says Samit. “If we get the volumes (around 300 units by the end of this year), we should be able to break even.”
Last year, the company raised an angel round.
The Ulta Chaata is a retrofit product, meaning it can be installed at the planning stage or at an existing factory.
Samit cites the example of a Mahindra automobiles factory. “They had installed solar, but it was ‘invisible.’ Employees, suppliers, customers were not fully aware of the installation and Mahindra’s investments in environmental technologies,” he says.
The auto major was in the process of getting green certifications for one of its buildings, so it decided to try the Ulta Chaata.
“It was purchased as a test unit, so it was not our highest version. The power from it can be used for internal lighting, sensors, and the attached workstation. The response was good enough for them to budget 10 more units across various locations, to be installed in the first part of this year,” says Indresh Kumar, head of business development at ThinkPhi.
Samit hopes to start shipping outside India in this year. But that’s not all.
“But we, in India, are sitting in the market where it potentially has the biggest users.”
ThinkPhi’s next product will thus target the consumer market. “We are still a few months into design and development, so I cannot share more. But I can say it is built for homes and will help manage and reduce waste.”
“Sustainability is a term that companies use to get environment credits or brand value, but through the products designed and built at ThinkPhi, we allow everyone to experience what being sustainable means,” says Samit.
This post This Indian couple helps companies go green with a stylish, upturned umbrella appeared first on Tech in Asia.
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Celebrated chef and Pacific Northwest native Sam Cover takes a closer look at three of Seattle’s top-rated eateries.
With 2019 now more and more rapidly drawing to a close, and with barely ten weeks until the end of the year, celebrated chef and restaurateur Sam Cover, from Washington State, reveals Seattle’s most popular and best-rated eateries of the last twelve months.
“According to TripAdvisor, Seattle’s most highly rated restaurants include a trendy Italian, a unique Korean gastropub, and a cozy, family-friendly pizzeria,” Cover reveals.
The Pink Door, TripAdvisor’s current Travelers’ Choice among restaurants in Seattle, boasts a score of 4.5/5 based on more than 2,600 reviews making it the third best-rated restaurant in the city as of October 2019. “Marketed as Italian, contemporary, and vegetarian-friendly, The Pink Door is immensely popular with locals and tourists alike,” explains Sam Cover, “which is often a great indication of a fantastic restaurant, especially in a large city such as Seattle.”
“We aspire to create a stellar culinary and visual experience,” suggest the restaurant’s owners. Smart casual dress, they stress, is required. “Grazie!” adds the award-winning Italian eatery.
In second place, Cover reveals, is Chan, a uniquely positioned Korean gastropub. A TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner five years in a row, the establishment is widely praised for both its food and ambiance. “Vegetarian-friendly and with a wide range of gluten-free options, Chan is wildly deserving of its place toward the very top of Seattle’s best restaurants,” adds the chef and Pacific Northwest gourmet.
Taking the top spot, however, is Pizzeria Credo, located on California Avenue in West Seattle. “Rated number one out of more than 3,200 restaurants in the city, Italian eatery Pizzeria Credo, which, again, is vegetarian-friendly, is, of course, famed for its incredible pizzas,” reveals Cover.
Another TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner, the Italian restaurant promises wood-fired, Napoletano-style, thin-crust pizza, made from imported Italian flour and tomatoes, with homemade mozzarella. “Credo’s gourmet pasta, meanwhile, is made from classic Italian recipes,” adds Sam. What’s more, Credo’s chef Jacques’ famous signature salads are, he says, both beautiful and delicious in equal measure, thanks to a mix of local organic greens and fresh fruits, cheeses, nuts, and flowers. “Families, too, are always welcome at this most popular and cozy West Seattle eatery,” adds the renowned chef, originally from Spokane.
In addition to award-winning restaurants, Seattle, a city on Puget Sound in America’s Pacific Northwest, also boasts thousands of acres of stunning parkland and evergreen forests, flanked by towering mountains. Washington State’s largest city with a population of more than 700,000, it’s also home to a thriving tech industry, with Microsoft and Amazon alike headquartered in the Seattle metro area. “A 1962 World’s Fair legacy, it’s also home to the world-famous Space Needle, its most futuristic and iconic landmark,” adds Cover, wrapping up.
Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, renowned chef Sam Cover has made a name for himself working in kitchens across Spokane County and elsewhere in America, from Los Angeles to New York City, managing teams in some of the nation’s most highly regarded restaurants and hotels. The chef is known, in particular, for his fresh fish and seafood dishes. To date, Sam has enjoyed more than two decades of fast-paced life as a chef, winning multiple awards for his food in the process, and shows no sign of slowing down as he prepares to open a brand new restaurant in spring 2020.


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Sales of electric vehicles continue to climb, topping three million cars worldwide last year. All these electric cars need batteries, of course, which means demand for rechargeable cells is through the roof.
All those cells have to come from somewhere, of course, and many are surprised to learn that automakers don’t manufacture EV batteries themselves. Instead, they’re typically sourced from outside suppliers. Today, you get to Ask Hackaday: why aren’t EV batteries manufactured by the automakers themselves? Continue reading “Ask Hackaday: Why Don’t Automakers Make Their Own EV Batteries?”
Electric vehicles have become a mainstay in the global automotive marketplace, taking on their gasoline rivals and steadily chewing out their own slice of market share, year after year. Government mandates to end the sale of polluting internal combustion engine vehicles and subsidies on cleaner cars promise to conspire to create an electric vehicle boom.
The result should be much cleaner air, as generating electricity in even the dirtiest power plants is far cleaner and more efficient than millions of individual engines puttering about the place. However, if the electric car is to reign supreme, they’ll need to be built in ever greater numbers. To do that is going to take huge amounts of certain materials that can be expensive and sometimes in very limited supply. Thus, to help support the EV boom, recycling of these materials may come to play a very important role.
Continue reading “Recycling Will Be Key To The Electric Vehicle Future”


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The cybersecurity services and product industry have combined revenue of USD 9.85 Bn in 2021 and grew at a CAGR of 40% in the last two years, stated ?India Cybersecurity Industry Report ? Services & Product Growth Story? report released by Data Security Council of India.
?India’s Cyber Security Industry was at the forefront supporting Government and all critical sectors to manage the heightened cyber security risk in the last two years through the pandemic. The report showcases the capabilities of the Indian cybersecurity Services and Start-ups and the continuous innovation in products and services to serve customers in India and globally. Ministry of Electronics & IT is committed to partnering with DSCI to scale up our innovation in emerging areas like 5G, Hardware, IoT Security, and through our flagship ISEA and Future Skills Programmes meet the talent demand of the industry,? said Ajay Sawhney, Secretary, MeitY.
The services industry grew from USD 4.3 Bn in 2019 to USD 8.48 Bn in 2021 at a CAGR of 40.33%. The product industry grew from USD 740 Mn in 2019 to reach USD 1.37 Bn in 2021 at a CAGR of 36.49%.
“Every crisis has a silver lining and for the pandemic, it has been the accelerated adoption of digital solutions across enterprises and government. Decade?s worth of digital transformation has taken place in the last two years and India?s technology industry has emerged as the preferred digital solutions partner with cybersecurity as a key growth vertical. Cybersecurity is now a boardroom agenda and offers tremendous opportunities for India?s tech industry to build innovative solutions and services,” added Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM
The industry is moving towards a platform-based approach to offer holistic solutions and simplify security integration and deployment. 78% & 76% of the analyzed services and product companies respectively offer platform-based services and products wherein 74% leverage AL/ML to enhance their offerings. There is a huge demand for cybersecurity talent with services companies having a cybersecurity workforce of 2.18 lakhs and product companies having ~27K workforce, in 2021. The Indian cybersecurity industry is constantly expanding its global footprint with a presence in the US, Canada, UK, France, Australia, Singapore, and UAE.
?Globally the pandemic has fast tracked digitization and Cyber has now become a predominant risk at a company and country level. It is heartening to note that in line with our vision to make India a Global Hub for Cyber Security, the Product and Services Industry has scaled up to meet the rising demand. While the services industry is expanding its footprint globally through platform-led offerings and cloud-based managed security services, the young product industry is innovating on new solution areas with a cloud-first strategy to reach global customers,? further added Rajendra S Pawar, Chairman, DSCI.
The report showcases the capabilities, achievements, innovation, and 360? scale-up that the cybersecurity products and services industry in India have embarked upon. It covers facets such as revenue growth, innovation strategy, global expansion, talent initiatives, and advancements in technology adoption, process automation, and deployment models, offering capabilities, framework & policy creation.