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Huawei Technologies, one of the world's top five smartphone makers, has said that it will strongly protect its intellectual property, warning... ...http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/huawei-to-do-anything-it-takes-to-protect-its-patents/articleshow/45551174.cms
owner of essential patents for 4G technology. The essential patents are technology required to connect with 4G network. Within 3-6 months, we have... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/huawei-to-launch-4g-handsets-below-rs-10-000-within-6-months-114121700750_1.html
The increasing popularity of e-learning and distance education modules has led to the expansion of the enterprise video market to meet the... ...http://www.itnewsonline.com/prnewswire/Enterprise-Video-Market-is-Expected-to-Reach-$13.6-Billion-by-2019-at-a-CAGR-of-29.8Percent-from-2014-to-2019/356955
From the Wires Dec. 16, 2014 05:00 PM VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/16/14 -- CounterPath Corporation... ...http://in.sys-con.com/node/3265572
DUBLIN, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c8n8jt/global_uc_market) has announced the... ...http://www.itnewsonline.com/prnewswire/Global-UC-Market-2015-2019:-Key-Vendors-are-Alcatel-Lucent-Avaya-Cisco-Systems-Microsoft-Polycom-and-Unify/356648
The company was founded by The...


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Automation Runtime now automatically logs data about storage media health to provide early warnings of impending failure. Storage media can be replaced before a crash causes lost data and costly downtime.
B&R is adding a high-end PC to its mobile automation portfolio. The new PC offers significantly more processing power and memory.
As EPLAN launches its new partner network, B&R is among the first on board. Coordinated integration brings users added value in the form of more efficient engineering and faster time to market.

domain: news


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75 digital banking units to be setup in 75 districts by scheduled commercial banks
GN Bureau | February 1, 2022
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday announced the introduction of Digital Rupee to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India starting 2022-23. Presenting the Union Budget 2022-23 in the Parliament, she said that the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) will give a big boost to digital economy. Digital currency will also lead to a more efficient and cheaper currency management system, the Minister stated. The Digital Currency will use block chain and other technologies.
Sitharaman said that in recent years, digital banking, digital payments and fintech innovations have grown at a rapid pace in the country. Government is continuously encouraging these sectors to ensure that the benefits of digital banking reach every nook and corner of the country in a consumer-friendly manner. Taking forward this agenda, and to mark 75 years of our independence, the Finance Minister announced that it is proposed to set up 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) in 75 districts of the country by Scheduled Commercial Banks.
Anytime-Anywhere Post Office Savings:
In another important announcement, the Finance Minister said that in 2022, 100 per cent of 1.5 lakh post offices will come on the core banking system enabling financial inclusion and access to accounts through net banking, mobile banking, ATMs, and also provide online transfer of funds between post office accounts and bank accounts. This will be helpful, especially for farmers and senior citizens in rural areas, enabling interoperability and financial inclusion.
The Finance Minister assured that the financial support for digital payment ecosystem announced in the previous Budget will continue in 2022-23. This will encourage further adoption of digital payments. There will also be a focus to promote use of payment platforms that are economical and user friendly, she said.
Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to make provision of potable tap water supply every rural household by 2024. As many as 6.70 crore households have been provided with tap water connections in the 35 months, since Aug
Over the last few years, cloud has been able to create a special place for itself amongst fast moving, competitive and growth-led organisations. As the technology became an imperative, it has undoubtedly created unique business opportunities and isbecoming an anchor for innovation for leading businesses gl
None-of-the-above, or NOTA – the option introduced for voters in 2013 when they don’t want to support any of the candidate – has made some progress. In the past five years, NOTA has secured 1,29,77,627 votes in state assembly elections and Lok Sabha election, according to an analysis by t
India stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent from the 2005 level by 2030 and achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. The country’s India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributi
The government had put 72,098 MHz spectrum to auction, of which 51,236 MHz (71% of the total) has been sold with bid amounting to Rs. 1,50,173 crore. Adani Data Networks Ltd has obtained 400 MHz spectrum in mm wave band (26 GHz). Bharti Airtel Ltd has obtained 19,867.8 MHz in 900, 1800, 2100
A steep rise has been recorded over the past three years in pre-monsoon surface air temperature, land surface temperature and relative humidity in Delhi/NCR, whereas there is no such increase in relative humidity. This is a cause of concern, Dr Jitendra Singh, minister of state (independent


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The discount supermarket has been crowned ‘Supermarket Own Brand Spirits Range of the Year’ at the world renowned International Spirits Challenge as well as scooping no less than 20 medals at the International Wine & Spirits Challenge this month.
The accolade comes at a time when spirits such as gin and whisky are enjoying a consumer renaissance, particularly for home drinkers.
This year, the Office of National Statistics reintroduced gin to its annual Consumer Price Inflation Basket of Goods after having a 13-year absence.
This latest hoard of medals for Aldi’s trophy cabinet, judged by international industry experts includes a gold medal for its Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin (£9.97) which trumped over silver medallist Foxhole London Dry Gin, a premium gin that describes itself as a very fresh and aromatic gin, which sells for more than three times the price at £39.95.
Other products that caught the judges’ attention included Aldi’s Specially Selected Crème de Cassis (£6.99), Tamova Vodka (£9.97) and Glen Marnoch Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (£17.49). The retailer’s whisky range has had a stellar year in particular, having received a total of 16 medals so far this year.
A spokesperson at the International Spirits Challenge said: “The display of awards achieved by Aldi this year at the International Spirits Challenge was fantastic.
“They consistently showcased high quality products in the blind tastings, which demonstrates that you don’t have to compromise on price to enjoy great tasting drinks.
“As a collective result across all categories from the competition, the supermarket undoubtedly was this year’s winner of the “Supermarket Own Branded Spirits Range of the Year!”
Tony Baines, Joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi comments: “Receiving medals for our spirits is a fantastic achievement and it is great to see our spirits range being praised so highly by experts.
“Being awarded a title such as ‘Supermarket Own Brand Spirits Range of the Year’ is something that not only reflects the quality of our products but also the hard work that our UK based buying team put into drinks retailing every single day.”
It’s not just Aldi’s spirits that are causing a stir amongst experts. The retailer has won a whopping 158 medals in total across its beers, wines, and spirits range in 2017 and was also crowned Multiple Wine Retailer of the Year at the Drinks Retailing Awards in February.
Aldi has recently launched a new meal kit which means you could eat dinner for just £1.60 a person.


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Archive for the ‘Toyota Corolla Hatchback’ Category
The 2020 Toyota Corolla and 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback are joining forces with the Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, and Sienna to offer drivers a Nightshade Edition in their 2020 lineups. Toyota Nightshade Edition models come equipped with blacked-out exterior accessories for a custom look straight from the factory for a fraction of the price. Learn more about the release date and see photos of the newest Toyota Nightshade Edition variants below. (more…)
Toyota is making a splash at the 2018 SEMA trade show in Las Vegas. Multiple custom Toyota models are being highlighted at the show including a custom Corolla Hatchback turned film chase car and custom Toyota Tundra turned ultimate adventure vehicle. Both models were collaborations with Hoonigan and Kevin Costner respectively. See photos and custom details of each vehicle below. (more…)
Though the most notable characteristic of the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is its versatile interior space, drivers and passengers are likely to first notice its stylish exterior design. Complete with eight exterior color options that allow drivers to match their new hatchback to their personal style, the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback will get you and your passengers and cargo whereever you need to go in style. (more…)
To highlight the arrival of the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Toyota has created a series of commercials in collaboration with their “Greater Than” campaign that inspires Corolla Hatchback drivers to take time out of their busy schedules to connect with friends and family via adventures fueled by their Toyota. In one commercial, titled “Roots”, a road trip allows for off-screen bonding time and connection between parents and their young daughter. (more…)
When shopping for a new vehicle, many shoppers make the mistake of underestimating the amount of cargo space they will need when it comes time to haul luggage or other larger items like a pair of golf clubs. We highly recommend doing research in advance and at the dealership to make sure you are getting the space you need, even when shopping for more compact sedans like the Toyota Corolla. Car shoppers interested in the new 2019 Toyota Corolla can find information about its cargo space dimensions and capabilities below. (more…)
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Efficiency Ratings
The 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback efficiency ratings have been improved for the new model year. As a compact model, the Corolla Hatchback is inherently more fuel efficient than most vehicles. However, this model sees revisions to its performance equipment and a revised exterior design that combine to further improve fuel economy.
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Dimensions and Cargo Volume
The new model year of the Corolla Hatchback, formerly known as the Corolla iM, gets a new name and a redesign for the 2019 model year. Retaining the signature sporty style and fun-loving nature that made this hatchback a hit, the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback has a great deal of versatility and a host of advances that make this model even more advantageous for car shoppers. Check out the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback dimensions and cargo volume!
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Tech Advances and Feature Updates
The 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback has made its debut at the New York International Auto Show. This compact model has made a big impact with its impressive updates, which include a whole list of new technologies and safety features. The 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback tech advances and feature updates make it one of the most advanced vehicles in the Toyota family.


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Alibaba praises Hong Kong at start of retail campaign for $13 billion listing
Image source : reuters.com
The Room Where It Happened
: A White House Memoir Hardcover – 23 Jun. 2020 by John Bolton (Author).
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● Alibaba joins HK stocks benchmark in changing of the guard
The Financial Times ● Stitch Fix, Amazon, Alibaba And Algorithms Vs. Department Stores
Forbes.com ● 'The press has to go on': Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai defies Beijing
The Guardian ● Hong Kong cuts economic outlook amid ongoing coronavirus fears
City A.M ● Hong Kong's press freedom is on life support thanks to the new security law
The Conversation ● Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai returns to newsroom after arrest
Mail Online ● Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai released on bail
The Guardian ● Arrest of Hong Kong media mogul sparks fears of wider crackdown
The Financial Times


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Hatton National Bank was recently recognized as the ‘Best Managed Bank During COVID-19 in Sri Lanka’ by the prestigious Asian Banker Magazine, while the Bank’s Managing Director and CEO Jonathan Alles, was awarded the Leadership Achievement Award for having delivered the Best CEO response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.
“I am indebted to my staff for their sacrifices and tremendous dedication in ensuring smooth continuity of business at such a critical moment when our customers needed us the most. Our strategy during this time was focused on providing essential support to those who were most severely impacted by the COVID crisis, while extending our assistance to all customers to rapidly transition into digital banking channels”.
“We are proud to say that these efforts have been very successful. As a nation, we still have a tough road ahead, but we remain optimistic that if we continue to work together, we can overcome any challenge and support a grassroots recovery in key sectors of the national economy,” Alles stated.
HNB stepped up to provide essential relief to over 85,000 customers, covering approximately 40% of the bank’s lending portfolio, through moratoriums and has thus far approved working capital financing of approx. Rs 24 billion under the Central Bank relief schemes. The Bank also setup a Rs 5 billion fund to support the SME customers who were not eligible under the CBSL schemes. This scheme was launched utilizing bank’s own funds.
Recently HNB launched a Rs 20 million fund to provide assistance by way of a grant to 200 microfinance customers. The grant will enable customers who have been affected by the on-going COVID pandemic to revive their businesses.
HNB’s strategic focus on being future ready and early adoption of digitalization enabled the Bank to support the customers within the social distancing guidelines. The customers were offered the convenience of carrying out their routine transactions such as balance enquiry, bill payments, fund transfers, opening fixed deposits etc. from any location, through the e-banking platform, which is being revamped currently. The support required continued to be provided through the 24×7 Contact Centre.
Additionally, the bank’s digital payment options including MOMO – mobile POS, SOLO – QR based payment app and the internet payment gateway proved to be timely as it provided the businesses the ability to accept cash-less payments. Launching Appigo platform amid lockdown, the bank enabled the merchants to create a comprehensive and fully functional online store from scratch in a very short period of time. In order to facilitate transactions with vendors who were unable to accept card or online payments, HNB launched the doorstep mobile ATM service during lockdown. Despite the challenges brought about by COVID, the bank also pursued critical technology enhancement projects under the bank’s transformation roadmap. Accordingly, the bank’s Finacle core banking solution was upgraded to the most up-to-date version available in Sri Lanka.
Ensuring health and safety of all the stakeholders remain a key priority of the bank. As such, the bank continues to fully adhere to the measures outlined by the health authorities.
Notably, in 2019, Asian Banker recognized HNB as the Best Managed Bank in the Country for its performance from 2016-2018 and the MD / CEO was bestowed with the Leadership Achievement Award. HNB was also declared the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka at the prestigious Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2020, marking the 11th occasion that bank emerged as winners. The award was presented to HNB in recognition of the bank’s sustainable growth and continuous improvements in processes, products and services amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment.
With 252 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. The bank has continuously won prestigious accolades locally and internationally and is ranked number 3 on the LMD ‘Most Awarded 2019 /20 Hall of Fame Top 50 ranking. HNB is also ranked among the Top 1,000 banks globally by The Banker Magazine. Locally, HNB is amongst the ‘Business Today Top 10’ and the ‘10 Most Admired Companies’ in Sri Lanka by CIMA and ICCSL.


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Courtesy of Techvibes and Index.co, here are the lists of Canadian companies that disclosed new rounds of venture capital funding in October and November.
In October, 22 Canadian companies raised a combined $168 million in venture capital, including an impressive $60 million investment in the Waterloo-based drone company Aeryon Labs, which is already backed by the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund. Click here for the full October 2015 list.
In November, 19 Canadian companies disclosed a total of $92 million in VC funding, the most prominent of which was a $34 million investment in Toronto’s VarageSale, a platform that allows customers to sell their unused clothing, toys, and household items. Click here for the full November 2015 list.


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Plans to transform a former high street bank into a Domino’s pizza have been given the green light despite concerns there’d be too many takeaways in town.
The proposals, put forward by the Pegasus group, will see the former Santander Bank in Market Street, Ashby, turned into a Domino’s in the coming months. The plans received a less than enthusiastic response from the public when they were first touted, with some believing a charity shop would be a better option for the town. Others feared that Ashby was being overwhelmed with fast food outlets.
Concerns that Domino’s wasn’t in keeping with Ashby’s image were also raised, but planners at North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) believed the project would benefit the town’s economy.
The Grade II listed building has been empty since Santander departed Ashby last summer. The empty site sits just metres away from Italian restaurant Zamani’s too - something residents feared would affect its trade. However, the Pegasus Group believed their plans would “enhance” Ashby and end the sight of “dead frontage” in the town.
“The site is a long term vacant unit and is therefore creating a dead frontage and does not generate any activity or footfall at the site. The proposal would result in the reoccupation of the unit, [...] improving the footfall and providing new job opportunities. As such, it would enhance the vitality and viability of the area,” they said.
The closeness to Zamani’s and other Italian restaurants in town was also raised in planning documents, but the Pegasus Group said Domino’s was a takeaway and would not affect others’ trade.
“The closest hot food takeaway to this site is The Fish Inn located at 85A Market Street. The takeaway is located approximately 240m to the north east of the site and therefore the proposals will not result in an intensification of hot food takeaways in this location,” they said.
Planners at NWLDC agreed, saying that the proposal would not create “a cluster of takeaways” in Ashby.
“Although there are restaurants offering takeaway services in the immediate vicinity of the site along Market Street, these establishments would be considered a restaurant, therefore not contributing to the number of hot food takeaways,” they said in their report.
Concerns had also been raised initially by NWLDC’s Conservation Officer about Pegasus’ plans to remove partition walls inside the former bank and add grey vinyl to the exterior of the listed building, but resubmitted proposals removed these ideas, with officers approving the idea.
Planning officers said Domino's would make a “positive contribution” to the variety of shops on Market Street and be of benefit to the local economy.
Officials also noted the boost to the town’s economy Domino’s would bring. They said: “The proposal would result in economic benefits by contributing to the local economy particularly in the evenings when nearby shops and cafes are closed.”
- ‘Is the council’s ambition to concrete over the whole district?’ - Labour slams 14,000 homes plan
- Fancy running your own pub? 11 are for sale in Leicestershire right now
- Town 'squat' to be turned into flats
- More than 80 straw creations as popular Leicestershire event Heather Scarecrow Festival returns
- Council begins work on controversial new office at heart of Leicestershire town


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J Sainsbury has promised to resist pre-Christmas panic sales, despite forecasting that holiday spending would arrive later than in previous years.
Its comments have come amid fears on the high street that stores will have to start sales before Christmas to rid themselves of excess stock.
Mike Coupe, Sainsbury’s group commercial director, said that shoppers would turn out for Christmas, albeit hair-raisingly late “My strong counsel to the trading team is to hold your nerve,” Mr Coupe said, referring to Sainsbury’s non-food business. “It’s more profitable to trade through Christmas and discount afterwards if you need to. You’re better sticking to your plan than changing at the last minute.”
The comments follow a raft of warnings by fashion chains that the warm autumn has made…


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By Sam Blanchard Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 12:50 BST, 3 May 2019 | Updated: 12:56 BST, 3 May 2019
Packs of Little Willies vegetarian sausages have been recalled from supermarket shelves over fears they contain plastic.
A batch of the comically-named bangers, sold in Waitrose and Tesco, have been taken off sale by the manufacturer, The Vegetarian Butcher.
It said the sausages may contain pieces of hard plastic 'due to a production error'.
The affected Lincolnshire-style six-packs sell for £2.99 in Waitrose, but are out of stock on the supermarket's website and on Tesco.
The Vegetarian Butcher's Little Willies vegetarian sausages have been recalled because a 'production


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Kai talked to Nela Richardson of Redfin and John Carney of the Wall Street Journal today to discuss the week that was. But what else happened this week at Marketplace?
Fun Fact: Without bees, it would be tough to produce almonds.
On Monday, we visited a farm in California’s Central Valley and uncovered the buzzy business behind growing almonds. The answer? Traveling bees.
Fun Fact: 75 percent of the $30 billion in military aid awarded to Israel by the Bush administration in 2007 will ultimately come back to the United States.
Political tensions were high when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed congress on Tuesday. Not to worry, more than half of what the U.S. gives in military aid to Israel is returned to the U.S. in the form of armaments purchased from American defense contractors.
Fun Fact:There will be around half a billion middle-class consumers in China five years from now.
The private-equity industry is coming of age in China, and has been doing so for the past 20 years. Chinese investors are banking on the country’s growing middle class and their sky-rocketing purchasing power.
Fun Fact: You can buy an antique brass clock from The New York Times store for $6,500.
The New York Times’s retail shop had a recent makeover, further differentiating it from the online stores of other media outlets. Here’s a comparison between its gift shop and NPR’s wares.
Fun Fact: The world’s second largest economy announced a new growth target of 7 percent on Thursday.
Despite a growing middle class, China’s progress is slowing a bit — though the U.S. and other established countries would be pleased to have China’s growth rate.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.


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Apple just posted its financial results for the second quarter of 2009 and it appear Apple is one of the few companies that are beating the recession.
Apple posted revenue of $8.16 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.21 billion. That works out to be $1.33 per diluted share. Compared to last year, both revenue and profit were higher making this Apple's best March quarter in the history of the company.
Apple success can easily be attributed to its continued success with the iPod and iPhone. The iPod sold 11.01 million units during the quarter which is a 3% growth. However the big winner is the iPhone which sold 3.79 million units which represents a 123% growth over the same quarter last year.
"We are extremely pleased to report the best non-holiday quarter revenue and earnings in our history," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's CFO. "Apple's financial condition remains very robust, with almost $29 billion in cash and marketable securities on our balance sheet. Looking ahead to the third fiscal quarter of 2009, we expect revenue in the range of about $7.7 billion to $7.9 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share in the range of about $.95 to $1.00."


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Mercedes-Benz ended the challenging year of 2020 as the top-selling premium car brand in South Africa. A year that saw a considerable overall decline in the market due to COVID-19.
Also globally, Mercedes-Benz ended the year as No 1 among the luxury car brands. Last year saw the Stuttgart-based brand sell a total of 2,164,187 units (-7.5%) with China and Europe regions contributing most considerably to the overall number.
Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and executive director for Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “Our No 1 position can be attributed to the consolidated effort of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and the agent network in these challenging times.”
“More than ever before, there are challenges which lie ahead of us as we constantly strive to provide customers with the utmost convenience when it comes to their mobility solutions, which is why in 2020 we launched an online platform called Mercedes-Benz online store, enabling customers to start and complete their online buying journey from the comfort of their homes,” concluded Fritz.
n South Africa, the Mercedes-Benz brand also maintained its position in 2020 as the “Coolest Motor Vehicle” as awarded by the Sunday Times Gen Next, and earned yet another “Top Brand” accolade from Sunday Times.
MERCEDES-BENZ LAUNCHES FOR 2021
Fritz said the product offering continues into 2021 with the launch of its new C-Class sedan, which will “continue to set the benchmark for the mid-size sedan segment”.
“This new-generation C-Class, which is also built in South Africa, follows a R10-billion investment in the East London plant, and will contribute valuably to the South African economy.”
While official details of the W206-generation C-Class sedan have yet to be announced, we expect the newcomer to ride on an updated version of the outgoing model’s rear-wheel-drive architecture, perhaps with slightly more space between its axles.
The styling updates are likely to be fairly conservative with this fifth-generation model, although the cabin looks set for a major overhaul, gaining all sorts of “baby S-Class” technology (i.e., a variety of large displays and extra driver assistance functions).
Powertrain details are thin on the ground at the moment, but some sort of electrification is likely to be offered for markets in Europe. Expect high-performance variants from Mercedes-AMG to follow a little further down the line (when we’ll find out whether rumours of a four-pot C63 hold any substance).
What else does Mercedes-Benz SA have in store for 2021? Well, the company says new S-Class is scheduled to hit local roads during the year, along with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS and a small handful of units of the 537 kW Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. These vehicles set an all-new standard for performance road vehicles, 2021 will be the pinnacle of technology and elegance in the industry.
For more information visit:


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Cool features when doing coverage of the Presidential race
WashingtonPost.com did a live streaming coverage of Super Tuesday results. Analysts say that is was not an engaging TV coverage: no live shots from the field, except candidate speeches; just lots of analysis.
It was a poor coverage by TV standards, although a great alternative for their users. WashingtonPost.com explained that its goal was to “put breaking news in perspective.”
A cool feature used by WashingtonPost was the live chat. Other media as ABC News integrated video questions and comments submitted by users via “Talk Back” site.
More interesting functionalities implemented during the race:
- Twitter teamed with Google for a map mashup with the latest updates across the country. New Twitters appear in real-time (Google explains the process ), and when the polls close, Google will add election results to the mix.
- YouTube has its own Google Maps mashup , which combines video submissions from YouTubers.
- MSBNC.com offered for bloggers.
- Clear Channel teamed with NBC News and MSNBC.com to display real-time results on electronic billboards located in Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Memphis and Albuquerque.
- CNN brought out the “Magic Wall”. This is a touch-screen that allows anchors to interactively display and animate data as if they were manipulating the images on an iPhone It was invented by a 32 years-old New York computer scientist who runs 10-person company Perceptive Pixel.
Armed forces, national security agencies, large businesses and other TV networks have bought this $100,000 device called Multi-Touch Collaboration Wall. It can display much data simultaneously like photos, videos, Google Earth maps, live streams of Web sites, charts. It reminds “Minority Report” film.
Newsclipper.com disrupts content publishers video ad policy
See this extraordinary site, Newsclipper.org . It collects publicly available content and allows you to playlist it.
Newsclipper.org benefits from RSS (Really Simple Syndication), one of the best techniques for distributing one-to-one media experiences and syndicate web content. Video distributors use it to enable their content to be embedded in, or linked to, other people websites.
Newsclipper.org has created a custom viewing environment. They have arranged a bunch of feeds in easy to understand groups. It’s just a linking site. They don’t store video, nor do they ask for anyone’s permission to do this. They get the major content publishers’ RSS feeds, and strip out any of the code that points to advertising, and bring you the programming.
(The only way to prevent this would be for content publishers to bake commercial messaging into their videos. But that would not let them properly traffic advertising on their own sites. And it would also allow content to expire, which is not a good idea.)
You choose from a pulldown menu a subject, a network, or a special interest feeds, among others. Then you can add to your personal playlist or just view them by clicking.
This is what Shelly Palmer, author of the book Television Disrupted> The Transition from Network to Networked TV writes:
“Unlike QuickSilverScreen.com and other linking sites that feature pirated content, newsclipper.org points you to publicly available feeds featuring video hosted and served from the legal rightsholder’s servers. The site is remarkable in that it fulfills its marketing promise perfectly. “Come to newsclipper.org and get video clips from major news sources in a clean, easy to use online environment.”
Here’s the scary part. If you take the playlist you create on newsclipper.org and add your own advertising via RSS and put the whole shebang on your own website or blog, you will (in effect) become a customized, targeted video site with network quality news clips, selling your own advertising with no way for anyone to know that what you are doing is illegal. The content publisher will know, but only if they see your site. Consumers won’t have any idea that the advertising they are seeing is not the advertising that they were intended to see.
Absurdly, all of the content publishers who are featured on newsclipper.org gleefully feed their video content via RSS. By definition, anyone can read the feed and see the videos. Of course, the idea was for consumers to see the whole feed with advertising intact. Oops!”
Yahoo Live allows to stream live
Yahoo has launched a new live service which allows anyone with a webcam to stream live. It is called Live Yahoo . For now the service is very unstable and keeps going down. One cool feature is that you can track Yahoo Live’s Twitter account to see what’s streaming right now. This is similar to Ustream.tv and LiveNewsCameras.com. And by the way, we should say something about LiveNewsCameras.com , which is a fascinating concept.
LiveNewsCameras.com is a compilation of Fox affiliate feeds across the country. A moderator explains what’s happening and what’s coming up. Affiliates are sending out text alerts of upcoming events via Twitter, which is integrated into the right column. Fox thinks of this an experiment.
Podcast growing in traffic and ad revenue
A study by eMarketer projects exponential growth in the podcasting audience: from 18.5 million in the U.S. in 2007 to 65 million in 2012. Along with it, it will be a steady growth in advertising revenue. In 2007 hit $165 million and is expected to grow to $435 million in 2012.
Active listeners (defined as people who download more than one podcast) were 6.5 million in 2007 and expected to be 25 million in 2012.
The podcasting has been passed by as video became the hot vertical, particularly with new iPod video devices. The mainstream media is playing a big role promoting the growth of podcasts –so is taking a big slice of the pie.


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President Donald Trump has approved steep tariffs on imports of solar panels and washing machines to protect US producers.
The move has triggered an outcry in China and South Korea and even protests at home.
Seoul said yesterday it planned to take the issue to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) while Beijing expressed 'strong dissatisfaction'.
"Together with other WTO members, China will resolutely defend its legitimate interests," its commerce ministry warned, without indicating any specific counteraction.
At home in the US, the move was decried by the solar industry, which said the tariffs would create a 'crisis' and cost thousands of US jobs and billions in investment without helping domestic suppliers meet rising demand.
- 1 South Korea court upholds jail for ex-president Park, clearing way for chance of a pardon
- 2 Trump keeps up baseless fraud claims at rally for U.S. senators in Georgia
- 3 GSA chief says decision to allow transition to begin was 'solely mine'
- 4 South Korea warns of return to tough Covid-19 measures to fight third wave
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the tariffs were imposed after an 'exhaustive' review by USTR and the independent US International Trade Commission, which determined that US producers were 'seriously injured by imports'.
The administration imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on imports of large washing machines over three years, and up to 30 per cent on solar panels over four years.
South Korea, which has signed a free trade deal with the US and is a crucial ally in Washington's confrontation with North Korea, said it would file a petition at the WTO.
Its trade minister, Kim Hyun-Chong, said the tariffs were 'excessive' and may constitute a "violation of WTO provisions".
Samsung, South Korea's biggest firm, said the tariffs were "a tax on every consumer who wants to buy a washing machine."
"Millions of Americans love their LG washers," said another South Korean company, LG Electronics, taking umbrage at the decision.
"Consumers should be the ones to decide what washers they want."
Last year Trump launched dozens of trade cases, taking what his commerce department called 'unprecedented' action on trade. Many have targeted China, the United States' biggest trade partner, which last year ran a record surplus with the US, inciting new ire from Trump.


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To celebrate 2022 Valentine’s Day, Nike will be releasing the perfect Air Max 90 for the lovable occasion.
This offering of the Nike Air Max 90 sports an all-Pink base constructed in a mix of mesh and leather with silky ribbon laces, satin liners and tongues. Branded “Nike” lettering on the toe and ankle collar paired with Red accents atop a White midsole and Pink rubber outsole completes the design.
Check out the official photos below, and look for the women’s Nike Air Max 90 “Valentine’s Day” to release in the coming weeks at select retailers and Nike.com.
Style Code: DQ7783-600
Release Date: February 2022


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Here's what Wall Street expects from NGK Insulators's earnings
- NGK Insulators will present Q2 figures on October 30.
- Wall Street analysts predict earnings per share of ¥36.96.
- Go here to watch NGK Insulators stock price in real-time on Markets Insider.
NGK Insulators is reporting earnings from Q2 on October 30.
Forecasts of 1 analyst expects earnings of ¥36.96 per share as opposed to earnings of ¥26.46 per share from the same quarter last year.
Analysts are expecting the company to report ¥120.62 billion, an increase of 9.94% over the prior year quarter.
With regard to the current fiscal year, analysts forecast a profit per share of ¥164.56. Last year it was ¥142.42 per share. In terms of sales, analysts estimate that the company will bring in ¥493.01 billion in the current fiscal year, compared to ¥ 451.13 billion in the same period last year.
This story was written by Markets Insider's RoboEddy, which automatically writes these stories based on data provided by our partners.


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Louis Galleria location, Apple Store employees decided not to unionize by refusing to unionize in their application to the National Labor Relations Board this week. Bloomberg.
Employees said they did not believe the union would provide “anything that complements Apple’s culture and existing benefits,” suggesting that Apple’s efforts to improve benefits to prevent unionization have been successful. Apple increased paid sick leave and vacation days in February, and improved working conditions in June by increasing time limits between shifts, limiting night shifts, and not working more than five consecutive days.
Workers at the store said they did not want to be represented by the International Union of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the group of workers that aims to organize the store. Of the 90 employees, 66 said they “do not want to join the union and do not support the union in any way”.
In November, IAM abandoned plans to vote for unionization, blaming “anti-union practices and growing hostility towards workers” at the time. Employees allege that IAM gave up on unionization efforts after learning of the petition. “Most of the employees in this “Apple Store” don’t want to work with IAM,” the employees said. They also said they “do not believe a union is necessary at this time”.
Workers said that although Apple was accused of engaging in anti-union behavior, union opposition was unaffected by management. In October, Apple refused to provide new benefits to a unionized story in Maryland, and employees there were told that Apple had to negotiate benefits with Apple through the union.
Apple’s head of retail, Deirdre O’Brien, warned employees that unionizing would make it harder for Apple to make changes. “We have an open, collaborative and direct engagement relationship,” he said at the time. “I feel that this could fundamentally change if a store is represented by a union under a collective bargaining agreement.”
As of now, two Apple Stores in the US have chosen to unionize, and employees at several other Apple retail outlets are also considering unionizing.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion on this topic, the discussion thread is featured on our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors can read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.


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Former PayPal Exec Walt Doyle Joins Highland Capital Partners
December 11, 2013
Doyle | Highland Capital
Highland Capital Partners has hired Walt Doyle as a venture partner. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Doyle was the CEO of WHERE, a local discovery service and mobile ad network that was acquired by eBay/PayPal in May 2011. Mr. Doyle has also previously run and been involved with numerous consumer media and technology companies, including MapQuest and Net2Phone, among others. His career began in Hong Kong with Dow Jones in the early 90s.


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Published on the 12/07/2017 | Written by Newsdesk
Digital economy rated among the world’s best...
Get ready for a round of back patting as New Zealand emerges as one of the top digital economies in the world. The people with a propensity to measure obscure things are, in this case, the Fletcher School at Tufts University, which has with Mastercard produced the 2017 Digital Evolution Index for the second time.
Mastercard said in a statement that the Digital Evolution Index (DEI) research tracks the progress countries have made since 2014 in developing their digital economies and integrating connectivity. New Zealand was identified as one of the digital elite economies, alongside the UK, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong and Japan.
New Zealand’s strong digital economy was attributed to a positive combination of infrastructure, incubating start-ups, a cultural commitment to innovation, and government support.
Peter Chisnall, Mastercard NZ and Pacific Islands country manager was pleased to see New Zealand ranked a ‘stand out’ country in the worldwide index.
“It is fantastic that New Zealand is highlighted as a world leader, with our businesses and lives increasingly online. New Zealand is well placed for future growth so we can make the most of the immense opportunities the digital environment from our corner of the world. The investment from industry and government to advance our digital infrastructure and foster innovation is putting us in a strong place to compete globally.”
The research maps the development of 60 countries, demonstrating their competitiveness and market potential for further digital economic growth. The index measures four key drivers:
- Supply (or internet access and infrastructure)
- Consumer demand for digital technologies
- Institutional environment (government policies/laws and resources) and
- Innovation (investments into R&D and digital start-ups)
The drivers were assessed through 170 unique indicators.
Measuring the pace and state of digital advancement, the research puts countries into four distinct categories:
- Stand Out countries, including New Zealand and the UK, demonstrate high levels of digital development while continuing to lead in innovation and new growth.
- Stall Out countries, including Australia and the USA, have a strong history of growth, but their momentum is slowing and without further innovation they are at risk of falling behind.
- Break Out countries, include the likes of China and Russia, which still have relatively lower absolute levels of digital advancement but these countries demonstrate the fastest momentum.
- Watch Out countries, including South Africa and Greece, face significant challenges and are constrained both by low levels of digital advancement and a slow pace of growth.
“Despite being a ‘stand out’ country, New Zealand businesses, government and society must continue to embrace innovation, while facing ongoing challenges of the security of digital infrastructure as we move forward,” added Chisnall.
Mastercard said central to digital evolution is “digital trust”. As interactions are increasingly conducted digitally and affect more and more aspects of people’s lives, digital trust continues to grow in importance. It added the report provides a way to assess digital trust, as well as the state and rate of digital evolution with examples from around the world.
“Technology has a role to play in improving economies and making our lives better, but growth is only achievable if everyone has confidence and trust in technology and embraces change to ensure ongoing success,” said Chisnall.
The link to the full Digital Evolution Index 2017 report and methodology can be found here.


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Facebook is planning on rolling out a new payment method in the US in the coming months via its messaging platform to “give people a more convenient and secure way to send or receive money between friends.”
The feature will be available on Facebook’s standalone messaging apps on Android and iOS as well as on desktop.
The move isn’t a surprise. It follows comments last July by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, speaking at the firm’s Q2 earnings conference call, when he confirmed there’ll be “some overlap” between payments and its Messenger service. And it comes after David Marcus, former president of eBay’s PayPal division, joined Facebook to head up the social network’s mobile messaging efforts.
The first time a user sends or receives money, they will need to add a Visa or MasterCard debit card issued by a US bank. They can also create a PIN to provide additional security, and on iOS devices they can enable Touch ID.
“As always, you can add another layer of authentication to your account at any time,” the company said in a statement.
After that, any time they want to send money they will need to tap the ‘$’ icon in Messenger and enter the amount they want to send.
“The money you send is transferred right away. It may take one to three business days to make the money available to you depending on your bank, just as it does with other deposits,” the company said in a statement.
Explaining that sending money on Facebook is secure, the company said it has been a dependable and trusted payments processor for game players and advertisers since 2007 and that it processes more than one million transactions daily on the site.
It emphasised that it uses layers of software and hardware protection and that the payment systems are kept in a secured environment, separate from other parts of the Facebook network that receive additional monitoring and control.
A team of anti-fraud specialists monitor for suspicious purchase activity to help keep accounts safe, it added.
Earlier this year, Facebook trialled a feature for its Messenger app that enables voice messages to be converted into text.
In November, Snapchat also launched a payments service in the US.


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Cryptocurrency could soon be a big part of the restaurant world. Find out how the model is being taken up by the hospitality industry in Eloise Sheppard’s Guest Technology Editor column for Restaurant Magazine.
The idea of ‘farm to fork’ traceability is not new. Technology, however, is starting to provide better ways of achieving reliable transparency and, with diners increasingly interested in food provenance, it makes sense for restaurants to have a handle on their ingredients.
The problem is knowing what to trust when it comes to information. Although it’s still the new kid on the block in payment terms, interestingly, blockchain seems to be gaining traction with operators for its ability to act as a data hub, storing details throughout the ingredient journey. And it might be time for more of us to take note.
Manchester venue Sandbar went cashless this year and now only accepts cards and cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. The operator calculated teams were spending 40 hours a week on admin for cash transactions. Removing paper money freed up time that could be better spent on fine-tuning the business, as well as removing temptation for thieves.
Sandbar won’t be alone. According to trade body UK Finance, evolving habits and new technology are giving customers ever more reason to can the cash. Card payments rose to £13.2bn at the end of 2017, overtaking cash for the first time, and operators will need to jump on cryptocurrency when they feel the time is right. Providers are already on the ground, making sure cryptocurrency platforms can integrate with EPoS systems.
However, while some restaurants might not be ready to accept cryptocurrency as payment, it’s adding value to our sector in other ways, and so is blockchain.
A blockchain is a digital platform of all cryptocurrency transactions, which allows participants to keep track without external record keeping. Data is stored on participants’ computers and entries can’t be changed once added. If a record is altered on one computer, this won’t be reflected on the others. It’s not restricted to finance either.
Almost any kind of data can be recorded, making it an enticing prospect for operators looking to keep track of their best – and worst – suppliers. Say, for example, chicken was found to be contaminated – blockchain could trace the product through the distribution cycle.
Food quality can be tracked in the same way. If a restaurant is receiving consistently good – or poor – produce from a distributor, the operator could use the blockchain ledger to identify the source, increase orders of the good stuff or eliminate low-quality ingredients. The technology can also be used to verify an operator’s own claims.
If a concept sets out to appeal to a certain customer – maybe as a vegan or gluten-free specialist, or one that only sources from local producers – the ability to prove this is vital.
It looks as though blockchain will become an established facet of the restaurant industry as it slots gradually into mainstream payment methods and starts to cure supply chain headaches. The fact that providers are also seeing the value in restaurant tech integration for their systems, and investing in it as a defined revenue stream, speaks volumes for the way this tide will turn.


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Americans spend more time shopping on Thanksgiving weekend than they do visiting Disney hot spots.
according to news reports compiled by Black Friday Death Count.7 people have died and 98 have been injured in the U.S. while Black Friday shopping since 2006.
Not everybody wants to work on Thanksgiving. Workers have protested outside of certain Walmart locations on Black Friday for four years, calling for higher wages.
A new study from WalletHub market research firm shows that 14 percent of products will have prices on Black Friday similar to their normal in-store costs.
Some locations sell out of pajamas and other household items.
Retailers in other countries have watched U.S. stores generate huge sales on Black Friday and have started offering their own deals.
the average discount is only about 5 percent -- far less than just before Christmas, when discounts can reach 17.5 percent.


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Robin Wauters is the European Editor of The Next Web. He describes himself as a hopeless cyberflâneur, a lover of startups, his family a Robin Wauters is the European Editor of The Next Web. He describes himself as a hopeless cyberflâneur, a lover of startups, his family and Belgian beer. If you'd like to know more about Robin, head on over to robinwauters.com or follow him on Twitter.
Research agency Canalys has thoroughly analyzed the smart phone market in the EMEA region, and has come to a number of conclusions worth sharing.
First and foremost, it’s a growth market. Smart phone shipments reached 12.6 million units in Q2 2008, up 28% on the figure one year ago. Even though that’s actually a slowed growth compared to the figure put forward for the first quarter (year-over-year growth of 44%), this makes Q2 the second biggest quarter in terms of volume ever. Canalys estimates that smart phones represented 13% of all mobile phone shipments.
Nokia is still leading the market with over 71% market share, even if their competitors in this segment are taking up market share at a much faster pace. The other vendors in the top five posted much higher than average year-on-year growth, with second-placed RIM closing the market share gap by several points, and HTC, Motorola and Samsung more than doubling their shipments. Canalys cites Apple as an upcoming competitor with the launch of the iPhone 3G in several European countries.
According to Canalys’ estimates, 58% of the smart phones shipped in EMEA in Q2 had integrated Wi-Fi, 13% had touch screens and 38% had integrated GPS.
But are these high-end features being used?
“Today, many owners are not making full use of their smart phone’s features,” said Canalys senior analyst Pete Cunningham. “Concern over usage costs is still a big barrier, though wider availability of flat rate data plans will help, and usability still needs to improve for certain applications on many devices. People are also wary of draining their battery and not being able to make calls. Battery life isn’t helped by having GPS and Wi-Fi turned on, nor by having a large, bright screen for navigation or web browsing. But there is clear demand for those features and applications, and advances in battery technology would enable quite substantial changes in usage patterns, with all the service revenue benefits that would bring.”
In a previous survey of 4,000 mobile phone users in March, Canalys found that battery life was the aspect of their phone people were least satisfied with.
(Photo credit: jurvetson @ Flickr – yes, that Jurvetson)
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Maruti redefining base level cars: From 800 to Alto
Maruti 800 is no longer the biggest selling car in the market. In fact, it was down to 5th place on the sales chart for the month of April! Maruti Alto has taken over and taken over in a huge way. The company is selling more than 10,000 units of Alto in a month, something which might be surprising the company itself.
The sales of Maruti 800 have been dropping since quite sometime. Earlier, it was a cause for a worry to the company, which then positioned Alto along with the 800 to the budget segment. The consumer liked the move so much that Alto is selling 5 times the past numbers with 800 just losing around 20% of the sales figures…
Kinji Saito, director (marketing & sales) of Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) said that the company considers the sale of both the models together representing the budget car segment. And the growing number brings a lot of smiles for them. The company is planning to keep selling the 800 model for the time being and even enhance the value of the car by upgrading it to keep the sales going strong.
The difference between these two models is around Rs. 30,000, which is quite a lot looking at the Indian consumer who keeps the aspect of value for money at the top. The company plans to keep these two cars in their individual price group so that the sales of one car do not eat into the otherâ€™s market.
The company is hoping to sell around six lakh cars in the current year. With Suzuki Swift just out in the showrooms and demand for it already touching sky high… the target looks easily achievable. A look at the top 10 selling vehicles in the Indian market also displays the position Maruti is in, in the present time! Their models takes five of the top 10 spots!
The Top 10 selling vehicles of April 2005:
Maruti Wagon R
Tata Indica/Tata Marina


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What Should Go in New Howell Center Addition?
New building in shopping center creates possibilities for consumers
The Howell Center just north of the 195 overpass has undergone a facelift in recent months with the exteriors of all the current tenants getting a newer, cleaner and more modern look.
One interesting part of the renovations has been the construction of a new building that could bring a new business to town. In a shopping center that already includes two restaurants, retail stores and other companies what would you like to see put in this new building?
Tell us your opinion on what is missing from the shopping center and even in that part of town in general in the comments section.


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The world’s biggest social media platform has rushed out a new app to take advantage of the video game streaming market against Amazon, Microsoft and Google.
HALLOWEEN is here and, for Pokemon Go fans across the world, that means the launch of the annual Halloween event.
ADDICTIONS to viral video game Fortnite have been blamed for one in 20 divorces this year, according to research by a popular divorce website.
FORTNITE’S creators asked Google to stay silent about a massive security flaw and are slamming the tech giant for making it public.
FANS of the hit video game are being warned they are at risk as fraudsters try and cash in on the latest game offering.
IF Samsung has truly snagged the exclusive rights to the game, it could see Fortnite for Android released in less than a month
A CONTROVERSIAL quiz app offering players money for correct answers is launching in Australia tonight. But there’s a few things you need to know before you play.
THE hugely popular Fortnite: Battle Royal game hit the Apple app store last month, and iPhone users have gone berserk.
KIDS all over the world are starting school at a disadvantage because one problem is being misdiagnosed. An Australian invention is changing that.
GOOGLE has been forced to pull malware-infected kids gaming apps from its online store after cyber security researchers revealed what they were showing young kids.
CHRIS Hemsworth’s booming voice is what makes his portrayal of Thor so successful. But now, he’s putting it to a different use entirely.
A BLOGGER has been found guilty of inciting religious hatred after he posted a video of himself playing Pokemon Go in a church.
CALVIN Riley was playing the hit mobile game Pokemon Go with a friend at a popular tourist attraction when someone shot him dead.
A MAN was shot to death while playing Pokemon Go on his phone at a tourist attraction along San Francisco’s waterfront.
THE overwhelming success of Pokemon Go has led to some unexpected obstacles for the game’s creators. It has just been banned in one country.
IT WAS the most notorious Pokemon Go spot in Sydney but local residents have won a battle to get it removed from the game.
VIDEO: Reckless fans dice with danger and enrage motorists as they spill on to a road at Rhodes to catch a valuable creature on the Go app.
IVAN Lee’s idea never gained momentum. But now another company is worth $5 billion after releasing the same thing.
NINTENDO’S market value has plummeted with its share price dropping 18 per cent following a Pokemon Go announcement.
LOCAL council members and residents are calling for the removal of Pokestops in the inner west suburb of Rhodes, following hordes of players appearing daily.
POKEMON GO encourages people to walk through the real world in order to catch ‘em all, but some players are proudly and publicly cheating the system.
POKEMON has claimed its first death as concern rises over the world’s most dangerous spot to play the game.
POKEMON Go fans will soon be able to go on PokeDates. The dating app aims to help users of the popular game find a good (human) catch.
THE creator of McAfee security software thinks Pokemon Go is the least of your worries in terms of apps having access to your private information.
BY not reading the terms and conditions of Pokemon Go you have agreed to something troubling and only have 30 days to opt-out.
THIS sign is awesome. It delivers a crushing blow to those on the Pokemon hunt, saying it is “by far the stupidest thing ever seen” — and this person has seen some silly things.
AS POKEMON Go continues to take the nation by storm, a number of events are being created. Here’s what’s happening near you.
A TEENAGER has been hit by a car, a man has been stabbed and two people have fallen off a cliff. The Pokemon Go carnage keeps getting worse.
THIS is definitive proof that Pokemon Go players don’t care where they are, they can’t stop using the app.
AS the Pokémon craze sweeps across Adelaide and sends players to the most unlikely places, authorities are reminding them to respect the dead.
AS Pokemon Go sweeps the globe, the app is on track to beat records. However, there is a downside to its popularity.
IT WAS only a matter of time before Pokemon Go created carnage on the roads and now the game has caused its first accident.
WITH the enormous success of Pokemon Go, a casual remark by one of its creators has got fans excited about a Game of Thrones version.
SINCE its release Pokemon Go has been responsible for some strange events, but none have been quite as bizarre as the “Pokemon Go holy land”.
IT MAY look like an unstoppable craze but not everyone is happy about Pokemon Go — and the backlash is setting in.
FELLOW Aussies, it’s officially time to panic. We finally broke Pokemon Go, with users unable to log in due to a server overload.
LET’S not deny it, we are a nation of whingers, and we are being encouraged to keep on complaining through a new app.
A TWITCH user accidentally left his microphone on following a live stream and what was recorded has absolutely shocked users.
JIMMY Barnes is one of many stars — including AFL players — who have been linked to a controversial new app offering video calls with celebrities.
THINK you know what your child is up to? Many Australian teens are hiding their secrets behind vault apps. Here’s how they do it.
PSYCHOLOGISTS have looked at whether our brains work better when we are in high spirits, or if being a little miserable helps push us to maximum performance.
TWO Aussie dads raising young girls were horrified by the dangerous world of revenge porn and sexting. So they’ve come up with a safe — but cheeky — solution.
DAN thought he was in the perfect relationship. But after 12 years, she dumped him. Now, he’s on a mission to make sure it doesn’t happen to other guys.
FINALLY! After years of begging, Nintendo is finally releasing Mario, Pokemon, Donkey Kong and all its favourites on your phone
IMAGINE your iPhone without apps. It just wouldn’t be the same. These are the Aussies contributing to the $500 million a week industry.
THE designers of a super popular video game changed the game after Phillip Hughes was tragically killed. This is how they responded.
A DISTURBING new app lets users deliver a Disney baby. Yes, it’s as strange as it sounds.
THE world of app gaming has claimed an unlikely victim. Everyone has their vices, but John Lydon’s is an odd one.


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June 5, 2017
As announced at NFPA 2017 in Boston, Clarke will soon start assembling Caterpillar engines under the Clarke name. Clarke has decided to expand upon our product line and offer emissionized options for are customers at higher speeds.
It may have come to surprise to many to see these powerful brands come together, we hope that you are just as excited as we are!
Keep your eyes peeled for more information to come about all Clarke future offerings in 2018!


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Waffle Tacos In More Lucky Markets, Is Yours One?
After Waffle Tacos from Taco Bell outsold all fellow menu items in five test markets in Southern California, the chain has expanded the breakfast item to 100 more stores.
So now Taco Bell’s Waffle Tacos are coming to three more cities in hopes the Yum Brands chain will carve out a space in the breakfast market.
Fresno, California, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Omaha, Nebraska are all going to get the new item at Taco Bell. Waffle Tacos consist of a waffle folded like a taco, with eggs, sausage, and a side of syrup in case you are high or pregnant or have really horrible taste buds in normal life.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Taco Bell Waffle Taco is one of several strategies the brand has implemented to attract more “millenials” and change up its target market.
The paper cites the new “Live Mas” slogan and the elimination of Taco Bell kids’ meals as markers the chain is trying to beef up its millenial base.
The Times says that the strategy is not yet taking off, adding:
When asked about Taco Bell, 38% of the demographic described the company, a Yum Brands subsidiary along with KFC and Pizza Hut, as ‘typical fast food.’ Nearly 20% saw it as ‘cheap and filling.’ Some 17% characterized the brand as ‘late night meal or snack food.’ Just 1% considered Taco Bell to be ‘hip and edgy.’ ”
Is your city getting Waffle Tacos at Taco Bell, or do you have to wait for the nationwide roll-out?


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Inflation rose in July at a rate not seen in more than a decade as Canadians shelled out more for housing, food and a tank of gas.
Statistics Canada reported Wednesday that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.7% on a year-over-year basis in July, mostly driven by shelter costs, which saw a 13.8% increase — the largest annual spike since October 1987.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole said in a statement that Canadians need a plan to make life more affordable.
“The numbers released today make it clear that under Justin Trudeau, Canadians are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis,” O’Toole said. “It’s troubling that Justin Trudeau seems to not care about the skyrocketing cost of living that is being imposed on Canadians through inflation.”
O’Toole said his own party’s platform would lower prices on food and banking fees and also stabilize the housing market.
Trudeau said his government has signed historic agreements to ensure Canadians see their child-care costs cut in half over the next year, down to $10 a day within five years.
“In terms of cost of living, I don’t think Erin O’Toole can be considered serious when he’s turning his back on getting women into the workforce by investing in proper child care,” the prime minister said while campaigning in B.C..
Dalhousie University Prof. Sylvain Charlebois said Stats Canada’s cost-of-living numbers capture only a glimpse of what’s really going on in grocery stores.
For example, Stats Canada says bacon is up 9% since January but his own data suggests the increase is closer to 20-25%.
“Shrink inflation” — where manufacturers try to offset rising costs by reducing quantity without lowering the price — is now common in the shopping aisles, he said.
“Because we are in a federal election campaign, I actually do believe that this inflation issue we’re all facing is slowly becoming a hidden regressive tax affecting everyone including people in the middle class and consumers with less means,” Charlebois said. “It’s not just Canada, by the way, it’s the Western world. Many governments have actually flooded the economy with way more cash.”
Rising labour costs are hitting food producers, sellers and restaurants hard, and consumers can expect to see the negative impact on their budgets grow in the fall, he said.


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Samsung’s superior software support policy promises four generations of OS upgrades for many phones manufactured in 2021 and 2022, whereas many phones manufactured in 2020 and earlier were eligible for three major upgrades. The Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A51 5G belong to the latter category, and the 5G model has now begun receiving its third and final major update.
In the United States, Xfinity Mobile has released the Android 13 and One UI 5.0 update for the Galaxy A51 5G. This is the first time anywhere in the world that Android 13 has been released for either Galaxy A51 model, and surprisingly, one of the smaller North American carriers has taken the lead.
Update to Galaxy A51 5G One UI 5.0 has finally arrived
Owners of the Galaxy A51 5G on the Xfinity network can now enjoy the most recent Android and Samsung’s One UI skin. The update is being rolled out over the air (you can download it from the phone’s Settings » Software update menu) and includes the latest security patches; the full firmware is also available in our archives for those who want to manually upgrade to Android 13 on a Windows PC.
Android 13 and One UI 5.0 bring a plethora of new features, including expanded lock screen customization options (which, admittedly, will be useless for the majority of users), enhanced security and privacy, faster performance and smoother animations, and more. You can view our videos below for a comprehensive overview of the update’s new features, though not all of them may be available on the A51 5G, a mid-range phone that has been on the market for more than two years.


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Wawa's 2019 Hiring Campaign Seeks to Fill 4,000-Plus Jobs
WAWA, Pa. — Wawa Inc. is setting a goal of hiring more than 4,000 new employees over the next three months during its spring hiring campaign.
All 840-plus convenience stores across the chain's six-state footprint are seeking to add new talent, the company said.
The annual hiring campaign will take place throughout spring with both customer service and management-level positions available. Wawa has an overall commitment to provide job opportunities that can lead to fulfilling careers for community members across its operating area, according to the company.
The c-store chain previously announced a smaller hiring campaign that set the goal of filling up to 1,000 positions in its Florida stores over the first three months of 2019, as Convenience Store News previously reported.
"At Wawa, part of our commitment to fulfilling lives means adding jobs for new associates, while also providing advancement opportunities for the more than 33,000 Wawa associates who are part of our team. That's why we're thrilled to kick-off this year's spring hiring campaign and add a number of new members to our growing Wawa Family," said Elizabeth Moore, manager of talent acquisition and diversity at Wawa.
"As we look to fill these positions with people who have a strong passion for serving others, we're looking for individuals who want to join our team for the busy summer season as well those who might be interested in the start of a fulfilling career at Wawa," she added.
All Wawa stores will have available job opportunities, but select stores will host hiring events on March 27 and April 10. Prospective employees will be able to go through a brief first interview, learn more about Wawa's culture, explore career opportunities and get more information about the role employees play in their communities.
Stores hosting hiring events will post signs announcing the dates and times of the open house. Interested individuals can apply online at www.wawa.com prior to attending a hiring event.
Full- and part-time employees receive competitive salaries and health benefits, as well as flexible schedules and tuition reimbursement opportunities. In addition, through Wawa's employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), associates share directly in the growth of Wawa. Today, Wawa is 41-percent owned by associates through the ESOP. Nearly half the ESOP is owned by store-level associates and store management.
Pennsylvania-based Wawa operates more than 840 convenience stores, including 600-plus with gas, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.


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The Austin-American Statesman recently profiled the nightlife of the Second Street District, the neighborhood The Austonian downtown luxury condominiums calls home. Since 2005, the district has been essential to the renaissance of downtown Austin, and over the past ten years the Second Street District has evolved into a go-to spot for shopping, dining and entertainment in Austin.
With the new year upon us, it’s a great time to get a jump start on your resolutions for 2015, especially when it comes to being fit. As one of the fittest cities in the country, Austin makes the active lifestyle easy, accessible and fun, especially downtown. The area in and around The Austonian luxury condominiums is home to a variety of fitness options, from seasonal and annual events to trails and workout spaces that can be used year round.
Real estate in Austin continues to be a hot commodity in the New Year, as Austin was recently named the #1 “best buy” city for real estate in 2015 by a recent study released by Forbes.
It’s never been a better time to be a lover of beer, wine, and spirits in Austin. Over the past few years, Austin has been gaining clout as a hub for craft beer, cocktails, and locally produced wine. Increasingly more bars, restaurants and stores throughout the city are offering finely crafted, niche drinks that are locally grown, brewed and prepared.
‘Tis the season of holiday shopping, but finding that perfect gift can sometimes be a challenge. Thankfully, downtown Austin is a great place to unique gifts of all kinds, both for those who call the city home and those who want to have a taste of it from places afar. Here’s a look at some unique Austin gift ideas from places near The Austonian downtown luxury condominiums.


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Two Santa Monica tech companies announced today that they’ve secured eight-figure capital raises from leading venture capital firms.
Roadside assistance app Honk has raised a $12 million Series A funding round led by Altpoint Ventures in Menlo Park, bringing the company’s total venture funding to $13.8 million. Honk said in a statement it plans to use the money to enhance its offerings and technology, and to further expand distribution in the $10 billion roadside assistance market.
The AAA competitor has partnered with the operators of 20,000 tow trucks nationwide and guarantees customers will receive assistance within 30 minutes. Emergency vehicle assistance begins at $49 and varies by the level of need.
Meanwhile, online food ordering platform ChowNow has raised a $10 million round led by Santa Monica’s Upfront Ventures, with additional participation from Steadfast Venture Capital, Daher Capital and Karlin Ventures.
The company, which also offers marketing services for restaurants, charges a base price of $99 a month for its service. Co-founder and Chief Executive Chris Webb said the company has a couple thousand restaurant clients across the country.
Along with the funding, ChowNow has hired a former GrubHub executive as its vice president of sales and recruited a former Yodle executive as its vice president of product and marketing.
Webb said ChowNow plans to beef up its sales team, which has already grown from five to 25 employees since last fall.
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When it comes to virtual reality, the technology is still being tuned to its most perfect form. In the past few years, massive improvements have been made to the medium, and television audiences are waiting for the day they can enter their favorite shows. Of course, anime fans are no exception, and it turns out Bandai Namco wants to help those fans see their dream met.
Recently, Anime News Network shared the news after HTC confirmed plans to work with the overseas brand. Bandai Namco Pictures wants to bring virtual reality anime to HTC's various VR platforms moving forward. And if all works well, this could be just the beginning of VR gifts to come.
"By combining the original animation planning and production know-how that we have cultivated over the years with HTC's advanced technological capabilities and strength as a communications platform, we will be able to create an environment where fans can enjoy experiences together, transcending physical limitations, as if they were diving directly into the world of our creations from anywhere in the world," Ozaki Masayuki, the president of Bandai Namco Pictures, said in a recent statement.
According to partnership guidelines, HTC and Bandai Namco will work together to integrated anime-related content on VR platforms while creating new content as well. In fact, both companies promise brand-new content is coming in the next few months which will allow "viewers to enjoy new immersive animations and virtual social interactions."
Clearly, this partnership is exciting to think over, and it could mean big things for Bandai Namco's own anime IPs. The company brought Battle Spirits to life along with Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun. These could be some of the first anime series tested before Bandai Namco and HTC open up licensing offers elsewhere.
This isn't the first time anime has delved into VR technology. Of course, the isekai genre tackles the idea of entering your favorite game or television show, and you only have to watch Sword Art Online to see that firsthand. Also, Funimation began working with VR last summer that brought fans into virtual theaters to watch big-name movies amidst the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What do you think of this ambitious project? Which anime would you want to see in virtual reality...? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.


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A bout of new features have arrived for Apple users who have installed the most recent iOS 16 update on their devices, but not all are raving about the impact it’s had on their phones.
A customizable lock screen, iMessage updates and tougher security measures are among some of the new features introduced in Apple’s latest update, released on September 13.
Users can now add widgets to their lock screen, edit already sent messages, translate text in photos and track their fitness goals without having an Apple Watch, among a number of other never-seen-before features.
It comes just days after the tech giant announced its new line up of smart tech, including the new iPhone 14, Apple Watch and AirPods Pro models.
And while some are loving the fresh design and intelligence of their smartphones, other users from across the globe have noticed that the new update has come at a cost to their battery life.
“PSA: don’t update your iPhone to iOS 16. The battery life is garbage,” one Canadian Apple device owner warned on Twitter.
“That iOS 16 update definitely got my battery fighting for its life,” tweeted another iPhone user from California.
Meanwhile in Australia, Google searches for the phrase “iPhone battery life” have peaked in recent days, while the related query “iOS 16 battery drain” has recorded a huge increase in searches with the search engine recording a breakout in results.
“iOS 16 is a great update but it brutally kills my iPhone’s battery life,” a third Apple fan tweeted.
While the sudden battery drain comes as a frustration, Apple Support says it’s not all bad news with iPhone users encouraged to be patient.
“You may notice that in the first 72 hours after an update the battery life is reduced as your device finishes background activities and processes,” an Apple Support spokesperson told news.com.au.
“After that you should see the battery even out.”
In fact, it seems that reduced charge is quite normal after a software update, however hasn’t been as noticeable in the past due to the reduced extent of new programs being installed.
Apple confirmed this back in March after a user experienced a similar issue with the iOS 15.4 update.
“It’s normal for your apps and features to need to adjust up to 48 hours after an update,” Apple Support tweeted.
For those Apple users still skeptical about updating their devices, one technology fanatic has confirmed that their battery performance has since returned to normal after installing the update.
“The first two to three days after the iOS 16 update, battery life was bad. Then it settled and now it’s good,” the iPhone user reassured in a post to Twitter.
Meanwhile another Apple device owner added: “Initially, every new iOS update affects battery life in most models except the newly released ones.”
“Sometimes even new models but nothing to panic about anyway. In a week or two software updates will start fixing it.”
Apple encourages its customers to visit its “Maximising Battery Life and Lifespan” tips and tricks page on its website for more information on how to preserve battery life for all devices.
Some simple hacks include dimming the brightness of your screen, enabling low power mode and clearing apps that aren’t required from running in the background.
iPhone users can also visit their settings to see a detailed report on their battery life and health.
“‘Battery life’ is the amount of time your device runs before it needs to be recharged (whereas) ‘Battery lifespan’ is the amount of time your battery lasts until it needs to be replaced,” Apple explained on its website.
“Maximize both and you’ll get the most out of your Apple devices, no matter which ones you own.”


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HOME DEPOT USA INC. V. STATE OF MICHIGAN, DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
• Venue: U.S. District Court, Detroit, Judge Robert Cleland
• Case filed: Oct. 17, 2007
• Judgment: $7 million. Paid in early 2013.
• Date: May 24, 2012. Michigan Supreme Court denied leave Oct. 22.
• Plaintiff: Home Depot USA Inc.
• Lead counsel: Christopher Nelson, shareholder, Butzel Long PC, Bloomfield Hills office
• Co-counsel: Randy Mastro, litigation practice group co-chair; Jennifer Rearden, partner, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, New York City office
• Defendants: Michigan Department of Treasury
• Lead counsel: Scott Damich, assistant attorney general
About the case
An appellate court ruling in May makes Michigan the first state to side with The Home Depot in a dispute over whether the company owes sales tax on purchases where customers defaulted on the store's private-label credit cards.
The U.S. subsidiary of the Atlanta-based home improvement retail giant, Home Depot USA Inc., received payment this year on a judgment of more than $6.9 million with interest after the Michigan Supreme Court declined in October to hear an appeal by the Michigan Department of Treasury.
The issue in the case was sales tax paid on purchases from 1999 through early 2007 where holders of the store-brand credit card later defaulted on their payments.
Home Depot had paid sales tax on those purchases and later was reimbursed by its credit lenders, General Electric Capital Corp. and CitiBank USA NA. The lenders then charge fees to Home Depot based on the bad debt.
Home Depot sought to recoup the tax payments from the state, but Treasury said that because it had been reimbursed by its lenders at the time of purchase, it wasn't eligible. The company maintains that the lender fees mean Home Depot hasn't been reimbursed and that its contracts with its card lenders made them one unit for purposes of claiming tax benefits.
The Court of Claims sided with Home Depot in 2009, as did the Michigan Court of Appeals last May. With interest, the state had to refund about $7 million.
Nelson said Home Depot has made the same challenge to sales taxes paid elsewhere. At least one state -- Arizona -- has sided against the retailer, and cases in other states are pending.


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Nike is releasing new sneakers for Kevin Durant’s championship win and the shoes are interesting, to say the least. The sneakers are in the same color as the Warriors’ team colors and they reference a lot of the criticisms that have been weighed against him.
Some of the words on the heel read “snake”, “soft” and “can’t beat em, join em.” The only word missing is “cupcake” but nonetheless, the words on the shoe are very critical of the player.
It is an interesting strategy for the NBA Finals MVP. He is embracing the criticisms and now he is going to profit off of them as well.
The shoes haven’t been immediately released by Nike but that doesn’t matter as the shoes sold out quickly across the nation at different stores. You can find them at select Foot Locker’s but given the publicity surrounding the shoe, don’t be surprised if they are gone quickly.
The discussion always centers around LeBron James’ greatness and for good reason but Durant is making a case to be just as entertaining. Given that every NBA player this offseason seems to be making headlines, the league couldn’t be in better shape. People keep tuning in and the players continue to deliver.


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A brand new report is making the rounds that retail large Amazon is about to put off roughly ten thousand workers, the most recent in huge tech cuts as a result of file market inflation.
The report (by way of the NY Occasions) cites nameless sources that Jeff Bezos’ firm will hearth 10,000 workers in each company and know-how positions, with the layoffs starting this week. Related tech layoffs have occurred not too long ago at Twitter, Meta (previously Fb), and others.
Particularly, the layoffs will have an effect on the corporate’s “units group,” which incorporates their Alexa voice assistant, HR group, and retail group. That is reportedly the most important minimize in Amazon’s historical past, roughly 3% of their company staffing, however lower than 1% of their complete workers.
In case you didn’t know, Amazon is sort of big – using over 1.5 million workers worldwide, most of that are hourly staff that assist drive the retail large’s ridiculous shipments pipeline.
Regardless of the layoffs of their company sector, the corporate is tripling down on worker hirings for the vacation season – to allow them to meet demand. The brand new hires will fill roughly 150,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs throughout their community.
Amazon can also be projecting slowing gross sales in This autumn no matter their vacation output, a slowing in comparison with their earlier 12 months. Nonetheless, their projected web gross sales might be between $140 to 148 billion, or between 2% and eight% development.
From the report, Amazon additionally froze company hiring two weeks in the past, which incorporates their huge AWS cloud computing department – a freeze that can final for months.
That is Area of interest Gamer Tech. On this column, we usually cowl tech and issues associated to the tech trade.


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STAFF REPORT ISB: The telecom service operators often claim big in terms of services but consumers complaints are rising due to silken atmosphere in terms of audit. The Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) has decided to take stern action against the telecom operators against which the complaints are filed.
A high official of MoIT revealed that, “The complaints have risen in past few months and issues like call drop; poor voice quality during call, signal deterring, latency, and mobile broadband (3G and 4G) data networks”. He further stated that MoIT has issued directives to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take strict actions against the telecom operators failing to meet the QoS standards.
It is significant to cite that according that according to the license of telecom operators, the provision of quality services is included which every telecom operator is bound to abide by. The growth of telecom sector required such steps and the operators must ensure the quality of services by identifying and rectifying the problematic areas for better consumer experience.
The ministry accordingly has required the PTA to share an analysis report frequently as well as a comprehensive plan for a measurable improvement in quality of consumer experience.


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EyeforTravel’s latest consumer research, the Chinese Travel Consumer Report 2017-2018 has identified that Chinese travellers prefer the online travel agent (OTA) experience.
The report surveyed over 2,000 consumers, and found that 77.5% of web bookings are made through an online travel agent website, rising to 81.2% for app bookings. Only 17.6% of travellers booked direct through a website, and 12.9% used the airline app.
Already China is the world’s largest outbound travel market in terms of trips and spending, accounting for more than 140 million outbound trips and over 4 billion domestic journeys. China also accounts for the highest international per trip spending in the world, numbers which are being forecasted will continue to grow at approximately 6% compound annual growth rate between 2017 and 2020.
Recently there has been pressure from the Chinese government on airlines to drive more direct bookings, however according to results, this does not seem to be making a difference, with the majority of digital bookings in China are still made through OTAs.
Chinese Flight Booking Channels when using Apps
Chinese Flight Booking Channels when using Websites
This trend in China is in contrast to Western markets where airlines have been able to hold their market share or in some cases grow it. EyeforTravel head of research Alex Hadwick said: “This outlines the unique dynamics at play in China, where smartphones and apps play a much larger role in the travel booking process.”
The report found a similar pattern for accommodation bookings, with seven out of 10 Chinese travel consumers booking through OTAs versus around one in 10 using a hotel’s website or apps.
The two main challenges include:
- OTA concentration: There are just a handful of OTAs in China, with Ctrip, Qunar and Meituan-Dianping being the main ones. Ctrip and Qunar are particularly popular with app users, a growing segment of the market.
- Price sensitivity: Price is a major issue for Chinese travellers with more than nine in 10 turning to price comparison sites during research.


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|The Computer said "Its thataway!"|
The provider located in Las Vegas USA hosts Netflix and the CIA (!) on its servers, has suffered multiple outages before, and without a backup service in the UK, the business of council will just close down and where the elderly, frail or those being abused and in need of care and protection, the result could be catastrophic,if not fatal.
Peterborough City Councillors would be well advised to closely listen to the entire 50 minute presentation. Apparently a new round of job losses,triggering an offload of office space occuplied by the PCC, will also be one of the outcomes and the deputy director isn't too careful with his opinions of the members grasp of computers either, I get the impression that with a sprinkle of magic dust, apathy will do the rest and the transition to a cloud system in the USA will sail through without opposition.
Hopefully the frail and infirm within Peterborough will not starve when the health visitors tablet computer locks up or they miss key critical care data..because the Las Vegas based cloud computer system has gone down...
That is not all, he claims that with a joint CEO in place, Cambridgeshire County Council will also see their information being transferred to a cloud based system in the USA. The system is owned by the UK tax dodging Amazon Web Services (AWS) which also streams Amazon Prime . But from my days working as a consultant to Fujitsu, and several other international IT firms, it seems odd that scant regard is being given to the legal and human rights implications of this move. Peterborough isn't the only council caught up in the hype, a huge head of steam is building up driven by the lobby outfit Local Government Association. As it happens, having first listened to the Webinair as its called http://t.co/ml6EdoGfM8 The following news item came up on The Register which should be carefully read by all concerned.
Comment Oracle is making hay over last weekend's mega six-hour Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud outage. "You get what you pay for," tweeted Oracle's Phil Dunn, with the caveat that all views are his and don't necessarily reflect those of Oracle. But you get the point.
Yes, Amazon's (AWS) been left with egg on its face and rivals will be exploiting the giant's stumble. There's oeuf, too, on the plate of some of the web's most hallowed – in Wall St and Silicon Valley circles at least – names.
Netflix, Tinder, Airbnb, and IMDb were all down or sputtering.
If anybody is venerated it's Netflix, arguably AWS's most high-profile customer – a reference customer, no less, served up on the AWS site as an example of just how far you can go if you stake absolutely everything on AWS.
Without AWS, it's doubtful Netflix would exist as we know it. Netflix would have had to continue investing in its own data center build program and the rocket scientist brains to build the elastic magic. If it had, perhaps Netflix would now be Amazon, selling its spare capacity and expertise to others. Instead, it outsourced it to Amazon.
In another time, people would have cautioned strongly against relying on a single supplier for your critical IT needs. On the web, that's thrown out the window.
But doesn't Netflix learn? It moved to AWS following a staggering outage at its own data center in 2008 and when faced with the prospect of huge growth in its business. Netflix decided it was best to place its faith in the pros. And yet Netflix still went down with AWS in a big way in April 2011. Now Netflix is reported to be closing its last own-operated data center in favor of AWS.
But hang on. Amazon isn't the only one who should hang its head in shame, here. Actually there's plenty of egg for other faces in this game – Microsoft with Azure and Office365, Salesforce, Google – all down over the last few years for periods ranging from a few hours to entire days. To them it's nothing – a mere statistical rounding error in their pledge to maintain 99.999 per cent uptime. But to those on the sharp end, it's lost business.
Netflix garners incredulous headlines just because couch potatoes must do the unthinkable and change channels or go outside. But to the broader mass, to thousands of businesses, it means literally not being able to do business: no ERP to manage production or suppliers, no CRM to run sales or notes to visit vulnerable residents, or monitor abused children, no email to talk to colleagues. Your only option is to twiddle your thumbs between hitting refresh on the status page. That statistical rounding error suddenly looks big when you're up close to it.
Customers have been handing this infrastructure over to providers of public clouds, having convinced themselves they are the companies who know best. Uptime and servers is what they do, so they can run this stuff better than you.
Which makes it more confounding when the experts manage to screw up planned maintenance.
Or, as in the case of AWS at the weekend, Amazon failed to read the growing evidence of the popularity of its DynamoDB NoSQL database service. Demand for Global Secondary Indexes put too much of a strain on the metadata servers, forcing systems to stall.
Worse, Amazon hadn't anticipated this could be a problem, so its monitoring service wasn't set up properly to fully observe this.
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