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Huawei Unveils the Mate 10 ProHuawei Unveils the Mate 10 Pro 2017/12/08
Introducing the next era of mobile: Smartphones with the world's first Kirin AI processor deliver a faster, more customised mobile experience.
Pre-Orders for the Mate 10 Pro open upPre-Orders for the Mate 10 Pro open up 2017/11/01
Huawei Mobile UK today have announced that Carphone Warehouse have started taking pre-orders for the recently unveiled Mate 10 Pro.
Huawei & Dazed unlock the creative potential of young talent through technologyHuawei & Dazed unlock the creative potential of young talent through technology 2017/09/29
Huawei, the global technology leader, has unveiled a new European campaign for creative individuals to unlock their potential, and unleash the full force of their creativity on the world.
Huawei unveils new mobile cloud storage for smartphone usersHuawei unveils new mobile cloud storage for smartphone users 2017/09/29
Huawei Consumer Business Group has today announced the launch of its new Huawei Mobile Cloud, enabling consumers to backup and restore their data and phone settings wirelessly.......
Huawei Band 2 Pro now available to buy in the UKHuawei Band 2 Pro now available to buy in the UK 2017/09/27
Huawei Consumer Business Group today announced that its latest fitness tracker, the Huawei Band 2 Pro, is now available to buy in the UK.
WINNER OF THE #SAATCHISELFIE COMPETITION ANNOUNCEDWINNER OF THE #SAATCHISELFIE COMPETITION ANNOUNCED 2017/05/02
For Release 00.01 31st March 2017: Saatchi Gallery and HUAWEI are delighted to announce that Dawn Woolley from Cambridge has been named the winner of the #SaatchiSelfie competition with her selfie The Subsitute (holiday).
Saatchi Gallery and HUAWEI present From Selfie to Self-Expression from 31st March – 30th May 2017Saatchi Gallery and HUAWEI present From Selfie to Self-Expression from 31st March – 30th May 2017 2017/03/31
Saatchi Gallery and HUAWEI, the world’s number three smartphone brand, announce they have teamed up to present From Selfie to Self-Expression. Opening at the Saatchi Gallery on 31st March 2017, the show will be the world’s first exhibition exploring the history of the selfie from the old masters to the present day, and will celebrate the truly creative potential of a form of expression often derided for its inanity.
HUAWEI Mate 9 Wins Eight Awards at CES 2017 Following Entrance to the U.S. Market and Integration with Amazon AlexaHUAWEI Mate 9 Wins Eight Awards at CES 2017 Following Entrance to the U.S. Market and Integration with Amazon Alexa 2017/01/10
Las Vegas – Jan. 7, 2017 – Top global technology media outlets have recognized Huawei with multiple awards at CES 2017. Following the HUAWEI Mate 9’s global launch in November, Huawei announced availability in the U.S. market and new partnerships with Amazon Alexa and Google Daydream. Highlighting the Mate 9’s new partnerships, power, performance, design and dual-lens camera, global media presented Huawei with eight awards. CES also recognized the HUAWEI MateBook as a CES Innovation Award 2017 Honoree for its impressive design and performance.
Huawei P9/P9 Plus Surpass 10 Million ShipmentsHuawei P9/P9 Plus Surpass 10 Million Shipments 2016/12/29
Shenzhen, China (December 28, 2016) – Ahead of the keynote address by Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) at CES 2017, CBG today announced that the company has shipped more than 10 million Huawei P9/P9 Plus smartphones globally, making it the company’s first flagship series to top the 10 million mark. This is a milestone for Huawei both from a product and brand perspective. Despite a sluggish global smartphone market in 2016, the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus devices have achieved impressive results in the premium segment; a major breakthrough that proves Huawei’s investment in international markets is paying off.
Huawei celebrates end of 2014 with most successfully ranged deviceHuawei celebrates end of 2014 with most successfully ranged device 2014/12/16
London, 16 December 2014: Huawei, the leading information and communications Technology Company, celebrates the news that its latest budget smartphone, the Huawei Ascend Y550 has become the company’s best ranged device. The Ascend Y550 is currently ranged in many different retailers and networks including EE, O2, Carphone Warehouse and Tesco Mobile.
Netflix now on YouViewNetflix now on YouView 2014/11/04
Netflix, the world’s largest internet TV network, is now available on YouView. Netflix offers easy, instant access to a wide variety of TV box sets, films, comedy specials, documentaries and children’s programming directly on their TV sets through the UK’s fastest growing connected TV platform, YouView.
Huawei launches the Ascend Y550 – feature packed but affordable 4G deviceHuawei launches the Ascend Y550 – feature packed but affordable 4G device 2014/10/03
Huawei, the leading information and communications Technology Company, today unveils the stylish yet affordable Huawei Ascend Y550, the latest edition to its popular range of smartphones. It comes with a powerful 1.2 GHz quad core processor, 4G connectivity, a huge and long lasting 2,000 mAh battery combined with a large 4.5” LCD screen as well as Huawei’s unique Standard and Simple Android Interface options as standard.
Huawei, the Official Smartphone Partner of Arsenal FC, announce the Huawei Ascend P7 Arsenal EditionHuawei, the Official Smartphone Partner of Arsenal FC, announce the Huawei Ascend P7 Arsenal Edition 2014/07/17
London, UK, 17 July, 2014: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today unveils the highly anticipated Huawei Ascend P7 Arsenal Edition smartphone. The new 4G -enabled handset redefines smartphone excellence with a hat trick of features for the North London club’s most loyal fans.
Huawei Ascend P7 Redefines Excellence to Give People an EdgeHuawei Ascend P7 Redefines Excellence to Give People an Edge 2014/05/07
Paris, France, May 7, 2014: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today unveiled the highly anticipated Huawei Ascend P7. Building on the success of Huawei Ascend P6, the new 4G LTE-enabled smartphone redefines smartphone excellence with top-notch features, ultra-fast connectivity, and easier navigation in a beautifully crafted design that places it in a class of its own. With a 5-inch full high definition display, industry-leading 8MP front-facing and 13MP rear-facing cameras, and the latest intuitive Emotion UI 2.3, Huawei Ascend P7 will Make it Possible for people to express excellence with edge, anytime, anywhere.


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Famed fashionista Kate Spade pulled a fast one when she came up with a line of floral-print dresses and cellphone cases last year, a new suit charges.
The company that controls the work of the late artist Vera Neumann filed a $1 million-plus copyright suit yesterday alleging that Spade “obviously copied” her design from Neumann’s 1979 work “Poppy Field.”
The Manhattan federal-court filing says Spade has publicly acknowledged “that among the items and products that have inspired her designs are the silk-screened scarves of Vera” Neumann, whose fans also included Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.
The Vera Company noted praise in Spade’s 2004 book “Style by Kate Spade,” for how “when Vera made scarves, there was nothing cutesy about them. They always made you feel happy.” A Spade representative also said the disputed design was “in fact created from a ‘vintage’ design,” which was “obviously the plaintiff’s,” the suit says.
Reps for the defendants — Spade’s parent company, Fifth & Pacific Cos., and its predecessor, Liz Claiborne Inc. — didn’t return requests for comment.

domain: news


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LG Nexus 4 gets lost in a bar. Really.47
Darned if the same thing didn't happen the next year with the Apple iPhone 4S. This time, Apple joined the cops in raiding a person's home and the device was never found. Instead, the cops did a thorough investigation of their role in the whole event and an Apple security chief ended up resigning.
lost in a bar in San Francisco. The incident took place in September when not too much was known about the handset. Even so, when the bartender, Jim Barton, got a look at it, he thought it was just one of 20 smartphones that are left behind in the bar every week. The device was locked and could not be opened. Strangely, Barton didn't think twice about the "Not for sale" sticker or theGoogle logo on the back of the phone. The next day, the phone remained unclaimed and Barton decided to share his secret with a steady customer named Dave Hodge who happened to know about the LG Nexus 4 and realized that they had an important device on their hands. So Hodge decided to contact Google and the next day he came running into the bar shaken up. He told Barton that Google told him that it had lost a phone and that an employee got canned over it. Google even told Dave that he could be an accessory to a crime.
Finally, bartender Barton decided that he would turn the phone over to a Google representative providing the person had some identification on him. On the way to retrieve the LG Nexus 4 was Brian Katz, global investigations and intelligence manager at Google. With a military air about him, Katz was disappointed to find out that Barton had left the bar early that night. Eventually, Katz got the phone back and promised the bartender a free LG Nexus 4 if he kept quiet about the entire incident until Monday's press conference ends. Oops. Barton now might not qualify for the phone, but Wired paid him a fee for the photos you see here.
Ironically, two weeks after giving up the phone, pictures of the device leaked. On Monday, Google will announce the LG Nexus 4 at its media event.
source: Wired via AndroidCentral


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We have passed this year’s annual surveillance audit by BSI and maintained our ISO 13485:2016 certification status.
Blog & Latest Developments
Incus Company Limited has been granted HK$ 1.8M to develop next-gen hearing device and intelligent audio separation system.
Incus displayed Kite, a smart personal sound amplifier, at the 7th China International Silver Industry Exhibition.
Incus’ Kite received the Greatest Potential Award in the 4th International Cultural Tourism Creative Product Design Competition in the Shenzhen-Macao Innovation Week 2020.
Kite, Incus’ smart personal sound amplifier with Intelligent Noise Reduction Technology, was featured on a live broadcast by Gree Electric on 18 September 2020.


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Suzuki’s Hayabusa has gone without significant change for what has now come to be almost two decades. The first one came out in 1999! Now twenty years later, some chatter on the interwebs has brought up some serious talk about changes to Suzuki infamous flagship. Three patents filled by one Hideaki Takahashi, who is usually the patents officer for Suzuki Transmissions, were filled one in Germany, one in the US and one in Japan. The patents seem to have a nifty new semi-automatic setup that mimics the traditional manual shifter on the standard Busa. Interestingly, Suzuki’s patents filled by Takahashi’s seem to call the new motorcycle semi-automatic technology an Automated Manual Transmission, which is quite unlike the kind that you would find on a Suzuki Celerio, say! The technology will allow the Busa to make shifts clutch-lessly via a left-foot pedal.
Once you’ve made the shift, the pedal relays a signal to the ECU saying that it is ready to initiate a gear change, which is where Suzuki’s technology is different from the Africa Twin’s DCT that also offers a manual peg shifter. Suzuki claim that their “Clicking mechanism” which gives the rider what Suzuki call the Tactile-sensation of changing gear traditionally.
Now on the Honda Africa Twin, the DCT unit does add 20 kilos, and we expect Suzuki’s albeit compact system to also add a few pounds to the already heavy Busa. Currently, Suzuki’s big-bug does wiegh in slightly pudgy at 265 kgs. There is however, also speculation that once launched, the Busa which is not yet Euro 4 complaint, might even get forced induction to lower emissions. While coincidentally taking on the likes of the Ninja H2 SE.
Now before we get our panties all up in a bunch waiting on the new Hayabusa, we should consider that, patents ARE NOT a guarantee for manufacture. Sometimes patent drawings are made to convey a product or function, that could make it to production. It is even possible that the technology could end up on another Suzuki motorcycle. That said, the Hayabusa with an AMT and a turbocharger does make a lot of sense for Suzuki, considering that they have mostly left the Hayabusa untouched since its launch.


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Browse our list of cameras to see if do-it-yourself home security is right for you.
The Wave gesture-recognition feature remains disabled, but the Nest Protect 2.0 software will help mitigate certain false alarms, and introduces some useful new features in the app.
Before the doors open to the public, CES 2015 has kicked off with Press Day -- a day full of major announcements, flagship products and new innovations. Here's everything you need to know from the show floor.
One of the world's most powerful supercomputers has finally done what had seemed impossible: successfully modelled brain activity.
The latest thermostat from the "Father of the iPod" is 20 percent thinner and works with nearly all home heating or cooling systems. New software also is smarter than previous version.
With back orders of its smart thermostats cleared, Nest Labs releases new software with more detailed data and an energy-saving air conditioning setting.
Qualcomm announces the all-new StreamBoost technology, designed to revolutionize Internet bandwidth management, and plans to demo it at CES 2013.
Apple may reveal the iPad Mini this month, the Nest Learning Thermostat gets cooler, and LinkedIn wants you to follow the leader.
The update adds a new game mode, Retina support, and iCloud syncing support -- for free! There's also a new HD version (with multiplayer!) for iPad users.
The Internet has just changed forever, for real, thanks to IPv6. But chances are that you won't notice a thing -- at least not yet. Here's how IPv6 affects you.


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The city is pressing ahead with plans to redevelop Willets Points, Queens. Ninety tenants, mostly auto-repair shops, have received offers for a year's rent if they move out of the area near Citi Field by the end of November, according to The Wall Street Journal. The city wants to make way for the development of a school, housing and retail on the 60-acre site.
The tenants said four months does not give them enough time to find a new location that would accommodate all of them. They want to recreate the community that the businesses have at Willets Point elsewhere in the city. The proximity to each other is essential to their survival, the shops claim.


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Alibaba's fiscal 2015 results are impressive and the company just named a new CEO. The e-commerce giant is also hell-bent on mimicking Amazon Web Services on its home turf.
Can Alibaba succeed in the public cloud?
The company on Thursday reported fiscal fourth quarternet income of $467 million, or 18 cents a share, on revenue of $2.81 billion, up 45 percent from a year ago. Of that sales total, 80 percent of it was related to China commerce.
For fiscal 2015, Alibaba reported revenue of $12.29 billion with net income of $3.92 billion.
In addition, Alibaba named Daniel Zhang as CEO. Zhang had been Alibaba's chief operating officer and is an eight year veteran at the company. Zhang was also a chief financial officer at Alibaba's Taobao Marketplace as well as operating chief.
What remains to be seen is how Zhang sees Alibaba's public cloud business. In a nutshell, Alibaba has outlined plans to create a Chinese version of Amazon Web Services. The formula for an e-commerce giant providing infrastructure as a service isn't exactly unique. Amazon has already proven the case.
Now it's Alibaba's turn. For the fourth quarter, Alibaba's cloud revenue was $63 million, up 82 percent from a year ago and 2 percent of total revenue.
For 2015, Alibaba's cloud revenue checked in at $205 million, up 64 percent from a year ago and 1 percent of revenue.
Not too shabby. Alibaba's presentation lists cloud infrastructure as a service as a major strategic priority in the future.
The big question is whether Alibaba will be content being the AWS of China. Can it expand into the U.S. market as well as emerging economies?
Possibly. In a research note, Forrester Research handicapped the public cloud race. The report was primarily focused on HP's plans in the cloud and noted that private cloud vendors will have to deliver public cloud capabilities to keep enterprises interested.
What caught my eye in the Forrester report was the firm's take on Alibaba. Forrester said:
Floating on a sea of cash and immense post-IPO valuation, Alibaba has signaled its intent to play in this space. Alibaba has publicly stated that its appetite is limited to Chinese companies doing business in the US. Don't believe it. Its real strategy is far more ambitious, but a China-centric customer base will probably grow to be a nice niche with which it can dominate over time as China's enormous economy continues to expand.
In other words, Forrester wouldn't count out Alibaba as a global cloud infrastructure as a service player. In the U.S., the field is AWS, Google, Microsoft and IBM joining the big cloud club. Other players looking into hyperscale services are likely to focus elsewhere.
The U.S., however, is ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to cloud. There's no reason why Alibaba couldn't be a China cloud juggernaut and then expand to other markets---especially emerging ones. If that formula sounds familiar that's because it is. Lenovo used that playbook well before. There's no reason why Alibaba couldn't run the same plays in the cloud.


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The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially punished Facebook with a $5 billion fine for the Cambridge Analytics scandal and further data loss.
In the end, the FTC ruled on the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the subsequent loss of user data by Facebook. The agreement, formalized today, obliges the social network to pay a fine of 5 billion US dollars and follow the following rules:
- Make privacy changes to avoid similar incidents in the future
- Create a new committee focused on privacy risks
In a statement published on his social network, CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that the company will examine its systems and create new controls to promote greater privacy.
We have a responsibility to protect people's privacy. We are already working hard to meet this responsibility, but now we will set a completely new standard for our industry. - Mark Zuckerberg
Facebook subsequently confirmed the agreement through its official blog, in which it stated that it will carry out quarterly checks to ensure that privacy controls work properly.
While this is the second-largest fine ever issued by the American guarantor, many democratic representatives believe that the amount is not enough. Some say that this ruling does not solve the fundamental problems that led to these violations.
Are you satisfied with the FTC's sanctions against Facebook?


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Editor’s Note: In 2020, SunPower announced the completion of the strategic spin-off of its manufacturing division into a separate business named Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. As a result, SunPower has expanded its offerings to drive future growth. The SunPower Equinox® system now offers multiple panel options, including front- and back-contact panels, all of which are responsibly and rigorously quality tested to provide the best energy solution for your home.
As world leaders and clean energy innovators work to address climate change, it’s no longer enough for us to simply do less: to drive less, buy less and discard less. Rather it’s up to us to do more: to go above and beyond to effect lasting, positive change for the health of our planet and the human race.
That’s why SunPower is committed to designing solar panels as sustainably as the energy they produce. Our solar panels generate far more energy,*Most energy per rated watt compared to the top ten solar manufacturers (9 of the top 10 manufacturers were tested, based on Photon Consulting 2013, Silicon module shipments). Photon International, 2012 and 2014. far longer than conventional solar panels, delivering reliable, clean electricity to homes, businesses and power plants for a predicted useful life of more than 40 years.*"SunPower Module 40-Year Useful Life," SunPower white paper. 2013. Useful life is 99 out of 100 panels operating at more than 70% of rated power.
With durable products that have a long lifespan, we don’t foresee photovoltaic (PV) cells, the common technology used in solar energy generation, to be an immediate waste management challenge. However, eventually, these solar solutions will reach the end of their useful life. And, as more homes and businesses go solar, now is the time to proactively develop best practices for our industry so we can divert PV waste from landfills. So, SunPower has joined forces with other solar manufacturers in a first-of-its-kind U.S. solar panel recycling program launched by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
SEIA’s program will establish a national network of collection points and vendors who will responsibly manage panels as they reach their end of life. For consumers, this will provide greater visibility into where and how PV products can be recycled. Vendors chosen to participate must meet strict requirements with respect to environmental, health, safety and sustainability. By taking these steps, we can reduce the burden of disposal on future generations.
SunPower has a history of PV recycling, and we are proud to have co-chaired this effort with SEIA. Our innovative, high-efficiency direct current (DC) solar panels are recyclable and have received Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver recognition for sustainable practices in manufacturing.
The SEIA recycling initiative complements SunPower’s approach to sustainability, which is based on the concept of a circular economy — a closed looped approach to reduce the use of raw materials and instead keep those materials functioning at a high level of usability over time, thereby minimizing waste sent to landfills. SunPower is the world’s first and only solar company to be part of the Circular Economy 100, joining other leaders and innovators in the movement to create a truly regenerative economy.
With more than 1 million solar installations in the U.S., responsible management of solar panels is an important part of our clean energy future. SunPower looks forward to working with SEIA and others in our industry to find cost-effective and environmentally-friendly reuse and recycling solutions to ensure our industry is truly sustainable.
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ is a certification mark licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Cradle to Cradle Certified™ is a multi-attribute certification program that assesses products and materials for safety to human and environmental health, design for future use cycles, and sustainable manufacturing.


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New products 16 Oct OnePlus has confirmed that it's working on one-handed mode for its larger and wider phones. It is expected to...
notify you when this product
will be available.
Tech 15 Oct OnePlus has shared the list of OnePlus 7T 90Hz display supported games. Around 15 games are compatible for...
Android 07 Oct The OnePlus 7T Pro is shown in a new Haze Blue color variant.
Tech 04 Oct OnePlus 7T has gained a new updated OxygenOS 10.0.3 that improves photo quality and camera stability.
New products 30 Sep OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has reportedly revealed why the OnePlus 7T doesn't have a wireless technology support.
Android 26 Sep As expected, OnePlus has officially released the OnePlus 7T smartphone at an event held in India. It is an...
New products 25 Sep OnePlus CEO Pet Lau has confirmed that the OnePlus 7T entire series will have the 90Hz display.
New products 20 Sep OnePlus 7T is confirmed to come with Warp Charge 30T that delivers 6A at 5V to attain 30W.
Rumors 19 Sep The design is exactly same as the OnePlus 7 Pro.
New products 17 Sep OnePlus 7T official look is shared by the company's CEO. OnePlus talks about the design language and...
Android 16 Sep It will be the first-ever OnePlus smart TV.
Tech 16 Sep OnePlus 7T Pro model isn't going official in the US, claims a tipster. The Chinese smartphone company will...
Rumors 13 Sep OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro complete specifications leaked. The leak shows the devices will launch with...
Rumors 12 Sep The OnePlus 7T case is shown with a circular camera cut-out.
Rumors 29 Aug It will come with a circular camera module and notched display.
Tech 25 Aug OnePlus 7T CAD renders reveal the device does have a circular camera bump for triple rear cameras.
Rumors 19 Aug It is claimed to go on sale globally starting October 15th.
Rumors 13 Aug It seems like October 15 launch date leak is false.
Rumors 05 Aug It is expected to feature Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset.


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- Atlus Manager of Public Relations and Sales Aram Jabbari
has announced today alongside a new video trailer that Trine 2 is coming to PS3 on PSN next Tuesday.
To quote: We're very excited to share with you that Trine 2, sequel to one of the highest-rated PlayStation Network games of all time, is coming to the PlayStation Store next Tuesday, December 20th. But first: HAMMERTIME!
"What is Trine 2?" you ask, only to suddenly...


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Comic books of the past are very much a huge part of modern pop culture, thanks to their integration to other forms of media like movies, TV, and good ol’ Netflix. From the characters and all their quirks, down to the costumes, plot lines, and dialogues—the art of it all has inspired many of today’s creative geniuses, and they, in turn, are inspiring future generations of artists.
If you’re among those aspiring to be a comic book wizard, the best way to kick off your 2018 is to check out the Marvel Creative Day Out, happening on January 10 at the School of Design & Arts Theater in De La Salle College Of St. Benilde.
Hang out with fellow Marvel enthusiasts and budding artists and be inspired by two important figures from the Marvel company, starting with artists Leinil Francis Yu and Harvey Francis Tolibao. These proudly Filipino talents are back to share more stories about their work in The Avengers, X-Men, and Iron Man series.
You can also get to show them your very own artworks and get straight up professional feedback.
Also joining the event is Marvel Comics editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski, who will be speaking about the Marvel Universe and where the future is headed for the brand. Joining him as well is Allen Au-Yeung, VP for Creative for Disney China, who will talk about the creative and design process of bringing your favorite Marvel superheroes to life.
Get first dibs, too, on some Marvel fashion and product designs, which will be showcased at the event for the first time.
The second Marvel Creative Day Out will be held at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and will run from 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.


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Controversial US analyst Michael Pachter slammed the UK games market last week, insisting that it's impossible for retailers to make money. Was he right?
Predicting anything in this industry can be a dangerous game.
After Farmville, Zynga was going to be the biggest games corporation in the world. During the GameCube era, Nintendo's demise was a forgone conclusion. OnLive was going to change the world in 2009.
But despite the industry's habit to change radically on a regular basis, US analyst Michael Pachter has made his name out of predicting the future of games.
He, like the rest of us, is wrong more often as he is right. But there's no denying that he knows his stuff. And when he decided to look beyond his US homeland he had some critical things to say about UK games retail.
In a Digital Spy article on games retail (which reheated stories that MCV?has been running all year) he said that UK games retail was a ‘joke', that it can't make any money due to price discounting, and that US retailer GameStop has avoided the UK market for that very reason.
We asked him to clarify his statement.
By ‘joke' I mean that the competitive landscape has put conventional specialty retailers in a position of being unable to make a profit,” he explained.
Some of this is due to operating costs, some due to the price of games relative to average income, some due to slowing traffic in light of the lingering recession. The larger impact is that used games aren't as popular in the UK as the US. GameStop averages over 20 per cent of sales as used. GAME averages around 10 per cent. The margins make up the difference between profit and loss.
By joke, I was referring to supermarket pricing, and how that plus high costs have prevented GameStop from expanding into the market. Eventually, consumers will have fewer choices if specialty retailers go away.”
"The larger impact is that used games aren't as popular
in the UK as the US. GameStop averages over
20 per cent of sales as used. GAME averages
around 10 per cent."
It's easy to dismiss Pachter's opinion. He's a US analyst for one, what does he know of our market? And his information is out-of-date. The days of supermarkets cutting prices to sub 30 hasn't happened to years.
But his point does stand.
He is 100 per cent correct, as he quite rightly points to the debris left on the High Street as proof of his argument,” says CHIPS boss Don McCabe, who has had to close many of his shops during the recent market downturn. But will it make a difference?”
John Lewis has also found selling games a challenging task. Games buyer Robert Hennessey told MCV: I agree with Pachter. Profitability threatens the long term viabity of UK games retail.”
It's certainly not easy for games retail. But impossible to make money? ‘A joke'?
ShopTo has grown in recent years, but the online firm's CEO Igor Cipolletta insists success should not be restricted to etailers.
Some retailers may choose to retail below cost. But to say UK retail is a joke is to oversimplify the situation.
Stating that it's impossible to make a profit suggests a retailer's inability to provide the expected service level, coupled with appropriate pricing, stock level and variety, or it suggests that their overheads are too high.
If etailers are still able to turn a profit, there's no excuse for a High Street retailer not to, especially as we survive without the cash cow of preowned.
Many High Street chains may finally be waking to the realisation that overpaid executives are a millstone around the neck of large. And they're notoriously slow to react to market changes and customer expectations.”
Michael Pachter's point about the popularity of pre-owned in the US and the low prices in the UK may be linked. New game prices are low in this country, but surely that's because consumers don't agree with the current pricing? Hence why so many US gamers are buying used.
And if pre-owned really is being blocked with the next consoles, then software pricing will likely come under even more pressure, and not just in the UK
Historically, the release of next gen has reinvigorated the industry,” added Cipolletta.
But gamers have reacted negatively to whispers that the new machines may not be capable of playing preowned titles. And coupled with the stagnating economy, moreso than ever the price of the hardware as well as the software will dictate whether the new generation will ensure retail enjoys a healthy holiday season.”


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Last Updated on April 12, 2018
For the longest time, crime and thrillers were trailing behind genres like romance and general fiction. Yet, for some reason, things have drastically changed as of very recently.
At least in the UK, 2017 has seen a sharp rise in the sale of books by crime and thriller authors based on the latest findings by Nielsen BookScan, seeing an increase of no less than 19% since 2015, when other general fiction was still king of the industry.
The following article in The Irish News goes more deeply into the numbers behind this strange new trend of the sudden shift in the genre popularity:
Crime most popular fiction genre in UK, data shows
Last year some 18.7 million units of crime fiction were sold, compared to 18.1 million general and literary fiction, according to data from Nielsen BookScan.
The value of crime books sold also increased by 10.6% year-on-year in 2017, up from £106.3million to £117.6million. In value terms, general and literary fiction remained the largest genre at £125.7million in 2017.
Nielsen BookScan’s The Total Consumer Market (TCM) data covers more than 90% of all retail book purchases in the UK and represents sales through 6,500 retailers in the UK each week. See full blog post here…
In the next article by Anita Singh at The Telegraph, she talks about different views by authors regarding this interesting new phenomenon. Apparently, not everyone agrees with the reasons for this shift.
Crime pays: thrillers and detective novels now outsell all other fiction
Jacks Thomas, London Book Fair director, said: “Television adaptations bring in new audiences. If you turn on your TV, there are so many crime dramas and thrillers, and lots of them are based on books.
“Netflix is a great enabler, and these days there are whole channels dedicated to crime – you can pretty much watch Poirot on a loop.”
Others had different theories on why crime novels are having a moment. See more here…
Not only that but even the popular thriller author David Baldacci has his own ideas about what really is going on:
When times are stressful and it looks like the bad is winning out over the good, along comes the genre of crime novels to put the balance back in life.
People inherently don’t like folks who do bad to get away with it. In real life they do, all the time, because of a variety of factors.
But in novels, evil is punished, and the good guys mostly win, after solving the puzzle. And all is right with the world. At least fictionally.
I tend to agree with Baldacci’s view. He knows and feels the pulse of the current political situation. His thriller novels amply show that. And let’s face it, today’s times are as turbulent as they haven’t been in a very, very long time.
Also, today there are more crime and thriller TV shows and movies than ever before. People love to voice their opinions on what is going on in the current political climate. And as for crime, who doesn’t like solving one?
Take, for instance, Agatha Christie. Did you know that Agatha Christie was, once again, extremely popular in 2017 not only in Europe but also in the US? New movies come out all the time, the latest being Murder on the Orient Express and Crooked House. Her books are selling like hot cakes all around the world.
Agatha Christie is the gold standard that everyone who wants to write crime mysteries is studying her.
Based on a recent article on USA Today written by Jocelyn McClurg, the evidence is there for everyone to see. In a nutshell, murder sells.
Why does the creator of celebrated sleuths Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple — who has sold more than 2 billion books worldwide, outranked only by the Bible and Shakespeare — still knock ’em dead nearly a century after she published her first book?
Let’s examine the evidence.
She wrote murder, folks Read more at …
So there you have it. Murder pays, and given enough exposure from multiple media sources, it pays very well.
And the political climate all around the world is turbulent enough that even the careless people are taking notice, especially when books by thriller authors reflect these times within their pages. And maybe, just maybe, enough readers will stand vote for a better world tomorrow.


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Joining the special edition launch trend that is being followed by many manufacturers in India, Honda has launched an ‘Exclusive’ edition of their smallest car in India, the cute Brio.
The new Honda Brio Exclusive Edition gets:
- Sporty Black interior theme
- New Premium upholstery and matching instrument panel, roof linings
- Tailgate Spoiler
- ‘Exclusive’ emblem
- Comes in SMT Trim
Accessory Kit which includes:
- Door Visor
- Exhaust Pipe Finisher
- Back-Up Sensor
- Illuminated Side-Step Garnish
Honda Brio Exclusive Edition comes in Three Color Options:
- Taffeta White
- Alabaster Silver
- Rally Red
Honda Brio Exclusive Edition Price:
Honda Brio Exclusive Edition is priced at Rs 4,92,000 ex-showroom in Delhi
Brio Exclusive edition is launched to commensurate Brio’s two successful years in the Indian market. Honda has sold as many as 54,095 Brio cars till now since its launch. There are no mechanical changes to the car and it continues to be propelled by the same 1.2L i-VTEC petrol engine which churns out 88PS of power output at 6000 rpm and 109Nm of maximum torque at 4500 rpm.
Rated fuel efficiency of Brio is 19.4kmpl for manual transmission and 16.5kmpl for the automatic version. We, personally love the Brio for its fantastic city driving characteristics and Honda’s refinement.
Interestingly, Honda was testing a diesel version of Brio, test mules of which were caught testing in and around Gurgaon some time back. However, according to reports, Honda has culled that option for now and is busy concentrating on their upcoming products like the Next-Gen City and Jazz, Mobilio MPV and the compact SUV.


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2017 SEMA Day 1: Mustang Photo Gallery #TENSEMA17
The annual SEMA show, which is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, has no shortage of Ford Mustangs. They come in all generations and colors and the builds range from somewhat simplistic to outright insane.
The Ford booth was full of Mustangs, including a few of the brand new 2018 models that are fresh off the press, including the new Shelby Super Snake in all its glory. Like every year, the tire slayer himself Vaughn Gittin Jr. was indeed smoking tires out front in his all new RTR. No matter what your style is, there are builds at SEMA for pretty much everyone.
There’s more to come, but check out some of the Mustangs that we came across on day one of SEMA 2017.


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Well, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has finally done it. This past weekend PUBG managed to beat DOTA 2 with the most concurrent players on Steam ever.
As of September 16, DOTA 2 is no longer the most played game ever on Steam. Oh no. After months of Bluehole’s PUBG creeping up and stealing DOTA’s crown as the most played game on Steam over the past couple of months, PUBG finally stole the coveted record of having the most concurrent players ever.
This weekend saw over 1,349,584 players trying to win chicken dinner’s in the most popular Battle Royale game online at the moment, and the game hasn’t even launched out of Early Access yet.
Prior to this, DOTA 2 sat happily with a concurrent player record of 1,295,114, however as you can see PUBG has and continues to smash it, and persists in its growth month after month.
This of course is absolutely fantastic news for Microsoft who has recently jumped into a deal with Bluehole to become the publishers of PUBG on Xbox One when it launches into Preview in the coming months. Here’s hoping the game continues this momentum when it lands on consoles.


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Microsoft buys Activision 70000 million dollars in a historic operation that will make it "the third largest video game company in the world".
It was confirmed this Tuesday. Microsoft has purchased Activision Blizzard for about $ 70 billion (more than $ 61.5 billion). Activision is the editor in charge of such acclaimed franchises as Call of Duty. The operation has also included the purchase of Blizzard or King, responsible for sagas such as Warcraft or Candy Crush.
If the figure is confirmed, it would be the largest corporate operation in the history of Microsoft and the video game industry. At the moment, the official Xbox website does announce the acquisition of the American multinational. "Creators of Call of Duty, Warcraft, Candy Crush, Tony Hawk, Diablo, Overwatch and others join Team Xbox".
"Over many decades, the studios and teams that make up Activision Blizzard have earned tremendous recognition from billions of people around the world. We are very happy to have the opportunity to work with their amazing, talented and dedicated people," says Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division.
"Until that transaction is closed, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft Gaming will continue to operate independently. Once the deal is completed, Activision Blizzard's business will depend on me as CEO of Microsoft Gaming," he said. "After that, we'll be offering as many Activision Blizzard games as we can on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass."
Microsoft buys Activision 70000 million dollars
The news comes just a year after Microsoft turned the industry upside down with the announcement of purchase of Bethesda, for some 7.500 million dollars.
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard comes nearly half a year after a lawsuit by the California Department of Equal Employment and Housing broke out. The agency accused the video game multinational of harbouring abuses to employees that included "sexual friction".
The lawsuit was the result of a two-year investigation and although the company's CEO, Bobby Kotick, promised exemplarity just a few days later, the Californian agency updated its lawsuit accusing the firm of having tried to infer in the investigation. In November, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Kotick knew about the firm's reported events for years.
Just this week the same newspaper reported that months after this scandal broke, the company had fired only dozens of employees. However, the demands and complaints of workers at the firm maintained for a long time that the problem was one of corporate culture and much larger than was initially recognized.
Although before the end of the year that anticipated that Activision would report on the actions taken as a result of this work to achieve a healthier and more inclusive environment in its offices, the Journal also notes that Kotick himself stopped that report because some people might think that the problems of the company were greater than they are.
The press release with Microsoft buys Activision 70000 million dollars
Despite all this situation, the press release with which Microsoft has communicated the acquisition of Activision on Tuesday indicates that Kotick will remain in his position and will report directly to Spencer himself, CEO of Microsoft's video games division.
Minutes after announcing the agreement, Microsoft has organized a conference with investors and journalists in which the CEO of the first, Satya Nadella, its head of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, and the current CEO of Activision, Bobby Kotick.
Both Nadella and Spencer have made references to the need for Microsoft and Activision to work and build a safe and inclusive culture. Not Kotick.
Nadella, in particular, has referred to Microsoft's culture as “a vital factor". "As CEO, our company culture is my number one priority," he said. "We must continuously improve the experience of our employees and create an environment that allows us to improve every day. That's hard work."
"It's not just talk, it's also action. That's why we believe it's essential that Activision Blizzard move forward with its renewed culture commitments. We support their objectives and the work they are doing, and we also know that after closing this agreement we will also have to make efforts so that everyone can do their job better."
"We are committed to protecting users and empowering our employees. We work for a safe and inclusive culture in which everyone is welcome to play. The success of this acquisition will depend on it," he said.
Spencer comments on Microsoft buys Activision 70000 million dollars
Spencer, in his speech, said that Microsoft have seen the roadmap of Activision and this is "exciting". He has also assured that the performance of Zenimax (Bethesda) after the purchase by the multinational last year is being good. "I'm excited to be working directly with the teams at Call of Duty, Blizzard, Kings and other studios."
The head of the Xbox division explained that as Microsoft platforms become more attractive thanks to their titles, content creators also access them, which implies that new users arrive and by extension encourage other studios to bet on them.
Microsoft was on the verge of buying TikTok's stake in Anglo-Saxon countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Finally, ByteDance, the Chinese owner of the popular short video platform, opted for another candidate. But that attempt showed Microsoft's interest in boosting its consumer services.
Nadella's bets on Azure and professional and business tools have pushed Microsoft away from the consumer technology segment. Xbox is their latest recognizable brand on it. But it is not a small thing: the bets that from the multinational of Seattle are being made for its consoles and ecosystem are increasingly solid.
Past purchases of Microsoft buys Activision 70000 million dollars
After last year they acquired Bethesda for 7,500 million dollars, the purchase of Activision on Tuesday is a corporate operation whose value would multiply those 7,500 million by almost 10. There is a reason why all this disbursement is being made and it can be summed up in one word: metaverse.
Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be renamed Meta in October of last year to create its own metaverse. Since then the term has enjoyed popularity, and Microsoft itself advanced in November that its large franchises would also have 3D worlds to generate these metaverses. Now, their franchises are multiplying thanks to the purchase of Activision.
Spencer himself recognized it. "This deal will make our commitment to the consumer metaverse even stronger."
The operation, if approved, will be closed in 2023. Given its size, it would not be strange for regulatory bodies to raise some doubts for reasons of possible monopoly. Spencer, for his part, assures that with the purchase of Activision, Microsoft Gaming becomes the third company in the video game industry.
Ahead are Tencent and Sony.
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Time ticks up on £80m buyout deal
WATCH and luxury goods retailer Time Products has agreed to an £80m buyout led by its chairman. The deal values the firm at 190p a share - a premium of more than one third to its price three months ago when the company disclosed it was in takeover talks.
Time shares rose 1.6% to 188 1/2p, their highest level since April 1998. The buyout is being headed by Marcus Margulies, son of the firm's founder and principle shareholder in buyout vehicle Almar.
Time was founded 70 years ago. Its business consists of the Sekonda and Limit watch labels. It also distributes luxury watch brands, and owns a shop in London's New Bo
The move comes after Guinness Peat, the investment group headed by New Zealand corporate raider Sir Ron Brierley, said in March that it wanted to lift its stake in the firm to 30%, effectively seizing control. It offered shareholders up to 150p a share before later deciding to support Margulies's bid.
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A California jury on Wednesday awarded $29 million to a woman who said that asbestos in Johnson & Johnson's talcum-powder-based products caused her cancer. This is the latest development in over 13,000 lawsuits the company is facing across the US.
"This track record shows that there are one set of facts in these cases, and that decades of tests by independent, non-litigation driven experts and institutions repeatedly confirm that Johnson's Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause cancer", the company said.
Analysts at UBS say the ruling could encourage more lawsuits against the company.
"We are disappointed with today's verdict and will pursue an appeal because Johnson's Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause cancer", Kim Montagnino, a J&J spokesperson, told Bloomberg. Some studies have found an increased cancer risk, but others do not.
In July 2018, a jury in Missouri ordered the pharmaceutical company to pay $4.7 billion (Rs 32,169 crore) in damages to 22 women who alleged that they had developed ovarian cancer after using the company's talc products.
Imerys Talc America Inc., which also supplied talc for J&J's powder, had been named as a defendant, but was dropped from the case after seeking bankruptcy protection to avoid being swamped with talc suits. It unsuccessfully appealed the verdict.
New Zealand mosque attack: 'Let's get this party started' boasted Brenton Tarrant
Police warned Muslims across the country not to visit mosques "anywhere in New Zealand" in the wake of the Christchurch attacks. At the time this article was published, more than 7,000 people from around the world contributed.
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President Donald Trump speaks on border security in the Oval Office of the White House March 15, 2019 in Washington , DC. Democrats and some Republicans challenged the declaration as a blow to the separation of powers.
The power of pi: prefects serve pie to celebrate Pi Day
Customers who either eat at the restaurant or get takeout will get a second chicken pot pie for free to bake at home. Hungry Howie's : Purchase any Howie Bread at regular price and get a medium one-topping pizza for $3.14.
Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals often found near talc, which is widely used in cosmetics.
A court in the U.S. state of California ordered Johnson & Johnson to compensate a woman to the tune of $29 million for cancer complications she developed from using the company's talcum powder, according to media reports.
The company has denied all asbestos-related allegations, including a Reuters report that claimed executives knew for years that the powder contained the carcinogen.
J&J has refused to put a warning on its recognizable white bottles bearing the powder, even though a separate California jury a year ago asked a judge to order the company to do so. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air passages and reach the membranes of the thorax and lunges.
Johnson's Baby Powder is immensely popular across the world, including India where its manufactured locally.
It is one of the most mysterious cancers, and it's not clear why asbestos travels to ovarian tissues, but it is well-documented.


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Arden B, a division of Wet Seal Inc., has closed its store at Oak Park Mall, but Wet Seal is launching a new store to take its place: Wet Seal+ Plus.
Wet Seal+ Plus is taking over the 3,109-square-foot space and will host a grand opening celebration Saturday. The day will include prize giveaways, mini makeovers and free products from Cao Cosmetics.
Wet Seal+ Plus has 30 stores throughout the U.S. and offers accessories, shoes and clothing in sizes 8 to 3X.
Leslie covers entrepreneurs and technology, retail, and marketing.


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According to the latest SME Growth Watch Report, conducted by Hampshire Trust Bank and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), lending to UK small and medium sized (SME) businesses decreased by over £2 billion in 2015, but early indicators in 2016 show an increase in lending and SME confidence.
The report, which analyses the latest full year British Bankers Association (BBA) lending figures, shows that 58 per cent of UK SMEs feel confident that they will be able to secure finance in 2017, with the BBA figures showing an increase in SME borrowing in 2016.
"Smaller businesses make a significant contribution to the UK economy and this looks set to increase even further over the coming years," says Mark Sismey-Durrant, Chief Executive Officer at Hampshire Trust Bank.
"Our research shows that SMEs across the top 10 cities in the UK are forecast to contribute £217 billion to the UK economy by 2020, an 11 per cent increase on the £196 billion contributed in 2015," he continues.
Manchester and Leeds are set to see the largest increase, with the Gross Value Added (GVA) provided by smaller businesses in both of these cities forecast to rise by 15 per cent from 2015 to 2020.
Bristol is predicted to increase its GVA contribution by 14 per cent over the same period.
London, which has the largest number of SMEs, makes the greatest contribution to the UK economy — £149 billion in 2015 rising to £164 billion by 2020 — 76 per cent of the overall total that SMEs in the top 10 cities contribute to the UK economy.
SMEs are predicted to provide 27 per cent of total business contributions to the UK economy in 2020, the research shows, an increase of 1 per cent from 2015.
"The share of total business contributions SMEs are predicted to make to the UK economy in 2020 is higher in almost all 10 of the top UK cities than in 2015, with the share in Birmingham remaining flat," says Sismey-Durrant.
"Our report demonstrates the critical importance of SMEs as the engine room of the economy. Their sizeable contribution to the fortunes of the UK economy — growing to 27 per cent of total business contribution by 2020 — cannot be ignored."
“For too long, larger lenders have dominated personal and business banking and this has had a negative effect on SMEs, which often do not meet the lending criteria. However, SMEs are right to be confident about the future as there are different finance providers out there, away from the high street banks, which are able to support smaller businesses with their expansion aspirations,” he said.
Cashflow continues to be a key issue for businesses in the UK, with a report by HM Revenue & Customs indicating that SMEs now owe £1.8 billion in late corporation tax.
At Beavis Morgan, our specialists to SMEs are available to provide general business advice and to structure your business for tax. We can also assist with business plans and strategy execution, long and short term forecasts, budgets, sensitivity analysis, and calculating and checking compliance with covenants.
With demand for alternative finance likely to increase further as we move into 2017, what is also essential is that SME’s choose a specialist adviser who can recommend the right financial products for their specific business needs.
Our partner business, BM Structured Finance, specialises in sourcing and restructuring debt finance for SME businesses. We match the most suitable products to each individual circumstance and work together to ensure compatibility and satisfaction, thereby enhancing the business’ cash flow liquidity and facilitating maximum growth.
Whether you’re a start up or a well-established business, cash is king and managing its flow is crucial to your long-term success.
Contact Steve Govey or your usual Beavis Morgan Partner for further information about how we can assist you and your business.


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NAFDAC seizes fake hand sanitizers
From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized fake sub-standard and unregistered hand sanitizers being sold in Yobe State markets.
Lawan Musa Dadingelma, NAFDAC Yobe State Coordinator stated this to newsmen during an interview in Damaturu on Wednesday.
Dadingelma said that the items were seized in order to safeguard public health, adding that: “Our surveillance and vigilance operations have been helpful in the seizures made during market survey.
He said: “All the 250 hand sanitizers of 100ml have no manufacturer’s product label, no address and no NAFDAC registration number.”
The Coordinator noted that the seized consignments included dozens of hand sanitizers.
He explained: “NAFDAC is working relentlessly to ensure that the unscrupulous businessmen and women do not sell fake Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipments which will be injurious and unwholesome items to the citizens.”


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Daily News / Global Trends / Market Analysis / Wood Industry Prices / Forestry / Lumber / Price analysis and info / Sawmilling / Wood construction / Wood Products / Global / North America
January 27, 2022
US lumber plunges for seventh day on demand fears, supply chain chaos
US lumber futures tumbled by the exchange limit to $1,053.70 per 1,000 board feet on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Tuesday, heading for their seventh-straight decline. That’s the longest slump since July. The pullback in the futures market may signal that soaring costs and transport bottlenecks will crimp demand. “They’re probably sensing consumers are going to be smarter this year and stop buying,” said Russ Taylor, president of Russ Taylor Global in Vancouver. “The sticker shock is going to hit consumers earlier this year.” Wood prices ...
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North Miami Avenue
Whether it’s a gift for someone, or you want to treat yourself, the chicest shopping event of the year is here—the bi-annual Gilt City Warehouse Sale.
Relentless rains fell from the skies Thursday evening creating a soggy mess in many South Florida neighborhoods.
The brother of a 39-year-old Northeast Miami-Dade man who was gunned down outside his girlfriend’s home in Miami is appealing for the public’s help in solving this case.
Late night partiers and those people who work the late shift near downtown Miami take note – a major closure is scheduled for Sunday morning.
Miami’s Planning and Zoning Board delivered a set back to Walmart who is reportedly planning to submit a proposal to build a megastore in the Midtown district.
There are a lot of eateries, bars and retail stores in the downtown Miami area. But there may be another grander addition to that list. Walmart is moving forward with plans to set up shop in the Midtown area, the first store in the city of Miami.
Police are hunting for the driver of a minivan or crossover-utility-vehicle who ran down and critically injured a man out for his regular morning bike ride with friends Tuesday morning.


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A new report from The Daily Dot on Wednesday claims that sources familiar with YouTube's future strategies, mentioned YouTube would be looking to shift some things around and refocus their live streaming efforts to take on eSports and game streaming. This rumor follows in the wake of YouTube's failed attempt to snatch up the current leader in online game streaming and eSports, Twitch, which Amazon later acquired. Now that YouTube wasn't able to buy their way into the industry which is reportedly only going to continue growing not only in popularity but also monetarily, YouTube will have to go at it by engineering and developing their own platform for the same available services.
While YouTube has not officially confirmed or denied these rumors, according to one source at The Daily Dot. "Gaming and esports in particular are going to be a big driving force for the new-look YouTube Live." This suggests that YouTube is indeed working to redesign the YouTube Live appearance as well as what it offers to viewers. Another source mentioned that in the near future there would be some "huge opportunities for established streamers and organizations," also implying that once Google enters into the space that viewers of eSports will be growing quite considerably.
Details about the newly refocused service are somewhat sparse, but YouTube is reportedly already looking to recruit engineers for the vision of the new YouTube Live experience. There's no mention of how many people would be brought onto the team and dedicated to this project, but the source claims that the number of engineers currently sits at 50, and that all of them have some level of expertise in the streaming industry. The report also mentions that YouTube could end up announcing official plans for the revamped YouTube Live sometime during the E3 expo this summer, which happens in the month of June, so if there is going to be any word on whether or not there is truth to these rumors, it could happen then, although YouTube is part of Google so it could just as well happen at the annual developer conference too which seems just as appropriate.


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CPC Advocates in Washington for COOL Compliance11 April 2013
US - CPC’s Chair, Jean-Guy Vincent and Executive Director, Martin Rice joined Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz in Washington earlier this week to advocate on behalf of the Canadian livestock industry for the US to come into compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations regarding Country of Origin Labelling (COOL).
As a direct result of the introduction of the COOL regulations in 2008 Canadian hog farmers suffered massive economic hardship because of the reaction of US food distributors against having to deal with a multitude of different origin labels. Lost live swine and beef cattle exports since COOL became mandatory in the fall of 2008 exceeds $1 billion annually.
“The USDA should be aware that the proposed regulatory changes will leave Canada with no choice but to go back to the WTO to argue that the United States still has not come into compliance with last year’s WTO ruling and certainly increase the risk that Canada will be in a position to retaliate,” stated Mr Vincent. “We are pleased that Minister Ritz has clearly demonstrated his commitment to continue the fight with the Canadian industry on this unfair trade issue.”
“I was encouraged by the response and support we received from the US meat industry,” added Mr Vincent. “Our American colleagues are clearly worried that the proposed COOL changes will have a serious economic impact on their industry, leading to plant closures and lost jobs as well as reduced international cost competitiveness of the entire North American meat industry. This is very likely to lead to increased prices for consumers.”
The CPC and affected provincial members will be making written submissions to the USDA proposal by the deadline of 11 April.
TheMeatSite News Desk


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China is Marss second largest market after the United States. In 2018, Berninger, vice president of global public affairs of Mars, publicly said: Mars was a brilliant era in China in the 1990s, but now it only exists, so we hope to find a sense of existence in the future. Berningers sense of existence is to hope that by 2025, Mars China market performance will triple its global share. It is said that Marss sales in 2019 will be about $40 billion, but it has not publicly disclosed its sales in China.
Xu Xiongjun, a strategic positioning expert and founder of Jiude positioning consulting company, said that from last year to this year, the sales situation of Mars Wrigley was not ideal, so there was only one reason for the change: poor performance.
In Mars global market, the pet sector is its largest business, which is different from the situation in China. It is reported that in the Chinese market, Mars has more than 30 brands. Mainly concentrated in the food industry, including dove, Schlicker, M & Ms, crisp rice, green arrow, Yida, dada, zhenzhibang, Swiss sugar and other brands.
However, in recent years, with the enhancement of peoples health awareness, consumers awareness of abstaining from sugar and reducing sugar has gradually deepened, resulting in the continuous decline in the growth rate of the candy and chocolate market. According to the data, in 2018, the retail market size of the candy and chocolate industry was 112.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 2%. The output of candy also dropped from 3.62 million tons in 2014 to 2.88 million tons in 2018.
While the overall growth rate of the market declined, Mars Wrigley was also impacted. According to Euromonitor International data, in 2016, dove still ranked first in Chinas chocolate market, but its market share declined significantly. Similarly, the two star products of M & Ms and Schlickers lost 0.3% share in the Chinese market.
According to Xu Xiongjun, the main challenge facing Mars arrow is that its products are concentrated in areas with high caloric content such as sugar and fat, which is not friendly to consumers with sugar free demand and the three high population. This can be seen from the vigorous forest which claims 0 sugar and 0 fat.
Like Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola and other international enterprises, Mars has been in China for 30 years, but the overall product system has not changed much and can no longer adapt to the current Chinese consumer market, so it is urgent to transform. Bao Yuezhong, a new retail expert of FMCG, said.
Mars is also aware of this, and began to lay out the field of healthy food. In 2018, Mars China introduced be-kind taste energy bar, positioning it as a healthy snack nut stick product. Be-kind is just one of the cases of turnaround of Mars business. At this years Expo, Mars launched a variety of products, such as healthy snacks, kitchen seasoning and pet food.
However, Shen Meng also expressed concern about this: snacks, pet care and food all have great market potential in China. As a global leading brand, Mars has advantages in medium and high-end markets. However, with the rapid development of local brands driven by capital and the rapid expansion of e-commerce and other consumption channels, Mars also faces many challenges. If we can not strengthen the local landing, It may lead to lower performance than expected.
Source: Wang Xiaowu, editor in charge of Beijing Business Daily_ NF


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In recent news, Telegram, the popular messaging app, has announced a new partnership with Adorno, a German company specializing in music marketing, to offer personalized ads to its users. The move is expected to generate significant revenue for Telegram, while providing advertisers with a new platform to reach a highly engaged and diverse user base.
The Partnership with Adorno
Adorno, founded in 2019, uses data analytics and artificial intelligence to create personalized music recommendations for its users. The company has partnered with major music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music to offer its services, and now it has expanded its reach to Telegram.
Under the new partnership, Adorno will use its technology to analyze user data on Telegram, including chat history, interests, and preferences, to create personalized music recommendations for users. These recommendations will be used to inform targeted ads on the platform, allowing advertisers to reach users with highly relevant and engaging content.
The Benefits of Personalized Ads
The move towards personalized ads on messaging apps like Telegram is part of a broader trend towards more targeted and relevant advertising. By using data analytics and artificial intelligence, companies like Adorno are able to create highly personalized recommendations that resonate with users, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.
For Telegram, the move towards personalized ads represents a significant opportunity to generate revenue from its large and diverse user base. While Telegram has traditionally been ad-free, the company has recently begun exploring new revenue streams, including premium features and advertising.
The Response from the Tech Community
The partnership between Telegram and Adorno has generated significant interest and reaction from the tech community. Some commentators have raised concerns about the potential privacy implications of using user data to inform targeted ads, given the recent backlash against companies like Facebook and Google over data privacy.
Others have expressed excitement about the potential for personalized ads to provide a more engaging and relevant experience for users, while also providing a new revenue stream for messaging apps like Telegram.
The partnership between Telegram and Adorno represents a significant step towards more personalized and targeted advertising on messaging apps. While concerns remain about data privacy and other issues, the move towards personalized ads is part of a broader trend towards more targeted and relevant advertising. For Telegram, the partnership represents a significant opportunity to generate revenue from its large and engaged user base, while also providing advertisers with a new platform to reach consumers with highly relevant and engaging content.
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The BGMEA has signed an agreement to conduct a study with business consultancy LightCastle Partners on the feasibility of establishing a virtual marketplace platform for the RMG sector.
The study will be funded by IFC’s Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT II) program, supported by the government of Denmark through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
The study will analyse the gaps in policies, market potential and readiness of the sector, and include a suitable business model and an action plan to implement operations.
A spokesperson for the trade body confirmed to Just Style the feasibility study into the platform would be used to determine the possibility of selling readymade garments that did not make their way through export channels in a bid to lower waste among other things.
Faruque Hassan, President of the BGMEA said: “Revolution in digital technologies has led to notable changes in the business landscape, creating new trends and opportunities, especially the rapid rise of the online marketplace. Companies have been increasingly going online with the advancement of digital technologies and Covid accelerated the pace of digital transformation, leading to a boom in the digital and e-commerce sectors. Adapting to the changing trade is the key to sustaining and seizing new opportunities. Developing a virtual market platform will boost sales of the RMG sector and rebound from the effects of the pandemic. This study will help to identify the challenges and opportunities of the sector to establish an online marketplace.”
Zahedul Amin, co-founder and director, LightCastle Partners, added: “Bangladesh’s apparel sector must retain its competitive advantage by harnessing technology-driven market developments, in order to leapfrog ahead of its competitors.”


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BY SHAME MAKOSHORI
ZIMBABWE’S fast-growing beverages maker, Varun Beverages said it planned to expand its operations in the country despite commissioning a US$12 million water bottling plant at its Harare operation on Wednesday.
Varun holds the Pepsi franchise in Zimbabwe.
The new 400 bottle per minute line brought the firm’s cumulative investment in Zimbabwe to US$66 million, according to its billionaire Indian chairman Ravi Jaipuria, who spoke exclusively to NewsDay Business after commissioning the line.
He said the operation, which produced its first soft drinks in 2018, had been overwhelmed by domestic demand and present capacity was struggling to serve the market.
Jaipuria implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to avail an additional 10 hectares of land to help the firm scale up its expansion drive, as it explores export opportunities in a string of southern African markets.
“We are looking at new avenues of expansion, and we are increasing our exports to Zambia, Malawi and the DRC.
“That is why you have seen the minister of industry from the DRC is here,” Jaipuria told NewsDay Business.
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“We request the government to allocate an additional 10 hectares in and around Harare because the present space is no longer enough.
“This is now the third phase of our investment carried out by launching the packaged drinking water named Aquaclear.
“The production capacity of this line will be 15 million bottles per month. With this third phase of investment the total production capacity will be 66 million bottles of sparkling beverages, cans and bottled water per month.
“The total investment with the completion of the third phase is almost US$66 million,” he said.
Varun created about 2 000 direct jobs in Zimbabwe, in addition to over 1 500 others in downstream industries.
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was ready to address challenges being faced by investors.
He implored the firm to tell other investors in India that Zimbabwe is ready to embrace them under its new strategy to transform into an African force.
Follow us on Twitter @NewsDayZimbabwe


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In the world of creativity, if you're not starting a fire, then what's the point? So, we've created a portal to celebrate the most revolutionary and thought-provoking ideas we're seeing in the world today. Some are ideas we've recognized from others and we're tipping our hats to, and others are ones we thought of (go figure). Either way you cut it, you won't find a dull moment here, and hopefully we've inspired you to start your own fire.
Forsman & Bodenfors wants to make sure drivers “drive 25 to keep kids alive,” and they’ve found an ingenious way to do it. Talking GPS are standard features in modern vehicles, but the agency has conceptualized an app that will switch the voice on the GPS to a child’s when within range of a school, daycare, or other area populated by children.
It’s currently available in Sweden, Finland, and Norway, and comes pre-loaded with all schools and daycare centers in the Nordic region.
The agency hopes that this will serve as an audio reminder to drive carefully and watch for children, reducing the number of accidents in school zones and other kid-friendly areas.
What Sparks Our Fire:Using innovation and unconventional problem-solving to draw attention to an often-ignored safety hazard
In keeping with their new direction, last week Google unveiled an updated logo, a much more simplified and modern-looking incarnation than its predecessors. After hearing what graphic designers had to say about it, we asked our CEO, Marc Sampogna, about his thoughts on the redesign.
By no means am I a graphic designer, but one thing I do know is branding. The latest redesign of Google’s brand identity seems to be a small step for a company that’s introduced innovation after innovation to the world. Its simplicity and approachability elicits memories of how Pepsi transitioned from their bold, bubble lettered logo into their current, more contemporary “brand stamp”. I also think this falls coincidentally on the heels of Apples recent software update — OS X Yosemite, where they moved from a beveled, dimensional treatment to flat. If anything, this new logo actually feels more playful and childlike, but no matter what they’ve done, it surely won’t impact how people interact or use the search engine powerhouse. It’s Google, for s*#ts sake. They change their logo daily to reflect a relevant theme that’s taking place in our culture. So…I have one word to say about the new logo, and that is “whatever”.
Love Times New Roman? Have a passion for Helvetica? Good news for designer geeks: You can now wear your favorite font as eyewear.
After the initial success of their first line, Wieden & Kennedy Tokyo and Oh My Glasses have collaborated to launch a new line of TYPE glasses, glasses inspired by different fonts, with names like Garamond and styles ranging from “Light” to “Bold”. Times New Roman is one of three new models that made their debut at a Tokyo pop-up shop last week.
Each pair of TYPE glasses are meant to reflect characteristics of their respective fonts, like lines, curves, and shapes. Each font also comes in “light,” “regular,” and “bold” to denote thickness of the frames.
“As the choice of typeface affects expression in written communication, subtle design differences in eyeglasses frames change the impression of the person who wears them,” Wieden & Kennedy Tokyo state on their website.
What Sparks Our Fire: Products that finds new ways to showcase beautiful elements of design.
Sustainability has been a growing trend in business for years now as climate change becomes a more prevalent threat, however, now technology companies especially have realized that sustainability is a good investment.
Sustainability “ensures business continuity by conserving resources,” and now more than ever, economic and environmental sustainability are vital to businesses’ longevity and productivity.
In 2014, Unilever CEO Paul Polman declared that climate change-related natural disasters are costing Unilever at least $300 million a year. To combat this, several companies have come up with ways to conserve energy and other natural resources.
Creating environmental products is one such step. Samsung, for example, has taken the lead and released a solar-powered laptop, as well as three “green” mobile phones made of corn starch bioplastic and have energy-efficient chargers and recyclable packaging.
In order to ensure the future of the planet–and technology–it’s up to other companies to follow in Samsung’s small carbon footprints.
What Sparks Our Fire: Companies taking on a greater accountability for their sustainability and making moves to make sustainability a universal practice.
You may recognize Kraft Mac N’ Cheese by its distinctive blue box, bright orange color, or the multitude of commercials that air on television during every family sitcom. However, due to concerns about health and safety, several major companies are switching to all-natural food coloring, which means that many of your childhood favorite foods will look a little different in the future.
Among these are the bright-yellow banana peppers at Subway, Trix cereal, and now Kraft Mac N’ Cheese, which will now use tumeric and paprika coloring instead of Yellow 5, which may slightly alter the flavor. Part of the reason for this change can be attributed to a popular food blogger called “The Food Babe,” who pointed out that at least one scientific study in the past has linked Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 to hyperactivity, ability to learn, and “long-term problems” like skin rashes and asthma.
The push toward natural dyes and flavorings and away from overly processed foods has been a gradual movement that has gained traction in the past few years. However, there is still research that suggests that we eat with our eyes, and thus lies the problem of maintaining the appeal of food with bright, inviting colors but keeping the ingredients all-natural.
What Sparks Our Fire: Brands catering to consumer demands and finding healthy alternative to classic childhood foods


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Hit shoot 'em up banned in Iran for showing American 'invasion' of Grand Bazaar in Tehran
- 5,000 signature petition protests game set in Tehran
- Reports of raids on computer shops
- Protest at 'Grand Bazaar' level set in real landmark
- Iranians say its 'purposely released' to stoke tensions
Battlefield 3 has been the hit shoot 'em up of 2011 - selling eight million copies with its hyper-realistic depictions of modern urban warfare.
But its depictions of assaults with American armoured vehicles have not been a hit everywhere.
In Tehran, the game has been banned as 'propaganda', according to reports in an Iranian computer magazine - and young Iranians are also protesting against it online.
The game depicts US Marines with authentic weaponry fighting in Middle Eastern countries - but the level in Tehran's Grand Bazaar has caused fury
The 'Grand Bazaar' level that has caused controversy: The bazaar is a historical market in the centre of the country's capital
The 'ban' - enforced by reported raids on computer shops - is due largely to a level called 'Grand Bazaar', which is set in a clearly recognisable area of the Iranian capital.
The game's release comes at a time when tensions between the two countries are high - and Iranians are angry that one of the world's largest game companies would use real-world locations.
Rival Modern Warfare 3 is careful to have villains who are rogue Russian extremists - after earlier versions set in Middle Eastern countries.
The Asr-e Ertebat publication reported a security source as saying, 'All computer stores are prohibited from selling this illegal game.'
The (real) Grand Bazaar in Tehran: The bazaar is a historical landmark still in use as a market today
The game uses real American vehicles and weaponry - and the scenario sails a little too close to political reality for both the regime and young Iranians
An online petition has also drawn a reported 5,000 signatures, saying, 'We understand that the story of a videogame is hypothetical but we
believe the game is purposely released at a time when the US is pushing
the international community into fearing Iran.'
There have also been unconfirmed reports that shops selling the game have been raided.
The ban is unlikely to bother makers Electronic Arts unduly - the game has not been officially released in the territory, and thus all copies sold are liable to be pirated.
The Grand Bazaar level shows a small team of US special forces infiltrating real locations in Iran
The game - often played online in teams - features squads of US Marines fighting in cities including Paris as well as Tehran.
The 'Grand Bazaar' level is the one that has caused controversy, though - with US forces fighting hostile militia in a clearly recognisable Tehran, including the city's Grand Bazaar.
American games set in the Middle East and beyond are nothing new, of course - many titles have been set in Afghanistan or unnamed Far Eastern countries.
The US military also releases its own videogame - America's Army - which is designed as both a recruiting tool and a training tool for soldiers.
The game is available free online, and again features Middle Eastern locations as some of its battlegrounds.
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Long Island News
Suspicious package found at another Home Depot
ELMONT, N.Y. (WABC) -- A second Home Depot store was evacuated on Wednesday after a report of a suspicious package. Police said no explosive material was found in the Elmont store.
This follows an incident Monday after an improvised explosive device found at a Home Depot store in nearby Huntington.
Suffolk County Police were called to the Huntington store after management received a bomb threat letter.
The store was evacuated and the suspicious package was found and deactivated.
Police said Wednesday the FBI is assisting in that investigation.
Wednesday's incident involved suspicious items found inside a box from a jigsaw that a customer had returned. The bomb squad investigated as a precaution.
A Home Depot spokesman says the chain works to have appropriate security for its stores. There were no injuries in either incident.
On Monday, Suffolk police received a 911 call at 4:11 p.m.reporting the suspicious package at the store, located at 839 New York Avenue. Management evacuated the store, and the Suffolk County Bomb Squad determined the device was real and destroyed it.
There were approximately 50 people in the store at the time, including employees and customers. No other stores or nearby homes were evacuated.
Sources say a note was sent to the Home Depot store demanding $2 million in cash or else more pipe bombs would be left at other stores on Black Friday. It's not clear if the note or the pipe bomb were found first.
Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes released a statement, saying "We are cooperating with authorities on their investigation. The safety of our customers and associates is certainly of the utmost importance to us."
Authorities are trying to figure out who left the device and are not releasing many details about the bomb, particularly if it was a sophisticated device or was crudely made, only that it was a real pipe bomb.
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Brexit: No deal will be good for the British pound claims expert
On June 23, 2016, Britain settled the question that had rumbled under the surface of British politics for year: should the UK leave or remain in the European Union? Ever since the referendum saw Britons vote in favour to leave, the UK has faced political uncertainty and fears of Britain not agreeing on a deal with the EU on time. So are there any advantages to Brexit?
Are there any advantages to Brexit?
During the past two years, the pound has been on a roller-coaster ride with sterling affected by the political chaos which has unfolded as Britain tries to strike a deal with the EU.
However, recent figures suggest Brexit has not stopped the appetite among holidaymakers to travel to Europe in the months ahead, as sterling currently remain resilient against the euro.
Those travelling overseas will find the pound has strengthened against many currencies compared with a year ago, making holidaymakers' cash go further on their travels.
Brexit BONUS: Brexit provided a good opportunity for holiday makers to travel outside the eurozone
Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of currency expert, FairFX said: “As far as travel money is concerned, Brexit provides a good opportunity for holidaymakers to explore destinations outside of the eurozone because the pound may be performing stronger against other currencies.
“Currency should always play a role in the decision-making process because it can make a huge difference to how far your holiday budget will stretch.
“I’d advise anyone to check the exchange rate of the place they want to visit before they book to get an idea of how far their money will go.”
He added: “At the moment the pound is down 12 percent against the euro compared to the day of the referendum so it’s worth exploring destinations with different currencies.
Pound beginning to PLUMMET against the euro
“For example, the pound is up 138 percent against the Argentine peso, meaning holidaymakers heading to Argentina would now get an extra £290 worth of local currency for every £500 exchanged.
“Other countries where the pound has vastly improved compared to the day of the referendum include Turkey and Egypt, where the pound is up 62 percent and 73 percent respectively which adds up to big savings on how far your money will go.
“When it comes to holiday money, it’s always best to plan ahead. With the current uncertainty surrounding Brexit it’s very easy for rates to move against you and no-one knows definitively which way they’re heading.
“You can use currency exchange services to lock in rates when the pound is performing well against your chosen currency or destination.
“That’s one of the best ways you can safeguard yourself from currency fluctuations.”
Post Office Travel Money, accountable for one in four UK foreign exchange transactions, said there has been "strong demand" for euros in recent months.
The numbers show euro sales are up by three percent year-on-year in 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018.
Sales of the euro also surged by five percent year-on-year in November and December 2018 compared with the same months in 2017.


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By Asher Moses
Skype is preparing to launch its own branded mobile phone in conjunction with the 3 mobile network as early as this month.
The phone is codenamed "white phone" and BusinessWeek reported it would launch in Australia, Britain, Italy and Hong Kong "by late October".
A spokeswoman for 3 in Australia confirmed it was working with a leading internet communications company "to produce an exciting new product to make free internet calls completely mobile".
She would not give any further details but said the product would "close the gap between internet communications and mobile calling and is something you won't see from any other operator".
BusinessWeek reported the device would feature a big button above the keypad to activate Skype for long-distance and international calls. 3 would not charge anything on top of Skype's normal rates, but users would be required to spend a certain amount per month.
The partnership between 3 and Skype is noteworthy because VoIP providers, by offering free calls over the internet, compete with the mobile carriers' own plans.
By forming the partnership, 3 ensures it can reap a share of the revenue. Earlier this year, Skype launched its X-Series service that allowed 3 customers to make Skype calls through their handset.
But the impending announcement between the two companies will takes the partnership a step further.
"The move marks a radical step forward in operator thinking and will mobilise internet calls for a mass market," the 3 spokeswoman said.
Skype, still reeling after owner eBay admitted it had paid more than a billion dollars too much to acquire the internet phone company in 2005, has sought recently to enter a new growth phase through various strategic partnerships.
On Wednesday it announced it had partnered with MySpace to offer free voice calls between Skype and MySpace users through the social network's instant messaging program.
The entrance of Skype into the mobile phone market will add new competition to an already crowded market. Apple made its first mobile phone play earlier this year with the launch of the iPhone overseas, and Google is rumoured to be working on its own mobile software platform.


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Weedmaps.com Lays off 25% Employees
Recently, news broke that Weedmaps (weedmaps.com), the popular cannabis directory and review site, had laid off a third of its workforce. The move came as a surprise to many in the industry, given Weedmaps’ apparent success in recent years.
So, what really happened? In this article, we’ll take a look at the inside story of the Weedmaps layoffs, and what it means for the future of the cannabis industry.
WM Technology, the parent company of Weedmaps, a cannabis advertising platform, is laying off roughly 25% of its staff, or up to 175 employees. The reason behind this decision, “was based on cost-reduction initiatives intended to reduce operating expenses and sharpen the company’s focus on key growth priorities,” WM Technology said in a regulatory filing on Nov. 29.
Here is some history of Weedmaps and different trends the company has had.
On Wednesday, February 12th, 2020, Weedmaps announced that it would be laying off 30% of its workforce. In total, 94 employees were affected by the news, with most of the layoffs occurring at the company’s headquarters in Irvine, California. In a statement, Weedmaps CEO Justin Hartfield said that the layoffs were “necessary to ensure our long-term viability” and that they would help the company “right-size” its workforce.
Hartfield also said that the company would be refocusing its efforts on “core businesses and geographies” in the wake of the layoffs. The news came as a surprise to many in the industry, given Weedmaps’ apparent success in recent years.
The company was founded in 2008 and has since become one of the most popular cannabis directories, with an estimated 10 million monthly visitors. In 2018, Weedmaps generated $35 million in revenue, and it was on track to generate $50 million in 2019. The company had also recently raised $50 million in new funding, and it had been aggressive in its expansion plans, opening new offices in Denver and Canada.
Weedmaps advertises for dispensaries, including Wheelhouse. Dispensaries on Weedmaps carry cannabis products and the best weed strains. You can easily find products such as Stiiizy, Autumn brands preroll, hybrid strains, indica dominant hybrid strains, indica and sativa, sativa dominant hybrid strains, products for helping with chronic pain, and more.
Customers on the site love Wheelhouse. Wheelhouse has earned a 4.5 rating on Weedmaps from customers. Wheelhouse carries pre-roll brands like: Lowell Smokes, Weedsy, Sublime, Gelato, and more *subject to change.*
Whether you are looking for weed delivery or in store pick up, we have you covered. Come by our Port Hueneme location or our Venice location. We also have other locations planning to open soon in cities like Ventura and Costa Mesa. We cannot wait to serve you!
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Port Hueneme, CA 93041
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Ventura, CA 93003
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The Australian government has opened a consultation on potential changes to privacy legislation.
Following the Attorney-General’s announcement in December last year of a review of the Privacy Act 1988, the government is seeking feedback from the public on the “potential issues relevant to reform” outlined in a 68-question Issues Paper.
The Australian government adds that it will meet with stakeholders on specific issues and consider research and reports on privacy issues.
The review will look at:
- the scope and application of the act
- whether the act effectively protects personal information and provides a practical and proportionate framework for promoting good privacy practices
- whether individuals should have direct rights of action to enforce privacy obligations under the act
- whether a statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy should be introduced into Australian law
- the impact of the notifiable data breach scheme and its effectiveness in meeting its objectives
- the effectiveness of enforcement powers and mechanisms under the act and how they interact with other Commonwealth regulatory frameworks
- the desirability and feasibility of an independent certification scheme to monitor and demonstrate compliance with Australian privacy laws.
Sinead Lynch, Senior Foreign Legal Counsel at DLA Piper, said key provisions of the Act up for review are: the strengthening of consumer consent and notification requirements; overseas data flow arrangements; broadening the definition of personal information to include online identifiers and other technical data, as well as reviewing the Act’s small business exemption.
As it stands, “Australian laws do not provide individuals with specific statutory rights for a breach of privacy,” she says. “But the increased litigation-funding industry and heightened awareness ofprivacy issues among consumers here, herald that inevitable change is on its way.”
The deadline for submissions is 29 November 2020, with a second consultation on specific outcomes from the preliminary review expected to take place early next year.
Registration now OPEN for PrivSec Global
Taking place across four days from 30 Nov to 3 Dec, PrivSec Global, will be the largest data protection, privacy and security event of 2020.
Reserve your place today and gain access to the entire event free of charge. With all sessions available to view live or on-demand, you can build a personalised agenda based on your key focus topics and make the event fit around your work schedule.
We have been awarded the number 1 GDPR Blog in 2019 by Feedspot.


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Preview – RPT: July inflation up
The poll of 24 economists showed wholesale prices were 7.37 percent higher year-on-year in July, compared to 7.25 percent in June.
Forecasts in the poll were in a tight range from 6.90 percent to 7.59 percent, the narrowest in polls taken since January.
A below-average monsoon, which is vital for over half of India's farmland, is pushing up food prices which along with fuel makes up over a third of the wholesale price index.
Food clearly is the big issue and the biggest swing factor and also the biggest risk to the forecast, said Robert Prior-Wandesforde, Asia economist at Credit Suisse.
Persistently high inflation has kept the central bank from lowering its interest rate even though growth in Asia's third largest economy slowed to its lowest in nine years in the quarter to March.
A headline inflation rate of around 5 percent is seen as the Reserve Bank of India's comfort level but it has stayed above that for over two and half years now.
Last month the central bank kept its key repo rate unchanged at 8 percent last month, citing risks to inflation even though economic conditions are deteriorating.
A weaker rupee, which hit a record low of 57.32 to the dollar in June, puts further pressure on an economy that is a major importer of pulses and edible oils.
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Flightglobal:European fractional ownership start-up Jet Republic has collapsed following a decision by company shareholders yesterday to withdraw funding....Author: Kate SarsfieldDate: 20 August 2009Read the full article
Author: Kate Sarsfield
Date: 20 August 2009
Read the full article
Jet Republic was a great romantic idea but in the current economic conditions it was always going to be a struggle and i guess this has been realised. Fractional ownership means that you are relient on there being a lot of money around, and this just isn' t the case.
AirSpace - more than just hot air