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The Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration is here! We've come a long way since the first Xbox console and Microsoft has some nice surprises in store during today's Livestream event.
Microsoft kicked off the Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration Livestream with a trailer that briefly went over the console's history. Shortly afterward, we got treated to a cool splash screen and the first Head of Xbox Robbie Bach took to the stage to reminisce about the launch of the first Xbox console.
Power On: The Story of Xbox Details 20 Years of History
Once Bach's trip down Nostalgia Lane was over, we moved on to the first announcement: an upcoming six-part documentary series called Power On: The Story of Xbox.
Power On: The Story of Xbox will talk about the "insanity" of the DirectX team (and the console's other advocates) working together to make a console that was, at first, "held together by chewing gum and paste." And yes, this documentary will touch on the legendary "Duke" controller.
When is the Power On: The Story of Xbox Release Date?
The Power On: The Story of Xbox release date will be December 13, 2021, and will be available to watch on Roku, IMDB TV, YouTube, Redbox, and other platforms. Those fans tuning in to Xbox Fanfest will get an early look at it.
Phil Spencer Talks the Power of Games Connecting People
Following a short montage of celebrities talking about the Xbox in the past, Phil Spencer took to the stage wearing a Halo Infinite t-shirt. Spencer talked about gaming and connecting people through the medium in a surprisingly heartfelt message.
"At work, the best part of my job is spending time with the ridiculously-talented teams both here at Xbox and across our industry," Spencer said. "You -- gaming creators around the world -- are at the forefront of the world's most exciting art form. But the reality is, as an industry, none of the work comes to life until it's enjoyed by our players. You -- the global gaming community -- are a powerful force, and it is you that have made our passion as popular as important as it is today."
Following Spencer's speech, a short video played showed Xbox fans meeting in person for the first time ever. We then transitioned to another clip from Xbox's past from 2015 -- the very moment that Phil Spencer announced Xbox One Backward Compatibility to thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.
70 New Games Added to Backward Compatibility
Next Up was Xbox Compatibility Program Lead Peggy Lo taking the stage, announcing that the Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration will also include the launch of 70 new games on Backward Compatibility. These games include:
- The entire Max Payne series
- The entire F.E.A.R. franchise
- Dead or Alive Ultimate
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast
The Rock Returns to Announce the Xbox Vault
Next up on the screen was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announcing the Xbox Vault, a website that celebrates 20 years of Xbox by offering up cool prizes for new and old fans alike.
You can visit the Xbox Vault at xboxvault.com, although you might want to wait -- the site is already being overloaded with traffic from the tens of thousands of players watching the event.
Speaking of celebrities, we then had another clip pulled from the Vault -- Keanu Reeves' appearance at E3 2019 to talk about Cyberpunk 2077 and the iconic "You're Breathtaking" moment kicked off by content creator Peter Sark.
Making Xbox Accessible Around the World
Next was a celebration of Xbox around the world -- fans from Mexico, France, Italy, and elsewhere talked about the launches of the various Xbox consoles, interspersed with images of special events, cosplayers, and various items created by talented artists.
Head of Xbox Creator Experience Sarah Bond then came on stage to talk about the importance of hiring a variety of developers to create unique experiences for fans around the world. She also highlighted the importance of accessibility (such as with the Xbox Adaptive Controller) and diversity efforts in game design among other subjects.
Halo TV Show Teaser Tantalizes Xbox Fans
The next part of the Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration was a teaser for the upcoming Halo TV show. While an ad for this show popped up online a little earlier than expected this morning, we didn't quite get to see it in high quality until now.
Following the Halo TV show teaser, Head of 343 Industries Bonnie Ross came on stage to talk about the history of the Halo franchise. She noted that today is not only celebrating 20 years of Xbox -- it's also celebrating 20 years of Halo.
Following Bonnie Ross' speech, we were treated to an orchestral performance of Halo music outside of the Sydney Opera House featuring an impressive mix of orchestral instruments and a choir. This performance was interspersed with imagery from previously-released Halo Infinite trailers and the performers.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer is Live Right Now
Head of Creative for Halo Infinite Joseph Staten appeared next in front of dozens of employees from 343 Industries thanked the fans for all of their support as they lead up to the launch of the game.
Staten then handed things off to Multiplayer Associate Creative Director Tom French so he could announce a wonderful surprise: Halo Infinite Multiplayer Season 1 and its Free-to-Play Multiplayer Beta is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. And no, this is not a soft beta -- your progression will carry over to the full release.
You can play the Halo Infinite Multiplayer Season 1 Beta on PC and Xbox via the Microsoft Store and on PC via Steam right now. You can learn more about the Multiplayer Beta on the official Halo website.
What did you think of the Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration? Are you excited that you can finally play Halo Infinite Multiplayer? Let us know in the comments below!


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Ecuador's banana exports dropped 10.6 percent in 2000 compared with 1999, due to an oversupply of the fruit in international markets, the Corporation for the Promotion
of Exports and Imports (CORPEI) said in a report. Ecuador exported
180.7 million boxes of bananas in 2000 compared with 202.1 million boxes exported in 1999, according to figures provided by CORPEI. The nation took in $707.9 million from banana sales in 2000, compared with $923.1 million a year earlier. The oversupply of the fruit in international markets led the Ecuadorean government
to slash banana prices in April to $2.18 per box from $2.45. The nation's Agricultural and Foreign Trade Ministers set the 2001 price at $2.90 per box on December 29.
Ecuador, the world's biggest banana producer, ships the fruit mainly to the U.S., Russia, Italy and Germany. After oil, bananas are the Andean nation's biggest export. In 1999, Ecuador's banana exports surged 23.4 percent after storms caused by the climactic phenomenon known as El Nino ravaged the nation's coast in 1998, destroying key crops like bananas.
The CORPEI said Ecuador's banana exporters are seeking to expand into other areas, such as dried banana and plantain chips, known in Ecuador as "chifles." Likewise, the nation plans to take advantage of the European Union's new banana import policy that awards contracts to countries based on which boats get to port first. European nations previously bought bananas on a quota system until the World Trade Organization ruled that this scheme was unfair to nations like Ecuador.

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Cruise lines step up coronavirus screening measures, cancel trips, skip Chinese port calls
A week after MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean canceled scheduled sailings to China as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread, other cruise lines have been updating their policies and itineraries.
The center of the outbreak is the city of Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have been passed from animals to humans in a food market. China has since banned travel from Wuhan and neighboring cities in the Hubei province to try to contain the virus.
As of Wednesday, the death toll has risen to 130 and scores of cases have been confirmed in more than a dozen other countries outside of China, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Americans flee Wuhan: Coronavirus deaths, infections boom in China
However, cruise lines have swiftly reacted to the outbreak and started implementing their own precautions by canceling sailings and boosting screening procedures for passengers boarding from Chinese ports.
China has become an increasingly popular cruise destination in recent years, coupled with many lines deploying ships to serve the rapidly growing Chinese cruise market which has become the second-largest in the world after the U.S.
On Monday, the U.S. State Department raised its travel warning to Level 3, urging all Americans to avoid traveling to China unless their trip is essential. The move came days after it raised the travel warning for Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, to Level 4 (do not travel), its most severe advisory level.
Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) also updated its travel advice, advising against all but essential travel to mainland China, and against all travel to Hubei Province.
Below, Cruise Critic has compiled a list of screening policies and itinerary updates from more than a dozen companies:
China cruises canceled: Royal Caribbean, MSC, others scrap China itineraries due to coronavirus outbreak
Coronavirus outbreak: British Airways, Lion Air and Seoul Air suspend all flights to China
APT's Paul Melinis, managing director for UK & Europe, said: "No APT tours and river cruises pass through Wutan, with our China itineraries starting at the end of March. In the meantime, we are monitoring the situation closely through government travel advisories, the World Health Organization and our contacts within China. The safety of our guests and staff is always our top priority. We expect to continue operating all our river cruise and tours to China as planned."
Carnival and Princess
Carnival Corp. – which operates Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises – said in a statement that it has not yet made any changes to itineraries for those brands. (See below for updates on Costa, Cunard, Holland America and Seabourn, which are also operated by Carnival Corp.)
"Our medical experts are in touch with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organizations about any recommended screenings, monitoring and protocols for our ships, which may include temperature and questionnaire screening for cruises in certain geographies, questionnaires for residents and travelers visiting certain areas, and illness screening for cases presenting to our medical centers with fever and respiratory illness while onboard."
Celebrity Cruises issued the following statement: "We continue to monitor developments in the region and are in consultation with health officials to assess the situation. We have implemented precautionary measures at the terminal and onboard the ship to ensure the health and safety of our guests and crew."
Costa canceled its Jan. 25 and 31 sailings on Costa Serena; the Jan. 27 and 31 departures on Costa Atlantica; the Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 sailings on Costa Venezia and the Jan. 25 and 30 and Feb. 2 cruises on Costa neoRomantica. Passengers are eligible for full refunds, or they can choose alternative sailing dates before the end of 2020 with $50 onboard credit.
When Costa Venezia docked in Shenzhen yesterday, the ship was boarded by a medical team who checked all 4,973 passengers and 1,249 crew for coronavirus symptoms. Local media reported that four were found to have high temperatures and 148 who came from Wuhan or who had visited the city recently were isolated for further screening.
In a statement, a Costa Cruises spokesperson said: "Costa Crociere is dedicated to the health and safety of all guests and crew. We are strictly monitoring the situation of the so-called 'Wuhan Pneumonia' which is causing concern among Public Health Authorities and the traveling public.
"The safety, security and welfare of all guests and crew are our absolute priority has increased health and safety measures as a matter of caution. The company adopts a specific protocol to help prevent the introduction and/or spread of any infectious diseases."
Flight ban? White House considers suspending all flights to China amid coronavirus outbreak
US adds 20 more airports to screening list: Here's the list and what the screenings entail
Crystal Cruises posted the following statement on its website: "The health, security and safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority. In an abundance of caution, Crystal has instituted a variety of preventive measures as it relates to the new respiratory virus, called 2019-novel coronavirus.
"We have updated our pre-boarding public health questionnaire to include questions concerning the coronavirus. We will screen guests at the pier before they board for body temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and/or showing signs of respiratory issues. If guests are determined unwell to travel, they will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, if they do not have insurance.
"We will deny boarding of any person who has traveled to Hubei Province or Wuhan, China in the 14 days prior to embarkation, [and] we have canceled non-essential day visits to the ships when they are in port.
"As with any trip, travelers should check with public health authorities to be informed regarding health matters at the destinations they will visit, and exercise appropriate precautions. Crystal will continue to monitor the situation, closely working with the Cruise Lines International Association, health professionals and regulators around the world and will make any further adjustments to protocols as necessary."
Cruise Critic board members Ryndam is currently sailing with Crystal on a cruise from San Diego to Hong Kong and says the ship has diverted: "The decision has been made to skip Hong Kong. The captain has advised us currently onboard that the alternative turn-around port will be announced as soon as it is positively confirmed by Crystal’s corporate headquarters."
What to expect if you get sick on a cruise: Here's how ships handle ailing passengers
Cruise ship medical facilities: What to know about the care you'll get onboard
Cunard Line is also currently monitoring the situation. A line spokesperson told Cruise Critic: "We are working with and taking advice from the relevant authorities regarding the evolving situation with coronavirus. Should it be necessary to amend any ports of call in China for [Queen Mary 2] and [Queen Elizabeth] we will do so and advise guests as soon as possible. We will also advise of any associated logistical changes, for example, flights, hotels or tours."
Best cruise gear for germaphobes: Slippers, hand sanitizer and screen wipes
Dream Cruise Line
Genting's Dream Cruise Line canceled a turnaround call on Guangzhou for World Dream but will continue to operate from Hong Kong. Passengers have the option to cancel future cruises and receive full refunds.
"In view of the recent outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, Dream Cruises has been working closely with the China authorities in implementing various precautionary measures, and as part of our continuous initiative, kindly be advised that Dream Cruises will be not be calling into Guangzhou (Nansha) on Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, 2020. However, please note the arrival, boarding and departure arrangements in Hong Kong on the same day will remain as scheduled.
"Guests originally scheduled to embark from Guangzhou (Nansha) on Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 will have the option to change their cruise date or cancel their cruise with a full refund (paid cruise fare, port charges and Dream Cruises shore excursion). Please contact the original booking source for the necessary arrangements and on behalf of Dream Cruises, we apologize for any inconvenience caused and we thank you in advance for your kind understanding and support in light of these unforeseen circumstances."
Tips: How not to get sick on a cruise
5 reasons to worry less about norovirus: We're here to tell you why you don't need to fret
Holland America Line
Holland America Line has changed the disembarkation port for its Westerdam sailing, departing Feb. 1. The voyage will depart from Hong Kong that day, as scheduled, but it will conclude in Yokohama (Tokyo) instead of Hong Kong on Feb. 15. The ship's current sailing, which will conclude Feb. 1 in Hong Kong, is unaffected.
In a statement, the line said: "All guests and their travel advisors are being notified of these changes. Guests who have purchased their air through Holland America Line's Flight Ease will have their return flights rebooked to depart from Tokyo, rather than Shanghai, at [the line's] expense. Guests' new homeward travel arrangements will be communicated shortly.
"Guests with independent travel arrangements should rebook their air to depart from Tokyo's Haneda Airport or Narita Airport no earlier than 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 15. Most airlines and hotels are allowing guests to change travel plans involving China with no penalty, but should you incur expenses related to adjusting your travel plans, we recommend you retain your receipts to support a claim with your travel insurance.
"Guests with Holland America Line post-cruise hotel arrangements in Shanghai will be refunded to the original form of payment.
"If any additional Westerdam sailings in Asia will be impacted, booked guests and their travel advisors will be notified as soon as it Is known."
MSC has canceled its Jan. 28 cruise from Shanghai aboard MSC Splendida, and the ship will stay in the port.
A statement issued by the line said: "Due to urgent guidelines from the Chinese government to combat the spread of the coronavirus, MSC Cruises is required to cancel the upcoming cruise with MSC Splendida. Guests booked on this cruise have the option to receive a full refund of their cruise ticket and port charges, or book an alternative sailing with an equivalent price and receive additional onboard credit – with an embarkation date before the end of the year.
"At the time of writing, MSC Splendida is planned to remain in port for the duration of the cruise from January 28 to February 1."
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian has introduced "non-touch" temperature screenings for all passengers embarking from Chinese ports. Cruisers who register a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or 38 degrees C or higher will not be allowed to board and will be directed to seek local medical treatment. In addition, passengers traveling from Wuhan or who have been in the city in the last 30 days will be denied boarding.
Regent Seven Seas
Regent's Seven Seas Voyager is scheduled to visit Hong Kong on Feb. 28. There have been no changes to itineraries, according to a spokesman.
"The safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew is our number one priority. As such, due to the growing concern regarding coronavirus infections in China, we are implementing non-touch temperature screenings for all guests embarking from Chinese ports. Guests who register a body temperature screening of 100.4℉ or 38℃ or higher and are embarking on a voyage in Hong Kong, will not be allowed to board. In addition, guests who have visited Wuhan, China or the Hubei Province in the last 30 days will not be allowed to board any of our ships.
"All guests will be instructed to complete a pre-embarkation health questionnaire. Guests who are considered high risk will be evaluated by local health authorities. As always, we will monitor the situation closely."
Royal Caribbean has canceled the Jan. 27 sailing from Shanghai to Japan and the next cruise on Jan. 31.
A spokesperson said: "In consultation with the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and health authorities, we are implementing preventive measures for the health and safety of our guests and crew.
"The Spectrum of the Seas sailings, departing from Shanghai, China, on January 27 and 31, have been suspended, and guests will receive full refunds.
"Across our fleet, boarding will be denied to guests or crewmembers who have traveled to the Hubei Province in China. Any guests who have transited through other regions in China in the past 14 days will receive secondary medical screenings to determine sailing eligibility. We have temporarily postponed the return of crewmembers who reside in China.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation and have contingency plans in place to react as necessary."
In light of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Level 3 travel warning to China issued January 27, 2020, Seabourn has canceled a scheduled Seabourn Ovation call on Xiamen, China, scheduled for February 3. Instead, the sailing will include a visit to Sandakan, Malaysia, on February 10.
Silversea has not yet made any changes. The line's Silver Spirit is due to arrive in Hong Kong from Bangkok on Feb. 15, at which time it is scheduled to depart on a 14-night Far East sailing.
"Our guests and crew are receiving enhanced health screenings before boarding," the line said in a statement. "The health and safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. We are monitoring the situation closely together with health authorities, and our ships are prepared to take additional preventive measures as circumstances indicate.
"All passengers, independent from their nationality, are subject to increased health screenings by the local authorities, as well as the ship, following rigid and comprehensive protocols. All passengers passing the health screening will be allowed to join the ship. A notable exception to the above rule are guests [who are] resident[s of] or [who] hav[e] recently visited Hubei province. [They] will be denied boarding in an excess of precaution.
"Following the legislative steps by the Chinese Government aimed at stopping international FIT and Tour Operating traffic, we are not expecting too many passengers from mainland China to join our ships until this precaution [is] lifted by the Chinese authorities."
Asia-based Star Cruises has suspended the operation of SuperStar Gemini in Xiamen, China. All cruises since 27 January 2020 have been canceled until further notice. Guests booked on SuperStar Gemini have the option to change their cruise date or cancel with a full refund.
For its other ships, Star Cruises has suspended the boarding of passengers living in Wuhan and Hubei Province as well as their close contacts. Passengers who do not wish to travel due to the coronavirus outbreak are offered an unconditional refund.
"We apologize for any inconvenience caused and we thank you in advance for your kind understanding and support in light of these unforeseen circumstances," the line said in a statement. "Star Cruises would like to reiterate that it maintains the highest preventative hygiene and sanitation standards onboard its fleet and is committed to safeguarding the health of all guests and crew."
Tauck's Yangtze River itineraries also begin in April and the line said it is taking a "wait-and-see" attitude before making any decisions and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Uniworld's China itineraries begin in April, and the line said it will continue to monitor developments.
Victoria Cruise Lines
Victoria Cruises, which operates three-, four- and seven-night itineraries on the Yangtze River, has canceled six sailings through Feb. 16, 2020. (The Yangtze season is typically late March to October. These were off-season winter sailings.)
"While operations have not been directly impacted by the situation in Wuhan – more than 500 miles away from the American-managed company’s Chongqing office – many passengers travel through transportation hubs which have been affected by proactive measures taken by the Chinese government, creating logistical difficulties," the line said in a statement.
"Additionally, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a notification to companies in the tour sector requesting a temporary suspension of operations. As a result, Victoria Cruise Lines will cancel sailings through February 16, 2020, affecting six off-season winter departures.
"Victoria Cruise Lines will monitor the situation in the interim and continue to prioritize the safety and enjoyment of its valued guests."
Viking River and Viking Ocean cruise lines are continuing to monitor the situation regarding future ocean and river cruises.
A spokesman said: "Viking does not have any river or ocean sailings scheduled to call in China until March 2020. We are monitoring the Wuhan coronavirus situation closely and will continue to do so in the coming weeks, heeding guidelines from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority; should we deem a sailing modification or other precaution is necessary, Viking Guest Services will communicate directly with any impacted guests and their travel agents about the change."
Other lines are also monitoring the situation, and Cruise Critic will update this story with any developments as they are announced.


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Samsung has broken the 20nm Flash production barrier with a range of memory designed for SD cards.
The 32Gb multi-level cell Nand chips are a big step forward from last year's 30nm units, and the new process is 50 per cent more productive, Samsung said.
The chip's speed has been increased by 30 per cent, reading at 20Mbit/s and writing at 10Mbit/s, and 4GB to 64GB SD units will be on the market by the end of the year.
"In just one year after initiating 30nm-class Nand production, Samsung has made available the next-generation node 20nm-class Nand, which exceeds most customers' requirements for high-performance, high-density Nand-based solutions, " said Soo-In Cho, president of Samsung's memory division.
"The new 20nm-class Nand is not only a significant step forward in process design, but we have incorporated advanced technologies into it to enable substantial performance innovation."
The expansion of the Flash market has driven a technological war among memory manufacturers. Intel and Micron's 25nm new chip technology, although designed more for larger solid state drives, may suffer as a result of Samsung's announcement.
However, a Micron representative told V3.co.uk that Samsung's announcement leaves out many key details, such as the availability of controller units for device builders and whether the chips use industry-standard thin small-outline package units.
Found by calculating the strength of the material deep inside the crust of neutron stars
Can highlight in real-time the relevant regions of an image being described
Double legal trouble for Musk as he also faces civil lawsuit over renewed British pot-holer 'paedo' claims
Battery development could help boost performance of smartphones


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It’s been her habit for the past five years.
“It makes me feel good. It gives me the added boost I need,” said the 23-year-old sales attendant from barangay Mabolo.
In the mall where she works, the sales staff is required to wear makeup.
“I buy the cheaper brands,” she told Cebu Daily News.
She frequents stores in downtown Manalili Street where she said she buys a two-month’s supply for P25-P100 for lipstick, P50 for blush on and P15 for eyeliner.
But Dr. Ann Blake, a visiting expert in psychology and health sciences, warned that cheaper cosmetics products often contain more toxic chemicals.
“Constant chemical exposure is linked to key health outcomes. Exposures at critical windows of development can cause lifetime problems,” said Blake.
“In a pregnant woman, for example, exposure to toxic cosmetic chemicals will affect fetal development,” she said in a forum on “Women, Cosmetics and Toxic Chemicals” held on Friday at the Sinulog Hall of the Rizal Library.
The forum was organized as part of the Women’s Month celebration.
Blake said exposure to toxic cosmetic chemicals was a risk that can be avoided.
Choose natural products, she said.
“There is a growing number of natural products. I would encourage your industry to venture more into natural products,” she said.
Blake is an independent consultant working with governments, occupational health, public health and environmental advocates to find viable alternatives to toxic chemicals in manufacturing and consumer products.
Blake said it’s unfortunate that regulation of the cosmetics industry “failed to adequately protect human health and the environment.”
Blake said “women had higher chemical exposure to consumer products including cosmetics.”
Heavy metals like mercury and lead are commonly found in lipstick. The darker the lipstick color, the more toxic the content she said.
Watch out as well for phthalates (pronounced THAL-aytes) commonly found in fragrances.
Although there’s no scientific study to prove it, Blake said she suspected that the darkening of the lips was a result of constant use of lead containing lipsticks.
Blake said toxic chemicals in lipstick were often swallowed when lipstick users lick their lips.
Quoting US studies, Blake said constant exposure to lead and mercury would result in kidney failure, irritability, tremors, memory loss, depression, weight loss, fatigue, severe birth defects and even death of a developing fetus.
Women of child-bearing age risk having children with birth defects while men would suffer declining sperm counts.
Phthalates, on the other hand, are commonly used in hair products, deodorants, body lotions, fragrances and nail polishes.
When used in perfumes, the chemical makes the scent stay longer. In hairs pray, it prevents hair from turning stiff when it’s applied.
“All skin whiteners are harmful,” she warned.
The chemical content in skin whiteners causes rashes and a tingling sensation in the hands.
Formaldehyde, which is found in some baby products like shampoo, bubble bath and body wash, can also cause skin irritation in children.
Unfortunately, Blake said packages of cosmetic products carry no warnings to inform buyers of the effects of these chemicals.
She advised consumers to carefully read product labels and minimize the use of cosmetics.
A list of high toxic chemical containing cosmetics can be found in the website of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the Philippine FDA website.
She said consumers should take time to browse the FDA list to be guided in their purchases.
But since not all Cebu City residents have access to the Internet, a suggestion was raised for the city government to produce brochures explaining the dangers of chemicals in cosmetics.
Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the council’s environment committee, said she plans to propose an ordinance next month that would regulate the sale of cosmetic products.
She said the forum’s discussion would help in crafting the ordinance.
Councilor Alvin Dizon said the topic should be part of the Gender and Development (GAD) campaigns in the barangays.
Environment lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said there was no more need for a law to ensure a chemical-free society.
She said the 1986 Philippine Constitution, which makes it the State’s role to provide every Filipino with access to health services, was already enough.
“The Constitution encompasses all and the Local Government Units are mandated to ensure a safe community,” said Ramos.
The Consumer Code of the Philippines also requires full disclosure of the chemical contents of products.
“But the problem is its implementation,” said Ramos.
She said the city should organize a dialogue with cosmetic product manufacturers.
Catherine Algoso, head of the University of San Carlos women’s affairs office, said she would share what she learned with students.
Budget-conscious students are the ones who buy low-cost cosmetics, she said.
She promised to help campaign for safe alternatives to chemical-based cosmetic products.
Gugo, for example, is a good alternative to detergent-heavy commercial shampoos and conditioner, she said.
In the old days, Algoso said, people would dip the tree bark in water and mix it with calamansi juice.
Another forum participant recommended the use of “achuete” as an alternative to lipstick. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters


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PayPal will soon give users the ability to manage cryptocurrencies
by João Carrasqueira
PayPal is expanding into the cryptocurrency management market, the company announced today. The move comes in response to increasing interest from consumers and central banks in digital currencies, and it will allow PayPal users to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrencies within PayPal. What's more, the firm plans to go further by allowing cryptocurrencies to serve as funds for purchases on merchants that already support PayPal payments.
PayPal cites a survey by the Bank for International Settlements, saying that one in ten central banks plan to launch their own digital currency in the next three years. Dan Schulman, president and CEO of PayPal, said:
PayPal will start enabling cryptocurrency management for users in the United States in the next few weeks. To start, users will be able to manage some of the most popular cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. PayPal plans to expand the capability to its Venmo service in the first half of next year, and it will also enable cryptocurrencies to be used for payments in early 2021. Cryptocurrency management should also expand to other markets next year.
Through the end of the year, buying and selling cryptocurrencies won't have any cost, and simply holding cryptocurrencies won't carry fees in general. PayPal is also going to provide users with educational content so they can understand how cryptocurrencies work, as well as the risks and opportunities attached to them.
If you live in the United States and you're interested in the feature, you can join the waitlist using this link.
By Jay Bonggolto
PayPal adds support for QR code payments in 28 markets
by Jay Bonggolto
PayPal today announced a (not entirely) new method of making contactless payments in 28 markets. The online payments provider has launched support for QR code-based transactions on its mobile app.
The company noted how QR code can help to minimize physical contact when making a payment, especially at a time when the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) can be prevented with social distancing, among other measures. Customers only need to aim their smartphone camera at a QR code printed on a piece of paper or displayed on a screen and then enter the amount they're paying.
John Kunze, Senior Vice President of Branded Experiences at PayPal, said:
To use the feature, simply head over to the "Send" option on your PayPal app and tap the QR code symbol at the top right corner. PayPal is also waiving its standard fees for sellers when they accept payments through a QR code, though this is for a limited period only as businesses struggle with the spread of the virus.
This functionality is now available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Spain.
PayPal is buying shopping and rewards platform Honey
by João Carrasqueira
Today, PayPal announced that it's buying Honey, a popular shopping platform that makes it easier for users to get discounts and rewards when shopping online. The deal is expected to cost PayPal $4 billion, and it promises to provide to "transform the shopping experience" for PayPal users.
Chances are you've heard of Honey before. The company was founded in 2012, and it's been growing quickly, likely thanks to a great number of sponsorships in videos from many YouTube creators. While the browser extension has been around for quite some time, Honey was chosen as one of the few extensions that were built into Microsoft's Edge browser on mobile devices, alongside AdBlock Plus and NewsGuard. The service will chime in whenever it detects a potential discount on a product you're looking at, which has helped users save $1 billion when shopping online, according to PayPal's announcement.
PayPal says the acquisition supports the "shared vision" of both companies to make online shopping simpler and more personalized, increase customer engagements, and turn consumers into customers. Honey should be able to increase its audience by reaching PayPal's more than 275 million active consumer accounts and 24 million merchant accounts, potentially helping the platform get more exclusive deals. Meanwhile, Honey will help PayPal reach consumers before they've even made a purchase, and help merchants increase sales by delivering personalized and timely offers.
The acquisition deal is expected to be finished in the first quarter of next year, and it'll be reflected in PayPal's non-GAAP earnings per share in 2021.
PayPal withdraws its support from Facebook's Libra Association
by Paul Hill
Following speculation that several companies were having doubts over Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency, PayPal has announced that it's withdrawing itself from the Libra Association, the non-profit governing body of Libra. PayPal has said that it’s still supportive of Libra’s aspirations but that it wants to focus on its own work for the time being.
It’s unclear why the firm backed out of Libra but it was reported earlier this week that several firms including Visa and Mastercard had serious reservations over the cryptocurrency since banks and governments all around the world started casting doubt on the project. Alongside Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, Stripe was also considering its place in the Libra Association, however, all the firms except PayPal are still listed on the association’s website as members.
In a statement on the matter, PayPal said:
Reacting to PayPal’s decision, Dante Disparte, head of policy and communications for the Libra Association, said:
While this news is a major blow for the Libra Association, the two entities could come back together again in the future if things become less turbulent in terms of regulation. PayPal said that it is supportive of the aims that Libra is trying to achieve and that it will partner with Facebook in the future.
Visa, Mastercard, and others are having doubts over Facebook's Libra
by Paul Hill
Visa and Mastercard are having doubts over their involvement with Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency, according to sources with knowledge on the matter. The sources revealed that the firms did not want to be scrutinised by regulators and have apparently denied Facebook’s request to support Libra publicly.
Facebook’s Libra has attracted a lot of attention from banks and governments all around the world. At Neowin alone, we’ve reported that the People’s Bank of China is worried about the dollar’s influence on Libra, that Japan was investigating the cryptocurrency, and that a board member of the European Central Bank believes Libra could undermine monetary policy.
While things aren’t looking good for Facebook with regards to Visa and Mastercard, it has additional problems. A report from Bloomberg said that PayPal and Stripe are also undecided about formally signing on to Libra.
In June, Facebook announced that it was going to launch Libra. According to Reuters, Facebook was eyeing June for the currency’s release but with all the talk of regulation and partners backing out, Facebook’s plans could be significantly delayed.
Source: Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg (Yahoo) via: Reuters


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American technology giant Google is expected to launch two new smartphones in its Pixel lineup later this year. Dubbed the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL, these devices will be the successor to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL from last year. While there is still some time for the handsets launch, the company has already revealed the design and key features of the Pixel 4 series through a series of tweets and blog posts. Now in a new reveal, first camera samples from the upcoming flagship smartphone have allegedly been showcased on photo-sharing website Instagram. The image shared reveals that the handsets may sport extraordinary zoom capabilities.Pixel 4
View this post on [...]
Google’s upcoming instalment in the Pixel series has been much-awaited worldwide. August and the arriving two months see the launches of certain big names in the industry such as Samsung, Apple and Google themselves. The Pixel 4 series had a lot of rumours and leaks surrounding them already. Now, it has been reported that both search giant’s flagships will feature a 90Hz display panel.Faster Refresh Rate Displays
A higher refresh rate panel on a smartphone isn’t something new. Previously, gaming smartphones such as Razer Phone 2, Asus ROG Phone 2, Nubia Red Magic 3 and more employ higher displays. However, the OnePlus 7 Pro certainly helped in [...]
Google is bracing for the launch of its 2019 flagship smartphones which will be dubbed the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. In comparison to their predecessors, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL; the future smartphones will be a big departure both in terms of design and features. The company had already shared the rear design of the smartphone that reveals a dual-camera setup. Interestingly, it is the first time that a Pixel handset will feature more than one camera sensor on the rear.
Although the images of Pixel 4’s front are yet to publicised, unofficial sources have revealed interesting findings of the smartphone. According to leaked screen protectors and unofficial renders, both [...]
Google is one of the most recognisable tech brands in the world. The company is popular for its search engine and since the last couple of years even smartphones. Google’s Pixel series initially took the world by storm and have always been highly awaited. It holds true even now as the hype and rumours surrounding its latest iteration with the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL is already huge. Now, according to a new report a few key specifications of the future smartphones have been leaked.Rumoured Specifications
A report claims that both Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will have slightly larger displays than their predecessors, the Pixel 3 series. The Pixel 4 reportedly [...]
Google’s long-awaited Pixel 4 smartphone is just around the corner. The device is set to launch in October this year and will mark the fourth iteration of the company’s flagship handsets. Following initial leaks, the American company had unveiled the rear design of the device which showcased the new camera module. Now, the latest report reveals the complete design of the Pixel 4 in great detail.
According to the source, the front of the Google Pixel 4 XL features minimal bezels on all sides except for a noticeable forehead on top which houses the selfie camera alongside the essential sensors. The power button and volume rockers are housed on the right of [...]
Search engine giant, Google is highly anticipated to launch its latest flagship smartphone duo which will succeed the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL from the year 2019. Moving along with the chronological name scheming, the upcoming devices will be called the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. The company itself had previously shared a poster of the device revealing its design. Afresh, a reliable tipster who goes by the username OnLeaks on Twitter has shared the alleged dimensions and screen size of the upcoming Pixel smartphone duo.Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL Screen Size and Dimensions
In addition:– #Pixel4 = Likely between 5.6-inch and 5.8-inch display + roughly [...]
Google is expected to launch the next generation of its flagship smartphone lineup, known as the Google Pixel in the following months. Going by the company’s track record in the past, the official announcement may take place in the month of October. While still a few months away from the unveiling, a popular gadget tipster leaked the design of the upcoming Pixel 4 smartphone a few days ago. Now, in what could be called an unpredictable move, Google has put an end to all speculations and rumours by posting a picture on microblogging website Twitter confirming the design of the Pixel 4 series.Google Pixel 4 Design
Well, since there seems to be some [...]
2019 seems to be like a big year for Google. Ahead of the anticipated launch of the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, the company is also building up hype for its next flagship devices, including the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL. The device has been spotted twice in the Android Open Source Project, indicating that the company is gearing up for the release of the devices later this year. In recent leaks, the codenames for the Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL and a third unknown pixel device were revealed.
On April 11 2019, a commit (a move to make changes in a code permanent) was posted to the AOSP (Android Open Source Project), which was attempting to correct an anomaly of Android’s SELinux [...]
Late last year Google launched its latest Android smartphones, the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL. Both the smartphones were highly honoured for their stock Android experience and camera prowess but not so much for their looks. A leak in the past claimed that the expected Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will feature a punch hole display like the freshly launched Galaxy S10 lineup. A Twitter user, @PhoneDesigner has created a bunch of Pixel 4 concept renders which look astonishing. Even though the artist has no association with Google, the following renders are highly impressive and we want the company to take note from them.Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
As previously mentioned the HD concept [...]
In order to accommodate a large size screen on a mobile device, OEMs have begun to minimise the bezels surrounding the display. Although static bezels that don’t serve a purpose can be shrunken, the need to house the front-facing facing selfie camera persists. Consequently, companies including Samsung and Huawei have launched smartphones (1,2)with a punch hole in the display. This feature has allowed manufacturers to significantly boost the screen to body ratio of these smartphones. Google, the developer of Android who also markets a lineup of smartphones under the Pixel brand is reportedly working on a smartphone with dual punch hole selfie cameras. According to the source, [...]


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Duckwall-ALCO Shareholders Confirm Board
June 9, 2008,
Rural general merchandiser Duckwall-ALCO Stores said shareholders approved the re-election of all five directors at the company's annual meeting.
The other two re-elected directors are Dennis Logue, who has served since 2005, and Lolan Mackey, who joined the board in 1998.
Shareholders voted to amend the Duckwall-ALCO Non-qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-management Directors to, "among other things, (i) increase the number of shares for issuance under the plan from 120,000 to 200,000 and (ii) eliminate the limit on the number of shares that my [sic] be awarded under the plan to a director," the company said.
Of recent turnaround efforts at the $499 million chain, interim president and ceo Donny Johnson said, "We have dramatically cut expenses, streamlined our workforce, and identified numerous opportunities for improving operations."
Related Content By Author
1200 Suppliers are Ready for You at Intertextile Shanghai
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See the August 2017 issue of Home & Textiles Today. In this issue, we look at the Top 50 Retailing Giants Report, plus Manufacturing: Made in the USA gaining ground; International: Portugal ramping up exports; New products: NY Now home textiles introductions; Outlook: Commentary from H&TT's editors; and Planning: Trade show calendar.


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Via Uncle of SaysUncle, I found this gem in the NYPost.
Amidst all the handwaving freakoutery in the article, I noted this pair of sentences below:
Nationally, the private handgun market generates about $800 million in sales a year, according to Rommel Dionisio, a vice president at Wedbush Securities who tracks firearm manufacturers.
By comparison, he estimated law-enforcement sales totaled $80 million to $90 million a year, with Glock, a private Austrian company, commanding about two-thirds of the market.
The article calls for the NYPD to boycott Glock for making so-called “high-capacity” magazines. Given the relative size of the markets, I have to wonder how well that would go over. At least one firearms manufacturer stopped doing business with California law-enforcement organizations when their product was vilified and then banned (Barret, who famously produces several .50 BMG rifles).


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Google has rejected the EU’s antitrust charges that the firm has been abusing its market power. That said, if the Internet Company does not alter its business practices, it could face a huge fine from EU.
EU being biased?
In April, Google was accused by the European Commission of distorting Internet search results. This practice was benefiting its shopping service and was causing potential harm to the rivals and consumers.
In its defense, Google’s general counsel, Kent Walker wrote in a blog post on Thursday: “Economic data spanning more than a decade, an array of documents and statements from complainants all confirm that product search is robustly competitive,” adding that they believe “the statement of objection’s preliminary conclusions are wrong as a matter of fact, law, and economics.”
Walker mentioned in a blog post that the European Commission has not considered the strong competition from online retailers such as Amazon.com and eBay. The countries where Google has been accused of abusing its powers have seen a massive 227% rise in internet traffic in the last decade, the executive said.
Regulators demanded Google to treat all its rivals equally, and according to Walker, this was ‘peculiar and problematic.’ He said if the company would have been providing an essential service like electricity, only then would the demand from the regulators have been justified.
Google may face big fine
Google submitted a 150-page report in which it has countered the charges made by the commission. The response by Google to the charge sheet has been confirmed by Ricardo Cardoso, the spokesman of the commission. Cardoso said that the commission will go through Google’s response thoroughly, and a decision regarding further proceedings will be taken after that only.
Google’s arguments did not go down well with its foes. FairSearch, a lobby group with Microsoft, Nokia and TripAdvisor as its members, is also one of the complainants against Google. The group said Google’s defense says nothing concrete to change their opinion on the Internet firm.
Reuters, who has seen the charge sheet of the Commission, noted that Google will have to face a fine if found guilty, and the fine will be set at a level to ensure that the company does not undertake such activities again in future. The fine imposed on violators by the EU antitrust authority can be as large as 10% of their global revenues.


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Last week Raj Lala, Vice President of US Sales & Development at Vistar Media, hosted an eye-opening panel at the Brand Innovators Media Buying Summit on how brand, agency and platform teams can best collaborate to create winning campaigns that extend beyond consumer devices.
The panelists included:
- Marty Peat, Senior Manager of Global Media & Alliance Marketing at American Airlines
- Morgan Collins, Associate Media Director at EssenceMediacom
- Adrian Witter, Director of Programmatic and Partnerships at Kinetic
This discussion delivered an in-depth look at American Airlines’ approach to driving significant brand differentiation and loyalty lift by scaling programmatic digital out-of-home, with EssenceMediacom, Kinetic and Vistar, as a core media channel.
You can watch the full video here: How Programmatic OOH Is Driving Growth for American Airlines.
To recap, here are our top five key takeaways:
1. OOH technology has made tremendous strides over the years.
- “I think a lot of people don't realize how far it [DOOH] has really come. The data capabilities, the measurement, the targeting as well as buying. Now you don't only need to buy on a local geo level, but now you can also buy programmatic out-of-home on a national level.” – Morgan Collins
- “The fact that programmatic out-of-home can now truly catch that DCO [dynamic creative] functionality is one of the things that excites me about where the future lies.” – Adrian Witter
- “We’re excited to see how this year's investment goes because the tracking capabilities and ability to demonstrate what it [DOOH] delivers is only going to continue to improve.” – Marty Peat
2. Integrating DOOH into the larger marketing mix boosts the performance of other channels.
- “Out-of-home has largely sat as a silo and what we're trying to do now is integrate it into the wider digital mix so that it can play alongside those channels and ultimately showcase its synergistic effects at driving performance across search, social and amongst others.” – Adrian Witter
- “80 percent of people who have seen an [OOH] ad – that's how they find out about a product, then they search via a search engine or social media, so it really has that longevity of driving users down the funnel.” – Morgan Collins
- “When we think about it [OOH] as an awareness-driving medium, we definitely see the uplift in search, so there is some correlation through the media mix modeling that we have in place — but also long-term brand growth isn't going to come from short-term tactics.” – Marty Peat
3. Brands must bridge the gap between creative and planning.
- “70 percent of an ad’s effectiveness is based on the creative, and I think we owe it as media channels, publishers and media teams to give those insights back to our creative counterparts.” – Marty Peat
- “Whether it's Marty and his team, Kinetic and even Vistar, we work across a variety of different partners and communication has let us all be on the same page.” – Morgan Collins
- “As partners, we have to be nimble and have our solution work for the team.” – Raj Lala
- “In some cases, we need to be very bold and very purposeful with the messaging that we put out, and then when it comes to some of the other formats, the contextual relevance can really catapult the performance into the stratosphere” – Adrian Witter
4. OOH is becoming a true driver of brand loyalty.
- “We know to drive loyalty, to drive long-term brand preference, we have to market, promote and continue to communicate.” – Marty Peat
- “We've been tasked with shifting away from lower funnel conversion tactics that we were heavily invested in during the Pandemic. And now we've taken the opportunity to shift away from that and really meet the consumers where demand is and where we've seen in the category that it needs to grow, which is loyalty.” – Morgan Collins
- “We added digital out-of-home onto the plan last year because it was an opportunity not only to reach our [current] members but also to remind everybody that had the credit card in their pocket to use it and to take advantage of that moment to use it. And we've seen some really strong results come out of that.” – Marty Peat
5. Measurement is (and will continue to be) critical to future campaigns.
- “Our structure has been focused around performance marketing, and I love seeing some of the other teams and clients talk about growth marketing because I think that's ultimately the shift.” – Marty Peat
- “Whether it's the [credit card] sign-ups, or whether it's app download, there are a variety of different metrics that are largely underutilized when it comes to capturing out-of-home performance that we are innovating with the team to surface.” – Adrian Witter
- “We're not just going to be testing on that upper funnel. We're always going to be looking at that bigger picture, but everything has to be proven by results.” – Morgan Collins
- “We're looking at the time of day impressions were served and then the number of people in certain markets that have a co-branded credit card and what happens to their spending habits.” – Marty Peat
This is just a taste of the insights this panel provided. If you’d like to learn more, you can watch the full recording here:


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Ticketed – The ultimate film experience, Rooftop Cinema Club has landed back in Los Angeles for a season of contemporary classics, cult and new releases, screening at altitude this summer and announced exclusively on Time Out. Take your experience up a level and head to the rooftop for a cinematic event like no other. Lean back and breathe in those city views from your comfy deckchair, enjoy an ice-cool cocktail
Invite Only – On Friday, October 13, 2017, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, will pay tribute to Julia Roberts at its eighth annual amfAR Gala Los Angeles. Roberts, the Academy Award-winning actress, will be presented with amfAR’s Award of Courage by Tom Hanks in recognition of her profound commitment to the fight against AIDS, as well as countless other humanitarian causes. James Corden will host the event. The black-tie
Open – Universal Standard will be hosting a pop-up shop in Nordstrom Century City, which will be the first time the brand is appearing in a major retail location in Los Angeles. The pop-up offers a unique experience to find your size, discover which styles you like, preview & pre-order pieces and to walk out hands-free as all the pieces ordered will be delivered straight to you. In addition, you’ll
Invite Only – People honors Hollywood’s rising and brightest stars at its fifth annual ‘Ones to Watch’ Party, which will be feting celebrities who are currently having a moment or are on the cusp of stardom. Guests will be treated to Maybelline’s touch-up station where they can choose their favorite Vivid Hot Lacquer lip color before posing in front of an edgy and bright photo wall. Plus, DJ Michelle Pesce
Invite Only – Be the first to experience Riley Rose, the “one stop shop” for all things beauty and lifestyle on Thursday, September 28th. Enjoy cocktails and sweet treats as the first RILEY ROSE brick + mortar is unveiled at the Glendale Galleria – experience some of the best brands in makeup, skincare, hair, nails, home accessories and more.
Invite Only – An Exhibition of Photography and Panel Discussion on the contemporary engineering of Creative Career paths. British self-taught photographer Lloyd Pursall, stages his debut exhibition with a poignant and stirring portrait series, focusing on deconstructing the creative archetypes within 21st century Los Angeles. Case Highlights: Ashton Saunders, Pell, Honey, Shaun Ross, Billie English, and Westside Ty.
Invite Only – Toca Madera celebrates the exclusive launch of Tocamigos (Friends of Toca) with a special performance.
Open – Mondrian Sessions next Tuesday, September 26 with the incredibly talented artist emerging artist, EZI, who has released her new song and music video, “Redemption.” EZI will debut her first EP this fall, and all attending Mondrian Sessions will get to hear some of her new singles first! EZI is the first artist signed to shoe designer, Steve Madden’s, new record label, 5 Town Records, which was co-founded with
Ticketed – SZA live promoted by TDE PRESENTS: The CTRL Tour at The Novo by Microsoft in Los Angeles, CA


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Is the legal vertical as big as companies serving legal professionals believe? How about in the case of publishing and media? And if not in the case of publishing and media, maybe that’s an opportunity to build your own brand as a publisher.
In the late 90’s I founded Prairielaw.com, a virtual legal community later sold to LexisNexis and incorporated into its lawyers.com.
In my mind nothing could have been more valuable to lawyers and the people they served than a legal community founded on message boards, chats, listservs and articles — all broken down by area of the law and state. After all, online communities built by AOL, iVillage, About.com, and Yahoo established large user bases with communities/channels founded on various verticals such as travel, family, finance, home decorating and the like.
But when I met with these companies I often got the cold shoulder. It did not deter me from pounding on them, but they were not near as receptive as LexisNexis’ Martindale-Hubbell, West Publishing, American Lawyer Media, and Court TV.
It was not until later that I realized that these non-legal Internet media companies did not see the legal focused audience as all that big in size. Big to me and other legal startups, but not them.
Appears we have the same thing going on today. Mainstream publishers and social networks do not break out legal channels. If approached by a legal player, I am not sure they would consider such a play.
Look at yesterday’s news that Facebook is going to test News Feeds by category. A Facebook spokesperson told PCMag:
People have told us they’d like new options to see and have conversations about more stories on Facebook around specific topics they’re interested in. So we are testing feeds for people to view different stories from people and Pages based on topic areas.
But what are the topics you’ll get to choose from in customed news on most popular site in the world? Sports, pets and animals, health and fitness, politics, music, entertainment, travel, science and technology, and games. No law.
Sure, lawyers sharing insight and commentary can navigate their way into the discussion on news about tech, science and music. But it’s not the same.
It’ll not be a News Feed attracting lawyers looking to engage, collaborate and network. It’ll not be a News Feed where consumers of legal services – whether exec’s/in-house counsel or consumers/small business people would go for legal information — or just to follow discussion among thought leaders. Heck those consumers of legal services may want to have a place where they can further legitimize their choice of legal counsel.
The lack of legal channels in the mainstream media or on social networks is an opportunity for legal publishers and the legal media though. We have the opportunity to use technology and a little innovation and come up with something of value to lawyers and the consumers of legal services. Never before could we leverage the long tail to give niche topics the visibility and reach they can now have. Costs have never been less.
We can do it with out the fear other publishers and companies may have that a large player will come in and wipe us out. Afterall, we have not seen a lot of innovation along the the lines of user generated content from the major legal publishers – Thomson Reuters – West, LexisNexis, Wolters Kluwer and Bloomberg BNA.
Of course I like the model that democratizes publishing/blogging by getting lawyers on their own branded site supported by highly performing technology and service. We can then socialize and curate such offerings through technology and slick interfaces. There are of course other models being driven by some talented folks.
Bottom line, I see the large players not making an innovative play around legal publishing/media as an opportunity for the little and ambitious guys.
Image courtesy of Flickr by Ivana Vasilj


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SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwire – Sep 9, 2011) – Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ: JSDA), a leader in the premium soda category known for its innovative marketing approach, today announced it has appointed Jennifer Cue as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective Monday, Sept. 12. Cue was at Jones Soda from the beginning and held various leadership roles at the company from 1995 through 2005, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and board member. Cue replaces former Chief Financial Officer Michael O’Brien who departed the company earlier this month.
“Jennifer is extremely talented, an incredible leader, and as one of the original executive leaders, obviously has a deep history and passion for Jones Soda,” commented Jones Soda Chief Executive Officer William Meissner. “She is absolutely the perfect choice to fill this position as we seek a permanent hire.”
After successfully building Jones Soda, Cue parted ways with the company to spend time abroad. Most recently she has focused her professional acumen on strategic business consulting, private investment initiatives and financial advising. Prior to her time with Jones Soda she worked in corporate banking and equity investment for several financial firms.
“When I exited Jones Soda in 2005 the company was in its heyday, and we were laser focused on our core product that put us on the map — Jones Soda in glass bottles,” noted Cue. “I’m eager to jump back in and excited to be part of the team as the turnaround continues.”
About Jones Soda Co.
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Jones Soda Co.® markets and distributes premium beverages under the Jones Soda, Jones Pure Cane Soda® and WhoopAss Energy Drink® brands and sells through its distribution network in markets primarily across North America. A leader in the premium soda category, Jones is known for its variety of flavors and innovative labeling technique that incorporates always-changing photos sent in from its consumers. Jones Soda is sold through traditional beverage retailers. www.jonessoda.com


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It is not strange when performance issues arise following a major software to devices, but it is strange when these issues take ages before they are actually addressed.
In fact, it is unacceptable when this issue is facing the Google Nexus 6P, a flagship phone from a major tech giant in the shape of Google that costs nothing less than $500. Of course, we could say Google has most of its efforts figuring out how to deal with the new Pixel and Pixel XL phones, but this doesn’t mean neglecting those who have been loyal to the company for over a year now.
Ever since the onset of Android 7.0 Nougat updates, there have been quite a number of issues affecting the Google Nexus 6P. Many have reported issues with the battery life and bootloop issue, just to name but a few. While Google has been able to at least highlight on these two issues, there is one other issue that is proving to be a nuisance to Nexus 6P users but the search engine giant isn’t saying a thing about it.
According to a Google product forums’ thread, it appears that Nexus 6P users have been suffering from echo problems when on calls. Apparently, the recipients of calls complain that they are hearing an echo of their voice when on calls with Nexus 6P users. However, this issue only kicked in when many of them upgraded to the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat.
Given that this OS started rolling out to Google Nexus 6P in early December, some expected a fix with the January Android Security Patch, but this did not happen. In fact, many are still experiencing this problem on their phones and they are not so happy about it. While some have suggested different solutions ranging from turning off noise cancellation to manually covering the microphone, these are not permanent fixes to the echo issue on the 6P.
As a result, many of those affected are in limbo as to when Google will roll out a fix to this issue. On the contrary, there seems to be a solution rolling out already as some Google Nexus 6P users on the thread claim that a new update that comes with software build number N4F26J may have taken care of the problem. Those who have this build version say that they are no longer experiencing the echo issue.
Others have claimed that going back to Android 7.0 Nougat also solves the problem, but why should you go back when the new fix still keeps you on the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat?
Are you experiencing the same echo problem on your Google Nexus 6P? Has the update to Android 7.1.1 Nougat with build number N4F26J solved the problem? Please share your experience with us via the comments.


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Please remember to put out your bag of goodies tomorrow!!!! I did last year and will again tomorrow here in Raleigh.
May 10th – The Association of Letter Carriers has teamed up with Campbell Soup Co. to “Stamp Out Hunger” and again this year they are asking residents to bag up non-perishable food items like canned goods (meat, fish, soup, etc) pasta, rice, cereal, anything that won’t break or spoil.
It’s so easy – just place your items in a bag and leave next to your mailbox before your carrier comes tomorrow and they’ll be around to pick them up. They deliver to local food banks or pantries in the area..
To read more visit their press release
Do something good for somebody in need tomorrow!!!


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OKLAHOMA CITY - If you are looking for something to keep your dog entertained this weekend, head over to Bass Pro Shops.
On Saturday, the first 100 dogs and their owners will receive a goodie bag.
While you're at the store, register for a few door prizes, including a GoPro HERO 4 camera and toys for your pet.
Also, visitors can microchip their dogs at the event.
All proceeds from microchipping will go to Great Plains Mastiff Rescue.
If your dog is not the most well-behaved, K9 University will be on hand to help train your pup.
At 6 p.m. on Friday, guests can learn about socializing and crate training your dog.
Come back at 11 a.m. on Saturday to teach your puppy how to sit and heel.


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Whatbrowser.org: smart marketing or helpful?
This week Google launched a website all about webbrowsers: whatbrowser.org. Google launched this site because they found out people won't change browser quickly because of a reason: they don't know what a browser is. Some even believe its a search engine.
"A few of us at Google created WhatBrowser.org to help teach people about web browsers. We wanted to show people that they have a lot of choice in browsers, since we noticed that most people were using the browser their computers came with."
Though Google says they set up the website just to help explain what a webbrowser is, its main purpose is to get more people to use Chrome.
Tagcloudblogger event google tools video tools seo baidu android london europe spain viral social google earth interview news maps smx a4uexpo search privacy gmail ses social media youtube matt cutts apple search engine realtime china search engine strategies google maps ppc browser research yahoo bing russia sea advertising


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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono says Nigeria is producing enough to feed itself, contrary to the narrative in some quarters that there is hunger in the land.
Nanono said this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja as part of activities to mark the 2019 World Food Day being celebrated internationally on Oct. 16.
He said it was wrong to promote the idea that there was hunger in Nigeria, adding that there were only inconveniences being addressed by the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
According to the minister, the world food day is set aside to discuss food production.
“From what I am seeing in this conference room, there is no sign of hunger but obesity. Only a few people like me are either trying to balance their diet or is it fasting that is responsible for the way some of us look?
“The policy of the present government for us to feed ourselves is key. In the process value chains are being created to empower people and give out some jobs.
“I think we are producing enough now to feed ourselves and I think there is no hunger but if you say inconveniences I would agree.
“When people talk about hunger I laugh because they do not know hunger. If you go to other countries you will see what hunger is.
“Food in Nigeria is fairly cheap compared to other countries. In kano for instance, you can eat N30 worth of food and be satisfied. So, we should be thankful that we can feed ourselves and we have relatively cheap food in this country,” he said.
On fears that insecurity and flood may lead to food shortage, the minister said while it was true that there were challenges in some states.
According to him, reports from Gombe and Bauchi states where I visited a few days ago, showed that there will be bumper harvest.
“Although, there has been flood and insurgency but I think the surplus that will be created in other parts of the country will balance up food shortage in other areas.
“In Nigeria, we are lucky that one of the food security spot is in Dawano market, Kano. But what we need is to reorganise our markets to solve the problem of malnutrition and other issues,” he said.
The minister noted the narrative of hunger was erroneous, noting that Nigeria was a buffer zone for migration for the the rest of West African sub regions.
He explained that there were lots of people from other African countries in Nigeria, who often blend into the system and were not easily identified except for their assent.
On border closure, Nanono said that the report from farmers and dealers in rice and other commodities was that of commendation.
He said although many people were not comfortable with the development when it happened, the testimonies that followed the closure were encouraging.
The minister said, “I think when the government came out with the rice policy, most people felt uneasy because they are used to imported rice, which sometimes are expired but we are now seeing the benefit.
“Some of our neighbouring countries are using Nigeria as dumping ground and efforts to let them know failed. So we closed the borders to sensitise them on the implications of that.
“One of the largest producers of Nigeria rice was in my office after the closure of the borders and they had about 600 tonnes of rice in the warehouse but that within the week the borders were closed 50 per cent was sold and farmers are smiling.
“So, as long as the countries will not respect the protocol, the border closure will remain.”
On rejection of Nigerian products in the international market, Nanono said efforts were being made to engage relevant inspection agencies to access and certify products for export.
On high cost of imported wheat, the minister said if Nigerians decide to stop consuming wheat bread the problem would be tackled.
According to him, bread is food for the elite and ordinary Nigerians eat more of local foods for breakfast than bread that can be done away with.
Nanono urged Nigerians, particularly the aged, to eat balanced diet, exercise regularly to shed weight, adding that there was a need for continued sensitisation on healthy living.


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Christy Knife celebrates 80th year of famed pocket knife
FREMONT- In a city once known worldwide for its production of cutlery and knives, the Christy Knife Company carved out its own niche with its sliding blade pocket knife.
Company founder R.J. Christy invented and designed the pocket knife. His son, Daniel Lamar Christy, made all the machinery and started production of the knife in 1936.
Now Randy Christy, the fourth-generation owner of the Fremont company, continues the family legacy and produces the pocket knives on his own, using the original equipment of his father — who ran the company from 1955 to 2006 — and grandfather.
"That's the only thing we still make is the pocket knife," Christy said Wednesday, as he talked about the process involved in making the knife and the family's history with the business in Fremont.
To celebrate the company's most famous achievement, Christy is selling an 80th anniversary model pocket knife.
The heightened demand for the 80th anniversary pocket knives has meant 20-hour work days for Christy, as he's gamely attempted to keep up with a surge of orders.
"We're behind on orders," Christy said. "I love it. I love the attention. I love the sales."
The company will sell the anniversary pocket knife through the end of the year, Christy said.
The company has been around since 1891. Christy said the Christy Knife Company at one point had a building downtown on Arch Street, a site that now serves as a parking lot for Croghan Colonial Bank.
The Christys sold their building on Dickinson Street in 2012, although Christy has made the knives at his home since 2010. He took over the business after his father, Earl B. Christy, died in 2006.
From start to finish, it takes about an hour to make a Christy pocket knife. But Christy said when he makes the pocket knives, he makes 600 to 1,000 at a time.
Christy Knife Company became well-known at a time when as many as 25 cutlery businesses flourished in Fremont in the 20th century. A lot of German immigrants who moved to Fremont were skilled at cutlery, Christie said.
"We were the cutlery capitol of the world," Christy said.
The company also made surgical blades and razors in the first half of the 20th century, Christy said, as well as kitchen utensils, bottle openers and cookie cutters. Christy Knife Company produced surgical blades from the 1940s through the 1970s.
During World War II, the company's pocket knife became popular with servicemen. Christy said many soldiers and sailors passed the pocket knives along to their children.
He said he hoped to pass his business on some day to his grandchildren and continue the family's legacy of making pocket knives.
Christy can be contacted about the 80th anniversary pocket knife through www.christycompany.net.


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German auto group Daimler has put a stop to reports that it would be slashing production of its flagship all-electric EQC SUV due to battery supply issues, saying original production plans to make 50,000 EQCs a year remain in place.
Manager Magazin reported on Thursday (Europe time) that Daimler would only make half the 50-60,000 vehicles originally planned, and that 30,000 a year – at most – could be expected.
The report added that even though Daimler hoped to sell 25,000 EQC vehicles in 2019 it had only made 7,000 also because of a shortage of batteries from supplier LG Chem.
But the automaker has denied the reports, with Damiler spokesman Joerg Howe telling Reuters overnight that “Daimler plans to produce around 50,000 Mercedes-Benz EQC models in 2020.” No more details were given.
Daimler began readying itself for a transition to electric drivetrains in December 2018, placing €20 billion ($A32 billion) worth of orders for electric vehicle batteries aimed at supplying production needs for 130 all-electric and plug-in hybrid variants.
LG Chem had already been selected as the supplier for one of the group’s first electric models, the Smart EV, it was reported by Electric Vehicles Research in 2016, and in 2017 the South Korean battery maker announced it would be the first such company to make batteries in Europe by building an EV battery factory in Poland.
It recently accepted a long-term loan of €250 million ($A403 million) from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which it will use to support the construction of a €2.8 billion ($A4.52 billion) gigafactory in Wrocław in western Poland with an aim to reach an annual capacity of 65-70gWh by 2022.
It is thought that once it reaches full capacity, the factory will supply batteries for as many as 1 million EVs a year, or 6% of cars sold in Europe.
Mercedes-Benz started taking orders for the EQC in Australia in late 2019 with first deliveries expected in early 2020, saying at the Australian launch that orders were already outstripping supply and that it would ramp up supply locally throughout 2020.
Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology and has been writing about electric vehicles for two years. She has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum.


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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/p8gfc7/india_gypsum) has announced the addition of the "India Gypsum Industry Outlook 2018" report to their offering.
On the back of rising demand from industries such as construction, ceramic, cement etc., the India gypsum market is poised to grow significantly in the coming years. Government is also backing the industry by allowing up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) for gypsum products. As a result, FDI inflows to gypsum products industry in India have registered significant growth in the last few years.
Moreover, with ongoing rapid infrastructural developments, the country's gypsum consumption is rising briskly. To match up this growing demand, Indian cement makers are now looking for acquisitions of overseas gypsum mines as a valuable option. The country is thus anticipated to witness huge growth in gypsum consumption. And as per our prophecy, gypsum consumption in India would grow at a CAGR of around 4% during 2012-13 to 2017-18.
The report India Gypsum Industry Outlook 2018, is an outcome of our exhaustive research and comprehensive analysis of the country's gypsum market vis-à-vis the global market. The report studies the state of gypsum production, its consumption and trade in India. It also talks about prevailing industry trends and drivers to provide an understanding of market dynamics.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Analyst View
2. Research Methodology
3. India Gypsum Industry: An Overview
4. Industry Trends and Drivers
5. Gypsum Industry Outlook to 2018
6. Gypsum Industry Verticals
7. Industry Players
- FCI Aravali Gypsum & Minerals India Ltd (FAGMIL)
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Ltd (RSMML)
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/p8gfc7/india_gypsum


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Publisher Reed launches huge share sale as profits diced and debts mount
Reed Elsevier, the Anglo-Dutch educational publisher and owner of the LexisNexis information service, saw first-half profits fall 48 per cent and now plans a share sale to raise money to reduce £5bn of debts.
The company made £161million ($264million) in the six months ended June 30, compared with £309million in the same period in 2008.
It said advertising and promotion markets had been affected by the global economic downturn. Revenue rose 3 per cent to £3.1billion.
Reed Elsevier: Produces business and science publications such as The Lancet, New Scientist and Farmers Weekly
It said it had intended to fund its 2008 acquisition of ChoicePoint Inc., a U.S.-based provider of data services to the insurance industry, for $4.1billion partly through the disposal of its Reed Business Information unit.
But that sale never went through due to the credit crisis and a deterioration in the economic outlook.
'Last year's acquisition of ChoicePoint and the terminated sale of
RBI have given us more debt than is prudent in current economic
conditions,' said chief executive Ian Smith.
'The equity raising will address our stretched credit metrics and ensure that we are appropriately resourced to invest in the business, capture market opportunities and increase competitive differentiation.'
Reed Elsevier said it intended to place up to 109.2 million new ordinary shares in London-based Reed Elsevier and up to 63,030,989 new ordinary shares in Amsterdam-based Reed Elsevier NV. Both amounts represent approximately 9.9 per cent of share capital.
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Naked Insurance, the automated insurer famous for allowing consumers to pause their cover, is branching into home insurance, moving a step closer to competing with short-term traditional insurers like Outsurance and Santam.
The artificial intelligence (AI) driven insurer, which broke into the scene in April 2018, is backed by Hollard and Yellowwood, who also invested in automated life insurer, Simply, late in 2018. Naked spent the past 20 months selling only motor insurance. Big short-term insurers on the other hand cover a range of possessions, from car to boats, home, valuables, jewellery and businesses.
That Naked is adding structural, home contents and valuables in its offering makes it the first among its AI-driven peers to move towards becoming a comprehensive short-term insurer. For instance, Granadilla and Pineapple only offer valuables insurance, although the latter plans to launch motor cover soon. Other fintech players operate in niche markets, like InvestSure, which covers investors against share price losses or have chosen to go the broking and distribution route, like Ctrl Insurance and Click2Sure.
Thirsty for change
“We are consumers too, and one of the things that happens when you phone to cancel your cover, they offer to drop the price. That on its own is admission that the price you’ve been paying could have been lower. So, what we said was; it was time for insurance for home insurance to enter a new era of business too,” says co-founder, Ernest North.
The selling of home cover, which the company has tested on select customers for few months now, is also completely automated. Customers buy it through the app, adding and adjusting items on their shopping baskets, as they do with any online purchase. The AI bots estimate, given the person’s profile, age, the area they live in and their credit records, how much cover they need. But customers have the option to adjust the bots’ estimates manually if they know values of their building and other items. The only proof the company requires is a “home selfie” and snaps of their valuables.
“The model is built in-house,” said North. “There are no humans involved in the buying process. The technology is 100% self-service. Every day that this thing is live becomes more accurate, because we are storing all the data every time someone does a quote to see how far off our estimates were to the actual value when people claim.”
How AI-driven insurers keep costs low
Most insurers in SA now enable customers to buy online, whether through their websites or apps. But even if the purchase is made online, there are back-end systems which consist of human beings that reconcile data captured by the website with actuaries’ calculations and file these for the finance teams.
AI insurers, on the other hand, are almost completely automated. One area where they still struggle, said North, is in the process of processing complicated and slightly complicated claims. He said at this point less than 20% of Naked Insurance’s motor claims are processed completely by the system. The company still sends a human assessor in most cases to value the damage. But the bots are learning from the data humans constantly feed the system with the goal to gradually process more claims on their own.
“We have cut out, almost all of the costs which for normal insurers make up a big portion of the premiums,” said North.
Springboarding off motor success
Since it is not a public company, Naked did not reveal how many customers it now has in its books. But North said while they initially expected the demographic to be skewed towards younger generation, Naked had “quite a lot” of customers falling out of the 25-35-year age range. He said their claims loss ratio – the portion of the premiums that is paid back to customers through claims sat neatly where their team of 22 developers and data analysts had predicted: between 70% and 80% in the past year-an-a-half.
“Our actual sales volumes are ahead of what we predicted,” said North.


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Today, the latest "Dairy Products" report was released by USDA: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/DairProd/DairProd-03-02-2010.pdf
This is a most interesting report covering January 2010 and comparative months. Total cheese is much lower than milk production in January on a percentage basis. What happened to the milk? NFDM production was down 17.3% compared with January 2009. And stocks were down held by processors were down 32.3%.
For the very first time, the report lists information about milk protein concentrates. We actually exported more MPCs in December 09 than were made in this country, according to USITC. Also, the USITC data suggests, the selling price for exports is not a money maker.


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For the past four years a group of sophisticated hackers has compromised the networks of luxury hotels to launch malware attacks against corporate executives and entrepreneurs traveling on business in the Asia-Pacific region.
A cyberespionage group that has built its operations around a malware program called BlackEnergy has been compromising routers and Linux systems based on ARM and MIPS architectures in addition to Windows computers.
A leaked programming manual for interacting with the physical components of automated teller machines might have helped attackers create malware programs that were used to steal cash from ATMs in various parts of the world this year.
Criminals have stolen millions of dollars from ATMs worldwide using a specialized malware program that forces the machines to dispense cash on command.
An ongoing attack in Brazil tricks users into visiting malicious websites that attempt to silently change the Domain Name System settings of their home routers.
A group of attackers with links to the Chinese hacking underground has been targeting companies from the entertainment and video game industries for years with the goal of stealing source code.
It's generally accepted that antivirus programs provide a necessary protection layer, but organizations should audit such products before deploying them on their systems because many of them contain serious vulnerabilities, a researcher warned.
Attackers are exploiting a vulnerability in distributed search engine software Elasticsearch to install DDoS malware on Amazon and possibly other cloud servers.
A new Trojan program designed to steal log-in credentials and other financial information from online banking websites is being advertised to cybercriminal groups on the underground market.
Police from eight countries together with several private security companies disrupted the online infrastructure used by cybercriminals to control computers infected with a malware program called Shylock.
Microsoft's seizure of domains from a DNS service provider has also disrupted some state-sponsored cyberespionage campaigns, according to security vendor Kaspersky Lab.
A European bank may have lost as much as €500,000 (US$682,000) in a week earlier this year, according to Kaspersky Lab, which analyzed data on a server used in attacks against online banking users in Italy and Turkey.
An unknown person or group reportedly stole the cryptographic key used by Nokia to digitally sign applications for Symbian OS and extorted millions of euros from the company in 2007 by threatening to make the key public.
An Android Trojan program originally designed to steal mobile banking credentials from Russian users was recently retrofitted with ransomware functionality and has started infecting users in the U.S., using photos of its victims to intimidate them in...
Law enforcement agencies in 111 countries collaborated to disrupt thousands of online pharmacies in what Interpol claims was the largest ever global operation targeting organized criminal networks that sell fake medicines.
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Top gaming equipment Everi Holdings and WinStar World Casino and Resort announced Wednesday the launch of WinStar Wallet on December 3.
Partnership with One of The World’s Largest Casinos
Everi Holdings and the Chickasaw Nation’s WinStar World Casino and Resort announced Wednesday that they will launch the WinStar Wallet, a cashless and touchless payment solution, on December 3.
Located an hour north of Dallas, Oklahoma, WinStar World will become the first gaming property to use the digital wallet platform provided by the casino equipment and technology leader. Powered by Everi’s CashClub Wallet, WinStar Wallet will allow cashless payments for food and drinks, golf, and retail outlets, in addition to the casino’s electronic games.
WinStar World is one of the world’s largest casinos with 8,500 slots, 100 table games, and a large array of bars and restaurants. The Chickasaw Nation also owns a competitive golf court right next to the resort. According to Las Vegas-based Everi, partnering with the resort casino to launch the digital wallet will provide the company with a great amount of usage data.
Wager Limits for Responsible Gambling
WinStar patrons can access and use their funds in-game, as well as deposit money on their digital wallet through the mobile app via various means, such as a checking account or a bank card. The app also allows players to send their funds directly back to their bank account.
Darren Simmons, Executive Vice President at Everi Holdings, said that the new digital wallet “provides gaming patrons with the same ability, comfort, and convenience to load, retrieve and unload funds that they experience with other non-gaming digital wallet applications.”
The gaming and financial technology provider launched its first cashless solutions in 2017 via a ticket product, and declared that its brand new mobile wallet will allow players to move their funds online across sports betting or retail casinos. Everi said customers will be able to limit the money wagered through the app, in support of responsible gambling.
“Creating a digital, cashless customer experience has been a focus of ours for some time and throughout our review of various solutions, it was clear Everi’s wallet met all of our goals,Jack Parkinson, General Manager at WinStar World
Everi’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange increased by 4.01% and closed at $11.40 on December 2.
AGA Advocates For Cashless and Touchless Payement
Cashless and touchless payments have been advised by the American Gaming Association (AGA) since last year, in an attempt to modernize the gaming industry. However, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed towards changes in favor of new payment technologies over the past year. Many tribal casinos, such as Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock and San Manuel in Southern California, already made the transition and began using digital payment solutions.
Nevada and Pennsylvania gaming authorities recently approved new regulations allowing digital payments at their casinos. Indiana, Iowa, and New Jersey are expected to do likewise.
Early next year, the Morongo Casino and Resort in Southern California will unveil a new cashless gaming product to provide players with casino markers. The wagering product is not a mobile wallet as the funds will be deposited through the casino.


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Dallas-based Malouf Interests Inc. has announced it has signed a contract with Best Buy Co. Inc. to build the consumer products chain a new store.
Principal Matt Malouf said his company will build a 30,000-square-foot store for the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based electronics/appliance concern in the West Trade Area Center on West Loop 289 frontage property near Cinemark's Movie 16.
Best Buy, which is currently leasing space in Weingarten Realty's Central Plaza, located at 6241 Slide Road, is expected to make its move once the building is completed sometime next spring.
"We've got a lease signed and the plans are done," Malouf said. "We anticipate beginning construction sometime in October, so the store can be opened by late April or early May."
The last available pad site in front of Cinemark's Tinseltown has been sold by McQueen Company Realtors to Lubbock businessman Ken Howard, who operates the city's Sonic franchises.
Now Howard is embarking on a new concept, having purchased the franchise rights to Buffalo Wild Wings a family sports bar that will be constructed just south of the Diamond Shamrock convenience store off University Avenue near 82nd Street.
"The demographics on that location were particularly good," Howard said.
Buffalo Wild Wings will feature a full menu of items, along with plenty of big screen televisions for viewing.
Howard said construction on the new facility is expected to begin in October and should be completed by February.
Speaking of restaurants, work continues on Stockman's Wood Fired Grill, which will be operated by Lubbock businessmen Kent Lyon and Tom Hardin.
The restaurant, which is also located in front of Tinseltown at 8222 S. University Ave., is scheduled to open sometime around Oct. 15.
First Bank & Trust Co. has purchased property for yet another branch, this one to be built near the southwest corner of Slide Road and 98th Street.
Barry Orr, chief executive officer, said the Lubbock-based financial institution plans to construct a new branch and motor bank that will wrap around an existing 7/Eleven store which sits on the corner.
"But I'd say we're 18 months to two years from starting that project," Orr said.
Big Lots! is opening a second location in Lubbock in the former Wal-Mart building at 5206 Fourth Street.
The Columbus, Ohio-based chain, which is known for product close-outs, and which operates a store at Melonie Square, 8002 Indiana Ave., said it plans to have the location open by Nov. 5.
The company intends to lease just over 35,000 square feet of the existing building.
And people say there's nothing going on in Lubbock.
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