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As of 24th July the ownership of the company passed to the team led by Dr Michael Sanderson, Laser-Scan's Managing Director.
Dr Sanderson says, "This is absolutely fantastic news for us and for our customers and partners. It's a new start for Laser-Scan; over the past year our new approach to deploying our proven technology has been extremely well received and we're looking forward to building on that success. During the recent period we have been inundated with messages of support from customers and partners alike; now we can really start to put some of our plans in motion and show them that their confidence is well placed."
Laser-Scan has been developing geospatial solutions for more than three decades. During this time the company has provided solutions for a loyal customer base in defence, mapping and charting; Laser-Scan has worked closely with organisations such as Ordnance Survey Great Britain, RAF (No 1 AIDU) and United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. Dr Sanderson took the position of Managing Director of Laser-Scan in April 2001.
Since Dr. Sanderson arrived at Laser-Scan he has shifted the company's focus from developing proprietary solutions to embracing mainstream technology such as Oracle. The Radius programme of products is the realisation of this vision; the smart components of Laser-Scan's existing technology are being made available in an open, interoperable, server-side environment. Radius Topology is the first product in the programme and was launched in June 2002.
In addition, Laser-Scan's existing customer base is an essential part of the company's future strategy; its core technoloogy is critical to the operational success of a number of customers. Laser-Scan is fully committed to working together with customers to enhance their existing solutions with its traditional technology.
The combination of the commercial strategy and the fact that the future of the business is in the hands of the management means Laser-Scan is in an exciting position to drive the business forward.


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TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Suzuki Motor Corp reported a 12 percent rise in annual operating profit on Thursday thanks to booming car sales in India, but it forecast a 6.3 percent drop for this year to factor in a sharp slide in the dollar. The Japanese maker of compact cars expects operating profit to come to 140 billion yen ($1.35 billion) in the business year ending next March, when the sector faces massive currency-related losses, a spike in raw materials costs and softening demand in ...
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GCC nations 'will control entry of GM foods'.
"The GCC countries will develop regulations through independent statutory bodies with the power to ban releases of genetically modified foods until agreed standards have been met," said Dr Mariam Harib Sultan Al Yousuf, executive director of policy and regulation at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
Dr Mariam stressed that control of gene technology should not be left to scientists and commercial organisations.
With the prospect of a global food crisis looming, it may be that industry claims about the capacity of genetically modified foods to ensure abundant supplies will eventually be justified.
"By the end of this year," Dr Al Yousuf said, "the GCC countries will come up with a system under which the placing of genetically modified (GM) crops on these countries' markets will require a regulatory approval supported by a thorough safety evaluation, which will be applied to all GM crops before they enter our markets."
Dr Al Yousuf was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the GCC sub-committee for genetically modified foods, held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
A passionate debate is under way all over the world over the use of genetically modified foods - crops into which "foreign" genes are introduced to make them resistant to pests and adverse weather conditions, according to professor Mohammad Abdul Menem, Faculty of Food and Agriculture at the Emirates University.
"The GM food controversy is a dispute over the advantage and disadvantages of genetically modified food crops. However, there is a lot of research that shows GM foods are safe, while there is very little research which argues that people should not be offered food that may carry some degree of risk," said Professor Abdul Menem.
He said plant and animal breeders have always mixed and matched genetic material to create the species of vegetables, fruit and cattle. Those modifications, though, were carried out among closely related species through selection processes using cross-pollination and cross-fertilisation.
"What is unique about today's genetically modified foods is that we can move across species barriers, so that in order to achieve the results we want, we can take genes from a crop or an animal and place them in a crop."
He agreed that the effect foreign gene might have on people who eat the food remains a critical question.
"The same applies to genetically modified crops such as soya, corn and potatoes. They have been developed by multinational chemical firms, which now prefer to describe themselves as "life science companies."
All this is worrying enough, to the extent that genetically modified foods have been dubbed "Frankenstein foods".
Dr Mohammad Abdul Qader, the technical advisor for the Emirates Standards and Metrology Authority, said consumers in GCC countries, which import more than 90 per cent of their foods, have a right to know what they eat and how it is produced even if there is a global consensus that genetically modified foods are safe.
"Authorities in the GCC countries will develop standards for GM foods, these foods will be effectively monitored and tested. The foods or seeds that do not meet these standards will not be allowed into the GCC markets and all GM foods will carry clear labels to help consumers decide on what to eat," said Dr Abdul Qader.
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The City of Greenville has launched a new national economic development campaign, called “From Here You Can Change the World.”
The city knows that Greenville is already full of entrepreneurial spirit, and this campaign aims to capitalize on our city’s growing reputation as a unique destination by showcasing our quality of life, cultural amenities, cost of living, and environment.
The goal is to encourage entrepreneurs, executives, and founders to start, grow, and keep their businesses here in the Greenville area. City Manager John McDonough says, “Our city understands the mindset of the entrepreneur. We know they don’t just want to make money. They want to make a difference.”
Even our parent company, 6AM City, knows the success of Greenville’s entrepreneurial spirit — the company was started right here in Greenville by 2 local entrepreneurs who met during Leadership Greenville.
Need a little extra convincing? This video should get you pumped up.
After all, from right here in Greenville, South Carolina, every one of us could change the world.


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IO – Since it was officially proclaimed on April 13, 1950, Indonesia and China have committed themselves to building harmonious relations and friendship. Celebrating the 70-year momentum, an Indonesian-PRC Diplomatic Relations series was launched online by Philateli including the Cover of Commemorative Stamps and the series “70-year Diplomatic Indonesia-RRT”. The publication was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Pos Indonesia, the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta and the China Post.
The cover of the Commemorative and Stamps contains the 70-year commemorative logo of the Indonesia-China Diplomatic Relations, namely Panda and Golden Garuda, besides displaying the cultural and tourism richness of the two countries, including Barong Bali, Barong Sai, Borobudur Temple, Giant Wall, Raja Ampat in West Papua and The Li River in Guilin.
Garuda bird has a strong and glorious meaning, Panda is a philosophical symbol of peace. Barong Bali and Barong Sai show the richness and civilization and cultural closeness between Indonesia and China. The incorporation of this philosophy illustrates the close friendship of Indonesia and China, a relationship that will bring strength and glory to the nation and the people of the two countries, as well as provide prosperity and enduring peace.
“In the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Philatelic items were launched online on April 13, 2020, and PT Pos Indonesia printed a total of 3000 Envelopes, 3000 copies of Prisma Stamps with Indonesian and Chinese background, and 3000 Philately packs; these can be ordered online through the Philatelic Office Jakarta or Bandung Post Office,” announced Sonang Sarah Purba, Head of the Jakarta Post Philatelic Office PT Pos Indonesia.
“We welcome the publication of Philatelic items to commemorate 70 years of Diplomatic Relations between Indonesia and China; during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must support the government program to suppress the COVID-19 epidemic. For the time being, we just stay home and work from home. For stamp lovers, they can buy the philatelic items online and can rearrange their collection at home,” added Gita Noviandi, Secretary-General of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Philatelic Association. (Des)


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T-Mobile’s new single unlimited plan -- T-Mobile One -- is set to go live on September 6th of this year, which is about a week away. But apparently, the third biggest wireless carrier in the United States is bringing some last minute changes to its latest plan just days before it officially launches. What changes exactly? These include faster unlimited hotspot data, HD day passes, and the introduction of a new One Plus premium unlimited option.
Nearly a couple of weeks ago, T-Mobile had announced a new plan called T-Mobile One, which came with unlimited voice calls, text messaging, and data for $70 per month for a single line of service, $50 per month for a second line of service, and $20 for extra lines of service (up to a maximum of eight lines). But it appeared that many were not happy with the T-Mobile One unlimited option. The most common complaint from the public was that the new plan limited video streaming for 480p, and also, users took issue with the fact that the plan was capping hotspot speeds at 2G.
It is a good thing T-Mobile has paid some attention to these complaints because the wireless carrier has just revealed that it is introducing one day HD passes, which will allow subscribers to enjoy access to unlimited HD video streaming for a period of 24 hours for an extra cost of $3. Not only that, T-Mobile has also decided to provide subscribers of T-Mobile One with mobile hotspot service on its 3G network, which means that hotspot speeds will improve from 128 kbps to 512 kbps.
Moreover, the major US wireless carrier has taken the opportunity to announce a premium unlimited plan designed for customers with heavy data usage.This plan is called T-Mobile One Plus, and already comes with unlimited HD video, unlimited 4G hotspot access and 3G data roaming in over 140 countries and territories for an extra $25 for each line of service.
T-Mobile has also proceeded to launching T-Mobile One and T-Mobile One Plus earlier than expected on September 1st, instead of the previous schedule of September 6th. It bears noting that T-Mobile will be throttling high end users who go beyond their monthly allotments, which means that neither plan is actually strictly unlimited.
Another major US wireless carrier, Sprint, had introduced its own unlimited data plan (Unlimited Freedom) around the same time T-Mobile announced its T-Mobile One option. Also, less than a week ago, Sprint also debuted its new Unlimited Freedom Premium option, which is an upgraded version of the Unlimited Freedom plan it had unveiled days earlier.
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NEW YORK - Wal-Mart plans to expand its video game trade-in program to its stores, offering store credit for thousands of video games. The world's largest retailer plans to let video game owners trade in used video games online and in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores for store credit but not cash. Previously they offered trade-ins on a more limited basis online. It will also offer refurbished used games in its stores for the first time. Wal-Mart has been seeking new ways to boost revenue as its low-income customers remain under pressure due to a weak jobs picture and shaky economy. In its most recent fourth quarter, net income dropped 21 percent, and the Bentonville, Ark.-based company gave a subdued forecast for the current year. 'Gaming continues to be an important business for us and we're actively taking aim at the $2 billion pre-owned video game opportunity,' said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Wal-Mart U.S. In a call with journalists, Wal-Mart executives said CE Exchange, the company that partnered with them on their trade-in program for smartphones and tablets launched in the fall, will also be in charge of the new video game program. The value for each trade-in video game will vary by the title, console and age of the game. The amount will range from just a few dollars for older games to $35 and more for newer ones. Amazon, Target, Best Buy, GameStop and others also offer video game trade-in programs that offer store credit or cash for video games.
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Red Dead Redemption 2 has maintained its position at the top of the UK physical retail sales chart for the third week in a row. The game is selling extremely well with 17 million units shipped already, 2 million more than the original game sold entirely. Week-on-week sales for Red Dead Redemption 2 have fallen by 53 percent, but that hasn’t stopped it from holding around 30 percent of the market.
The rest of the top five of the chart didn’t change over the last week. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is in second place, FIFA 19 in third, by only a couple of hundred units sold, Forza Horizon 4 is in fourth, and Spider-Man rounds out the top 5 behind it.
Much like Red Dead Redemption 2 the rest of the top five games in the chart have experienced a decline in sales week-on-week. The fact that they haven’t moved shows how strongly they’re still selling weeks after release.
LEGO DC Super-Villains managed to climb into the top ten this week, having been in 12th place last week. This move pushed the latest football management simulator, Football Manager 2019, down to 13th place.
Further down in the chart EA Sports UFC 3 has re-entered in 40th position, while Mario Tennis Aces has returned in 29th place, and Splatoon 2 now sits in 36th place. The imminent launch of the first piece of DLC for Jurassic World Evolution has provided a boost to sales, pushing the game back into the chart in 32nd place this week.
This movement saw F1 2018, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Call of Cthulhu, and Astro Bot Rescue Mission all fall further down the chart past 40th place.
A more extended list of top sellers can be found here.


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Apple launched the next step of its mobile operating system, iOS 8.1, and includes some new features like Apple Pay and returns features like Camera Roll.
Tag Archives | apple
Tips, Tricks, How To Galleries, Reviews and News for all things Apple including iPad, iPhone and Mac.
This new version of iTunes is obviously designed for OS X Yosemite which was released this week, but Windows users can update their version of iTunes too.
Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus is bending peoples pockets, and now the iPhone 6 is ruining people’s hair! Or is it? Here’s a look at both of the issues.
Apple’s new mobile OS, iOS 8 has a lot of new features. If you’re new to iOS 8, here’s a look at a few new and hidden features and tips you should know.
It’s Apple season and the company has been busy introducing new software and devices the past few months and tomorrow its showing off new devices and more.
Apple started allowing developers more freedom for their apps, most notably the Notification widgets. Currently Facebook and Twitter need to be added.
Apple today released iOS 8.0.2 which I supposed to fix issues caused in the highly criticized 8.0.1 update – which Apple eventually pulled.
iOS 8 has a new feature called Predictive text that tries to predict the next word you’re going to type. The anticipated word appears above the keyboard.
While the majority of attention is being placed on Apple’s new iPhone and iOS 8 this week, but Apple TV 3rd-gen also received some significant updates.
Apple finally backtracked and is allowing you to remove the U2 album that you never even asked for from your cloud based iTunes account. Here’s how.
Apple announced its smartwatch this week, and Android Wear has been getting popular too. Our question this week is if you care about the smartwatch anyway.
Apple is holding it’s annual event tomorrow to announce the new iPhone 6 models, software (iOS 8), and most likely a watch or some other type of wearable technology.
Apple’s Guided Access feature is unique in that it goes beyond Parental Controls and locks down your iPad to only one app, even buttons are disabled.
Apple released an update for iPad, iPhone and iPods touch (5th gen or higher) that are running iOS 7 this week. It does contains security and bug fixes.


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Tallinn record stores World Clinic, Biit Me and Terminal celebrated the first of this year's three Record Store Days on Saturday.
The international Record Store Day was initially scheduled to take place on April 18 this year but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic to June 20 and then again to take place over three days.
This year's first Record Store Day special releases include David Bowie's LP "I'm Only Dancing" the artist recorded during his 1974 The Soul tour, a picture disc of The Cure's second studio album "Seventeen Seconds", Robyn's 2005 debut album, as well as releases from artists like Billie Eilish, Brian Eno, Gorillaz, Guided By Voices, Jethro Tull, John Prine, Mac DeMarco, Ravi Shankar, Spoon, The The, The Weekend, The Fall, Elton John, Morrissey, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream et al.
The next Record Store Days will take place on September 26 and October 24, with special releases from Britney Spears, The Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Nas, Beck, St. Vincent, Eminem, Suede, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, Snoop Dogg etc. in the pipeline.
Editor: Marcus Turovski


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There seem to be a lot of uses for Viagra. A new preliminary report suggests that the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, could reduce the size of large growths that can disfigure the bodies of children. The findings could point to yet another use for the medicine, which was first developed as a heart medication until researchers noticed that it helped impotent men have erections.
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Wilmington-area comic shops will celebrate Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 7, as comic publishers and dealers give away free samples to attract new fans to the field.
Both Fanboy Comics, 419 S. College Road, and Jake’s Memory Lane Comics, 5725 Oleander Drive, will be sweetening the deal with extra bags of freebies to the first customers in line Saturday morning, plus appearances by costumed comic book characters.
In addition, Fanboy, in University Landing, will have an art signing from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday by Tom Fleming, a Wilmington-based comic and fantasy artist whose work has appeared in DC, Marvel and Dark Horse publications.
Fanboy will be collecting cash and canned goods for Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Customers who donate canned goods will be eligible for additional free comics and door prizes.
Jake’s Memory Lane is located in the Oleander Oaks center, across from Burt’s Surf Shop.
– Ben Steelman


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As mentioned in last week's contest announcement, we'll be giving away iPad accessories every weekday in April. The contest features a wide variety of iPad accessories including screen protectors, skins, cases, stands, warranties and insurance. Tomorrow, April 5, is the first day of the contest, with ZAGG's award winning invisibleSHIELD iPad screen protector kicking things off.
ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD is one of the most well-known names in electronic gadget protection. These "invisible" plastic skins protect gadgets around the world including mobile phones, laptops, GPS units, digital cameras and more.
Made from a military-grade material originally designed to protect the edges of helicopter blades, the invisibleSHIELD has a reputation for toughness. ZAGG has sold over 7 million invisibleSHIELDs worldwide, and backs all of them with lifetime guarantees. So, if you find a way to wear it out or scratch it, they'll replace it for free.
Although each day of our contest will allow users the chance to enter the contest multiple times, the invisibleSHIELD days (April 5-7) will also aggregate entries for contestants. Entries that fail to win on the first or second day will accumulate for the final drawing on April 7.
Head to our April iPad Accessory-A-Day Giveaway contest page to enter and to learn more about the full month's worth of giveaways.
For more information about the ZAGG iPad invisibleSHIELD screen protector, head to the official invisibleSHIELD site.


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About 35.9 million Americans are expected to take to the nation's highways and skies this Thanksgiving, slightly ahead of last year when travelers curtailed their holiday plans because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Still, this year's travel forecast released Monday by AAA shows the terrorist attacks and weakened economy are having some effect: The predicted crush in airports and on the roads is expected to remain below levels seen in 2000 when 36.8 million people traveled in what's typically the busiest holiday for trips.
Thanksgiving travel fell 1.5 percent last year, to 35.3 million people taking a trip just 21/2 months after the terrorist attacks. Locally, AAA expects up to 5 percent more Hampton Roads residents to travel for Thanksgiving.
"I traveled last year to Charlottesville," said Morrison Koch of Phoebus.
"I'll be going again this year. I won't take a plane. I drive my luxury van instead. I travel the back roads and just enjoy the sights."
The automobile association projects 30 million people plan to travel more than 50 miles from home by car for Thanksgiving. That's up nearly 1 percent from a year ago. But travel industry experts and AAA officials see hopeful signs that the fear of taking airline trips is ebbing.
Air travel is expected to climb 6 percent as 5 million American plan to fly for the upcoming holiday.
"Despite an economy that still shows only sporadic sign of recovery, holiday travelers are returning to the skies in numbers almost as heavy as during the Thanksgiving periods prior to 2001," said AAA Tidewater Virginia Public Affairs Vice President Georjeane Blumling.
Nationally, the greatest number of Thanksgiving road trips will originate in the Southeast with roughly 9 million people getting in their cars and trucks. AAA estimates 7 million people will drive for their holiday trips in the West and the Midwest.
"Travel has definitely increased since this time last year," said Nancy Alligood of Warwick Travel Service Inc. in Newport News. "It has picked back up since Sept. 11 and we are even planning trips for next year."
With many Hampton Roads residents traveling for the holiday and heightened airport security AAA offered tips to make journeys easier.
"Give yourself plenty of time if you are taking a commercial flight," Blumling said. "There are many security checks in place at our airports. Be there a little early. Relax and grab yourself a cup of coffee. This beats having to stand in line for two hours."
Thanksgiving bookings even have been heavy for travelers willing to pay top dollar.
"All of our flights are completely booked for Thanksgiving," said Paul Lynch, charter manager of Flight International at the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport. Flight International books private charters to any of 5,000 airports nationwide. While charter fares can cost thousands of dollars, Lynch noted that passengers wouldn't have to endure the snaking airport lines.
"We wait on the customer," Lynch said. "They determine when they leave."
Thanksgiving motorists will find the nationwide average price of gasoline at $1.45 per gallon, up more than one penny from last month and about 25 cents higher than last year's pre-Thanksgiving price.
"This won't stop people from going," Blumling said from the local AAA corporate office in Virginia Beach.
"People just want to get out of the house and go."
Audra Barlow can be reached at 247-4792 or by e-mail at email@example.com


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans spent more online in November to the start of the holiday season and began to replace cars and rebuild in the Northeast after Superstorm Sandy.
Retail sales rose 0.3% in November from October, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That offset a 0.3% decline in October from September.
There were troubling signs for the holiday shopping season: Department stores sales dropped 0.8%. And sales at general merchandise stores, a broader category that includes Wal-Mart (WMT) and Target (TGT), fell 0.9%.
But sales that reflect online shopping surged 3% — the biggest gain for that category in 13 months.
Some economists worry that consumers might scale back on holiday shopping if they are concerned about the "fiscal cliff." That's the name for tax hikes and spending cuts that are scheduled to go into effect next year if Congress and President Obama cannot reach a deal to avert them.
Consumer spending actually slowed over the summer from the previous quarter. And many economists worry that consumers have remained cautious in the final three months of the year, because of the storm and their fears about higher taxes next year. That should keep growth below an annual rate of 2% in the October-December quarter, they say.
The November figures were much stronger after factoring out gas prices, which have fallen sharply in recent months. When excluding gas station sales, retail sales increased a solid 0.8%. And gas prices are expected to keep falling through year-end.
The gains were widespread, although much of the strength reflected a rebound from the storm. Auto sales jumped 1.5%, as many people sought to replace damaged vehicles. Sales at home improvement stores increased 1.6%.
The sales figures were affected by the purchases of many Americans shopping for the holidays, most likely taking advantage of promotions during the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Electronic and appliance sales rose 2.5%. Furniture sales increased 1%.
The retail sales report is the government's first look at consumer spending. Consumer spending is important because it drives nearly 70% of economic activity.
The economy grew at a 2.7% annual rate in the July-September quarter. But the gains were mostly because businesses stepped up restocking, which drove more factory production.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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CNA Insurance, one of the top commercial insurers in the United States, has made a significant move by excluding coverage for nonfungible tokens (NFTs) within a $20 million policy held by Schwab Strategic Trust. This decision was disclosed in a filing submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The exclusion clause explicitly states that the policy will not provide coverage for any losses, damage, claims, occurrences, or lawsuits related to NFTs.
In their filing, CNA Financial defines NFTs as follows: “Any unique digital identifier connected to any digital ledger technology which may be used to certify authenticity or ownership of anything, including but not limited to any digital, tangible, or intangible item, but cannot be substituted or exchanged for any similar item.” This definition makes it clear that any incidents involving NFTs will not fall under the protective umbrella of the insurance policy.
It’s worth noting that while NFTs are specifically excluded from coverage, the policy document clarifies that “cryptocurrency” is not encompassed within the definition of NFTs. This distinction is crucial in a financial landscape where both NFTs and cryptocurrencies have gained attention for their unique characteristics and potential risks.
NFTs, which reached peak popularity during the 2021 bull market, have experienced a notable decline in both prices and trading volume in subsequent years. On August 3rd, 2023, there was a marked drop in gas usage associated with NFT transactions, signaling a shifting landscape within the NFT market.
Despite this decline in interest, some notable figures and businesses remain engaged with NFTs. For instance, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo announced his plans to release more NFTs in the future while participating in a lie detector test. This test was conducted to celebrate the launch of his second NFT collection in partnership with crypto exchange Binance.
In addition to celebrities like Ronaldo, businesses are also exploring NFTs in innovative ways. Lufthansa, a prominent airline, introduced an NFT app on August 31st, allowing users to scan their boarding passes to redeem NFTs. These collected NFTs can grant passengers access to rewards such as flight upgrades or lounge access, showcasing the diverse applications of this digital asset class beyond the art and entertainment sectors.
In conclusion, CNA Insurance’s decision to exclude NFTs from coverage in a substantial trust policy reflects the evolving nature of the insurance industry in response to emerging digital assets. While NFTs have experienced fluctuations in popularity, they continue to be of interest to both individuals and businesses looking to explore new opportunities within the digital economy.


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Tuesday — Local Sprouts is hosting a local foods networking breakfast.
Wednesday — Slow Food Portland’s delegates to Terra Madre will share their experiences at Slow Food’s potluck dinner.
Thursday — there will be a tasting of smoked beers from Germany, Denmark and the US at the Bier Cellar, Vignola is holding an Allagash Beer Dinner, and the Brew Pub Cup is taking place The Great Lost Bear.
Saturday — wine tastings are taking place at Browne Trading and the Rosemont Market, Vignola/Cinque Terre is holding their 6th Annual Beer & Cheese Tasting (30 bbers, 30 cheeses, $30) and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.
If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.


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The iPhone 5S and 5C this year were released with minimal design changes but the next iPhone release could possibly feature some major physical changes.
Bloomberg has reported from sources close to the matter that Apple is developing two models slated to be released during the second half of next year with larger glass displays that curves downward at the edges. In addition to the new displays the unidentified source revealed, the new iPhone models will be equipped with new sensors that can distinguish heavy or light touches on the screen.
The two new iPhone models will feature the largest iPhone models to date with screens of 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, respectively. This move is a clear indication of Apple responding to its main competitor Samsung. The South Korean company is known for developing smartphones with large displays. One of their latest models, the Galaxy Note 3 debuted in September with a 5.7 inch display.
When asked about the rumor Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined to comment on the matter.


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The picture was brightest for independent ECPs.
The vision care industry generated $40.36 billion in revenue over the year ending in first-quarter 2017, The Vision Council reports.
That represents an increase of 0.7 percent, or nearly $282 million, over the previous year’s totals.
The VisionWatch market research report indicates that 22 million pairs of frames were sold during the first quarter of 2017 — a 0.2 percent decline from the same period in 2016. These Q1 sales resulted in $2.89 billion in revenue.
The quarterly results also indicated:
- 24.7 million pairs of lenses were sold, up 4.4 percent from Q1 2016; these sales generated $3.71 billion in revenue — a 2.5 percent decrease over Q1 2016.
- 29.9 million eye exams were performed — 110,000 more exams than the same quarter in 2016.
Looking at the vision care industry market over the past year, from March 2016 to March 2017, the report indicates that eyeglasses accounted for the largest share of the vision correction market at 55.6 percent, representing $22.43 billion in revenue — a decline of 0.3 percent over the past year.
Additionally, for that time period:
- 74.45 million pairs of eyeglass frames were sold — a unit decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous year, resulting in a corresponding 0.1 percent decline in revenue.
- 83.53 million pairs of lenses were sold — the same number of units sold in the previous year, with a revenue loss of 0.5 percent.
- 95.4 million contact lens purchases occurred, up 2 percent, generating an increase of 4 percent in contact lens sales revenue.
- 104.1 million pairs of sunglasses were sold — a decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous year with a revenue growth of 1.8 percent.
- 52.09 million pairs of OTC readers were sold — up by 2.5 percent, with a 2.7 percent increase in revenue.
- 905,000 refractive surgeries were performed — a decrease of 1.9 percent, resulting in a 1.5 percent decrease in revenue.
"We’ve seen a slow-down in growth in the industry as we look at the last year, from April 2016 through March 2017," said Steve Kodey, The Vision Council’s senior director of industry research. "Total dollar revenue for the industry grew by 0.7 percent — a continuation in the slowdown of industry growth that first started in late 2015.
He added: "Similar to the growth observed from 2012-2015, growth in the industry for 2016 and 2017 has been stronger among independent ECPs and online retailers than the growth experienced by conventional chain retailers or mass merchants."
Contact lenses have proved to be the strongest optical market over the year, up 4 percent to $4.89 billion in revenue, followed closely by exams which are up 1.7 percent to $6.05 billion. Plano sunglass sales have also seen growth, equally over the past two years, due to a balanced mix of increasing unit sales and rising prices. All other markets are currently flat or contracting slightly over the past couple years.
The independent side of the optical industry is by far the largest component of the U.S. vision care industry — generating $18.43 billion in revenue over the past year. When compared to dollar revenues from a year ago, the independent side of the industry was up by 1.1 percent. While eyeglass sales — both lenses and frames — make up the bulk of revenue for independent optical outlets, examinations are a close third with over $4.29 billion in revenue.
In one of the most striking figures coming from this quarter’s VisionWatch report, 45.4 percent of the U.S. adult population received an eye exam in the last year — a total of over 115 million exams generating $6.05 billion in dollar revenue. Older Americans were more likely than younger Americans to have received an eye exam during this time frame, and Americans with managed vision care coverage were more than twice as likely to have had an exam as Americans without coverage. What’s more, 57.5 percent of those adults getting their eyes examined made an eyewear purchase as a result of that exam. That amounts to about 66.1 million transactions.
"Maintaining growth in exams has been a major factor driving growth in the industry, but an even bigger factor has been the willingness of consumers to go out and make a purchase after getting an exam," Kodey said. "That 57.5 percent 'purchase after exam' ratio is down slightly from 2015 and 2016 but it is still as high as it was before the recession in 2008."
He continued: "Over the past year, certain groups of consumers (those from relatively lower-income households, people who have been using vision correction for less than five years and people without any form of managed vision care coverage) have all been slowing their purchases of optical products in response to uncertainty in the market. Conversely, the market has remained in positive growth territory thanks to stable and slightly rising purchases of optical products among people between the ages of 35 to 54 years old, people from relatively higher-income households and people with managed vision care coverage."
The report indicates that 83.5 million pairs of lenses were sold in the U.S. during the past year — 29,000 more pairs than the same period a year ago. Similar numbers are found for frames, with 74.4 million pairs of frames sold in the U.S. during that period, generating close to $9.71 billion in sales revenue. Sales of OTC readers grew 2.5 percent, generating $876 million dollars with 52.09 million unit pairs sold.
Hear What the Industry Thinks About the Ultimate Lens Package by Essilor
Eye care professionals, patients, and Essilor sales consultants shared their feedback on the Ultimate Lens Package. Watch to see why they believe the innovation behind the lens can make the difference for your practice and for your patients. For more information on the Ultimate Lens Package, contact an Essilor Sales Consultant or click here.


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Expanding publisher seeks third editorial team for US-focused commercial fiction
Since being acquired by Hachette in March 2017, Bookouture has continued to invest in growing the team, with the total number of staff doubling to 25 between 2017 and 2018. Most are based in the Bookouture head office at King's Cross, though a number work from home.
The new publishing team will publish commercial fiction, though it will be tasked with diversifying the list, with a particular focus on the US market. Bookouture is recruiting now for a publishing director to lead the new team.
Oliver Rhodes, chief executive of Bookouture, (pictured) said: "We’re very excited to be building on the success of last year and adding to what is already an exceptional team containing some of the most progressive-thinking publishing talent in the industry."
Bookouture’s sales reached a record 8.5 million copies in 2018, a figure that includes paperback sales in partnership with Little, Brown Book Group’s Sphere imprint in the UK and Grand Central Publishing in the US. This marks a sixth consecutive year of growth for the digital first imprint, with total sales at over 23 million.


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One of them got iPhone and X, which first appeared on the shelves less than two years ago.
The list of devices, which Apple has discontinued in recent months:
Apple Watch Series 1
Apple Watch Series 1 made its debut in 2016, and until July 10, the company still sold the device, positioning it as a cheaper alternative to the Apple Watch Series 3. Before withdrawing from the production of the watch was $249.
Photo: Reuters/Toru Hanai
Apple Watch Edition
The device is premium, designed for buyers with high income saw the light of day in 2015. The hull was made of 18-carat gold, the price starts from $10 thousand.
In 2016 Apple has replaced gold case on keramicheskiy and reduced the starting price to $1.25 thousand.
Now the Apple Watch Edition has completely disappeared from the lineup of the company.
Photo: Edgar Su/Reuters
iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus
iPhone 6S and larger 6 Plus was released in 2015. These models still had the headphone Jack. Starting with the iPhone 7, all smartphones, Apple received only a connector to connect the Lightning cable.
Apple sold the iPhone 6S for $450 and iPhone 6 Plus for $550. While the device can still be found for sale from Resellers.
The budget smartphone from Apple at a price of $350, resembling the design of the iPhone 5.
iPhone X has been the flagship product for Apple last year. However, as noted by Business Insider, almost identical design with the best characteristics have the iPhone XS. The starting price for both models is $999.
The 10.5-inch iPad Pro
In March Apple introduced a new iPad model, and then declined from 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which was released in 2017.
Photo: The Verge
Apple released the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, and the last time I updated it in 2016.
Photo: Business Insider
Rusbase earlier it was reported that Apple has removed from sale the three laptop models — the 12-inch MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air TouchBar 2017 without Retina display.
Read more •••


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The Beatles Break iTunes Records
The Beatles are still going strong on iTunes, and breaking records! It’s only been a matter of months but it’s safe to say their music is never too old!
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the legendary band sold 5 million songs in less than two months! This has broken past iTunes records.
They’ve also sold more than a million full-length albums since their digital music release on November 16, 2010.
It’s The British Invasion via the web!


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Jennifer Lopez looks gorgeous WITH or WITHOUT make-up. But in a rare vulnerable moment, J. Lo took all her make-up off, as she introduced fans to her skincare routine after her New Years Eve performance on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve' 2021 with Ryan Seacrest.
J. Lo shared her skincare products to show just how well they work. In the video below, she uses a tiny portion of the cleanser and shows how easily all her make-up was removed. It's impressive! Skip the video to the 2 minute mark, to see the "after" results.
"We’re fresh-faced for 2021 after yesterday’s #WashAway2020 event. I cannot believe that @jlobeauty is available now. It’s been years in the making and it’s finally here," Lopez wrote on Instagram.
"We’ve spent hundreds of rounds of testing products and formulations... all to make sure we created the perfect products for YOU to get THAT GLOW!!! ✨✨✨ I am so proud of what we came up with and I know you’re going to love it. We’re JUST GETTING STARTED!!!!"
The Actress was spotted over the holidays in Miami, driving around with Alex Rodriguez in a gorgeous red Porsche that looks new and is estimated to be worth close to $150,000. Life looks like it's treating her well!


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Is Madonna suffering from the same blacklisting that the NFL is facing for their overt political stance?
Perhaps when you admit — stiltedly from a script — that you have ‘thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House’ because Hillary didn’t win, you just might alienate some fans.
Speaking of ‘bombs’…
Madonna released a new live album on September 15, and if that’s news to you, well, you’re not alone.
Madonna released a live album last Friday. News to me. News to everyone, apparently.
The “Rebel Heart” Tour album sold just 3,848 CDs and downloads according to Buzz Angle and hitsdailydouble.com. It had no streaming that was reported.
Source: Showbiz 411
Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise, the original Rebel Heart album released in 2015 was a flop, too. Although, it wasn’t as dramatic a flop as the live album.
It defied the odds to open at #1 on the pure sales tally in the US, but was the first casualty of the chart’s embrace of streaming and had to settle for a #2 on the final Billboard count after being bested by the SPS figure of the ‘Empire’ soundtrack. To date, it’s only sold 240,000 copies — in total.
Source: The Grape Juice
But still — just 3,848 copies of the live album?
A crappy teen garage band can sell more than that.
Actually, even worse, William Hung’s version of She Bangs sold between 30,000 to 40,000 copies in its first week, and we all remember what kind of nightmare-inducing experience that song was.
It’s fitting that William Hung is going to enter the albums chart with a bang.
When figures are released Wednesday, industry insiders expect the “American Idol” reject to debut in the top 30 with sales between 30,000 to 40,000 copies.
Think about that: Madonna sold fewer copies of the live album for the tour that grossed $169.8 million than William Hung’s trainwreck She Bangs.
Madonna should perhaps take the hint — it’s over, honey.
It’s just freaking weird.
Perhaps she should take that thimbleful(?) of self-respect she has left and end her career as ‘gracefully’ as is possible for someone with her reputation.
And please, for the love of all that is good and right in the world, don’t try to save the failing career with nudity.
Nobody wants to see that.


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Leonard Mudachi, Managing Director of fast food restaurant chain Big Square Kenya is no pushover. He runs a 12 store chain of restaurants that have survived over a year of lockdowns and closures owing to COVID-19. But he's on the ropes, and so are many restaurant chains in the country. He spoke to Africa Uncensored's John-Allan Namu about trying to keep his young staff employed, and the wish-list he has for Kenya's President, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Find us on social media
YouTube- Africa Uncensored


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From Desmond Mgbh, Kano
Kano State Task Force Committee on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods under the State Ministry of Health has sealed a warehouse containing about 2-trailer loads of suspected fake food items.
The seized items were mostly juice drinks and butter which were stored in a warehouse situated at Bompai quarters within metropolis.
The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, reiterated the ministry’s determination to stamp out the circulation of fake and substandard drugs and food items especially with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, lamenting that it is normally a period when some unscrupulous merchants use the opportunity of high demand to perfect their evil desire of making money by hook or crook.
Dr Tsanyawa promised that the ministry would soon convene stakeholders consultative meeting to discuss on strategies to minimise the rampant circulation of fake and substandard items because of their negative health consequences.
He further said that the ministry, in collaboration with NAFDAC, would soon commence investigations to ascertain the source of the items and their possible health hazards.
The commissioner commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his untiring support towards the health sector in the state.
In his remarks, the chairman of the committe, who is the Director Pharmaceutical Services of the ministry, Pharm Gali Sule, said that the discovery was made following the interception of a vehicle conveying some of the suspected food items from the warehouse.
Sule stressed the committee’s resolve to not relent on its effort to see the state is free of substandard and unwholesome drugs dangerous to the health of people of the state.
He enjoined the public to be furnishing the committee with relevant information where such heinous act is being committee.


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In case dozens upon dozens of commercials and crossover products have yet to inform you, Disney is currently in the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary. As its ‘100 Years of Wonder’ jubilee continues, we’ve seen the mouse-run conglomerate come together with several big-name manufacturers to deliver new honorary products, with the most recent example coming courtesy of Leica. Putting a new and exciting spin on its popular Q2, the German camera manufacturer is shining a light on the lovable rodent that started it all.
Although Steamboat Willie first came about in 1928, the illustrious film studio’s history goes back long before the days of Mickey Mouse… albeit he is the character Leica chooses to acknowledge for this fun-loving release. Moreover, the subject of inspiration couldn’t be any more clear, as the limited edition model’s design is highlighted by a Mickey Mouse print across the top plate — as an added bit of trivia, these sketches were animated in 1937 by one of Disney’s biggest men behind the scenes at the time, Don Towsley.
Other notable details include a Mickey embossed onto the camera’s top plate and display glass. Additionally, the new gadget is equipped with a matching dustbag, rope strap, and certificate of authenticity. And while this is in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary, there will be precisely 500 units of this new camera made. When addressing the forthcoming model, Leica says, “We share a passion for storytelling with Disney. But above all, a visionary demand for quality.” Accounting for the heritage tech brand’s adherence to providing nothing short of a premium product, it’s no surprise to see them celebrate a company whose impact on the world of art and cinema is practically incomparable.
The Leica Q2 x Disney “100 Years of Wonder” is expected to release in April for $6,981.


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Just a little patience … Axl Rose finally signs for Topps
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
After more than a year, some of Axl Rose‘s Topps autographs are signed, sealed and ready to be delivered.
Topps revealed on its Twitter account Tuesday afternoon the first looks at its 2013 Topps Archives Heavy Metal insert — an autographed parallel printed on metal — that the Guns N Roses frontman finally signed after the card was issued last year via a redemption.
“#BOOM! Look who signed. @axlrose,” read the post. “Heavy Metal autos will ship soon. More info to come on other autos.”
Rose’s other autos, all issued as redemptions, included his standard Heavy Metal card from Archives as well as standard and red-ink autos found in 2013 Topps Allen & Ginter. This year’s version of that set officially arrives tomorrow.
It’s worth noting that the card above is missing the set’s “Heavy Metal” logo is not shown on Rose’s card — not a stretch to guess that that’s perhaps a reason for the delay in signing.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.


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New School Salad Bars Coming, Compliments of Safeway Foundation
The Safeway Foundation in Pleasanton, Calif. will provide salad bars to schools in Hemet, Pleasanton and Ventura Unified School Districts in California, thanks to its recent grant to the United Fresh Foundation's "Let’s Move Salad Bars to California Schools" program.
In total, the grant will benefit 6,382 students by increasing their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables at lunch. In addition, it helps the United Fresh Foundation close in on its goal of donating salad bars to 350 California schools by May 2013.
“The Safeway Foundation is proud to make a difference in the many neighborhoods that Safeway serves,” said Christy Duncan-Anderson, executive director of the Safeway Foundation. “We are committed to promoting health and wellness for today’s consumers and for the next generation.”
The Safeway Foundation, with a focus on giving locally, supports causes that impact customers' lives and improve children’s health. All schools receiving salad bars from this grant are located within five miles of a Safeway/Vons store.
“This donation highlights the collaborative effort and commitment along the entire supply chain to improving child nutrition and combating childhood obesity by promoting increased fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and CEO. “Salad bars are the easiest, most effective way for schools to meet the new federal school lunch standards and make it possible for students to ‘make half their plate fruits and vegetables’ as recommended by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for America.”
Let’s Move Salad Bars to California Schools is a special campaign of the United Fresh Foundation, under the umbrella of the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, of which the United Fresh is a founding partner. Let’s Move Salad Bars to California Schools continues the United Fresh Foundation’s tradition of benefitting children and schools in the host state of the association’s annual convention, this year in San Diego, May 14-16.


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Experts believe a wider spat with Europe would be much more damaging than the current tit-for-tat with China.Traderead more
After the Fed released minutes of its last meeting, the bond market signaled it fears the Fed will not be aggressive enough with its rate cutting.Market Insiderread more
The Fed minutes also note that "a couple" members wanted a 50 basis point cut, based primarily on the weak inflation readings.The Fedread more
Markets pay particular attention to Italy's spending, given its public debt pile. This stands at above 130% of its growth rate, one of the highest in the world.Politicsread more
Flight bookings to Hong Kong have fallen 10%, hit by the unrest in the city, said Alan Joyce, the chief executive of Australian carrier Qantas Airways.Airlinesread more
Analysts generally doubt how effective the People Bank of China's latest interest rate announcement will be in significantly helping businesses grow.China Economyread more
These in-demand skills can command top pay packets, says Feon Ang of professional networking site LinkedIn.Get Aheadread more
Japanese manufacturing activity shrank for a fourth straight month in August as export orders fell at a sharper pace.Asia Marketsread more
The Washington governor had centered his campaign around climate change, calling it "the most urgent challenge of our time."Politicsread more
The inversion is seen by many veteran traders as an important recession omen, though the timing on the eventual downturn is less predictable.Bondsread more
Here's what Nordstrom reported for its fiscal second-quarter earnings.Retailread more
Sony warned about the outlook for its smartphone division when it released quarterly earnings on Thursday, raising the question of whether the firm should just cut its losses in the highly competitive sector.
Sony doubled its operating profit to 69.8 billion yen ($679 million) from April to June, from 35.5 billion a year earlier, boosted by its games and networks division and a one-off asset sale. But it also cut its smartphone sales target by 14 percent.
Sony executives have previously said the company wanted to focus on expanding its smartphone business because many of its strongest businesses – such as cameras, videogames and movies – have presence on mobile devices. A downgrade of its smartphone sales forecast signals a blow to these original plans, analysts say.
"It was naive to assume that smartphones would ever be an element of Sony's salvation, " said Steve Durose, senior director and head of APAC TMT Ratings at Fitch Ratings at Fitch Ratings.
"Sony's not going to make a profit in smartphones this year. There are 7 or 8 players in that 2-5 percent market share that Sony is in in the smartphone market and they are all struggling to make money," he added.
But in more recent times the firm has attempted to turn around its fortunes, by unloading its failing PC division and spinning off its TV division into a separate company.
Restructuring its TV business seemed to pay off this quarter, as Sony reported it was on track to break a 10-year streak of annual losses there, although it did move to trim its TV sales forecast for the year.
But Fitch Ratings' Durose said Sony's mistake is that it is refusing to let go of the businesses it has not been successful in, and needs to streamline even further.
"We've been saying for some time that apart from PCs which they've got out of, Sony's still doing all of the things they were doing five years ago – there is still a lack of will to take hard decisions that need to be made," he said.
"If they can't make money in smartphones, if they can't make TVs profitable, then the company will have to decide whether it's worth staying in those in those businesses," he added.
Durose added that he was not convinced that Sony was turning its TV business around.
"Sales are up 10 percent year on year but they have downgraded their full-year forecasts for unit sales and there's potential for further weakness there. Another thing to consider is how much [it will] cost going through restructuring – probably quite a lot. Next year will be proof whether Sony can turn round its TV business. We're not too optimistic," he said.
However, Lewis Ward, research director at IDC, told CNBC Asia's "Rundown " there was still potential for Sony to gain greater market share in the highly-saturated smartphone market.
"In terms of smartphone business, it's [a] very challenging business so I'm not surprised that Sony isn't doing better," said Ward.
"I still think they've got some room to take those Sony Ericsson assets and bring them together and get them all pointed in the right direction ," he added.
Sony acquired Ericsson AB's 50 percent stake in its 10-year old mobile phone venture in 2012.
One of Sony's key competitors – Samsung Electronics – also flagged concerns over its handset business on Thursday, undercut by Chinese rivals like Xiaomi.


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Cargill will appoint Brian Sikes as its president and chief executive officer on 1 January 2023.
The soon-to-be CEO, currently holding the chief operating officer title, has worked at Cargill for 31 years.
Dave MacLennan, who has served as Cargill’s CEO since 2013, will assume the role of executive chair of the company’s board of directors.
MacLennan said: “As Cargill continues to navigate dynamic global markets, both operational excellence and a clearly articulated vision driven by purpose and values will define the company’s success, and there is no better person than Brian to lead Cargill”.
He continued: “He’s a person of action and results, with a relentless passion for serving our customers and our people. Brian has the qualities we value in a strong leader– integrity, empathy, resilience and authenticity. Under his leadership, I am confident the best days for Cargill, and its greatest contributions, lie ahead.”
Sikes added: “I am honoured to succeed MacLennan as Cargill’s president and CEO. Under his visionary leadership, Cargill has a solid foundation, business model and culture that positions us for long-term success.”
He commented: “Our 160,000 employees across Cargill are the best in the industry. Together, we will grow with customers, strengthen our core and thoughtfully target new markets to ensure we are a reliable, sustainable partner for our customers – today and in the future.”
MacLennan joined the company in 1991 and served in multiple executive roles, including CFO and COO, before becoming the company’s chairman and CEO in 2013.
In his role as executive chair of the board, MacLennan will ensure a smooth leadership transition, serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Sikes and support Cargill’s long-term strategic plan.
By Gwen Jones
Recent reports reveal The Body Shop will shut up to half of its 198 stores in the UK and cut the size of its head office, incurring hundreds of job losses. According to the firm overseeing the restructuring of the beauty retailer, closures will begin this Tuesday.
Amidst brewing tensions, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of states are poised to take legal action as early as next week, aiming to prevent grocery giant Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition bid for Albertsons, Bloomberg reported.
The owner of Guinness and Baileys has hired financial service group Rothschild to explore the sale, which includes Pimm’s, fruit liqueur brand Safari and Pampero rum. Each brand could be offloaded individually or as a three, according to Sky News.


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Google has just confirmed that all Chromebooks which launch this year and onward will offer support for Android apps. As you probably already know, Google had announced that Android app support is coming to Chromebook a while back, in May 2016, to be more precise. Since then, a couple of Chromebooks received support for Android apps, though not many of them, but it seems like all new Chromebook will ship with support for Android apps, and that seems like a huge step forward for the Chrome OS platform.
Now, as some of you might know, the ASUS Chromebook Flip, the Acer Chromebook R11 and the Google Chromebook Pixel 2 currently have support for Android apps, and more Chromebooks will get such support in the near future, a lot more of them, as Google's support page states, you can find a full list by following the source link down below. Now, on that very same page, Google states that "All Chromebooks launching in 2017 and after as well as the Chromebooks listed below will work with Android apps in the coming future". Now, this probably does not come as a surprise, as the company has been looking to bring Android apps to the Chrome OS platform in general for quite some time now. Chrome OS is a cloud-based operating system, as many of you already know, but it doesn't really have access to that many apps, as you have to rely on Chrome extensions, which is where Android apps (will) come to play. The Google Play Store is home to tons of applications, and such apps can make Chromebooks far more usable in certain scenarios, as they will become far more productive.
We did not really see that many Chromebooks released in the last couple of months, but two really compelling offerings were announced during CES 2017 earlier this month. Samsung had introduced the Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro devices, while ASUS released the Chromebook Flip C302. Both Samsung's and ASUS' offerings come with support for Android apps, in case you didn't know. New Chromebooks will likely be introduced during MWC 2017 which kicks off in Barcelona at the end of February, so stay tuned for that.


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Payments News Update – February 23, 2024
Legal and Regulatory Developments
SPOTLIGHT: US Supreme Court Wrestles With Bid to Challenge Debit Card ‘Swipe Fee’ Rule
Reuters – February 20, 2024
U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday grappled with a North Dakota convenience store’s challenge to a government regulation on debit card “swipe fees” – a case that could make it easier for businesses to try to undo longstanding federal rules. Arguments in the case focused on whether the store was too late in bringing its 2021 lawsuit challenging a 2011 Federal Reserve regulation governing how much businesses pay to banks when customers use debit cards to make purchases.
The store, called Corner Post and located in Watford City, appealed after lower courts threw out its lawsuit on the basis of missing the six-year statue of limitations that generally applies to such litigation. Corner Post argued it should not be bound by the statute of limitations because it opened for business in 2018, meaning its legal injury arose only after the deadline had passed. . . .
Expert Analysis – NY’s Revamped Card Surcharge Ban Is Unique Among States
Law360 – February 20, 2024 (subscription required)
As of Feb. 11, New York has bolstered its ban on credit card surcharges by allowing two-tier pricing. Posting the cash price plus a percentage surcharge will continue to be prohibited, with violations subject to a $500 penalty. New York’s reformulation of its surcharge ban may reinvigorate such laws, many of which have been ruled unconstitutional. Under the act, merchants that impose a credit surcharge fee are required to post prices inclusive of the surcharge fee.
New York’s response is unique among states that have passed recent legislation to control or restrict credit card surcharges. Specifically, A.B. 2672, which was signed into law Dec. 13, 2023, permits a seller in a sales transaction to impose a surcharge on customers that elect to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means — such as a debit card — so long as: [t]he seller clearly and conspicuously posts the total price for using a credit card in such a transaction, inclusive of the surcharge; [t]he final price of the transaction, including any surcharge, is not greater than the posted price for the transaction; and [t]he surcharge does not exceed the amount charged to the business by the credit card network for the transaction. . . .
SPOTLIGHT: Capital One Is Buying Discover Financial for $35 Billion
Wall Street Journal – February 19, 2024 (subscription required)
Capital One said it will buy Discover Financial Services for more than $35 billion, a deal that will marry two of the largest credit-card companies in the U.S. Under the terms of the all-stock deal, Discover shareholders are set to receive 1.0192 Capital One shares for each Discover share, representing a premium of about 27% based on Discover’s closing price Friday. After the deal closes, Capital One shareholders will hold roughly 60% of the combined company, with Discover shareholders owning the rest.
Capital One is making a big bet at a booming time in the credit-card sector. More consumers are moving from paying with cash to cards as a result of generous rewards programs and the digitization of commerce—a transition that accelerated with the pandemic. A recent increase in credit-card debt has provided a further boost to issuers. . . .
Volt Builds Global Payments Network to Take on Visa and Mastercard
Forbes – February 21, 2024
Fintech start-up Volt says a new deal in Australia underlines its determination to take on Visa and Mastercard by disrupting the global payments industry. The British company, founded in 2019, has signed an agreement to integrate with PayTo, the Australian digital payments platform; the move marks Volt’s second foray outside the UK and Europe, following a similar tie-up in Brazil in 2021.
The company is fast becoming one of the UK’s most closely watched fintechs, having raised $60 million of funding last year in a series B round led by IVP, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist that has previously worked with technology sector star turns ranging from Klarna to Slack. . . .
Good News for Paze: 44% Would Use a Bank-Provided Digital Wallet
Digital Transactions News – February 21, 2024
When it comes to online checkout, consumers like using digital wallets. Seventy-two percent of them value digital-payment tools like digital wallets to make the online checkout easier, says Paze in its inaugural Paze Pulse report.
Paze is an upcoming digital wallet from Early Warning Services LLC. Backed by seven large U.S. banks, the wallet could come preloaded with up to 150 million credit cards and billing addresses, eliminating some of the tedium consumers experience when having to type that information in. . . .
BNPL Popularity Rises Among ‘Financially Fragile’ Consumers
Payments Dive – February 15, 2024
“Financially fragile” buy now, pay later users are turning to the installment payment method more frequently than financially stable consumers, according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
BNPL users who are financially fragile “appear to have embraced BNPL as a regular payment option,” the New York Fed said in its second report on BNPL, released Wednesday. About 60% of that group have used BNPL five or more times in the past year, compared to just over 20% of financially stable consumers.
Financially fragile users are also tapping BNPL for smaller purchases, the NY Fed said. The majority of financially fragile users are turning to BNPL to make purchases under $250, while financially stable users are far more likely to use it for purchases between $1,750 and $2,000. . . .


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Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP Appointed Interim Co-Lead Counsel in Lawsuit Related to Microphone Defect in Pixel Smartphones
On May 17, 2018, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California appointed Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP (CSK&D) interim co-lead counsel to head up a lawsuit against Google relating to allegedly defective microphones in Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The Court’s appointment confers upon CSK&D and its co-counsel the lead responsibilities of overseeing and prosecuting this case on behalf of thousands of Class members across the United States.
The lawsuit alleges that a microphone defect has created major problems for consumers across the country. When the Pixel microphone fails, people cannot use the phones for their most basic purpose—phone calls. Microphone failure incidents have prevented Pixel users from being heard while trying to talk on the phone and Pixel users have also been unable to dictate texts, record audio, search the web with voice command, or use the advertised Google Assistant feature.
Plaintiffs have brought various causes of action on behalf of the putative class, including claims under state and federal consumer protection and warranty laws. The amended complaint against Google and more information about the case are available here.
Attorneys for this case:
Benjamin F. Johns
Andrew W. Ferich
Zachary P. Beatty
Beena M. McDonald


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The next generation of GeForce graphics cards is here and the Nvidia RTX 2080 is the first to get the PCGamesN treatment in our test rig, but as shiny as the Founders Editions cards are it almost feels wrong to be reviewing the RTX GPUs right now. That’s because, ever since the Nvidia 20-series was first announced at Gamescom in August – alongside the flagship RTX 2080 Ti – most of the talk has surrounded the real-time ray tracing and AI performance of the new graphics cards, two things which aren’t really available right now at launch. And they won’t be until a while after the new GPUs are released, so we’ll have to wait to see the true potential of the Turing architecture fully realised. Fine wine, indeed… That means the Nvidia RTX 2080 needs to rely on its old-school rasterized rendering chops to prove its worth in the doggo-eat-doggo world of high-end graphics cards. And, while there is no genuine competition from the AMD side of the graphics card divide, there are some very competitive GPUs from the old Pascal generation to contend with. Given the higher sticker price of the 20-series that means realistically it’s going head-to-head with the big… Read full this story
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Amid increasing chatter that Apple may consider migrating the Mac to its own in-house ARM processors, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich on Friday characterized the two firms' relationship as "strong" and reiterated Intel's strategy of competing for business based on performance, price, and reliability.
RBC Capital Markets on Friday advised investors to stay long on Apple stock, as the investment firm sees multiple catalysts for the company in the near future, starting with the reporting of holiday iPhone sales.
Shortly after Apple introduced its first custom A4 Application Processor in 2010 to power the original iPad, rumors began to suggest the company could eventually migrate its Macs from Intel x86 processors to ARM chip designs of its own. However, there's a series of significant hurdles the company would need to jump first.
Looking to freshen up its product range, Samsung in January found a new head of global design in Don-tae Lee, former co-president of a London-based design consultancy called Tangerine, which had Apple SVP of Design Jony Ive as one of its earliest employees.
Apple, Google and two other Silicon Valley tech companies have agreed to pay out $415 million to settle an anti-trust class action lawsuit alleging so-called "no-poach" measures artificially suppressed employee salaries.
Just six months after its introduction at WWDC 2014, Apple's Swift continues to generate immense interest with developers and is now the 22nd most popular programming language around, according to new rankings published on Thursday.
Apple's iBookstore has averaged a million new customers every week since iOS 8 launched last fall, benefitting from the inclusion of iBooks as a built-in app.
Shares of Apple stock took an unexpected slide on Thursday, and dragged the larger market down as a whole with it, after a high-profile Japanese bank downgraded its rating on the iPhone maker to "neutral."
Former Apple executive Tony Fadell -- known colloquially as the "father of the iPod" -- is set to take over Google's Glass augmented reality project as the search giant reorganizes the stumbling wearable team.
The technology that drives the Touch ID home button could be used for much more than securely scanning a user's fingerprint -- a fact highlighted by a new Apple patent application published this week.
Apple is set to open five new Chinese outlets in the next five weeks as the company prepares for an influx of shoppers during the Spring Festival, retail chief Angela Ahrendts revealed this week, with four of those outlets in cities that do not currently house an Apple Store.
Members of the 2011 MacBook Pro graphics failure class-action lawsuit were updated this week on the latest developments in the case, which has expanded to include multiple states and lodges new complaints against Apple, accusing the company of deliberately concealing problems.
Apple Pay launch partner Bank of America on Thursday revealed that nearly 800,000 of its customers had signed up for Apple's nascent mobile payments initiative, bringing 1.1 million cards to the service in the last three months.
For the second time in as many days, a report from Asia claims that Apple plans to bring the "Force Touch" technology from the Apple Watch to the next-generation iPhone and double the forthcoming handset's built-in RAM to 2 gigabytes.
Within three years of Steve Jobs' return to Apple in 1996, he transformed the then-struggling company into an innovation machine capable of consistently stealing attention from the rest of the industry. This year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas suffered at least its fifteenth year of being upstaged by Apple.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published an Apple patent application for an iCloud-based fingerprint storage and cross-device syncing solution, a system that could do away with manual Touch ID setup and power next-generation Apple Pay-enabled POS terminals.
Parallels on Thursday updated its Parallels Access app for iOS, adding a robust file manager, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support and iOS file sharing features, among other enhancements.
Apple on Wednesday issued a fourth beta build for an upcoming OS X 10.10.2 Yosemite maintenance update, requesting developers test Wi-Fi, Mail, VoiceOver and Bluetooth functionality ahead of public release.
Two Apple rivals may come together in an effort to take on the iPhone, with a new report claiming that South Korean electronics giant Samsung has made a bid to buy struggling Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry for $7.5 billion.
With the hardware ecosystem surrounding Apple's mobile devices continuing to grow, the company has chosen to place the spotlight some of the laptop-style iPad keyboards and iOS gaming controllers it offers at its retail locations.


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France, unlike the U.S., has had relaxed rules on whether Internet service providers can block online content -- until today that is.
The French government has ruled that one of the country's biggest Web providers, Free, must halt all online ad blocking, according to the New York Times.
"An Internet service provider cannot unilaterally implement such blocking," the French minister for the digital economy Fleur Pellerin said at a news conference, according to the Times. "This kind of blocking is inconsistent with a free and open Internet, to which I am very attached."
The kerfuffle began last week when Free updated its Internet access software, which in turn blocked Google ads, according to the New York Times. Apparently, the company has made no secret of its annoyance that it doesn't get any compensation from carrying large amounts of ad-heavy traffic from Google-owned sites.
Pellerin has now persuaded Free to restore full access to all content on the Web, including Google ads.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has rules that say Internet service providerssince it can hinder net neutrality. Europe's guidelines are far more lax. However, the French government's decision today may be a sign that those loose guidelines could soon become a thing of the past.


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Posted byJared Newman on December 14, 2011 at 12:59 pm
One thumbstick is rarely enough when you’re playing modern video games, so Nintendo’s 3DS is giving gamers a second stick via a $20 peripheral.
The Circle Pad Pro, which launched in Japan this month, is coming to the United States on February 7. The attachment snaps in around the base of the Nintendo 3DS, and includes an extra shoulder button as well. It requires a AAA battery to operate.
Here’s the issue: Existing games won’t work with the Circle Pad Pro, and developers will have to design future games to support dual sticks. So far, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D and Resident Evil: Revelations are on the roster of supported games.
Posted byJared Newman on August 23, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Something’s brewing at Nintendo headquarters. According to Gamasutra, the company is planning a news conference in Tokyo on September 13, with only one topic of discussion: the future of the Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo’s newest handheld device had a troubled launch, with slower sales than expected. That prompted Nintendo to drop the 3DS price from $250 to $170 earlier this month. In a letter to early adopters, Nintendo said it had to cut the price to boost sales, ensuring that publishers would support the new hardware.
Now, Nintendo is rumored to be planning even bigger changes. French site 01net reports that Nintendo may redesign the 3DS with a second analog stick and a reduced emphasis on glasses-free 3D. This model would launch under a new name in 2012, the site’s unnamed sources said.
Posted byMatt Peckham on August 10, 2011 at 12:55 pm
If you haven’t snatched up a 3DS yet (if not, we wouldn’t blame you, given the dearth of interesting games) Nintendo’s sweetening its upcoming price drop with a ‘Flame Red’ version. If red’s your thing—as opposed to “Aqua Blue” and “Cosmo Black”—Nintendo says it plans to offer the alternative color from September 9th, shortly after the handheld’s price plummets from $250 to $170 this month.
Except wait a second, isn’t that supposed to happen this Friday, August 12th? That’s what Nintendo’s said, you know, all official-like.
But according to reports (and pictures of actual sales receipts), it seems some stores are selling the system at the new price already. Like Walmart, where you can reportedly get it for $169.96. (I know, does anyone seriously choose to buy, or not to buy, based on the cheap pennies discount gimmick?)
Nintendo has already admitted that sales of its 3DS handheld are lower than expected, so the company’s announcement of a Nintendo 3DS price cut isn’t a huge surprise.
But boy, is it ever a price cut. Starting August 12, the cost of a Nintendo 3DS will fall from $250 to $170, making for one of the sharpest price drops in handheld history. This also makes the 3DS a mere $20 more expensive than a Nintendo DSi, unless Nintendo announces discounts for its 2D handheld in the coming weeks.
Early adopters who paid $250 for the 3DS will get 10 free NES Virtual Console games starting September 1 and 10 free Game Boy Advance games by year-end.
A consumer advocacy group is giving Nintendo a hard time over the Nintendo 3DS’s terms of service, which allow the company to disable modded consoles and claims a license to all user-generated content.
Defective By Design, a campaign run by the Free Software Foundation, seeks donations in exchange for sending Nintendo a brick — symbolic of Nintendo’s ability to render devices useless.
I suppose the campaign has done its job, because I wasn’t aware of Nintendo’s 3DS terms of service until I read the coverage on BoingBoing and PC World. But while several sites reported on Nintendo’s anti-modding policy back in March, not much attention’s been given to the rights Nintendo claims on users’ activities, personal information and content.
Posted byJared Newman on April 27, 2011 at 9:58 am
Nintendo’s latest financial results admit that the Nintendo 3DS handheld isn’t selling as well as the company had hoped, while ignoring the elephant in the room.
The magic of glasses-free 3D was supposed to sell itself — or so Nintendo thought. Now, the company realizes that showing off the Nintendo 3DS at retail stores and public events isn’t enough. “There is no easy road to making people understand the attraction of glassless 3D images and making Nintendo 3DS widespread,” says the company’s report (via Kotaku).
But instead of acknowledging that smartphones and tablets have eroded demand for single-purpose portable gaming devices, Nintendo pins the blame on a lack of education. Nintendo says it needs to “thoroughly encourage people to properly adjust the 3D Depth Slider” and add more content that can be viewed passively, such as 3D video.
Posted byJared Newman on March 27, 2011 at 9:55 am
The Nintendo 3DS goes on sale in North America today, and while my experience is limited to previews at trade shows and a public demo over the weekend, my sentiment is similar to that of full reviews: The tech is impressive, even if the first batch of games aren’t. (For more thorough analyses of the 3DS’s strengths and weaknesses, check out the reviews from Chris Kohler at Wired and Ben Kuchera at Ars Technica.)
But most reviews don’t offer a direct comparison between the 3DS and smartphones, which represent the handheld’s biggest threat. So allow me to share an anecdote:
Over the weekend, Nintendo showed off the 3DS at a kiosk on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. Public demos like this are a big part of Nintendo’s strategy, because advertisements can’t really convey the feeling of glasses-free 3D. I stopped by the kiosk with my father, who’s in town for the weekend.
Posted byJared Newman on March 15, 2011 at 4:03 pm
With less than two weeks until the Nintendo 3DS launches in the United States, Nintendo is showing off its first commercial for the 3D gaming handheld. And in doing so, the company has raised a question that comes up every time someone tries to advertise 3D: How, exactly, do you market something that can only be witnessed in person?
In a way, this issue has dogged television makers for years. Back when tube televisions ruled, electronics companies had to convince us of HDTV’s visual fidelity through words or metaphor. That’s true with any incremental improvement in picture quality. But while it’s easy to believe that a new TV simply looks better than an old one, 3D has the challenge of selling the public on an entirely different way of viewing video. Take a look at how Nintendo handles it:
I think the visual effect of jumping into and out of the game is a valiant effort. If I were 20 years younger, I’d probably be flipping out over this stuff, and it definitely does a better job of selling the 3D concept than most 3D TV ads. (My personal least favorite is the one from Panasonic where a family gets sucked into outer space, accompanied by a voiceover from a creepy, whispering child.)
One other thing that strikes me about the Nintendo 3DS ad: the users. These people are my age, which is to say they fall into the stereotypical gamer demographic. In recent years, Nintendo’s made a killing by targeting everyone else.
Posted byJared Newman on March 3, 2011 at 12:30 pm
It behooves Nintendo to insist that the Nintendo 3DS is first and foremost about playing video games. That way, when a feature like Netflix streaming comes along, it’s a surprise instead of an expectation.
Netflix streaming was the big news from Nintendo’s Game Developers Conference keynote on Wednesday. The feature will arrive during the summer, at least a few months after the Nintendo 3DS’s March 27 launch.
Posted byJared Newman on January 19, 2011 at 8:20 am
After 10 months of teasing, Nintendo has answered the biggest lingering questions about its next handheld: How much will the Nintendo 3DS cost, and when can you get it?
At $250, the Nintendo 3DS is almost twice the price of the DS Lite, and $100 more expensive than the DSi. It’s the most expensive handheld Nintendo has ever launched, and ties the Wii for Nintendo’s priciest hardware launch ever (if you don’t adjust for inflation).


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A number of our customers are adapting and changing their business models to help the frontline during this pandemic. One of these is 3D International Haulage, a transportation firm headquartered in Bolton. Not only has it laid on extra trucks and trailers to help ensure supermarket shelves in the UK remain stocked at this difficult time, it has also employed more drivers and depot workers to cover extra demand.
Dave McCormack, sales director at Simply commented: “It’s been a privilege to work with Dave and Dawn and the team at 3D International Haulage for many years. It’s situations like these that really show us what companies are made of – and these guys have really stepped up to the plate, supporting businesses adapting to the Coronavirus pandemic. The whole supply chain is facing unprecedented pressure and businesses like 3D are working hard to help essential food retailers to meet customer requirements.”
Well done 3D International Haulage, we are proud of you! #ChangingTheWorld one step at a time.


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MSI and Discovery Channel has officially announced their partnership for the upcoming “The Rise of the New King“, which is a special esports program.
The program will premiere in the Philippines on the 3rd day of August at 9:50PM. The main theme of the program is all about the esports ecosystem.
It will also help esports enthusiasts to know more of their favorite players specially on how their pastime has turned into top-tier sports.
With this program, you can expect to see global esports tournaments, popular games being featured, insiders on game publishers and gaming device manufacturers, and interviews with top players.
Watch the trailer here:
During the press conference, MSI also showcased its latest gaming devices including the MSI GT76 Titan, GE65 Raider, Prestige PS63, and P65.
What do you think guys? Are you excited to watch this new program on the Discovery Channel?
Stay tuned! For more info and latest tech news, kindly follow us on our social media sites:


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British Airways has released details of BA 2119: Flight of the Future Report, offering a picture of what flying will look like in 20, 40, 60 and 100 years into the future.
Commissioned by the airline to mark its centenary year, in collaboration with data-led trends agency Foresight Factory, the report found that consumers want far greater personalisation from their flying experience. Overall 46% of people want a dedicated communal space for socialising, however this was far more popular with those in emerging markets (Brazil 47%), India 69%, China 55% and South Africa 47%) than with passengers in the UK (30%), Germany (22%) and Japan (20%) who preferred a more private experience.
In the future, greater personalisation could be delivered through aircraft seats that use biological scanners to gather travellers’ physiological and nutritional needs. This data will suggest food and drink to meet individual requirements, which can be 3D-printed on board the aircraft
Acclimatisation to the destination, be that combating jet lag or pre-travel care will be a thing of the past, with 3D printers also used to print personalised health supplements.
AI-powered personalisation will enable passengers to bring cloud-based work and entertainment profiles to their seats, while holographic flight attendants will field basic questions and requests, freeing up cabin crew to offer more value-added interactions.
Overwhelmingly, consumers say that the future will see the end of airline “classes”, and the rise of bespoke packages where consumers pay for a customisable experience, based on options for space and entertainment.
Although the emergence of next generation supersonic jets will dramatically cut travel time – with the average flight from New York to London falling from seven hours to three – the report predicts that within 50 years we will see a trend for slow, experiential flights as consumers seek a leisurely start to their holidays.
These flights could take the form of “Air cruises”, which will see travellers fly slowly over areas of special interest, such as the Pyramids, while interactive VR guides give passengers an immersive running commentary. Other options available to passengers travelling on an air cruises include on-board yoga, meditation or art classes.
British Airways’ chairman and chief executive Alex Cruz said: “The findings of the BA 2119: Flight of the Future Report not only offer us unprecedented insight into how consumers across the world feel about flying now, but what they will expect from us, as airlines, in the future. In the last ten years alone, the airline industry and flight experience has changed in so many significant ways, including improved fuel efficiency, noise reduction, in cabin design and luxury. It is therefore not hard to see how, at this rate of progress, these seemingly unreal predictions will come true.
“This is a really exciting way to mark our centenary, which has seen us remember the past, celebrate the present and predict the future in collaboration with fantastic partners from across industry and academia.”


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Australia’s competition watchdog the ACCC says it is not opposed to the MYOB Invest Co acquisition of GreatSoft, after deeming that the transaction is not likely to substantially lessen competition.
Australia’s competition watchdog the ACCC will not oppose the acquisition of comparison website, Compare the Market, by Innovation Holdings Australia that would result in it holding up to 35% of shares in iSelect, a major competitor to Compare the Market.
Australian businesses reported over $14 million in losses to Scamwatch due to payment redirection scams last year, and average losses so far in 2021 are more than five times higher compared to average losses in the same period in 2020, according to the ACCC.
Be happy that you are in Australia and stop comparing with a the us We are lucky here that we[…]
Why did you have to put a ad from the us? We are in Australia we don't care about what[…]
So the battery is not part of the phone?
The iPhone didn’t “catch” fire. It was accidentally snapped in two and the lithium battery contents mixed and caught fire.
I recently acquired a 5G modem from Telstra. It’s made by ZTE - a Chinese partly state-owned technology company. Go[…]


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Ron Buist was blowing leaves in his garden on Monday when he found out Tim Hortons was planning to shake up its signature Roll Up The Rim promotion.
“Son of a gun,” Buist said over the phone from his house in Oakville, Ont.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
For Buist, the news was personal: The 79-year-old retired marketer created the contest while working in Tims’ marketing department in the 1980s.
But this year, the 33-year-old promotion “didn’t work,” Tims acknowledged Monday, and was part of the reason the chain posted weak sales in the first quarter of 2019.
“They can blame themselves for that,” said Buist. “Before they start complaining about the contest losing punch they should realize they’ve taken a lot of the punch out themselves.”