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How does an advanced threat adversary operate for 10 years, undetected? FireEye APAC CTO Bryce Boland shares details of the decade-long APT30 campaign that targeted organizations in India and Southeast Asia.
Cybercrime continues to evolve, offering an ever-increasing array of niche capabilities, ranging from attack techniques and infrastructure to related research and sales services, warns Trend Micro's Bharat Mistry.
To help organizations discover what they don't know is happening on their networks, Darktrace uses machine learning to create advanced baselines of normal behavior, then sounding alarms when it sees deviations.
Assessing the risks presented by "digital business" - the new business designs that blur the digital and physical worlds - will be a theme at the 2015 Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit, says Andrew Walls, event chairman.
The lead cybersecurity official for Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency dismisses charges that the U.K. conducts mass surveillance. But critics question the government's introduction of the Investigatory Powers Bill.
Prosecutors love to tell judges that sentences for hackers and cybercriminals must be strong enough to deter future such crimes. But as the case of Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht shows, they've failed to make the case for deterrence.
Breached dating website FriendFinder allegedly missed email warnings from security researchers that its site had been breached and customers' data was being sold on a "darknet" site. What can other businesses learn from that apparent mistake?
Vendors' and software makers' over-reliance on security messages and warnings has left users habituated to them, thus rendering such alerts less effective or even worthless, warns cybersecurity expert Alan Woodward.
To entice more women, as well as men, to enter information security professions, researcher Lysa Myers says the industry needs to kill its boring image and better communicate the full array of opportunities available and the skills that are in demand.
It's no surprise that virus-wielding hackers are exploiting Internet of Things devices. Blame too many device manufacturers rushing products to market, skimping on secure development practices and failing to audit the third-party code they use.
This year's Infosecurity Europe conference in London is offering a top-notch range of sessions, ranging from how to battle cybercrime and social engineering to building a better security culture and workforce. Here's my list of must-see sessions.
Britain's computer emergency response team - CERT-UK - reports that malware remains the dominant mode of online attack for cybercriminals, and Zeus their most preferred tool of choice. But the team is promoting a free information-alert service to help.
While the "Logjam" vulnerability raises serious concerns, there's no need to rush related patches into place, according to several information security experts. Learn the key issues, and how organizations must respond
Because healthcare organizations are juggling so many information security, privacy and regulatory demands, hiring individuals with key professional certifications who can help optimize limited resources is critical, says security expert Steven Penn.
In addition to providing training, healthcare organizations should consider implementing technology to help prevent user mistakes that can lead to breaches of protected health information, says Geoffrey Bibby of ZixCorp.


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Samsung’s new ad showcases the wireless charging potential of the Galaxy S6
Samsung has just posted a 30 second spot for the Galaxy S6 featuring renowned UK based artist Rita Ora. This ad focuses on the wireless charging potential of the smartphone wherein the artist sets her phone down on the Samsung wireless charging pad.
This is a rather short video unlike what we’ve seen from Samsung in the past, but good enough to showcase the wireless charger’s potential. Samsung posts a disclaimer at the bottom of the video that the average charge time from 0 to 100% on a wireless charger is 180 minutes or 3 hours. So it’s not as convenient as using the fast charging technology which can be accessed from the AC adapter supplied by Samsung.
The company has offered wireless charging pads for free to customers who pre-ordered the device in the U.S., so quite a bunch of users already have their hands on the accessory. Do you like the convenience that the wireless charger brings?
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s new ad showcases the wireless charging potential of the Galaxy S6

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Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) OCARE, an independent insurance process as a service (IPAAS) platform, today launched the first ever group dental insurance product in the country.
The product, also known as OCARE, is a group insurance product offering a sum assured of Rs 25,000 with an annual premium of Rs 1,699.
It is the first, and only, IPAAS that provides countrys first group dental insurance, the company claimed.
The product is underwritten by OCAREs three insurance partners.
"This is the first time that dental insurance is being offered as an exclusive product in the country. Usually, it is clubbed with health insurance, where dental ailments are not covered exclusively. We got product approval through our three insurance partners, who have also underwritten for OCARE," OCARE Founder and CEO Neeraj Sheth told reporters here. However, he did not disclose names of the insurance partners. Initially, the product will be launched in Maharashtra and by the end of this financial year it will be available across the country, he said. "Vihigaon, a village panchayat located in Buldhana district of Maharashtra, has become the first village to be covered by OCARE Dental Insurance," Sheth added. He said the company has invested USD 3 million for the venture so far "through internal accrual and will spend USD 7 million over next two years as and when required, for which we will look at private equity (PE) partners." The company is targeting to launch two more dental products by the end of this financial year and 20 lakh policy holders. PTI SM NSK ADI MR


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American States Water (NYSE:AWR) will issue its quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Monday, May 6th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.36 per share for the quarter. Parties interested in participating in the company’s conference call can do so using this link.
American States Water (NYSE:AWR) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, hitting the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.37. The company had revenue of $111.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $104.54 million. American States Water had a return on equity of 11.70% and a net margin of 14.62%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.35 EPS. On average, analysts expect American States Water to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $2 EPS for the next fiscal year.
NYSE AWR opened at $69.81 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $2.57 billion, a PE ratio of 40.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.83 and a beta of 0.08. American States Water has a one year low of $53.84 and a one year high of $72.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.
In related news, insider Eva G. Tang sold 600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.50, for a total value of $43,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 33,169 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,404,752.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Lloyd E. Ross sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.40, for a total value of $34,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 49,331 shares in the company, valued at $3,423,571.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 18,633 shares of company stock worth $1,329,597 over the last 90 days. 1.24% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Separately, Wells Fargo & Co restated a “sell” rating on shares of American States Water in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th.
American States Water Company Profile
American States Water Co is a holding company, which engages in the purchase, production, distribution, and sale of water. It operates through the following segments: Water, Electric, and Contracted Services. The company was founded on December 1, 1929 and is headquartered in San Dimas, CA.
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After a lengthy teaser campaign, Volkswagen Philippines has officially opened the reservations books for the 2021 T-Cross. Not only did they reveal the specs and prices of the new crossover, but they are also offering a special early bird discount of PHP 30,000.
It will officially be launched on May 26, 2021, and will go up against the likes of the Ford EcoSport, and the Geely Coolray. But unlike its contemporaries, the PH-spec T-Cross is not available with a turbocharged engine under the hood.
Instead, it has a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter engine derived from the Santana. It makes 113 PS with 145 Nm of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. What it lacks in sheer power, it makes up for in fuel economy. According to Volkswagen, it can average 5.9L/100 km in mixed highway and city driving conditions, or nearly 17 km/l.
All well and good, but most automakers nowadays are offering turbocharged engines on their B-segment crossovers. So why did Volkswagen decide not to offer a turbocharged powertrain on the all-new T-Cross?
Well, according to Josh Altarejos, head of Product Strategy & Planning Division of Volkswagen Philippines, the naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter engine has sufficient power. He added that it is enough for both highway and city driving.
But perhaps the biggest advantage the 1.5-liter has is that it's shared with the 2021 Santana. That means engine parts can be shared between the two models, reducing costs and ensuring constant parts availability.
But does this mean there won't be any other engine options available in the future? Altarejos said that they are currently studying whether to bring alternative engine options. They did not mention any specifics, but our best guess is they're studying to bring the 1.4-liter TFSI that's available in China.
Unlike the naturally-aspirated mill, the 1.4-liter turbo engine makes 140 PS and a healthy 250 Nm of torque. And instead of a six-speed automatic, it is coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 1.4 TFSI allows the crossover to go from 0 – 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds, beating out the 1.5's time of 13.3 seconds.
If Volkswagen Philippines decides to bring in the T-Cross with the 1.4 TFSI engine, it could attract buyers that are looking for a little more oomph under the hood. However, the 1.4-liter turbo may not be as fuel-efficient as the 1.5-liter motor.
With nothing set in stone just yet, we'll just have to wait and see whether Volkswagen Philippiines will actually offer another engine for the T-Cross.


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Getting a job at a store or fast-food restaurant — often a way into the economy for an unskilled worker — used to be as simple as walking up and down the mall and applying. Now, with store chains closing and laying off thousands of workers, that path is more complicated. The stores that remain financially healthy are actually raising wages in a tight labor market. But they’re seeking a new type of worker — one who has a lot more skills up front.
Thomas, 44, was able to get a job at wholesale club B.J.’s for $12 an hour — but that was only after signing up for computer lessons and taking a class in retail basics like how to track inventory and handle issues like returns. That led her to another opportunity at a casino.
Across all entry-level retail jobs, the number of skills being demanded rose from 2010 to 2016, according to an analysis done for The Associated Press by Burning Glass Technologies, which scours 25 million job postings.
Burning Glass found a greater emphasis on customer service and communications skills for cashier, stock clerk and sales floor support jobs. And for many other entry-level jobs, employers want even more skills, like the ability to use customer relations software like Salesforce. Even forklift operators are being asked to be proficient in inventory management software.View Article


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It might seem true that because smartphones have come so far in terms of aesthetics, design, and specs, there's not much left to innovate.
Sure, manufacturers can increase the RAM, add a few more megapixels, even an additional camera for good measure. But save for battery life, there's very little room for improvement left in terms of smartphones. But Vivo thinks otherwise.
Vivo Is Allegedly Creating A Beastly Phone
Per rumors, the Chinese smartphone company is cooking up a new smartphone, dubbed the Xplay7, that apparently boasts not just 6, not 8, but a whopping 10 GB of RAM, which is never before seen on a smartphone. If true, this phone could edge out even typical laptop models which only pack either 4, 6, or 8 GB of memory. As for onboard storage, the phone will apparently have 512 GB, which is pretty insane for a phone.
The phone will also feature a 4K display. On top of that, the fingerprint sensor is built under the screen. It might sound too good to be true, but take note that Vivo is the first company in the world to incorporate that kind of technology, thanks to Synaptics.
The specs mentioned above come from a leaked presentation from China, which was discovered in Chinese social platform Weibo. Aside from what's already mentioned, the phone will also have an impressive screen-to-body ratio at 92.9 percent — meaning it might be the first truly bezel-less smartphone.
The presentation also points to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip, which makes sense considering this processor will inevitably power flagships to be released in 2018. It might also sport dual cameras with Sony IMX sensors that boast 4x optical zoom. It will also support some kind of facial recognition, which is labeled vaguely as "Face ID 2.0," though it's not certain if it'll be as sophisticated as Apple's fancy Face ID tech.
Too Good To Be True?
Everything about this notional phone screams too good to be true. Plus, it's easy to imagine how a phone packed with that amount of specs will cost. But assuming everything is accurate, then we might be looking at the very first phone to offer 10 GB of RAM, and whether that much RAM is necessary will be a point of excellent debate.
What do you think? Does the Vivo Xplay7 sound remotely legitimate? Do you think smartphones need to have 10 GB of RAM? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!


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(I-AutoNewsWire.com, December 18, 2015 ) Melbourne, Victoria -- Outback Shades is pleased to announce the release of yet another short video for their recently launched YouTube channel. This new video will help the company's customers fold their car sunshades without any difficulty. Outback Shades is an Australian company that has recently entered the enormous marketplace of Amazon.com with their maiden product Windshield Sunshade. This product has been used successfully by many buyers to keep their car's interior cool during the summer days.
Driving a car during hot climate can be extremely uncomfortable because the temperature inside the car may increase significantly in no time. Protector screens are used extensively by the car owners to stay comfortable and keep their car accessories safe from heat damage. Outback Shades claims that their product offers an effective solution to this problem by reducing a car's interior temperature by almost fifty percent. Company sources have mentioned that this efficiency of the product can be attributed to the fact it has been manufactured from high-quality Polyamide Nylon. Outback Shades is currently offering this product for a heavily discounted price along with tons of added benefits.
Right from the time of their inception, Outback Shades has been extremely active in different social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Talking about the release of their latest YouTube video, a senior official from Outback Shades states, "Some of our customers contacted us saying that they found it difficult to fold our car sun shades. We though the best way to help them is to build a short video demonstrating the process. A link to this video guide has been posted in our Facebook page, too."
Outback Shades is an Australian company and premium supplier of a window car shade, dash protectors and accessory products to protect car interiors and their occupants. Sold exclusively on Amazon in the USA . The company is now exporting to the world. The company motto is "Extreme products for our Aussie extreme environment."
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Big cities and municipal organizations are likely to be the biggest consumers of electric trucks when they land, particularly in California. Until that happens, there are retrofit kits to make Ford trucks EVs, and there are trucks powered by propane, which are near zero emissions. Los Angeles International Airport took delivery of eight propane-powered Ford F-750 trucks built by Roush CleanTech at the end of 2019.
Each of the Ford F-750 trucks uses a 6.8-liter 3V V10 engine that runs on propane. The eight trucks will be used at LAX by dnata, a company that supplies inflight catering to aircraft. The order of eight propane-powered trucks, Roush, has now built and deployed 20,000 propane autogas vehicles.
Roush started with propane vehicles in 2010 and has built a mix of Ford medium-duty trucks and Blue Bird school buses. So far, the trucks have accumulated more than a billion miles and have been used by more than 1,200 customers. The truck are 90 percent cleaner than the EPA standard for “certified to the optional near-zero nitrogen oxide level of 0.02g/bhp-hr.”
The CEO of dnata catering USA says that the top priority of the company is to operate a clean and safe fleet. The propane-powered Ford F-750 trucks allow the company to reduce emissions without sacrificing safety or performance. The company also notes that propane autogas is half the cost of diesel, and the trucks can refuel at mobile fueling stations.
Source: Fleet Owner


text: Solar is, by any measure, a hot industry. Even with the reduction in subsidies from Germany and Italy, the world’s two largest solar markets, global spending on solar installations continues to be high. Analysts suggest that this year’s solar purchases will amount to roughly the same as last year’s, 27 GW globally, despite the reduction in subsidies in many parts of the world. Part of this growing demand is the reduction in costs. Solar’s installed cost has dropped 10 percent just in the last 4 months, as manufacturers are being forced to compete in a heavily commoditized market.


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The Book People collapses with nearly 400 jobs at risk but administrators say Christmas orders will still be delivered
- The Book People will continue to trade while administrators look for a buyer
- PwC pledged to fulfill all Christmas orders already placed by customers
- No job losses expected yet, but that will depend on whether a buyer is found
The Book People, one of Britain's biggest independent booksellers, has collapsed into administration just a week before Christmas, putting 393 jobs at risk.
The Surrey-based online and pop-up book retailer, which has been owned by private equity firm Endless since 2014, has appointed PwC as administrators after struggling with a 'difficult trading environment'.
PwC said the company would continue to trade as normal while they look for a buyer and did not expect any immediate job losses. They also pledged to fulfill all Christmas orders already placed by customers.
PwC said the company would continue to trade as normal while they look for a buyer
'The intention is to fulfil and deliver all customer orders received and accepted,' said Toby Underwood of PwC.
The Book People, which was founded by book enthusiasts Ted Smart and Seni Glaister in 1988, makes over 70 per cent of its sales online, while the rest is sold directly to schools, businesses and workplaces.
The company, which has an annual turnover of more than £50million, is likely to have suffered stiff competition from the likes of Amazon.
'The well-documented challenges in the retail environment compounded by the strength of global online booksellers, has severely impacted operating cashflows over recent years,' James Woolley, a partner at Endless, told Sky News earlier today.
The Book People's head office is in Godalming, Surrey, although the bulk of the jobs is at its 92,000 square foot warehouse in Bangor, North Wales.
Underwood of PwC said there were funds to pay staff for the month of December, but that the future of the company will depend on whether they can find a buyer.
'Whilst the administrators have funding to meet the payroll for December, the longer-term prospects for the business, staff, customers and suppliers will clearly be dependent upon whether a sale can be secured,' he said.
Turon Miah at law firm Gowling WLG, said the administration appeared to be a 'trading administration' - as the retailer will continue trading until a buyer is found - 'suggesting the underlying business of the online retailer may be profitable and of interest to buyers'.
'The world of online retail is dynamic and fast paced and only those that can adapt quickly to changing consumer trends succeed,' he added.
'The administrators proposals should be published in eight weeks and will shed light on the reasons for the financial woes of the business.'
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For the first time a conference on import and sale of used cars was held in Lutsk
On Friday, October 29, Lutsk hosted a conference "Import and sale of used cars: how to grow, not survive." More than 100 representatives of the automotive business were gathered on the territory of WEST AUTO HUB. The conference participants had the opportunity to hear about the dynamics and prospects of the automotive market, get applied information for their own business and share experiences.
The event was organized by the Institute of Car Market Research and WEST AUTO HUB. The conference consisted of three parts, which included nine presentations from eight experts. Each of the parts complemented each other to provide guests with a maximum of both theoretical and practical information for the automotive business. The opportunity to ask questions added even more value to the speakers.
The first was a story about the dynamics of the Ukrainian car market over the past seven years from the head of the Institute of Car Research Stanislav Buchatsky. He clearly demonstrated how it has influenced the import and sale of cars since 2013, and what a unique opportunity has opened up today for representatives of the Ukrainian automotive business.
WEST AUTO HUB Chief Operating Officer Victoria Shlyakhtych spoke about how the pandemic has affected the business of importing and selling used cars. From her own experience, she outlined the changes that have taken place in the market since the spring of 2020.
CEO of the Czech car platform CarVago Jan Kranat spoke about what awaits the European car market in the near future, and also announced the launch of the company in Ukraine. According to him, we are waiting for the transition to buying tested cars online with delivery "under the door".
Oleksandr Onyschuk, Executive Director of the Car Research Institute, explained to the audience why Ukraine is not ready to ban the import and sale of internal combustion engines from 2027, and argued with specific statistics.
Executive director of the companyWEST AUTO HUB Yulia Rykovska stressed the importance of solving the problem of customs valuation, and also proposed a practical solution: automation and publicity. She supported her presentation with clear arguments and implementation options.
AUTO.RIA analyst and co-founder of the Institute of Automotive Research Ostap Novitsky presented the latest trends in the automotive online market. According to him, for successful business, accelerating car sales, it is worth investing in increasing confidence in the brand.
Stanislav Buchatsky, the head of the Car Research Institute, spoke about the value of automotive statistics based on BigData. He clearly demonstrated how you can make decisions based on analytics, as well as what benefits it can give the automotive business.
Proyektna manager of service webex24 Albina Tyupa presented a unique CRM-system for the automation of the automotive business. The main advantage of the product is that it takes into account the peculiarities of the Ukrainian car business, saves time, scales and earns more.
The event was closed by the director of the leasing company MyAuto Alexei Rzhanov. He dedicated his presentation to the power of partnership. He told how cooperation helps to develop the automotive business. In particular, to increase sales through financing instruments — lending and leasing.
Full speeches of speakers, presentations and main theses in the near future look in the section "Projects" on the website of the Institute of Car Research.


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With 100 billion shares authorized and over 21 billion shares outstanding its a wonder 1 billion+ shares in volume didn’t move the stock today. No worries though only 17+ billion of those 21 billion+ are freely trading.
The share count itself makes you wonder why it must be so large. 1/10th of a trillion? Sounds more like something our government would be printing, not a $.0002 penny stock.
The volume for EVFL has been tremendous but the stock just doesn’t budge. Usually massive dilution kills the volume, but in this case it keeps coming. This might give reason to have hope that the stock will break out of its tight range, but taking a closer look at their financials that hope is quickly put to rest.
If you look at the company’s sales revenue for 2009 from the recently released financials you wonder why anyone is buying this stock at all, let alone by the billions. The company reported a sales revenue for the sixth months ended June 2009 of $0. In the 6 months last year they reported some revenue. So the financial report is revealing a company that has gone from producing some revenue to producing absolutely none at all. This is representative of a company that is not growing but illustrates this company has gone from selling a little of something to a lot of nothing. Not even one can of soda, or one truck stop, not even one medicine dropper of bio fuel. Surely this does not urge investors to buy shares from this stock’s already bloated share count?
Then again if this was a rational market a company would never be able to sell 21 billion shares to the public while having another 79 billion left at their disposal. The biggest question here is who is buying this stock and why? Feel free to comment of this. I am all ears.


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With the winter holidays around the corner, you may be contemplating investing in a new computer. And if you think now is the best time to buy a computer, you would be right. With shopping holidays and promotions such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday as well as numerous other sales throughout December on the horizon, it is a smart time to buy a laptop or a desktop computer to maximize savings. That said, there are other times throughout the year that can be advantageous if you're on a budget.
In any case, if you're in the market for a new computer, read on for pro tips -- and the best times of year -- to score the best price.
The Best Time to Buy a Computer
There are exceptions, but as a general rule, the best times to buy a computer are Black Friday, Cyber Monday, three-day weekends (think: Presidents Day weekend), Amazon Prime Day and back-to-school season. Black Friday, in particular, is a beneficial time to save. This year, Black Friday falls on Nov. 29, though some retailers, like Best Buy, Kohl's and J.C. Penney, open on Thanksgiving Day in the afternoon, and begin offering sales the day before Thanksgiving or earlier. For eye-popping discounts for laptops and desktop computers (think: 75% off), shop Black Friday sales. Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 30, is an advantageous day to shop at independent, mom and pop stores. And Cyber Monday on Dec. 2 is an ideal time to capitalize on steep discounts from online retailers.
January, after the Black Friday and holiday shopping hoopla in December, is also a prime time to snag a bargain. "If you are able to be flexible in your requirements, the best overall prices are in January, during post-holiday shopping efforts to clear inventory," says Diana Brown, a technology director for the Puget Sound Education Service District in Seattle. Brown's job involves buying a lot of computers -- and getting the best prices for them. She oversees technology purchases, implementation and operations for the agency and works with multiple entities in school districts and at the state level to make sure that when computers are purchased, schools are getting the best return on their investment.
While the deals available vary, Brown offers up the example of the HP Spectre x360 laptop. She found it on sale on Dec. 27, 2018, for $1,449; on Jan. 10, 2019, it was priced at $1,299.
Another great time to land a bargain is during holiday weekends, including Presidents Day weekend, Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. Amazon Prime Day in mid-July is another prime time to secure deep discounts on laptops and computers, in addition to back-to-school season . Many children and college students are in the market for computers at this time, and so that's a good time to find deals, especially if your state has a sales-tax-free weekend in the summer to encourage shoppers to open their wallets. Last year, 16 states held sales tax holidays in the summer to encourage back-to-school shoppers to spend. Tax holidays can be an advantageous time for students and adults to buy a desktop or laptop, though there are sometimes limits on how much the computer can cost to avoid sales tax.
The Best Times to Buy an Apple Computer
When shopping for a new computer, you need to prioritize what you're looking for: Do you want the best price or the newest product? While you can find discounts for desktop and laptop computers during the holidays for all brands, you may want to buy an Apple computer at a different time if the goal is to get the lowest price. In other words, if a new Apple product comes out, you'll want to look at what the new desktop or laptop replaced. You may want to buy an older version, which is likely to be offered at a steep discount.
As for the best time to buy an Apple desktop or laptop, Brown suggests typical shopping holidays and holiday weekends. That said, she says she has had particular luck getting good deals on Apple laptops and desktops during Black Friday.
The Best Times to Buy a Microsoft Computer
If you're interested in a Microsoft laptop, it's best to stick to shopping holidays and the aforementioned times of year. Brown says that if you don't end up buying a desktop or laptop during the holidays, you'll have plenty of other chances to get a good deal.
"For those with the patience, or who are planning ahead, Amazon Prime Day in July is also becoming a force in sales. Other vendors match prices or plan sales of their own to capitalize on the shopping frenzy," Brown says.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Computer
While timing is important when it comes to scoring a good deal, you'll want to think beyond the date you make a purchase. Take the following considerations into account before you buy.
Price. Dan Gudema, a software developer in Boca Raton, Florida, says that the bigger your family, the better the odds you shouldn't purchase a new computer every time you need to buy one. "We don't believe it is necessary to buy new computers," Gudema says.
Gudema and his wife have two sons, ages 9 and 10. In total, they have five computers; two are Gudema's for work. Sometimes, they'll purchase new computers, but Gudema has had luck buying used computers off of Craigslist. If you're interested in buying used Apple products that have been tested by Apple and come with a one-year warranty, check out the "refurbished" section on Apple.com.
Brown says that used Apple computers and desktops are often a great deal. "Like comparably priced PCs, Apple hardware is high-end and has a long life. For this reason, refurbs from the Apple store site can be a great option," she says.
Gudema also often purchases refurbished computers or open-box computers, which simply means the customer returned the computer in the box, but the computer has been inspected. Often, you'll get a pretty decent discount -- say, 20% -- but you'll want to make sure there's a warranty available before you buy an open-box computer.
In any case, Gudema says that with young children, going cheaper is often a smart way to go. "Trust me, making a major investment with kids who destroy things is not a great thing to do. What is most important for us is making sure we are all satisfied," he says.
Features. If you buy a cheap computer that doesn't work for you, you'll end up wasting a lot of money. If you're a serious gamer or are running a business, you might want to opt for buying a computer from a company that builds computers on demand.
Tim Lynch, owner of Psychsoftpc, an artisanal computer hardware manufacturer based out of Quincy, Massachusetts, says that while "many folks will be satisfied with a cheap machine" at big-box stores and office supply stores, you're taking a risk. "They will perform OK for internet browsing, word processing, email and the occasional non-complex spreadsheet, but (computer users) will struggle to handle gaming, video streaming and will find virtual reality an impossibility," Lynch says. He says that with 64-bit operating systems, even the cheap machines should have at least 8 gigabytes of RAM.
Both Lynch and Gudema say that if you see a computer with 4 gigabytes, it's extremely cheap, and you should stay clear. Brown agrees that 8 gigabytes should be your minimum. "If you tend to keep lots of programs open at the same time, or lots of web browser windows, more memory will reduce the amount of time you spend waiting to switch between them or load new ones," she says.
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The guidelines will help health-care workers and public health officials who work with children to save lives that might otherwise be lost, Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a joint NIH/CDC news releacai sold in what stores guaranteed cheapest Acai
Lifestyle or dietary changes may also help to minimize side effects.
www.acaiselect.strefa.pl 2007 (C)


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Innova Advertising, an innovative marketing firm based in Singapore, launched JoinWASP, a unique advertising concept, dubbed the AirBnB of WiFi, which allows venues in locations around the world to rent out their idle or unused WiFi to businesses and advertisers. These venues include cafes, day spas, shopping malls, hotels, motels and other places of business that large groups of people frequent. Overall, JoinWASP is promoting a sharing economy and helping to reduce the carbon footprint by lessening the need for paper-based marketing.
For more information visit http://joinwasp.com.
Launched in February 2017, JoinWASP uses the growing WiFi trend to its advantage. Recent research suggests wired data is slowly becoming redundant, with WiFi data downloads predicted to surpass old hard wired technology by 2018.
Subsequently, JoinWASP created a winning WiFi solution for venues and businesses. Venues benefit by making the most of their under-utilized WiFi, and businesses gain greater exposure and don’t waste precious paper resources. Plus, they can track their marketing success with greater efficiency.
The JoinWASP medium uses images and video, as well as lead generation techniques to convey messages. Also, WASP is 100% digital so businesses can enhance user experience to engage and encourage action. These ads are also changeable and include hyper-location targeting so businesses can specify where ads appear.
As a division of Innova Advertising, JoinWASP shares the common vision of connecting people everywhere to everything via a WiFi partnership. As such, both companies seek to enhance user experiences by providing engaging software that is effective and sustainable.
When asked why they have launched the JoinWASP free WiFi concept CEO Lee KamFai said, “We believe that Asia is a booming travel region and that means an increase in travellers who’ll want WiFi access. Coupled with the fact that mobile data consumption is ever increasing with video downloads, AR and VR on the rise there’s no better way to capture attention by giving away Internet access in exchange for seeing a few ads.”
To find out more about JoinWASP and the free WiFi solution visit http://joinwasp.com.
Release ID: 176178


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Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten is pressing on with its plans for the North American e-commerce market after it confirmed that it has acquired Ebates, a major online retailer in the US, in a $1 billion deal.
The deal has been speculated earlier this week, and it will see Rakuten acquire 100 percent of Ebates. Rakuten founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said that “the combination of Rakuten and Ebates is entirely unique and will revolutionize e-commerce.” The market didn’t appear to agree with that assessment on Monday, when Rakuten’s share price dropped 4 percent based on the rumors.
Rakuten — which previously bought Western online retailers Buy.com and Play.com — says Ebates’ members spent more than $2.2 billion on its business last year.
Update: Ebates does not own Shopping.com as we initially reported. Apologies for any confusion.
Thumbnail image via Getty Images


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200,000 Cars Produced over 10 Years Ago were Bought by Bulgarians in 2017Business | January 8, 2018, Monday // 11:04| views
Last year, for every new vehicle purchased five were second hand, more than ten years old as well, according to the Traffic Police, according to the daily Dnevnik. Total fleet in the country has grown by 306,421 vehicles, vans, minibuses, trucks, buses and motorcycles. Among them the brand new are 39 094. Manufactured more than ten years ago are almost 200 thousand motor vehicles.
As of 1 January this year there are over 3.44 million vehicles in all categories in Bulgaria. Most are cars - more than 2.77 million. Freight cars are nearly 373,000, and mopeds and motorcycles are almost 180,000. Buses are nearly 21,000. Of the entire fleet, 1.34 million vehicles are more than 20 years old and 1.04 million were produced between 15 and 20 years ago.
In Bulgaria there are only 3487 hybrids and only 384 electric cars.
A look at the fuel used by the fleet shows that almost 1.4 million vehicles rely on gasoline. Diesel fills nearly 1.2 million vehicles
There are a total of 171 338 vehicles on propane-butane and methane, according to the Ministry of Interior. This too small number can be explained by the fact that only the cars relying on gas at the moment of their registration at the Traffic Police stations, but not those processed after their purchase, fall into the figure.
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TV presenter and pig farmer Jimmy Doherty will star in three short films on Channel 4 On Demand to raise consumer awareness about British pork.
The three-minute films, which will air for the first time today (3 January), will run for eight weeks and form park of the “Give a Fork About Your Pork” campaign, which has been developed with the aim of engaging consumers about the Red Tractor Pork brand.
The campaign comes at a critical stage, with the 1 January sow stall ban coming in to place across Europe and in the wake of Sainsbury’s decision to remove the Red Tractor logo from packaging.
The three films featuring Mr Doherty will tell the story of Red Tractor pork production in an entertaining and accessible way, communicating the core values and benefits – such as full chain assurance, responsible farming and stringent production standards.
Shorter versions of the films will also be available for viewing on a Channel 4 microsite.
BPEX interim head of marketing Karen Hughes said: “The campaign message seeks to prompt people to think about what they are buying, then make a conscious decision to choose Red Tractor pork – which in turn will help to support the British pig farmers.
“A recent survey that we [BPEX] undertook told us that people are willing to back Britain’s pig farmers and this will point them in the right direction.”
Keep up to date with all the latest global pig and poultry news


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Android has many OEM has it is open source, but now windows phone is catching up too. French OEM, Ucall has announced that they will eb churning out
The Nokia Lumia 520 was the last year’s top selling Windows Phone. It single handedly made a huge impact in budget phone market dominated by cheap Android phones.
In November, Nokia released successor to the Lumia 520, the 525. If you live in China, and want to get your hands on 520’s successor, you will have


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HM Payson & Co. trimmed its position in Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 115,952 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 1,578 shares during the quarter. HM Payson & Co.’s holdings in Walmart were worth $13,780,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vectors Research Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walmart by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vectors Research Management LLC now owns 32,848 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,898,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the period. Waratah Capital Advisors Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Walmart by 58.2% during the third quarter. Waratah Capital Advisors Ltd. now owns 22,376 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,656,000 after buying an additional 8,233 shares during the period. UMA Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Walmart during the third quarter valued at $369,000. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1.4% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 70,612,397 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,380,279,000 after acquiring an additional 985,538 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MV Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 6.2% in the third quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,908 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $582,000 after acquiring an additional 285 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 30.37% of the company’s stock.
Several research analysts have issued reports on WMT shares. Robert W. Baird reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, February 14th. Atlantic Securities initiated coverage on Walmart in a research note on Thursday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $130.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank decreased their target price on shares of Walmart from $132.00 to $129.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $125.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Cfra cut their price objective on shares of Walmart from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and twenty-two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $126.21.
WMT traded down $1.22 on Thursday, hitting $108.19. 4,896,423 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 14,243,322. Walmart Inc has a 12-month low of $96.53 and a 12-month high of $128.08. The company has a 50 day moving average of $115.44 and a 200-day moving average of $117.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $325.80 billion, a PE ratio of 20.84, a PEG ratio of 4.56 and a beta of 0.42.
Walmart (NYSE:WMT) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The retailer reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.43 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $141.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $141.67 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.84% and a return on equity of 18.16%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.41 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc will post 5.11 EPS for the current year.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 4th. Investors of record on Friday, December 11th will be given a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.00%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 10th. Walmart’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.81%.
Walmart Inc engages in the retail and wholesale operations in various formats worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, discount stores, drugstores, and convenience stores; membership-only warehouse clubs; e-commerce Websites, such as walmart.com, jet.com, shoes.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications.
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Kia sent the new generation Sorento for testing the strict Swedish winter. Our spies caught him running the utility renovated accompanied by an Audi Q5, indicating that the South Korean automaker was making comparisons between them.
In the last days of 2013, Lamborghini released the first official pictures and information about Huracan, the Gallardo replacement. According to the manufacturer, since then, 700 orders have already been made by the model.
JAC Motors revealed on Tuesday (11) the arrival of the van T8 to the Brazilian market. Aiming to be the pioneer in the segment, the model will be sold for R $ 114,990 and bet on the large internal space for up to seven occupants.


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Meta has announced the launch of Meta AI in South Africa with built-in Llama 3 on WhatsApp. This is a leapfrog step for…
As the international economy recovers, the Latin American startup culture follows suit with an economic boom. Technology is becoming more readily available allowing ventures to be empowered autonomously. Also, features such as government initiatives encouraging entrepreneurship, or the general attractiveness of the startup culture is adding momentum. As mentioned by trendwatching.com in this report, both consumers and entrepreneurs are moving away from government associated jobs and services. At the same time governments in South and Central America are encouraging entrepreneurial growth.
Recently tech startups around the globe and in South and Central America have started to receive an almost-celebrity status as “65% of Brazilians aged 18 – 32 said they intend to start a business, against a global average of 48%.” Chile, Brazil and Mexico have already been credited with their efforts in becoming entrepreneurial hubs in Latin America via Silicon Valley-inspired government efforts and regulations.
Moving away from government bureaucracy
Examples of these startups curbed by current South and Central American trends include PagPop who was inspired by US-based startup, Square. It’s an e-payment company that was launched last year March — together with their app and a card reader users can receive credit card payments without having to go through the red tape.
Neosite together with other South and Central American collaborations, including the most recent Santander bank in Chile, give essential tools to help small businesses grow in today’s competitive digital marketing environment. The website creation platform is offered for free to bank members who want to promote and sell products and services online. This shows how initiatives are encouraging other ventures through creating and using their websites.
Direct selling and p2p encouraged startups
GenStok allows anyone to open an online store. By acting as the third-party link between sellers and suppliers this venture is commission-based. Users choose their products, GenStok finds the suppliers and together with a subscription fee, takes care of the web-hosting and logistics. Another strong element contributing to the nature of this environment is the fact that South and Central America is the world’s second biggest market for direct selling. Last year, more than 1.2-million direct sellers were recorded in Venezuela.
In order to cut through the red tape and increase transparency, ventures are starting to steer toward informal and innovative solutions to gain venture capital. “Juntos” in Spanish or coming together through common interests also plays a big role. The internet enables people of the informal economy to seek opportunities through peer-to-peer networking or crowdfunding. An estimated half of the economy’s people earn their income via informal jobs and find it difficult to gain access to traditional means of financing.
Using p2p financing and lower interest rates than those offered by banks, Cumplo offers loans to small businesses in Chile. Inspired by America’s Prosper.com, Cumplo attracted legal action from major banks in Chile claiming its practices are undermining government regulations.
ASAP.me or (As Sustainable As Possible) aims to crowdsource ideas in order to brand, manufacture and engineer sustainable products. It uses the community to post ‘challenges’ and rewards users with ‘influence’ points and royalties on sales.
Idea.me who is in Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Chile is a crowdfunding commission-based platform that encourages entrepreneurs even if they don’t reach their final funding goal.
Economic factors and governments’ thumbs-up
Together with the current prosperity that some South and Central American countries have achieved, inequality remains high and thus education too, remains much in demand. Brazil for example, that has been one of the countries with the largest inequality gap, has been making headway during the last decade as the number of Brazilians “graduating from university has increased by 100% in 10 years.” Startups contributing to this education gap include Vivo , a text-messaging language learning programme for Spanish users and Qranio (created by Vivo) — the startup uses virtual currency and badges to encourage users to take part in furthering their general knowledge by answering questions. Credit earned can be used to buy books, clothes or DVDs for example where a paid subscription rewards users with double credits.
Government thumbs-up and hands-off approach is furthered by the new jobs these ventures bring as well as investments. Partnerships and initiatives such as Cumplo or Neosite encourage entrepreneurial growth by offering more affordable services essential to startups. It’s much easier for people now to get their own businesses on track. Concepts such as peer-to-peer financing shows us how entrepreneurs are participating and collaborating while at the same time being driven by autonomy as opposed to government-related job environments or stagnating bureaucracies.


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Automakers make halo cars to drum up excitement and show off what they can do, but there's more to it than that. Advanced platforms allow a company's engineers to experiment with all sorts of technologies. And in the case of the upcoming new Acura NSX, that includes new paint processes.
- Ferrari celebrates 70th anniversary in Monterey
- Nissan Midnight Edition Titan and Frontier
- Find and compare 2017 models
There are no questions about this topic.Be the first to ask!


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PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Familia Camarena Tequila announced today that the company will enter a third consecutive season as an "Official Sponsor of the Phoenix Suns." Recently named one of the fastest growing spirits brands in the U.S. by Technomic's Adult Beverage Resource Group, Camarena Tequila's roster of professional sports partnerships across the nation continues to bolster brand exposure and growth. Terms of the partnership renewal with the Suns will maintain home game brand exposure, as well as English and Spanish in-game radio broadcasts during the 2011-2012 regular season.
"Our fan experience is only as good as our partners," said Matt Wright, Vice President of Sales for the Phoenix Suns. "Partners like Camarena Tequila have added an exciting aspect to the Phoenix Suns stadium experience and we are pleased to team up with Camarena for another season at US Airways Center."
"Partnering with the Phoenix Suns has been instrumental in generating exposure for Camarena Tequila in the Arizona market," said Gerard Thoukis, Senior Director of Marketing for Camarena. "We look forward to another mutually rewarding season with this first-class franchise."
Announcement of Familia Camarena Tequila's partnership renewal with the Suns rounds out the brand's professional sports sponsorship roster, including 2012 partnerships with six Major League Baseball clubs and four National Football League teams.
About Familia Camarena Tequila
With a legacy of six generations of tequila making experience, Familia Camarena Tequila is made from 100 percent blue agave grown in the Los Altos Highlands region of Jalisco, one of Mexico's most prestigious tequila districts. Produced in Arandas at the family-owned and operated distillery, each bottle is double distilled, as well as bottled, labeled and packaged with personal care and attention. The Familia Camarena Tequila portfolio includes a 100% Blue Agave Silver and a 100% Blue Agave Reposado, which is aged for a minimum of two months in both new and used American oak barrels. For more information on Familia Camarena Tequila, visit www.tequilacamarena.com. Tequila, Alcohol 40% by Volume (80 proof) ©2012 Alto Spirits Company, Hayward, CA. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Familia Camarena Tequila


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US oil and gas major offers 'respect and support' for global ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, but campaigners remain less than convinced
ExxonMobil has unveiled several short term targets to tackle its carbon intensity, methane emissions, and flaring activity in a new climate plan it claims is "projected to be consistent with the goals...
'Leading by example': Green economy welcomes stretching target to slash UK emissions 78 per cent by 2035
But big questions remain over how the UK will meet hugely ambitious new targets, after government signalled it will not sign off on all the CCC's policy recommendations
Tech giant pledges to deliver carbon neutral operations by 2025 and a net zero emission value chain by 2040
British fashion brand launches ‘made to last’ sustainability manifesto geared at transforming into a fully regenerative and circular business model by 2030
Netflix, Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, and Salesforce also among founding members of Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA)


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Home Tags MasterCard
IDEX Biometrics, a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, has been fully certified by Mastercard, a leading multinational financial services corporation.
Mastercard and Riskified have announced a partnership designed to help businesses increase eCommerce revenues while reducing fraud. It is hoped that the collaboration will provide...
SmartMetric, a pioneer in the development of biometric credit cards, has recently celebrated the adoption of its advanced security technology by leading payment networks, Visa and MasterCard.
Mastercard, a renowned multinational financial services corporation, is enhancing its fraud protection for eCommerce merchants by integrating Vesta Solutions, an industry leader in payment fraud protection, into Mastercard's Payment Gateway Services (MPGS).
Payment giant Mastercard has acquired Swedish cybersecurity platform Baffin Bay Networks to help businesses deal with increasingly challenging cyber attacks.
Visa and Mastercard have cited fraud and increased competition to justify post-Brexit fee increases on cross-border payments from the UK, Finextra has revealed.
Mastercard has revealed it is linking all employee bonuses to the firm’s environmental, social and corporate-governance (ESG) performance.
The UK’s Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has issued fines to Mastercard, allpay, Advanced Payment Solutions, Prepaid Financial Services and Sulion.
Saudi Arabia’s only financial payments company Saudi Payments (SP) has introduced ‘sarie’ – an instant payments system – in collaboration with IBM and Mastercard.


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Sioux Falls Police Still Searching for Credit Card Scam Suspects. Over $65,000 Stolen in 3 Days!
A credit card scam has netted two teams of people tens of thousands of dollars, and police say they haven't been caught yet.
Sioux Falls Police Captain Blaine Larsen says investigators believe two Asian women are working with two Asian men, and another team is four black males:
Larsen says the scammers appear to be targeting Walmart, Dollar General, Walgreen's and Target stores in Sioux Falls and other cities driving rental cars and using credit cards stolen from other places.
Larsen says the Asian group was in Sioux Falls one day in June and three days in July, cheating stores out of $66,000, and the team of four black males targeted Dollar General stores in Flandreau and Madison on July 18th.


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Cliff Thomason left the real estate business last year to become something of a pioneer: a hemp farmer.
The Grants Pass, Oregon, man was the first in the state to legally grow hemp, after Oregon began licensing growers in 2014, joining 17 other states nationwide that have differentiated hemp from marijuana and set up separate regulatory systems for growing it. But Thomason is one of only 43 farmers in the state targeting their efforts at producing seed and fiber, as opposed to the cannabidiol oil extracted from hemp stalk and used both as a balancer of the psychoactive properties of marijuana and a purely medicinal product, easing symptoms from back pain to anxiety. In the booming cannabis industry, hemp has become a neglected stepchild.
Grown for millennia, hemp’s uses as fiber and even building materials are apparently endless, but the hemp industry now finds itself completely overshadowed by its sexier cousin: marijuana. Legal pot in four states and the District of Columbia has resulted in a groundswell of attention and cash for a booming new industry, but the much more useful crop that was banned by the same federal law that halted legal marijuana in Oregon isn’t reaping much benefit. [Read more at Newsweek]


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We connect everything to our phones: accessories, refrigerators, health trackers and even payment cards. Joining that list today is a new bicycle lock, of all things, that’s capable of alerting users when their lock is being tampered with, or even when there’s an emergency. Built by ex-Boeing and Jawbone engineers, Skylock is a new device based on the familiar U-shaped locks so many cyclists rely on to keep thieves at bay. But instead of just being a hunk of durable metal, Skylock, built by Velo Labs, has capabilities beyond your traditional bike lock. For one, it uses a new proprietary dual locking design that promises to be twice as safe as a traditional u-lock, and it can be unlocked right from your phone.
Using Bluetooth Low-Energy, Wi-Fi and an accelerometer, Skylock is much more than meets the eye. Through an app on your phone, the device uses its sensors for a theft alert system, and will send notifications to your device when someone so much as breathes on Skylock. In the video (below), you simply log Skylock into a local Wi-Fi network, and it’ll send you alerts; as an alternative, alerts can also be sent via Bluetooth, so long as you’re in close range. But that’s just the tip of what Skylock can do.
While connected through Bluetooth, the lock is also capable of determining when a cyclist has been in an accident. If Skylock detects a strong impact, a user will be pinged with a notification to see if they’re safe. If a user doesn’t respond within a pre-determined set of time, Skylock will automatically alert emergency contacts. It’s a nice idea—but hopefully it doesn’t lead to some false emergencies, like if a rider forgets to acknowledge a notification, or Skylock just mistakes an impact for something unrelated to an accident.
The lock itself is equipped with a rechargeable solar battery that only needs an hour of sunlight to provide enough power for an entire week; a fully charged battery is estimated to last an entire month, executives said.
“As a former engineer at Boeing, I have spent years working on tanks, helicopters and aircrafts, and while these forms of transportation have made huge leaps in safety and connectivity, the bike is still stuck in the 19th century,” said Velo Labs co-founder Jack Al-Kahwati. “We wanted to take on the challenge of bringing cycling into the future.”
Starting today, a crowd funding campaign has begun for Skylock, with units expected to ship in early 2015. During the campaign, the Skylock will start at $159, though the price will go up to $249 when it hits retail. As a bonus, folks who buy the lock will receive $10 off the order good for up to 16 referred customers. In addition to its theft and emergency features, Skylock also has a community-driven bike sharing aspect to it, allowing users to lend out their bike while keeping track of it through the Skylock app. If you’re a big cyclist, and want a futuristic lock that does more, give Skylock a look.


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The South African ports authority has asked the ports regulator to approve its application for an 8% tariff increase.
The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) application was presented at a meeting in Port Elizabeth with a raft of developments, including news of the authority’s new “smart ports” strategy and key vessel acquisitions for Ngqura and Port Elizabeth.
The timeline for the new tank farm at Ngqura was also spelt out.
The meeting was hosted by the Ports Regulator of South Africa as part of a road show to ensure broad public participation in the assessment of the TNPA’s application.
The application for an overall 8% raise on tariffs for use of South African ports includes a13.25% “marine tariff” levied on shipping lines, which representatives said was prohibitively high considering the economic pressure on the industry.
TNPA chief financial officer Mohammed Abdul responded that while the authority was “not oblivious” to this situation, shipping companies had to “improve their contribution to the pie” to allow for the ports to function.
Aegean Bunkering Marine Services representative Kosta Argyros said that for overseas companies operating in dollars, the TNPA tariffs were not expensive.
But he called for an extension of the pilot discount incentive for South African vessels.
“With these vessels you know the money is staying here and there is employment of South African crews, so a discount makes sense,” Argyros said.
Responding to a question on how the tariff application could be justified against the TNPA ‘s stated 4.8% business growth rate, Abdul said the authority needed to sustain itself to be able to continue to deliver port services.
He said a smart ports strategy geared around joint operations centres (JOCs) was being rolled out through each of the country’s main harbours.
“Through all the different interface points, as a ship approaches port – from before the breakwater through to the quay, storage, offloading of cargo onto the train – there is currently a paper trail,” Abdul said.
“The aim is to automate this system and to install an integrated electronic port communication system.”
Port Elizabeth port manager Rajesh Dana said besides these smart port initiatives, other measures taken in the Bay harbour included a modern surveillance system and an under-keel clearance system to help guide ships more safely.
Port of Ngqura manager Mpumi Dweba said besides the JOC established in Port Elizabeth to oversee both ports, her team was looking to establish a dedicated centre at Ngqura.
The centre would be aimed at “de-bottlenecking” problems and improving offloading and turnaround times for berthed ships, she said.
Abdul said the Port Elizabeth Harbour had taken possession of two new tugs as part of a R1.45-billion deal to renew its tug fleet, as well as anew 90-ton boat hoist to assist with boat repairs.
Training schools had been established at ports around the country and in the Bay, with the focus on electrical and millwright apprenticeships.
Abdul said the finalization of a contract to build a new tank farm at Ngqura was imminent, and once the deal was signed the project would take two years to complete.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.


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Forbes writes about cheaper alternatives to various software applications:
the future will be dreadful for software vendors like IBM (nyse: IBM – news – people ), Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT – news – people ) and Oracle. Customers will balk at ever-escalating prices for mainstream products and will opt whenever they can for bargain-basement software based on freely available code, such as MySQL or the Linux operating system. They’re using the mere threat of installing this open-source software to browbeat Oracle and Microsoft into coming back with better prices.
And, increasingly, customers are refusing to buy software at all, instead renting it over the Internet from service providers like Salesforce.com (nyse: CRM – news – people ) and Ketera, whose fees are 50% to 80% lower than the cost of installing and maintaining the packaged software equivalent. Venture investors are pumping millions into new low-cost providers, encouraged by the success of cheapware pioneers like Salesforce.com and Linux distributor Red Hat (nasdaq: RHAT – news – people ), which boast market values of $1 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively.
“There’s just no reason for customers to be paying so much for software,” says Marten Mickos, chief executive of MySQL AB, in Uppsala, Sweden. “Software is not rocket science. It’s a commodity. The business has been overglorified for 20 years.”
A presentation as part of the article outlines the alternatives.


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Apple plans to join a small but growing number of companies that are bringing some manufacturing jobs back to the United States, drawn by the growing economic and political advantages of producing in their home market.
On Thursday, Apple’s chief executive, Timothy D. Cook, who built its efficient Asian manufacturing network, said the company would invest $100 million in producing some of its Mac computers in the United States, beyond the assembly work it already does in the United States. He provided little detail about how the money would be spent or what kinds of workers might benefit.
Apple, which long manufactured parts in the United States but stopped about a decade ago, has been under pressure to create more jobs here given its market power. It sold 237 million iPods, iPads, Macs and other devices in the year ended in September.
“I don’t think we have a responsibility to create a certain kind of job,” Mr. Cook told Bloomberg Businessweek. “But I think we do have a responsibility to create jobs.”...
...Other computer manufacturing has been trickling back to the United States after largely shifting overseas in the 1990s.
In October, Lenovo, the computer giant based in China, said it would begin making its Think-branded computers, including notebooks, desktops and some tablets, at a facility in Whitsett, N.C. The move will create 115 manufacturing jobs at the plant, the company said.
Mark Stanton, director of global supply chain communications for Lenovo, said that moving the jobs to the United States would allow Lenovo to offer faster turnaround times for its customers in North America than if the machines were coming from overseas, and that the company was not specifically creating the American jobs because of any political pressure.
“We’re certainly not unaware of the economic situation and political environment,” he said. “It’s an added benefit, but we didn’t go in with that premise. We went in with a business case.”...
Not coincidentally, Ford recently announced that it was adding 1,200 jobs in Michigan, and foreign-owned auto manufacturers like Honda and Volkswagen have also invested in more hiring and training in Indiana and Tennessee...
...On Thursday, the White House said it was encouraging to see more big American companies bringing back manufacturing.
“Policy matters, and our country is pushing policies that encourage manufacturing, R.& D., infrastructure, skills and the support for growing supply chains,” said Gene Sperling, director of the president’s National Economic Council. “I think what you want is a mutually reinforcing cycle, where basic economic trends that make the U.S. more competitive for manufacturing and for creating supply chains is encouraged and supported by policies that recognize those location decisions have broader spillover impacts that benefit the economy beyond specific companies.”
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I’ve never really been a fan of virtual reality, but it’s hard to dispute that it is growing in popularity. Indeed, a recent study from academics from Oxford University found that VR simulations can help those suffering from paranoia.
“Paranoia all too often leads to isolation, unhappiness, and profound distress. But the exceptionally positive immediate results for the patients in this study show a new route forward in treatment. In just a thirty minute session, those who used the right psychological techniques showed major reductions in paranoia,” the authors say.
This rapidly expanding range of applications creates something of a bottleneck in terms of the footage available for these various applications to use.
It’s a problem that a new service from VideoBlocks hopes to rectify. They’re offering a stock video service much along the vein of stock image services. They will offer a range of 2D and 3D virtual reality footage to customers to download on a royalty free basis.
Suffice to say, at the moment, the footage is relatively sparce, with four 4k videos currently available, with a further 30 videos available via the marketplace hosted on the site that matches up the VR community.
The lack of available footage is undoubtedly the core failing in the platform at the moment, but with VR usage set to rise, it will be an interesting site to monitor should they manage to beef up their archive.


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We've hit a clear saturation point when it comes to "unnatural" hair colors. (If that word doesn't give you scary flashbacks to high school dress-code policies, we don't know what will.) Thanks to celebrities, bomb-ass colorists, and the rising influence of Instagram, we're seeing more and more people dyeing their strands every shade from pink to platinum to green — sometimes all at once.
And it's not just gals who've developed a taste for bright, candy-colored hues. Male celebrities have taken to wild hair dye recently — a trend we absolutely love, but can't say we saw coming. Their influence is spreading to the everyday dude as well. "In the past year, I've seen so many requests to lighten male clients' hair by double process," says Lucille Javier, a colorist at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City. "They're also deciding to take the plunge into creative color."
She can't exactly pinpoint what caused the shift, but she imagines the thought process was similar to that of women. "Men these days are not afraid to be more expressive with their hair," she says. Men and women no longer see hair color as something that just covers grays. (While we're on the subject, grays have also become less of a stigma.)
Javier embraces this change, and believes it will only continue from here. "Whatever feels authentic for you is what I'm rooting for here," she says. "We are all trying to find a statement look each season. This just happens to include a little bleach."
Looking for inspiration? Click through to see some famous dudes who have already taken the colorful plunge.


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Book A Table
We are pleased to announce that for the month of July, D&D London will be partnering with Hospitality Action, who work to support hospitality workers in vulnerable or challenging positions.
We will be working to raise awareness for the charity, as well as hosting exciting events and competitions, all in support of Hospitality Action.
We will also be adding a discretionary £1 to your bill when you dine with us which will go directly to Hospitality Action, supporting the work that they do to offer advice, support and assistance to those in need.
About Hospitality Action
Behind their smiles and slick service, hospitality workers can fall upon hard times just like anybody else. Ours can be a stressful industry, with long hours, high pressure environments and physically demanding work.
Hospitality Action have assisted hospitality people for over 185 years. They were one of the first UK charities to mount an emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. As the pandemic unfolded their response continually evolved to lessen the financial and mental health impact on the most vulnerable people in our industry. Since the on-set of the pandemic Hospitality Action have been able to assist some 7,000 hospitality households with nearly £2.5million in grants. All told they now provide a safety net for more than 170,000 UK hospitality workers and their families.
To learn more visit: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk


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As a general rule, we all know it is not a good idea to scrape content from a website, yet some companies persist in this behaviour contrary to law and best practice.
The Equifax decision and related compliance agreement between the OPC and Equifax Canada that that sets out detailed timelines for various corrective measures to be put in place by Equifax Canada regarding consent, safeguards and accountability in addition to six years of third party audits, offers a treasure trove of practical lessons for organizations looking to comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (as well as some surprises).
On Feb. 27, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced that operators of the video networking app Musical.ly (now known as TikTok), had agreed to pay US$5.7 million to settle allegations that they had illegally collected personal information from children in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Act. The order marks the highest civil penalty ever obtained by the FTC in a children’s privacy case.
In addition to ensuring their compliance with Canada’s new federal mandatory data breach and breach-of-security-safeguards reporting requirements under the private sector Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, federally regulated financial institutions will soon have additional regulatory reporting requirements regarding technology and cybersecurity incidents, thanks to a recent Advisory promulgated by The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
With much fanfare, recreational cannabis became legal in Canada on October 17, 2018. On December 17, 2018, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada published preliminary guidance for cannabis retailers and customers regarding the protection of personal information collected during such transactions, including online transactions.
Canada has added its voice to the global chorus of data protection and privacy commissioners calling for fairness, transparency and privacy by design as 'core values' in the development of artificial intelligence by co-sponsoring the Declaration on Ethics and Data Protection in Artificial Intelligence.
On Sept. 28, California became the first U.S. state to specifically regulate the security of connected devices, otherwise known as the Internet of Things or IoT devices.
It’s fair to say that new breach-reporting requirements represent a sea change in how many organizations will manage their unauthorized disclosures of personal information.
As the use of AI proliferates and as the systems themselves become more autonomous, the risk that they will cause harm to property or individuals naturally increases. It is now unclear how and if the existing Canadian legal framework will apply to damages or losses resulting from AI use or operation.
A recent decision of the Federal Court has confirmed that, under its existing legislation, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service cannot obtain warrants to collect information or intelligence if the requested warrant has extraterritorial effect.


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October 21-23, 2011 at the Alliant Energy Center
A weekend of wine, samples and competition at the 10th annual Madison Food & Wine Show. Photos by Larry Chua.
This article appears in the October 2011 issue of Madison Magazine
Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Madison Magazine »
Can Madison’s exploding entrepreneurial ecosystem give women an edge?
By Brennan Nardi
The Willy Street shop serves the classics plus a few unorthodox options
Let the Madison craft beer explosion continue!
A trip to balmy San Diego isn’t complete without hitting the beach or ordering a crispy fish taco. But the city’s coolest destinations have roots that run deep.
Food & Dining |
Arts & Entertainment |
Shopping & Style |
Best Of |
Copyright 2014 Madison Magazine. All rights reserved.


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Soon, you’ll be able to collect and trade some of your favorite TV shows as NFTs.
ViacomCBS Inc. has partnered with leading non-fungible token (NFT) company RECUR to create a platform in which fans can buy, collect, and trade NFTs as digital products. Fans of ViacomCBS’ portfolio of brands will have access to the company’s catalog, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and Showtime Networks Inc.
Using a chain-agnostic approach, the ViacomCBS and RECUR platform will accept most U.S. digital payments via credit card and debit card. The space promises to be rooted in community building and will encourage peer-to-peer engagement by offering innovative ways for users to discover new experiences.
“Fueled by beloved characters and iconic properties with multi-generational appeal, we are thrilled to accelerate our consumer products presence even further into the growing metaverse,” says Pam Kaufman, president of ViacomCBS consumer products. “In teaming up with RECUR to create an NFT platform dedicated to ViacomCBS IP, voracious collectors and first-time NFT buyers alike will find unique opportunities to own a piece of their favorite franchise.”
The ViacomCBS and RECUR platform will launch in spring 2022.


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The e-commerce merchants are required to technologically do more to put into practice certain fraud prevention strategies across their e-commerce channels.
Given the current market scenario, the value of losses due to increasing e-commerce fraud will rise this year. The value will rise from $17.5 billion in 2020 to more than $20 billion by 2021. This indicates a growth of almost 18% over a single year, a recent research study from Juniper Research reveals.
The researchers found that online fraudsters have been targeting consumers as they have increased their online shopping. This has exposed several insecure fraud mitigation processes from retailers who are unfamiliar as well as unprepared for the rolling challenges in this market.
The study showed that the merchants are required to do more (technologically) to put into practice certain fraud prevention strategies – spanning all of their e-commerce channels. Otherwise, businesses will continue to experience huge business losses and data theft.
The industry experts believe the use of artificial intelligence can enable behavioral biometrics in this aspect. It will increase the security spanning all potential fraud channels. The study found that even if merchants are keen to reduce fraud rates from their existing levels, they will be reluctant to introduce new friction in the checkout process.
It was also observed that a clear messaging around security checks as well as automated behavioural analytics that leverage AI, is the key capabilities for preserving the evolving user experience.
In this context, Susan Morrow, research co-author explains – “While the need for security is greater than ever, the competitive e-commerce environment means merchants will need to ensure that extra security checks are justified to the user, or they risk higher cart abandonment rates.”
In this scenario, China will be the largest single e-commerce fraud market in the world. It will account for more than 40% of the e-commerce fraud losses in 2025 worldwide, at over $12 billion. The massive e-commerce market and a relative lack of scam detection as well as prevention platform adoption are the key drivers behind this.
The researchers of this study suggest that online businesses operating in China should increasingly invest in fraud detection and prevention now. If not, they will gradually face more damage to their current business operating margins.


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Living in bustling Kuala Lumpur can sometimes be stressful because one can be caught in heavy traffic just heading out to purchase groceries.
Now with just a swipe on your smartphone, HappyFresh revolutionises the grocery shopping experience unlike any other online grocery delivery service application.
Partnering with some of the biggest names in retail such as MBG Fruitshop, Sam’s Groceria and Farmer’s Market, HappyFresh has now included Jasons Food Hall into their expanding list of partnering retailers.
Jasons Food Hall provides local and international products in the vicinity of Bangsar and Kuala Lumpur.
“The partnership between Jasons Food Hall and HappyFresh is an opportunity to increase visibility and coverage to the rising number of consumers who use digital platform as their primary means of purchasing goods and services,” said GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd operations director Ernest Potgieter, on the partnership with Jasons Food Hall.
In line with HappyFresh’s first year anniversary, the delivery application’s partnership with Jasons Food Hall was also launched in commemoration with its commencement in the Malaysian market.
Since its inception in 2014, HappyFresh has been expanding globally, broadening its platforms in Asian cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bangkok and Taipei.
The company is also looking to expand its services outside the Klang Valley, such as Penang, Johor Baru and other South-East Asian capitals such as Manila.
HappyFresh is an online grocery shopping service that enables customers to conveniently pick and order fresh food and ingredients from a select range of supermarkets and promises to deliver to its customer’s doorstep within one hour from when the order is placed.
For details on HappyFresh, visit www.happyfresh.com, or download the HappyFresh application online on Google’s Play Store.


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Think the Apple store is crowded these days?
You haven't seen anything yet: Wait until this fall's release of the new iPhone and possibly a smaller iPad, which may be called the iPad Mini.
But while consumers flock to all things Apple, there are some things the company doesn't really tell you, according to a report in SmartMoney magazine.
Things Apple Won't Tell
- Our customers are worn out, and tired of upgrading every year.
- Be careful of apps. Some free apps charge money for "in app" purchases. Beware.
- We're getting in the way of dinner, church services, and romance.
The report says Apple gets in the way of human contact because many people check their iPhones during dinner and immediately after intimacy. The report says iPhones have replaced the old cigarette on the nightstand.
And perhaps the biggest thing Apple won't tell you:
- You'll spend more money if you have an iPad.
SmartMoney says a shiny iPad with instant access to iTunes and Amazon means its so easy to purchase things like movies and music or clothing and shoes.
While there are not any scientific studies to support its claim, SmartMoney says the anecdotal evidence suggests that iPad owners make more impulse purchases.
Of course, it really doesn't matter what the critics say about Apple, of if other smartphones do more.
Apple still has cachet and coolness that other companies just dream about.
To read the full SmartMoney report, go to www.smartmoney.com/spend/technology/10-things-apple-wont-tell-you-1344031439347/ .
Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
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Car sales sentiment improves in June, fuelled by government polices
Auto industry gauge suggests Volkswagen is still the buyers’ favourite
Consumer confidence in China’s new car market remained strong in June, despite the national economic slowdown, with analysts now suggesting government support schemes will continue to bolster sales in the third and fourth quarters of the year.
According to the MNI China Car Purchase Indicator, a composite gauge of overall conditions in the domestic car market, spending sentiment rose 0.5 per cent to 92.0 in the month, from 91.5 in May.
Overall, the MNI Indicator — which is produced by Deutsche Borse Group-owned markets intelligence provider, MNI — showed that car purchase expectations were up 0.4 per cent, while gasoline price expectations of respondents dropped 0.5 per cent since May.
Deluxe brands sold especially well in the mainland, it said.
In the second quarter, Volkswagen consolidated its position as buyers’ favourite brand, registering 26.6 per cent of respondents’ votes compared to 20.4 per cent in March.
Audi rose to second place claiming 14.9 per cent of responses, up from just 8 per cent in the first quarter.
BYD was the most popular domestic brand, despite slipping from fifth place in March to eighth in June, holding 2.7 per cent of votes.
The rise in car sales sentiment, however, is in contrast to other recent consumer confidence studies, which have indicated people are cutting spending in mainland China, due to the slower economy.
Many analysts now believe the country’s second-quarter growth will come in below expectation, after first-quarter gross domestic product expanded 6.7 per cent, its slowest quarterly growth in seven years.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts Jeff Chung and Fujia Liu said recently growth will be attributable to government support frameworks, and highlighted local auto companies as likely to benefit.
Citing figures from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), they expect more government support for the sector this year, while the association itself expects China’s passenger cars sales to grow 15 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, and accelerate 10 per cent in the fourth quarter.
The study also said the CPCA expects the national government to maintain its current stimulus policy that halved the 10 per cent purchase tax on vehicles which has helped boost sales since being introduced last September.
To further push replacement car sales, the CPCA also believes that car license restrictions in force in many cities could be removed over the next few years.
There is “a high chance” it said, that the 3,000 yuan fuel efficiency subsidy will be re-launched in Jan 2017.


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Meet top vegan chef Josie Clemens at the BVRGER takeover this August
Star chef, Josie Clemens is set to cook up a storm at BVRGER’s exclusive one-day-only event
On the August 6th, BVRGER, the fantastic new vegan burger restaurant in the heart of Kensington, London, opens its doors to one of the most sought-after chefs of the moment – Josie Clemens, the first-ever vegan chef to appear on cooking programme, Hell’s Kitchen USA.
Straight from the current season of Hell’s Kitchen USA, Josie arrives in London in two weeks’ time for a very special kitchen takeover.
Josie will be bringing to the public’s plate a very special menu, including a limited-edition plant-powered Truffle Burger and the incredibly tasty Southern Fried Chick’n Burger.
The event will also feature an opportunity to chat to Josie about her time in Hell’s Kitchen, her vegan activism and take a picture with Josie.
Tickets for the event are limited and can be purchased through Eventbrite right now and are sure to be sold out quickly.
This is a must for vegans and non-vegans alike as the food at BVRGER is plant-based at its best, and with Josie adding her incredible flair for flavour, it is sure to be an unmissable occasion.
MEDZ CORNER, 62 Kensington High Street
Date: Fri, 6 August 2021
Time: 12:00 – 21:00 BST
You can also listen to Josie on episode 18 of The Vegan Life Magazine Podcast, and make sure to catch her interview in the upcoming September issue of the magazine!


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Sales fell 12 percent at last week’s December sight from $476 million in November, the miner reported. They were 69 percent higher than the $248 million recorded a year ago, when demand in the rough market had slumped.
Demand for smaller rough has slumped since the Indian government invalidated INR 500 and INR 1,000 currency notes last month, drying up activity in sections of the cash-focused diamond trade almost overnight. The country accounts for a vast majority of global diamond manufacturing.
The company allowed sightholders to defer their allocations of diamonds costing under about $100 per carat in response to the recent developments in India.
Even so, demand for larger and more expensive stones was stable and prices were unchanged, sightholders said. Premiums on the secondary market are in the lower single-digit percentages, they added.
“While the trade in lower-value rough diamonds is experiencing a temporary slowdown as a result of demonetization in India, demand across the rest of the product mix continued to be healthy, and overall sales remained in line with seasonal expectations,” said Bruce Cleaver, De Beers chief executive officer.


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New York City Health Department has launched an aggressive video campaign to educate Yorkers that sodas have 16 packs of sugar in a 20 oz drink (about 600 ml, say 1.5 cans). The story is certainly ‘sticky’ – clear, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional.
The background, of course is that obesity is not as big a problem as inactivity/lack of fitness. Imagine if we could get folks to appreciate that lack of fitness is EIGHT times as bad for you as drinking that soda! Now there’s a video for someone to make!