Guided by Australia’s tip, American intelligence agencies confirmed a similar attack from China using Huawei equipment located in the U.S.
The incident substantiated suspicions in both countries that China used Huawei equipment as a conduit for espionage, and it has remained a core part of a case they’ve built against the Chinese company, even as the breach’s existence has never been made public, the former officials said.
The update appeared legitimate, but it contained malicious code that worked much like a digital wiretap, reprogramming the infected equipment to record all the communications passing through it before sending the data to China, they said.
The breach and subsequent intelligence sharing was confirmed by nearly two dozen former national security officials who received briefings about the matter from Australian and U.S. agencies from 2012 to 2019.
Ultimately, Australia’s intelligence agencies determined that China’s spy services were behind the breach, having infiltrated the ranks of Huawei technicians who helped maintain the equipment and pushed the update to the telecom’s systems.
Now a Bloomberg News investigation has found a key piece of evidence underpinning the U.S. efforts — a previously unreported breach that occurred halfway around the world nearly a decade ago. At the core of the case, those officials said, was a software update from Huawei that was installed on the network of a major Australian telecommunications company.
The episode helps clarify previously opaque security concerns driving a battle over who will build 5G networks, which promise to bring faster internet connectivity to billions of people around the globe.
The U.S. government has warned for years that products from China’s Huawei Technologies Co., the world’s biggest maker of telecommunications equipment, pose a national security risk for any countries that use them. But the U.S., Australia, Sweden and the U.K. have all banned Huawei from their 5G networks, and about 60 countries signed on to a U.S. Department of State program where they’ve committed to avoiding Chinese equipment for their telecommunications systems.
Documents link Huawei to Uyghur surveillance projects, report claims
Washington Post alleges marketing slides reveal firm had a role in developing technology for China
Factory ordering a vehicle and purchasing from the dealer lot or inventory are two different ways of purchasing a vehicle. Buying a vehicle from the dealer’s lot means that you select from all the vehicles that are physically present at the dealership, and purchase the one that you like.
The method pertaining to factory ordering a vehicle requires you to go to the dealership and order a vehicle that has features built specifically according to your preference. The dealer will then put in that order to the factory and you will have to wait for the vehicle to arrive so that you can buy it.
Differences between the Two
One of the biggest differences between the two ways of purchasing a car is the packaging. The vehicles that dealerships order to fill their inventory usually come with mid-level packaging and trims. This means that they order trim levels and models that fall in the middle of the base and high-end renditions. By doing this, dealerships can avoid spending too much and too little money on their lot.
Many car buyers come to dealerships looking for cars that have features and specifications which reflect their particular requirements. Therefore sticking to the dealer means that you have to pick between a very generic package and a line of mid-range cars. This means that consumers will have to compromise on their preferred specs and options unless they luckily land on the perfect vehicle.
Pros and cons of Factory Ordering
Factory ordering a vehicle provides you with exactly what you need in terms of the vehicle. It allows you to order your favorite vehicle and also install it with a panoramic sunroof, better sound system, 12-inch screen, and other available installations that the dealer will usually not order.
Some types of vehicles come with numerous different options and configurations that a dealer can’t stock them all. You may have a difficult time finding the right option installed on your car from the lot, and special ordering the vehicle may be the only solution to this problem.
However, factory ordering a vehicle involves a troublesome wait time. Depending on the vehicle, manufacturer, and geographical location, the wait time for your vehicle can extend to weeks and maybe even longer. Most of the time, the manufacturing unit is at a very distant location from the dealer and this results in an extensively long wait time for the car.
Another con when it comes to factory ordering the vehicle has to do with rebates. Rebates can sometimes be a gamble for car owners. Nonetheless, they can also remain very steady throughout the year.
Ideal Ways to Factory Order a Vehicle
One of the great ways to factory order a vehicle is by using a good vehicle builder. An excellent vehicle builder provides you with a streamlined and seamless interface to custom build a vehicle on the dealers’ website. A vehicle builder app allows you to efficiently transition from online showroom catalogs and share your build session to the dealer.
It is also important that you understand the total vehicle price so that you can prepare better for the MSRP. The next important thing is to find the right dealership. Make sure that you are working with a good dealership that wants to take your order and provides you with affordability and accessibility.
The next thing that you have to do is get your purchase price. The dealer may tell you that they cannot get you a price because rebates are changing. Instead of worrying too much about rebates, you need to inform them that you are not worried about the rebates.
Usually, people think that buying a vehicle from the dealer instead of factory ordering it will provide them with a better deal. This is not entirely true. When you purchase something from the dealer’s lot, you have to keep in mind that the vehicle has can be sitting on the dealership avenue for a long time.
The longer a stock car stays on the dealership, the more it becomes subject to rot and wear, and as a response, the dealer starts to discount the price of the car. This also depends on the brand of the car. Typically, if the vehicle has been sitting at the dealership for a long time, this means that you will get that vehicle at a much discounted rate.
Final Words
Overall, if you do not mind the wait time, then special ordering a car from the factory is the way to go. Otherwise, if you have your heart set on a car sitting at the dealership, and you, fortunately, have found one that you exactly desire, then you should opt for a better deal from the lot. Contrary to popular belief, the car dealer may also offer you a better deal on special factory orders. This is because it may be ridding them of the burdens of keeping the car in their inventory.
Every company I cover has sustainability efforts, but most have little to do with the need to reduce electronic waste. The problem is that to do that would require us to rethink not only how we manufacture equipment but how we sell it. Ironically, back when IBM ruled the tech industry, it was far more sustainable because IBM leased rather than sold equipment and used terminals which had a far longer service life than PCs or smartphones. What is needed to address this aspect of sustainability is a combination of a service-based program and a complete hardware redesign to enable longer service life for the major parts of a device and to place more importance on repair and upgrade rather than replacement. This simple strategy could keep more waste out of landfills and pollution out of our rapidly dwindling water supply.
The first product I’ve seen that comes close to following this strategy is Dell’s Concept Luna. While it’s still in development, it’s certainly worth talking about Concept Luna this week.
Dell’s Concept Luna
Luna is a laptop that has been redesigned to be far more repairable and upgradeable than any current laptop in the market. This is not a redesign for productivity, to highlight a new CPU or GPU, or to display new form factors or materials. Instead, Luna is designed to rethink how we build hardware using a component approach so that damaged laptops can be more easily repaired and upgraded. Conceivably, they would remain in service for longer periods of time with less disruption to the user and less waste going into the environment.
By creating a more circular design concept, Dell estimates that it could reduce the related carbon footprint for the laptop by 50%. The goal is 100% with every subsequent advancement becoming more difficult to accomplish, 50% is a huge first step toward the final goal of preventing the product from damaging the environment at all.
This effort not only introduced innovative technologies like closed-loop aluminum harvested from old hard drives and bioplastics made from tree waste, but it also includes reclaimed carbon fiber which would have otherwise been discarded.
This effort is not just about the product itself, either. It includes major improvements to packaging using sustainable materials and the elimination of all plastics, including plastic tape, that often contaminate paper recycling efforts.
Working with Intel, Dell significantly reduced the size of hard-to-recycle components like the motherboard which has been attributed to reducing the carbon footprint for the device by 20% alone. This redesign also helped cool the motherboard, potentially increasing the performance of the device and reducing heat-related failures.
The chassis is built using hydropower and incorporates stamped aluminum over machining which is more energy-efficient and reduces the amount of scrap. The number of screws holding the system together have been massively reduced, lowering assembly time and potentially lowering the time to repair the device by 1.5 hours.
Dell has also switched to a new battery technology. It’s using an advanced deep-cycle battery that has a far longer life and can be reused in other products rather than discarded when the laptop is taken out of service. Concept Luna even uses a bio-based printed circuit board using a water-soluble polymer for glue. This makes it far easier for recyclers to pull off the components they need to recycle, dramatically improving the profitability of recycling.
Wrapping up:
Concept Luna is a massive rethinking of one product that has implications for all others in terms of materials and how you integrate sustainability into every facet of a product. Designs like this are on the critical path to your more sustainable future. This is not a point offering from Dell, either, as it will undoubtedly be wrapped with a Hardware-as-a-service program that also helps assure Dell’s commercial interests are aligned with this more sustainable path. It will serve as an example for not only all of Dell’s other products but to Dell customers who are also searching for more sustainable ways to build things.
If we are to mitigate the massive amount of damage we are doing to the planet, we need more offerings like Concept Luna, and Dell clearly gets that. We can only hope that other technology companies follow Dell’s lead.
No one should tolerate abuse. It can be classified in various forms like physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. Even stalking and disturbing a person’s peace can be considered abuse.
A person dealing with abuse has the right to seek legal help and get a protective order against the abuser without their presence at the court. Although a protective order does not mean permanent protection, it prohibits the abuser from harassing, molesting, and abusing the victim who has filed for the order for protection.
What to do if an abuser files protective order against you:
In some cases, an abuser may try to make an intelligent move and approach the court, stating that they need help from their “abuser.” Still, a judge who has dealt with similar abuse cases knows if an abuser is trying to turn the case against his victim and play the victim card to evade charges.
In the event where the victim and the abuser file protective orders on each other, the court gives a special order called a “mutual restraining order,” which means both the parties have restraining orders on each other. They cannot enter the premises of each other.
Although the court might have issued restraining orders to the victim and the abuser simultaneously, the judge has to state the police stating which of the two parties is the abuser so that a police force can come to the victim’s rescue when they are abused.
Additionally, legal advice usually offered by the court states that even if an abuser files protective order against you, you are expected to follow the standard protocols, including attending the hearing. If not, the court may automatically conclude that you are the abuser.
Therefore, an abuser might also use the jurisdiction by filing orders against you before reaching the court for legal help, which can also be considered abuse. In such cases, it can be complicated, and you might feel vulnerable wondering what to do. Hence, approaching an attorney who specializes in protection from abuse is recommended.
Getting accused of a wrongful sexual assault can be one of the scariest things that can happen to you. The reason is that the repercussions are very hefty and can severely affect your life. If you have been accused of sexual assault, child abuse, or domestic violence, you must reach out to a New Jersey criminal defense attorney. Your attorney will assist you throughout the case.
What can you do if you get wrongfully accused of Sexual assault?
1. Pick the right legal team:
When you are being accused of sexual assault, you need to pick your legal squad wisely when you are in such a case. Your result and the longevity of your case majorly depend on how your legal team is. While selecting your legal representative, you must ensure that you conduct in-depth research about the attorney you are hiring. You must make sure that your attorney is well-versed with criminal laws and cases like sexual assault.
2.Be prepared with all aspects:
When you are wrongfully accused of such allegations as sexual assault, domestic violence, or juvenile abuse, there are very high chances that you will be charged with these crimes. When charged, you will be convicted until you take a decisive step against this. You will have to take a psychological test or go through a polygraph test and other things that will help you collect more evidence.
3.Prepare a witness closet:
You will immediately need to start preparing a list of witnesses that have been there with you when the entire incident occurred. You must include their name, address, phone number, and other information that will help you get to that person and their perspective on the entire situation that occurred. Even if your witness doesn’t seem appealing, you must get that person in. You never know what might change the direction of your case.
4.Scientific Tests:
If you’ve been charged with sexual assault, you’ll want tests that can help you defend your innocence. So getting a test done will be necessary for your case. A similar situation can be used for domestic violence wherein the victim can describe the injuries. A scientific study can be driven out of it and outline how injuries and wounds have been caused.
One of the best things you could do is consult your criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer will give you the best possible advice and build a strong case that can prove your innocence.
Most financial service companies are facing various technological challenges. Although a few firms are trying to overcome them, many remain in the dark. From eliminating data breaches to managing big data, companies need to ensure that they are keeping up with the latest trends to stay competitive.
1. Eliminate data breaches
Cybercriminals usually target financial service companies because they carry sensitive data on their servers. A report says that these types of firms were attacked 819 times in 2018.
Capital One, a leading financial corporation, was attacked last year, and hackers managed to get the social security numbers of 140,000 customers. They also got access to the 80,000 bank accounts linked to these social security numbers. With data breaches on the rise, financial service companies need to pull up their socks and develop innovative solutions that can keep these cybercriminals away.
2. Introduce cryptocurrency payments
According to experts, cryptocurrency payments are safer because of the security afforded by blockchain technology. There are more levels of protection for these payments than direct bank transfers. Moreover, with more countries accepting cryptocurrency payments, financial service companies need to keep up with the technology.
Fortunately, many cryptocurrency mining operators provide the latest news on the crypto industry. Pega Mining, for one, is on a mission to become the largest cryptocurrency mining operator in the world. It offers live Bitcoin mining stats, such as the number of online miners, state of renewable energy, and hash rate. Financial service firms can update themselves with these latest stats once they introduce cryptocurrency as payment methods.
3. Incorporate artificial intelligence
A research study completed by Deloitte suggests that financial service firms that incorporated AI into their businesses achieved approximately 19% growth in revenue. Deloitte also pointed out that more companies rely on AI because it is the future of financial services.
Implementing AI will eventually put less pressure on employees when there are repetitive jobs involved. It will give them enough time to focus on customer trends, thus developing innovative ways to promote their businesses. As a result, financial service companies would flourish much more than they are today.
4. Organize big data
Financial service firms have to deal with various types of data every day. For example, EMC’s recent study suggests that there will be as much as 44 zettabytes or 44 trillion gigabytes of data by the end of 2022. Imagine how difficult it must be for companies to manage so much data efficiently.
The best way to deal with this challenge is to hire experts who know how to handle big data. Big data is both structured and unstructured, making it difficult to segregate. Professionals who know how to manage big data can develop legacy data systems that efficiently handle the massive volume of data they receive every day.
Embracing technology would make transactions safer and improve the customer experience for financial service companies. Moreover, it would allow owners to focus on various digital marketing strategies to generate more customers instead of worrying about cybercriminals hacking into their servers and extracting customer data.
Trademarks symbolize your business identity. They include unique names, symbols, phrases, designs, and logos you create for your business to help identify your products or services. Unique, memorable trademarks, consumers can easily distinguish your business from your business rivals.
Effective trademarks make it easy for customers to find your business, considering how crowded the market is. They’re a valuable business asset that appreciates over time as your business reputation grows. When choosing a business trademark, consider your long-term goals and similarity with others. Below are common small business trademark mistakes you should avoid.
1. Failure to engage a trademark attorney
Trademarks are core to every business, and failure to consult an experienced trademark attorney can lead to costly mistakes. Engaging an experienced and skilled attorney such as Attorney Sarah S. Shepard can help you by conducting an in-depth search to ensure that the trademark doesn’t already exist. Besides drafting a proper description of your goods or services, a trademark attorney also helps identify the class in which your goods or services belong.
They also prepare and file all the documents necessary for trademark registration. Hiring an attorney helps you avoid trademark conflicts, meet the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requirements, and increase your chances of acquiring the trademark.
2. Not conducting a trademark availability search
Conducting a professional trademark search before using and registering is essential. It helps avoid legal costs associated with trademark infringement. It also reduces your chances of successful registration. Failure to perform trademark availability search may lead to a loss of money, time, and resources if someone manages to prove you’re infringing on their trademark, and you may be required to repackage, rebrand, or not use the product or service, resulting in significant losses.
3. Waiting for the trademark to be approved before using it
The trademark laws state that the actual use of a mark in commerce creates rights and priority over others. This means that the ownership of a mark begins with the first to use and not the first to file. If your trademark availability search proved that a mark was available, it’s wise to start using it immediately to secure priority of ownership over other potential claimants.
4. Failure to expand trademark protection to other countries
The ability to market and sell in other countries has become more feasible, making it possible for small businesses to use their brands or manufacture overseas. These businesses need to adhere to proper ownership rights in the countries’ jurisdictions. If you intend to expand your business to foreign countries, file for trademark protection in countries before beginning your operations.
5. Using descriptive trademarks
Descriptive trademarks include words or phrases that describe a product or can identify with a product’s features. Such marks are considered weak and may not be granted protection or registration under trademark laws. A trademark’s strength is closely related to its market identification. Choosing stronger trademarks makes it easy for it to be registered and protected from unauthorized use. Consider consulting a trademark attorney to advise on the marks that are enforceable.
6. Failure to enforce trademark rights after registration
Upon obtaining registration, most business owners may forget about the trademark because they think it has federal protection, and the USPTO can prevent others from using it. Nevertheless, you should police the market and beware of the registry to prevent unauthorized use by others to avoid losing the granted rights. Enforcing trademark rights also prevents the mark from becoming generic and granting similar confusing trademarks.
7. Failure to use the trademark as registered
Once the trademark is registered, it should be used per the registration certificate. Depending on the class under which your trademark is registered, you should use it for all indicated goods or services. Using it for a few items means you aren’t using it as registered and for all the goods in the registration certificate, leading to your trademark’s potential full or partial cancellation.
Endnote
Trademark mistakes can be very costly for businesses. They may result in losses, infringement costs, or business closure. Engaging a skilled trademark attorney can help you complete the registration process seamlessly, ensuring trademark acquisition. Use the above tips to avoid common trademark mistakes.
If you regularly follow tech, finance, or business news, you’ve most likely heard about Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. However, as cryptocurrency increasingly becomes a hot topic and news of crypto millionaires taking the headlines, more people are gaining interest in this topic. While there is a lot to learn before investing in cryptocurrencies, below are common questions, facts, and misconceptions that beginner investors keep asking.
What Are Cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that can be used for payment, exchange, or store value. Since they are digital currencies, you can’t touch or carry cryptocurrencies like contemporary bills. Transactions also occur exclusively online.
Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning that they aren’t backed or controlled by the government, the same way U.S dollars, for instance, are controlled. Crypto transactions, such as buying, selling, or trading, are recorded in a permanent decentralized ledger, known as Blockchain.
Are Cryptocurrencies Legal?
Due to their decentralized features, questions about the legality of cryptocurrencies are bound to arise. Interestingly, this cannot be a yes or no question. This is because several frameworks determine the legality of these digital currencies. However, cryptocurrencies are not considered legal tender in several countries, mainly because they don’t have a paper trail, making it hard to track. However, investing and trading in cryptocurrencies is legal.
Are Cryptocurrencies Taxable?
Cryptocurrencies are taxable under various circumstances. If you purchase and keep your crypto coins in your personal wallet, you won’t owe the government any tax. However, if you are an active crypto trader, you will have several tax implications. Taxable transactions include selling your crypto coins for U.S dollars, exchanging one Cryptocurrency for another, earning income from your altcoins, or making purchases with them.
Generally, the IRS considers these digital currencies to be personal assets, just like gold or stocks. If you exchange or sell them, capital gains are automatically taxable. The nature and complexity of your transactions will determine how you should file your taxes.
Is Investing in Cryptocurrencies More Viable Than Traditional Investments?
While some people will encourage investing in traditional assets, such as stocks and real estate, over cryptocurrencies, this is not always true. Cryptocurrencies and traditional investments significantly differ in their functionality. Despite the volatile nature of the crypto market, this investment currently has proven longevity.
Blockchain technology has evolved and currently is the go-to tech in many fields, including gaming, cyber security, and more. Cryptocurrencies also provide an even playing field, unlike stocks and real estate, which established brokers on Wall Street dominate. However, you should read widely to understand and invest wisely.
Which Cryptocurrencies Are Good to Invest In?
As you may have noticed, there are several types of cryptocurrencies on the market. However, experts recommend that it is best to start with crypto coins with the largest market cap and trade volume, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. While they are volatile and highly speculative, they are less risky compared to thousands of other coins.
How Can You Start Investing in Cryptocurrency?
Having decided on which cryptocurrency to invest in, most beginners don’t know where they can buy these coins. The following steps can help beginners buy their first crypto coins.
· Choose an exchange platform – This is essentially an online platform where you can buy, sell, and exchange your crypto. Using a platform such as Netcoins provides assured security, accepts multiple payment methods, charges low fees, and has multiple coins. Sign up and create an account.
· Load money to your account – Like any other traditional investment, the next step is loading U.S dollars or whatever currency you use to your crypto exchange account.
· Place your order – The next step is placing an exchange order to trade your dollars for your preferred cryptocurrency.
· Store and manage your coins – You can then decide if you want to store your coins in your account, sell, or store them in digital wallets.
Endnote
Hopefully, these questions can provide some clarifications on the basics of cryptocurrency trading. Generally, cryptocurrency is an interesting and easily confusing technology and currency. The increased adoption in various industries means it won’t be dipping into the horizon soon. This makes learning about these currencies worthwhile.
There is a side of digital currency mining that nobody likes to talk about. That is how much power it takes to mine a single coin. The modern world is focused on the digital to go paperless and save on carbon waste; mining digital coins seems to undermine this directly.
Since the mining of Bitcoin has been an ongoing process that has lasted more than a decade already, some might argue that there is no choice in the matter. The time has come for us to find more environmentally sustainable ways to mine our online coin tokens.
The Problem with Universal Currency
The finance sector might be excited by the prospect of a universal Currency, but it has proven this far that it is easier said than done. Bitcoin has confirmed that the market is far too unstable for any coin to stick. On the other hand, we can see that coins like Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin, are all emerging as leading contenders.
The problem seems to be that each coin gains traction too quickly, unable to maintain a steady foothold in the financial industry before the value drops from the bottom of it. Time and time again, we have seen this same pattern emerge.
While we could speculate about the validity of universal currency all day long, it would do us little good. Instead, let us resign ourselves to the fact that people will mine these tokens using vast amounts of computer power so that we can figure out what to do about it.
How Much Power Does it Take to Mine Digital Currency?
The length of time it takes and the amount of power used to mine a token varies from currency to currency.
Bitcoin, for example, only ever takes 10 minutes to mine. To create a bitcoin, the user must solve a complex equation via their processing unit. Since the equation is complex, it takes a lot of processing power. As of 2020, the Bitcoin network was costing 120 gigawatts per second. That is the same as 156 million horsepower or about the same as almost 50,000 turbines operating at full speed every second.
That is a lot of power.
However, the good thing about Currency generation is that it takes electricity. If we can change where electricity comes from into a more sustainable source, we can make crypto mining environmentally friendly.
Ways to Make Online Currency Mining Sustainable
If we want to make online currency mining feasible, sustainability can be increased in the following ways.
1 – Geothermal Energy
Companies such as PEGA Mining are already using geothermal energy as their source. This means tapping into the electricity generated naturally by the Earth’s core.
2 – Harness Wind Power
Fifty thousand turbines is a lot, but as technology is fancy and increasing the power generation from those turbines, it will become more sustainable.
3 – Use the Sea
We can see this in two ways. We can use its chill to keep our servers stored at the bottom of the ocean, naturally cool. We can also use the sea to generate hydroelectric power to keep miners going.
These may not be long-term solutions, but they are a start. How we get our energy for mining should be a consideration moving forward.
If you are experiencing back or neck pain, you have probably thought of going to a chiropractor. Although not a medical doctor, a chiropractor can treat painful conditions that impact bones and muscles. But, before you go, there are things you must know first to ensure you make better decisions regarding your care.
Chiropractors Don’t Prescribe Medications
Chiropractors offer treatments that concentrate on the way bones, muscles, and joints impact your overall health. They do not prescribe medications nor do surgery. Instead, they utilize controlled force using their hands to restore joint movement. Also, they may incorporate exercise and lifestyle counseling in their approach.
Chiropractors Can Treat Different Muscle and Joint Issues
Although chiropractors can effectively treat back and neck pain, they can also treat a variety of issues that impact the joints and muscles in the body. Also, they treat referred pain. Referred pain occurs when an issue in one body part creates pain in another area. Studies claim that chiropractic care is ideal for back pain, whiplash injuries, headaches, and arm or leg issues.
Chiropractors Are Well-Trained and Educated
Chiropractic care specialists have completed college and studied premedical subjects that medical doctors also study. They attended an accredited chiropractic college, often for 4-5 years. They usually study exercise therapy, anatomy, nervous system disorders, bone disorders, manipulations, nutrition, and X-rays. They have passed a national examination to obtain a license to practice.
Your First Appointment Includes a Physical Examination
During your first visit, your chiropractor will ask about your issues and get a physical exam. The chiropractor may order laboratory tests or X-rays. If your health issue is not right for the type of care they offer, they may refer you to another doctor. But, if your problem can be treated with spinal manipulation, your chiropractor will treat it in their office. Your Mason chiropractor may ask you to visit again for more treatments. The number of treatments you need depends on your condition. Make sure you ask about the number of visits you must expect.
Chiropractic Care Involves More than Adjustments and Manipulations
Chiropractic care may include other treatments such as heat and ice, deep tissue work, relaxation training, and exercises you can perform at home. A chiropractor may use a muscle-stimulating device. Also, they may provide you with advice on your overall health, including diet, weight loss, nutrition, and other lifestyle changes that can help fix your condition.
A German court has ruled that even if an employee is working from home, they can claim insurance.
Germany’s Federal Social Court ruled in favour of a man who slipped while walking a few meters from his bed to his home office.
The man, whose name is not known, while walking on the spiral staircase connecting the rooms slipped and broke his back, The Guardian reported.
The employer’s insurance had refused to cover the claim, but the higher court said it had found that “the first-morning journey from bed to the home office [was] an insured work route.”
The law is applicable to people in ‘teleworking” positions at their homes.
CNN
Walking from your bed to home office now counts as commuting in Germany
A man who slipped down the stairs and broke his back while walking from his bed to home office can file a claim on his employer’s insurance after a court in Germany ruled that he was commuting at the time.
Europe Returns to Work-From-Home to Stem Soaring Covid Cases
European countries are making a U-turn in their fight against a brutal fourth wave of the pandemic, increasingly forcing reluctant companies to let employees work from home.
Stefan Engel, VP & GM Visuals Business for Lenovo, published a paper on the future of monitors that suggests a substantial change is coming to how we visually interface with our computers. Lenovo appears to be setting up to disrupt the monitor space, and Engel’s paper highlights some interesting concepts for the future. Lenovo is already leading its peers with foldable, and head-mounted displays, but these changes are just the beginning. As we approach the end of 2021, let us look at what will be coming with the next generation of monitors from Lenovo and others.
Using Stefen’s predictions as a baseline, let us talk about what is coming in monitors in the next few years.
What is driving the change
Clearly, a big part of the coming changes has to do with how we are now working due to both the pandemic and the massive talent shortage plaguing the industry. Monitors will have to adapt to the reality that many workers may never make it into an office and will instead have to address the unique design and usability needs of people working from home.
Monitors not only will be plugged into PCs, but some will also need to work with gaming systems and smartphones as Engels points out in his paper. Monitor clutter will need to be addressed by reducing wiring and building in things like speakers and cameras to lessen complexity. But they will also have to be optimized for remote meetings and increasingly anticipate the need for cloud-connected applications that may need to work even if a smartphone or PC is not connected to the monitor.
What is coming
This all means that the coming monitors will be thinner to make them more attractive, some will have wireless connectivity to reduce the cluster of wiring, and some will have enhanced capabilities as dedicated video conferencing monitors that can double as an extended monitor when needed. Engels argues that this will result in more modular designs that should keep entry-level prices down but allow for users who want to enhance their monitor as needed by paying for those enhancements themselves since it is unlikely that IT will fund some of the more entertainment-focused capabilities.
One change that Engels does not really touch on but that is being worked on is embedding the video camera into the screen. With that design change, the camera is more centrally placed and does not angle down on the user. Lenovo and others are working on technology that adjusts the image to make it appear as if you are always looking into the camera, even if your eyes are wandering.
For some time, Lenovo has worked to make monitors more attractive and efficient but, as Engels points out, all that development will become reality next year. This suggests that the next generation of monitors will sport more attractive designs and materials to better fit in with home decor. Monitor builders have experimented with natural finishes in the past like walnut, but metal finishes continue to be the favorite and, I expect, we will see a greater mix of these finishes as options so you can both configure a monitor for usage features as well as something that blends into your home design theme.
Lenovo and others focus on making all technology more sustainable which should both help drive the modular and natural finish efforts to reduce the amount of waste that this component produces. One coming alternative that Lenovo is on top of is head-mounted displays which could change the entire dynamic in this space, but it will take a few years yet for that technology to mature.
Wrapping up:
We are going through a huge phase of reconsidering the hardware we provide employees who are now largely working from home and may never return to the office. Thus, design considerations for existing products that were based on reduced need to go into the office will be giving way to design considerations for home and increased remote use. This means designs will be focused on looking good in the home and have the flexibility to mesh with the variety of hardware in people’s homes, including game machines and smartphones. In addition, this will drive modular designs and more sustainable materials both of which potentially address the increasing requirement that technology reflects the desire for a more sustainable future.
Modifications for video conferencing and cloud connectivity coupled with wireless connections will provide reduced clutter and increased functionality as these monitors increasingly anticipate a cloud-connected personal technology future. Part of this change will be an increasing focus on head-mounted displays, something that Lenovo is focusing hard on. Not all of this will arrive in 2022, but these changes should be in full swing by 2025. Anticipating these trends should help you pick products that are more forward-looking and less likely to become prematurely obsolete. Changes are coming to the monitor space, and Lenovo plans to help drive these changes. In the end, the home office of tomorrow will look nothing like the home office of today.
Taiwan lost Nicaragua as a diplomatic ally after the Central American country said it would officially recognize only China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory.
The move increases Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation on the international stage, even as the self-governed island steps up official exchanges with countries like Lithuania and Slovakia, which do not formally recognize Taiwan as a country.
In Central America, Nicaragua is now the third country that has switched recognition from Taiwan to China in the last four years.
China has been poaching Taiwan’s diplomatic allies over the past few years, cutting down the number of countries that recognize the democratic island as a sovereign nation. China is against Taiwan representing itself in global forums or in diplomacy. The Solomon Islands chose to recognize China in 2019, cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Under the agreement, Nicaragua promises not to have any official contact with Taiwan going forward.
Some experts say the switch is not necessarily a significant loss for Taiwan and that it may only have been a matter of time. Taiwan has been increasing its exchanges with Western countries and has emphasized the sharing of democratic values and working with like-minded nations.
Nicaragua cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan to align with Beijing
Taiwan expresses great regret at move, which leaves it having formal ties with only 14 countries.
China reduces ties with Lithuania in Taiwan spat | AP News
China reduced the level of its diplomatic relations with Lithuania to below ambassador level Sunday in retaliation for the Baltic nation allowing Taiwan, the island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory, to open a representative office.
Exclusive: Taiwan’s President confirms presence of US military trainers on the island
The leader of Taiwan, the island thrust into the center of rising tensions between the United States and China, said the threat from Beijing is growing “every day,” as for the first time she confirmed the presence of American troops on Taiwanese soil.
English football club Ebbsfleet United, which is owned by the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait, saw their recent winning streak come to an end recently with a very close defeat to Maidstone United when the match ended 3-2.
While the Ebbsfleet squad was hoping for a win, all good things must of course come to an end, and the squad put up a strong fight against their division’s top performers.
In spite of this defeat, Ebbsfleet United is still in very good stead thanks to a spate of recent strong performances under the leadership of manager Dennis Kutrieb and the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait.
How the Match Unfolded
Ebbsfleet United took the lead inside of the first 10 minutes thanks to Tobi Adebayo-Rowling driving the ball in from the right-hand side before drilling it into the bottom corner in front of the away end and into the net.
This was Adebayo-Rowling’s first goal for Ebbsfleet United, having been narrowly denied by an offside flag on Saturday, November 20, and he had been unfortunate with a shot blocked a few minutes before this one beat former Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Tom Hadler.
Ebbsfleet then very nearly made it 2-0 as Dominic Poleon fought with the visiting defenders, forcing Hadler to step in and save.
But Ebbsfleet’s defence unfortunately waned and allowed Maidstone to level out in the 13th minute and put the two teams back on even terms. This equalizing goal came via Joan Luque who shot the ball decisively past Ebbsfleet’s Chris Haigh.
This equalizer pushed Ebbsfleet who regained their lead in the 17th minute thanks to the footwork of Rakish Bingham, making it 2-1. But, again, this lead didn’t last long; less than two minutes later Maidstone equalized once more, scoring the fourth goal of the match in just nine minutes.
The game slowed down after this, though plenty of shots at the goal kept coming. Bingham almost snatched back the lead for Ebbsfleet once again in the 27th minute after a swift turn from Craig Tanner’s pass, but the shot clipped outside of the post. Another close shot came at half-time after Chris Solly made a shot but sent it just a hair too wide.
But Maidstone came back strong after half-time and made it 3-2 in the 65th minute as Roarie Deacon fired in a goal when the ball landed for him unmarked at the far post.
Both teams began substituting players and Ebbsfleet continued to pile the pressure onto Maidstone, but this, unfortunately, wasn’t enough as the flow of the game kept being interrupted by fouls and poor balls.
The final whistle eventually rang out, securing the match for Maidstone, much to Ebbsfleet’s frustration.
Still, there is no denying that Ebbsfleet put on a strong performance which is a testament to the club’s renewed direction under the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait and several quality coaches, managers, and other members of the Ebbsfleet crew behind the scenes.
A History of Ebbsfleet Before the Al Humaidi Family Kuwait
Ebbsfleet United was established as Gravesend & Northfleet F.C. in 1946—coincidentally, this is around the same time that the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait began its first business operations—following a merger of Gravesend United and Northfleet United.
Ebbsfleet was a relatively obscure club for many years. It flew well under the radar within English professional football thanks to its lackluster performance. Former England manager Roy Hodgson was one of the club’s earliest success stories, however, and he made 69 appearances during his time at the club.
It wasn’t until the late 1970s when the club began to make a name for itself as it enjoyed some time in the spotlight as one of the founders of the Alliance Premier League (now the National League). This time was short-lived, though; the club was relegated to the Southern League Premier Division three seasons later.
In 2007, Ebbsfleet was bought by its fans in an unprecedented event that is believed by many to be a first for English football.
This took place thanks to a website called ‘MyFootballClub’—27,000 fans paid £35.00 each into a collective kitty and entered a deal to take over Ebbsfleet using these funds. All 27,000 paid-up MyFootballClub members owned an equal share of the club but had no claim to profits or dividends.
These numbers dwindled over the years, however, and at the end of 2011, the football club was very close to being bankrupt due to a lack of funds.
While efforts were taken by the fans to try and save the club, it slipped further into the danger zone, and this prompted the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait to step in. In May 2013, Ebbsfleet United was purchased by ‘KEH Sports Ltd’ and all its debts were subsequently settled by the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait.
Ebbsfleet Transformed by Abdulla Al Humaidi
After taking over the club, the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait promised to launch Ebbsfleet on an entirely new trajectory of success and prosperity.
Steve Brown, a former defender for Charlton Athletic, was quickly appointed as the team’s coach. Soon after this appointment and just before Christmas, Ebbsfleet United managed to break a club record as the team achieved nine wins in succession which took the team to the National League South playoffs.
Then in the 2014-15 season, Ebbsfleet United performed strongly once again. The team achieved major wins against Concord Rangers and Havant & Waterlooville. The 2015-16 season was much better for the team, however, as Ebbsfleet led National League South for almost the whole season.
In the 2017-18 season, the Al Humaidi Family Kuwait’s team achieved its highest ever league finish, beating Aldershot Town 5-4 in the playoff qualifying round.
When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, Ebbsfleet like every other football club felt the impact. While the club experienced some setbacks, the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait’s team has bounced back.
In June 2020, renowned German football professional Dennis Kutrieb was appointed as manager of the team following his decision to not renew his contract at Tennis Borussia Berlin.
Under Kutrieb’s leadership, Ebbsfleet United has benefitted from a string of recent strong performances.
More recently, in the opening batch of games within its league, Ebbsfleet won seven out of nine games, including a 4-3 win against major rival Hungerford.
Speaking to journalists, Kutrieb said, “We’re in a good (place) at the moment. We started well and then had a little dip that I was not happy with. When you think about how many points (we’ve got), we could have had more – Chelmsford, even Havant. I think the only clear defeat was Hampton, but we learned a lot out of it.”
While Kutrieb was understandably eager to speak highly of his team’s performance, he also warned that his players can’t afford to become complacent, noting that the team could have achieved a 4-1 win over Hungerford if the players hadn’t conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes.
Despite this, Kutrieb says that he was impressed with the team’s attacking quality during the match. “As a manager, you always find the negatives and try to make it better,” said Kutrieb.
Who is the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait?
The Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait is a prominent business dynasty that has been active since the 1940s.
Today it is headed by entrepreneur Abdulla Al Humaidi who over the years has acted as Kuwaiti European Holding Group’s Chairman and CEO. Although Al Humaidi appointed a third party as CEO in 2016, he still plays an active role as the company’s chairman and is responsible for overseeing most of the Group’s investments and developments.
In addition to being known for founding and leading Kuwaiti European Holding Group, the Al Humaidi Family Kuwait is known for its connection to English professional football through Ebbsfleet.
The family’s decision to purchase Ebbsfleet came as a surprise to many when it was announced; this was the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait’s first and currently remains its only foray outside the realms of finance, real estate, and entertainment.
Today, Ebbsfleet is a major player in the world of English football. The team has experienced success within its league and is strengthening its name within the UK football community. This success can be attributed to the Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait, which has strategically managed the team through a series of initiatives and key hires that have totally transformed the team.
More than 40 camels were disqualified from the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which began on December 1 in the desert near the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
The protein, often used for cosmetic and health procedures on humans, is often injected into camels through their noses and lips. Other procedures undergone by the camels included facelifts, hormone injections and body inflation.
The festival doles out around $66 million in prize money to the best-looking camels.
In 2018, 12 camels banned from competition after authorities and judges found them to be unnaturally modified by their breeders.
In August, a camel whose lips became ruptured and bleeding after being pumped with Botox was caught on camera after being injected with the protein was filmed bleeding and was caught in the event.
The festival will run until January 12. It was started to preserve the history and importance of camels throughout the United Arab Emirates, particularly for the Bedouin nomads, particularly in the United States. Other parts of the festival that attendees can participate in include camel races and a massive bazaar which will continue to run until the end of the year.
Even Camels Have Instagram Face Now
And 40 of them were disqualified from a beauty pageant because of it.
On November 22，the founder of Anmai Cloud，Roger Wu and a dozen of global tech-savvy experts mapped the future metaverse from perspectives of network technologies, laws and regulations, data security, and ESG at a metaverse-themed webinar.
Undoubtedly, 2021 is the year of the metaverse. As Roger Wu noted at the meeting, “The metaverse is an inevitable outcome when human exploration and science reach a certain stage. It is a new world built upon human’s technologies and can provide people with a new form of virtual life, work, and digital experience.” This gives people a broader space of imagination.
In such a space filled with imagination, the question of where to start is of particular importance. Wu Bo, Founder of Lashou.com, an NFT investor and collector, pointed out at the meeting that “The metaverse should be a bottom-up growth.” This embodies the basic logic of developing metaverse, which is also embraced by most people. Meanwhile, Roger Wu provided a specific answer, namely distributed encrypted storage technology. He believed that the authentic right, pricing, and flow of data assets are the core of metaverse, which is based on the combination of distributed storage technology and blockchain.
Above technology is data security. In the world of metaverse, data security is the driving force, so it seems that combining laws with technology is a feasible way to bridge the gap of data security between the real world and the virtual world. Environmental lawyer Ben Barlett mentioned, “In the metaverse, data security becomes very important for us. This has to be guaranteed by laws and regulations, and decentralized data storage is the only way to reduce accountability.”
The more open and transparent data environment in the metaverse has also triggered some innovative thinking such as the integration of ESG concept and metaverse. We can incorporate ESG into metaverse’s infrastructure investment stage; form a self-balancing system by connecting blockchain and ESG indicators; embed the “people-oriented” corporate concept into the future metaverse, etc.
The metaverse is still being defined, and how it is defined depends largely on us. As discussed by the guests, the development of the metaverse will be a process in which different organizations and different sectors cooperate to promote peaceful evolution. In this process, the advance of science and technology will inevitably optimize resources, which is also of positive significance for enterprises to practice ESG standards. In this regard, the arrival of this digital civilization is worth waiting for.
Negotiating a car accident settlement can be annoying and lengthy. The other party may not want to pay you at all or maybe devalue your claim. However, you should determine the cost of all of your damages before accepting a settlement. Los Angeles car accident attorneys can help you reach a reasonable settlement or represent you in court if required.
When negotiating, remember that you are well within your rights to ask for a fair amount. Even if the insurance company is unwilling to pay, you should not accept an offer that does not cover your damages as it will cost you later.
Tips for negotiating a car accident settlement:
1. Understand the insurance company.
Whether it is your insurer or someone else’s, no insurance company wants to pay you. It is in their best interests to avoid paying you or reducing your compensation as much as possible. This is because the longer they do not pay, the longer they get to keep the money in their pockets. Therefore, the first step is to understand that the insurance company does not want to help you.
2. Decide on a specific settlement amount.
Note down all of your damages acquired from the accident and calculate their worth. For example, calculate your entire medical treatment fees, lost wages, loss of future earnings, etc. Before initiating the negotiation, establish your total expenses as well as decide a minimum amount that you would be willing to accept if the insurance company offers a lower amount.
3. Highlight your strongest points.
Highlighting your strongest points can be a powerful move to achieving the compensation you deserve. For example, the other party is liable for the accident; you have suffered severe traumatic injuries, your medical costs are very high and more than you can afford, etc. You may also point out the emotional distress and how it affects you and your family’s quality of life.
4. Initiate the claim quickly.
You or your attorney should file the claim as soon as possible. It is understandable that many people are usually not in a state to think about finances when struggling with their injuries, but it will only help you in the long run. Moreover, winning a claim requires strong evidence, and the more you wait, the more evidence begins to disappear.
5. The first offer is useless.
The first offer is the lowest one, and it is usually made to see whether you are serious about receiving healthcare or if you are in a hurry. If you hurry and accept the first offer, it will cost you later as it may not be enough to cover your damages. For example, it may cover your medical bills but not your lost wages.
U.S. will not send any government officials to the Games in 2022.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian says U.N. will pay for its wrongdoing.
China was accused of a cultural genocide of Uyghur Muslims. China denies this and says the “re-education camps” are necessary to fight terrorism.
China is also accused of removing Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms and is facing questions over tennis player Peng Shuai, who has not been seen in public for weeks after making allegations of sexual assault against a former senior Chinese Communist Party official.
American athletes will still participate in the Games, but other countries have proved more cautious in mixing politics and sports.
New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told NBC News that Italy would not boycott the Games. The office of the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told NBC news that Italy will not be boycotting the Games’ Olympic Committee.
White House announces US diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
The Biden administration will not send an official US delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a statement against China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.
Former Tesla field quality manager Steven Henkes filed a whistleblower complaint on the solar systems in 2019. Henkes said Tesla failed to properly notify its shareholders and the public of fire risks associated with solar panel system defects over several years.
Concerns about fires from Tesla solar systems have been published previously, but this is the first report of investigation by the securities regulator.
The inquiry raises regulatory pressure on the world’s most valuable automaker, which already faces a federal safety investigation into accidents involving its driver assistant systems. Tesla shares fell 5.5 at $960.25 on Monday after the Reuters report.
Tesla did not reply to Reuters’ emailed questions and said it would not comment to the reporter’s request to provide its response to the report. The SEC said the letter should not be taken as an indication by the agency that violations of law had occurred.
Exclusive: SEC probes Tesla over whistleblower claims on solar panel defects
The U.S. securities regulator has opened an investigation into Tesla Inc over a whistleblower complaint that the company failed to properly notify its shareholders and the public of fire risks associated with solar panel system defects over several years, according to a letter from the agency.
Walmart sues Tesla after it says solar panels caught fire on store roofs
Walmart is suing Tesla for breach of contract after its solar panels allegedly ignited fires on the roofs of Walmart stores, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in the state of New York.
With utility tokens on the rise, investors pay a lot of attention to the assurance of returns before investing. From the ROI period to the rewards offered by the NFTs for holding the tokens, investors consider these crucial factors in determining whether the token is suitable for long-term investment or not. NFG Chibi is a unique utility token that bridges the virtual and physical realms to reward users, collectors, and investors.
Each Chibi has unique characteristics and traits that allow the developers to classify them into three tiers.
Tier 1 consists of Chibis that receive the most love from different teams. Therefore, you can sweep and change your tier 1 Chibis to make your team more proficient than others. Also, since tier 1 Chibis are the cheapest, you can purchase and hold them for long periods.
Tier 2 consists of Chibis that gain a lot of love from the secondary market. It provides exciting rewards to holders at the end of every month. Even if you hold one tier 2 Chibi, you can expect to receive rewards from the token.
Tier 3 consists of elite Chibis that provide all the benefits of NFG’s ecosystem. Moreover, the benefits will continue to evolve in determining. Therefore, anyone who holds tier 3 Chibis can expect to make the most of the token’s ecosystem.
Mint date of NFG Chibis
Chibi enthusiasts can’t wait to get their hands on this unique token that comes with a host of benefits. For example, it allows rookie investors to learn about the market first while holding on to their Chibi tokens. In addition, the token will offer a part of its income as scholarships to slightly reduce global unemployment.
According to the founders, NFG minting will start in two phases. The first phase will give early access to whitelisted individuals. For them, the minting will begin from 5th December 2021. Then, people can log in to their registered accounts and start collecting Chibis instantly. The early access facility will be available for 24 hours from 07:00 UTC. On the other hand, non-whitelisted individuals can purchase Chibis from 6th December 2021. They can log in to their registered accounts and collect their tokens from 07:00 UTC.
How to know your Chibi traits?
How will you know if you bought a tier 1, tier 2, or tier 3 Chibi? The developers say that every investor will come to know about the traits and characteristics of their Chibis once they release the metadata. First, they need to open an Opensea account to check the number of Chibis you have and their tiers. Don’t expect to receive too many Tier 3 Chibis as they are rare. Only 888 rare Chibis, meaning a maximum of 888 investors can get them.
NFG Chibi tops the chart among other utility tokens when it comes to reliability. In addition, its unique feature of providing scholarships to crypto enthusiasts shows that it cares for the community. If you want to learn about the crypto industry and generate a stable passive income, NFG Chibis are live today and you can find out more here:
