Tories Ban Anti-Capitalist Ideas from Schools – Book Burnings Next

Boris Johnson “misspoke” the other day and illustrated yet again just how profoundly out of his political and intellectual depth he is as Prime Minister of the UK. He cannot even remember or explain his own government’s Covid19 restrictions so how the hell can he expect the general public to understand them?

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Republicans, Democrats Agree to Include Check Payments in Future COVID-19 Relief Bill, Mnuchin Says

The two parties have been locked in a stalemate for three months over the next COVID-19 relief package, aimed at mitigating the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic on American citizens.

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Vocabulary Quest is an action-adventure game that also happens to teach you advanced vocab words

Studying for vocabulary tests in grade school was always the worst. Just you, a list of words, a sheet of paper and a pencil…and endless, endless, endless repetition. It was always the equivalent of an educational death march.

But the importance of an extensive vocabulary is undeniable. — Read the rest

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'Like watching democracy get a lobotomy': Seth Meyers condemns 'embarrassing' Biden-Trump debate

The first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden took place on Tuesday. It was, by common consensus, "a shitshow." 

"Watching that debate was like hotboxing a Porta Potti with crystal meth in Phoenix in July," said Late Night host Seth Meyers on Wednesday. "It was like being hit on the head with a lead pipe in a room filled with nitrous oxide. It was like watching a two-person performance of 12 Angry Men where one actor played one part, and one was mad enough for the other 11."

The entire spectacle was 90 minutes of barely intelligible, unadulterated chaos, lowlights of which included Trump stumbling when asked to unequivocally denounce white supremacists. Read more...

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US Defence Contractor CEO Charged for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The head of a Hawaiian defense contractor has been charged for trying to steal nearly $13 million in COVID-19 relief funds, the US Justice Department said in a press release.

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Over 73Mln Watch US Presidential Debate, Down 13% From 2016 - Research Firm

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - More than 73 million people watched the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden, the Nielsen marketing research firm said in a press release.

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Trump Directs Administration to Probe US Reliance on Foreign States for Critical Minerals

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order declaring a national emergency to deal with the United States' reliance on foreign countries for critical materials important to the US military and economy.

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6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes off Tonga in Pacific Ocean, USGS Says

Despite the amplitude of the quake, which, according to the Richter scale is considered "strong", scientists forecast no tsunami in the area.

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From oil to gummies to pre-rolls, this CBD package has you completely covered

In case you've been under a rock the past few years, CBD is one of the fastest-growing businesses in America. In fact, one in seven American adults use cannabis-derived products. 

With only three states still prohibiting the use of CBD-infused oils, tinctures, creams, and consumable foods and drinks, millions are discovering CBD's therapeutic relief and support with issues like anxiety, arthritis, pain, sleep disorders and other health issues. — Read the rest

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Indian startups explore forming an alliance and alternative app store to fight Google’s ‘monopoly’

Google, which reaches more internet users than any other firm in India and commands 99% of the nation’s smartphone market, has stumbled upon an odd challenge in the world’s second largest internet market: Scores of top local entrepreneurs.

Dozens of top startups and firms in India are working to form an alliance and toying with the idea of launching an app store to cut their reliance on Google, five people familiar with the matter told TechCrunch.

The list of entrepreneurs include high-profile names such as Vijay Shekhar Sharma, co-founder and chief executive of Paytm (India’s most valuable startup), Deep Kalra of travel ticketing firm MakeMyTrip, and executives from PolicyBazaar, Sharechat and many other firms.

The growing list of founders expressed deep concerns about Google’s “monopolistic” hold on India, and discussed what they alleged was unfair and inconsistent enforcement of Play Store’s guidelines in the country.

The conversations, which began in recent weeks, escalated on Tuesday after Google said that starting next year developers with an app on Google Play Store must give the company a cut of as much as 30% of several app-related payments.

Dozens of executives “from nearly every top startup and firm” in India attended a call on Tuesday to discuss the way forward, some of the people said, requesting anonymity. A 30% cut to Google is simply unfeasible, people on the call unanimously agreed.

Vishal Gondal, the founder of fitness startup GOQii, confirmed the talks to TechCrunch and said that an alternative app store would immensely help the Indian app ecosystem.

TechCrunch reached out to Paytm on Monday for comment and the startup declined the request.

In recent months, several major startups in India have also expressed disappointment over several of the existing industry bodies, which some say have failed to work on nurturing the local ecosystem.

The tension between some firms and Google became more public than ever late last month after the Android-maker reiterated Play Store’s gambling policy, sending a shockwave to scores of startups in the country that were hoping to cash in on the ongoing season of Indian Premier League cricket tournament.

Google temporarily pulled Paytm’s marquee app from the Play Store citing repeat violation of its Play Store policies. Disappointed by Google’s move, Paytm’s Sharma said in a TV interview, “This is the problem of India’s app ecosystem. So many founders have reached out to us… if we believe this country can build digital business, we must know that it is at somebody else’s hand to bless that business and not this country’s rules and regulations.”

Google has sent notices to several firms in India including Hotstar, TechCrunch reported last month. Indian newspaper Economic Times reported on Wednesday that the Mountain View giant had also sent warnings to food delivery startups Swiggy and Zomato.

Vivek Wadhwa, a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Labor and Worklife Program, lauded the banding of Indian entrepreneurs and likened Silicon Valley giants’ hold on India to the rising days of East India Company, which pillaged India. “Modern day tech companies pose a similar risk,” he told TechCrunch.

Some of the participating members are also hopeful that the government, which has urged the citizens in India to become self-reliant to revive the declining economy, would help their movement.

Other than its reach on Android, Google today also leads the mobile payments market in India, TechCrunch reported earlier this year.

The giant, which has backed a handful of startups in India and is a member of several Indian industry bodies, invested $4.5 billion in Mukesh Ambani’s telecom giant Jio Platforms earlier this year.

India’s richest man Ambani, who runs oil-to-retails giant Reliance Industries, is an ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jio Platforms has attracted over $20 billion in investment from Google, Facebook, and 11 other high-profile investors this year.

The voluminous investment in Jio Platforms has puzzled many industry executives. “I see no business case for Facebook investing in Jio beyond saying we need regulatory help,” said Miten Sampat, a high-profile angel-investor on a podcast published Wednesday.

“This is a white-collar way of saying there is corruption involved, and if the government gets upset, I have invested somewhere with some friend of the government. All of us are losing at the benefit of one company,” he said. Sampat’s views are shared by many industry executives, though nobody has said it on record and in such clear terms.

Google said in July that it would work with Jio Platforms on low-cost Android smartphones. Jio Platforms is planning to launch as many as 200 million smartphones in the next three years, according to a pitch the telecom giant has made to several developers. Bloomberg first reported about Jio Platform’s smartphone production plans.

These smartphones, as is the case with nearly 40 million JioPhone feature phones in circulation today, will have an app store with only a few dozen apps, all vetted and approved by Jio, according to one developer who was pitched by Jio Platforms. An industry executive described Jio’s store as a walled-garden.

A possible viable option for startup founders is Indus OS, a Samsung-backed third-party store, which last month said it reaches over 100 million monthly active users. As of earlier this week, Paytm and other firms had not reached out to IndusOS, a person familiar with the matter said.

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Venezuela Resumes Operation of Two Oil Refineries, Maduro Says

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the operation of two oil refineries had been restored and the country had become self-sufficient in gasoline supplies for domestic use.

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Lawyer of Kenosha Shooter Threatens to Sue Biden Over 'White Supremacist' Remarks

17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse has been charged with fatally shooting three people during an anti-racism and anti-police protest in Wisconsin in August.

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Forthcoming ICE Op Against Sanctuary Cities is ‘PR Move’ Pushing Trump’s ‘Insider Threat’ Narrative

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s administration was preparing to carry out an “immigration enforcement blitz” in October that would target US “sanctuary” cities and jurisdictions. One expert tells Sputnik that this is nothing more than an attempt at increasing 45’s chances of reelection.

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Tokyo Stock Exchange Trade Suspended Due to Glitch

TOKYO (Sputnik) - A technical glitch caused the Tokyo Stock Exchange to halt trade, the Kyodo news agency reported.

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Horrid mug looks like wool sweater

The White Winter Ceramic Mug [Amazon, set of four] is designed to resemble a nice cosy knitted sweater. Just imagine it filled with a hot steaming cup of tea or chocolate, surrounded by fancy European "biscuits", breathing warmth into a cold winter's day. — Read the rest

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WIRED25 Day 3: Look at Problems in a New Way

Guests like Anthony Fauci, Lisa Piccirillo, Patrice Peck, and Audrey Tang discussed how to puzzle through seemingly intractable situations.

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WIRED25 Day 3: Look at Problems in a New Way

Guests like Anthony Fauci, Lisa Piccirillo, Patrice Peck, and Audrey Tang discussed how to puzzle through seemingly intractable situations.

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Putin, Macron Discuss Situation in Belarus

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the situation in Belarus in a phone call, Moscow reiterated its position on the inadmissibility of attempts to interfere in the country's internal affairs, the Kremlin said in a statement.

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Canada Extends Coronavirus Travel Ban Until 31 October

TORONTO (Sputnik) - Canada is extending the travel ban for foreigners until 31 October due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement.

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Disgrace-Off

The much-anticipated debate on Tuesday between incumbent US President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, left most audiences shocked, with some labeling it the worst presidential debate in American history.

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New video by HomemadeEntrepreneur on YouTube

We're SCREWED! Second Stimulus Check Update & Stimulus Negotiation News
Yes - We're SCREWED at this point! This is your second stimulus check update, stimulus package update, and stimulus negotiation news for late Wednesday September 30th... Detailed Heroes Act 2.0 - Sept 29: - https://youtu.be/s9A6MRq6jkM Get FREE Money Without A Stimulus Check (FREE Stimulus): - https://youtu.be/JJw-76sZJjs No Stimulus No Problem - Get $1,000 Per Month - https://youtu.be/ahCUBmN5oXo #secondstimuluscheckupdate #stimuluscheckupdate #stimulus Here on the Homemade Entrepreneur YouTube Channel we cover business as well as finance. I do my best to provide you with all the newest stimulus updates and stimulus package news. If you want to stay updated on all things stimulus, then you need to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE right now! Many people ask me about when a second stimulus check will be approved, how much will I get in a second stimulus check, will I qualify for the additional unemployment stimulus, will the 2nd stimulus check include me if I am on social security, are there any rental assistance programs for me where I live, and so much more. I love getting your questions and I love answering them as well in order to help you out as much as possible. When you provide a question in the comment section about new stimulus package negotiations or stimulus check 2, then it provides me with content that I can create the following day. So thank you for all that you do as well. If you didn’t come here and enjoy these second stimulus check update videos and stimulus package updates then I would not do them as much as I do. I want to help out my community as much as possible and if I need to do hours and hours of research to make this happen, then that is exactly what I will do. Whether there is a $1,200 stimulus check coming or a possible $2,000 stimulus check, I will keep you updated on everything that you need to know. I want to make sure you know what is going on with new stimulus proposals as well as President Trump stimulus demands and more. If you have a question about the next round of stimulus, then ask here. Whether there is a new 2nd stimulus package being negotiated or not doesn’t matter. I will bring you more updates on the Cares Act, Heroes Act, Heals Act, or any new stimulus proposals that Congress wants to put in front of us. I am here to help you understand what is happening between Congress and how these stimulus bills may affect you. Stimulus payments or not, I am still going to keep you updated on all stimulus news... Thank you for joining me on these stimulus bill updates and 2nd stimulus check videos. If there is ever anything that I can help you with regarding stimulus or how to make money online, then feel free to comment below and I will do my best to help you out. Remember, just because won't won't get a September stimulus check doesn't mean we won't get an October stimulus check. Let's all just try and stay positive and hope that Congress gets back to work and passed the second round of stimulus for the American people. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▼ ▽ WHAT TO WATCH NEXT ▼ ▽ 👇🏼WORK FROM HOME VIDS👇🏼 🔲5 Ways To Make Money While You Sleep: https://youtu.be/5daFlGgLLVs 🔲Earn Money On Fiverr Without Doing The Work: https://youtu.be/lvx0lV8808c 🔲Earn Money Typing Names Online: https://youtu.be/nk_I--v08Tw 👇🏼 Profitable Online Businesses 👇🏼 🔲Make $100 Per Day On YouTube Without Filming: https://youtu.be/MkMY8CG_hYY 🔲How To Easily Make Money Typing: https://youtu.be/hENwULEOIwc 🔲Upload Images Online And Earn: https://youtu.be/SDo5SOxdUoQ ✅ Subscribe To The Homemade Entrepreneur Channel ➡️ https://goo.gl/ln3yeU

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New video by HomemadeEntrepreneur on YouTube

We're SCREWED! Second Stimulus Check Update & Stimulus Negotiation News
Yes - We're SCREWED at this point! This is your second stimulus check update, stimulus package update, and stimulus negotiation news for late Wednesday September 30th... Detailed Heroes Act 2.0 - Sept 29: - https://youtu.be/s9A6MRq6jkM Get FREE Money Without A Stimulus Check (FREE Stimulus): - https://youtu.be/JJw-76sZJjs No Stimulus No Problem - Get $1,000 Per Month - https://youtu.be/ahCUBmN5oXo #secondstimuluscheckupdate #stimuluscheckupdate #stimulus Here on the Homemade Entrepreneur YouTube Channel we cover business as well as finance. I do my best to provide you with all the newest stimulus updates and stimulus package news. If you want to stay updated on all things stimulus, then you need to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE right now! Many people ask me about when a second stimulus check will be approved, how much will I get in a second stimulus check, will I qualify for the additional unemployment stimulus, will the 2nd stimulus check include me if I am on social security, are there any rental assistance programs for me where I live, and so much more. I love getting your questions and I love answering them as well in order to help you out as much as possible. When you provide a question in the comment section about new stimulus package negotiations or stimulus check 2, then it provides me with content that I can create the following day. So thank you for all that you do as well. If you didn’t come here and enjoy these second stimulus check update videos and stimulus package updates then I would not do them as much as I do. I want to help out my community as much as possible and if I need to do hours and hours of research to make this happen, then that is exactly what I will do. Whether there is a $1,200 stimulus check coming or a possible $2,000 stimulus check, I will keep you updated on everything that you need to know. I want to make sure you know what is going on with new stimulus proposals as well as President Trump stimulus demands and more. If you have a question about the next round of stimulus, then ask here. Whether there is a new 2nd stimulus package being negotiated or not doesn’t matter. I will bring you more updates on the Cares Act, Heroes Act, Heals Act, or any new stimulus proposals that Congress wants to put in front of us. I am here to help you understand what is happening between Congress and how these stimulus bills may affect you. Stimulus payments or not, I am still going to keep you updated on all stimulus news... Thank you for joining me on these stimulus bill updates and 2nd stimulus check videos. If there is ever anything that I can help you with regarding stimulus or how to make money online, then feel free to comment below and I will do my best to help you out. Remember, just because won't won't get a September stimulus check doesn't mean we won't get an October stimulus check. Let's all just try and stay positive and hope that Congress gets back to work and passed the second round of stimulus for the American people. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▼ ▽ WHAT TO WATCH NEXT ▼ ▽ 👇🏼WORK FROM HOME VIDS👇🏼 🔲5 Ways To Make Money While You Sleep: https://youtu.be/5daFlGgLLVs 🔲Earn Money On Fiverr Without Doing The Work: https://youtu.be/lvx0lV8808c 🔲Earn Money Typing Names Online: https://youtu.be/nk_I--v08Tw 👇🏼 Profitable Online Businesses 👇🏼 🔲Make $100 Per Day On YouTube Without Filming: https://youtu.be/MkMY8CG_hYY 🔲How To Easily Make Money Typing: https://youtu.be/hENwULEOIwc 🔲Upload Images Online And Earn: https://youtu.be/SDo5SOxdUoQ ✅ Subscribe To The Homemade Entrepreneur Channel ➡️ https://goo.gl/ln3yeU

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Taiwan’s Digital Minister Knows How to Crush Covid-19: Trust

On day three of WIRED25, Audrey Tang explains how the Asian nation used open data and transparent governance to empower its citizens to code their own way out of a pandemic.

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Trump, asked about election violence: 'I'm urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully'

TRUMP INCITES SUPPORTERS TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS AT POLLS ON ELECTION DAY

"Will you pledge tonight that you will not declare victory until the election is certified," asked moderator Chris Wallace during the first presidential debate.

"Will you urge your voters to stay calm if election results are unknown on Nov. — Read the rest

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Joe Biden spent the first debate staring into the camera like Jim Halpert

Look out, Jim. There's a new reaction guy in town, and his name's Joe.

On Tuesday night, Joe Biden made his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, proud by spending the majority of the first presidential debate imitating another famous Scranton man: Jim Halpert.

As fans of The Office know, Jim is the go-to camera reaction guy in Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch. His signature move is a look straight to camera, often accompanied by a smirk or a dumbfounded look — depending on the situation. And as the first debate unfolded, Biden essentially perfected Jim's famous reaction.

For those who missed the debate (or simply blacked out from stress and can't remember anything that happened) Donald Trump and Joe Biden had a tough time communicating. The two spent nearly 90 straight minutes talking over each other and moderator Chris Wallace, and at one point Biden got so frustrated with Trump's constant interruptions that he simply said, "Will you shut up, man?" Read more...

More about Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Presidential Debate, Jim Halpert, and 2020 Election

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The angry Australian animal Australians are actually scared of

Australia has a reputation for terrifying, deadly animals, from brown snakes to redback spiders to buff red kangaroos that can disembowel you with their feet. Fortunately, most of these hell creatures will won't start anything if you just leave them alone. Unfortunately, magpies do not extend the same courtesy.

Also known as "spring" in the U.S., swooping season is in full swing in Australia, adding just one more reason for everyone to stay indoors right now. Every year from early August to late October, the Australian magpie loses its tiny feathered gourd and starts indiscriminately dive-bombing anything that comes within 50 to 100 metres (164 to 328 feet) of its nest, as seen in a video that went viral this week. Read more...

More about Australia, Birds, Australian Animals, Magpie, and Face Masks

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This 6-in-1 Universal Cable wants to be the one-stop answer to all of those power needs

If you're going on a trip, it isn't enough to bring your smartphone and your tablet and your laptop. You also have to bring all the charging cables for your phone. And the one for your tablet. And the charging brick plug-in. — Read the rest

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Trump wouldn't condemn white supremacists in first presidential debate, tells Proud Boys 'stand back and stand by'

In the first presidential debate, Trump refused to condemn white supremacists and racism. He said instead to these groups, and he shouted out the Proud Boys, "Stand back and Stand by." Is that a command to prepare for violence after Trump loses the election? — Read the rest

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Biden calls Trump 'worst president America has ever had'

"You're the worst president America has ever had," Biden said to Trump tonight.

"In 47 months, I've done more than you've done in 47 years, Joe," Trump replies.

They'll both be lines remembered.

"You're the worst President America has ever had."

— Read the rest

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Trump claims he paid millions of dollars in taxes (he did not)

During the presidential debate tonight, Trump was pressed on the New York Times reporting that showed he paid no taxes for much of the past 20 years, and $750 for two years. Trump got flustered.

Show us your tax returns," Biden says. — Read the rest

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'Will You Shut Up, Man' – Biden to Trump during debate, speaking for all of us

Joe Biden to Donald Trump during tonight's debate, truly speaking for us all at this point: "Would you shut up, man?"

… "would you shut up, man?"pic.twitter.com/qjDkN6RtkY

— fake nick ramsey @ 🏡 (@nick_ramsey) September 30, 2020

This is an instantly iconic line. — Read the rest

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Biden asks Trump what everyone's thinking: 'Will you shut up, man?'

Joe Biden isn't moderating the first presidential debate, but he did have one very important question for Donald Trump: "Will you shut up, man?"

For those who aren't subjecting themselves to this extremely painful night of Men Talking Over Each Other. Here's what you need you need to know. 

Donald Trump appears to be incapable of having a normal back and forth, and instead of calmly and constructively debating he keeps interrupting Biden. This then leads to them loudly butting heads and speaking over actual debate moderator, Fox News' Chis Wallace.

At one point Trump yammered on so relentlessly that Biden snapped and asked what so many people have been wanting to say to Trump for years now: "Will you shut up, man?" Read more...

More about Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Presidential Debate, 2020 Election, and Culture

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Hillary Clinton hitting a Zoom limit on TV is a 2020 mood

Even former presidential candidates have to deal with Zoom's time limits.

From office happy hours to college classes, the world has had to adjust to meeting virtually during the pandemic — even former Secretary of State, FLOTUS, 2016 presidential candidate, and feminist trailblazer Hillary Clinton. 

Clinton appeared on MSNBC ahead of the first presidential debate on Tuesday, declaring that Trump's "series is about to be canceled." Her insight, however, was interrupted by an all too familiar pop up: "Your meeting will end in 10 min." 

It seems that neither Clinton nor MSNBC upgraded their Zoom accounts for unlimited meeting time.  Read more...

More about Hillary Clinton, Twitter Reactions, Debate, Culture, and Web Culture

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Trump Says US 'Weeks Away From Vaccine' During Debate Against Biden

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Venezuela Studying Use of Various Cryptocurrencies in Trade Besides Petro, Maduro Says

BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Venezuela is studying the possibility of using cryptocurrencies in trade, in addition to the national petro, these may be both private and state tools, President Nicolas Maduro said.

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First Presidential Debate Between Donald Trump and Joe Biden Ahead of 2020 US Election

The debate will be moderated by the anchor of "Fox News Sunday", Chris Wallace, who is expected to pressure Trump and Biden on the coronavirus pandemic, US economy, anti-racism protests, a Supreme Court nomination, and the election itself.

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'Why Don't White Folks Just Add Garam Masala': Tea Fanatic Indians Ridicule DIY 'Chai Latte' Video

In India, tea, or as Indians call it, “Chai”, is more than just a beverage. For many, it’s a hug after a long day served in a cup. For others, it is a milky cure to anxiety and irritation. Bundled in its variety of uses, chai is seen with one single emotion in India – pure love. So needless to say, Indians never take disrespect for tea.

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US Federal Reserve’s Plan to Hold Benchmark Rates at Zero for 3 Years a Boon for India, Experts Say

The Narendra Modi government and the country’s banking regulator RBI have deployed $391 billion together in the last eight months to curb the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Indian economy. Taken together, the sovereign and monetary measures are almost 15 percent of the Indian economy.

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India Hands Over Surveillance Aircraft to Maldives Amid Strategic Tussle with China

The requirement for a Dornier Maritime Surveillance aircraft was raised during the visit of former President Abdulla Yameen to India in 2016. While it could not get implemented earlier, the present Ibrahim Solih government has been able to see it through.

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Trump and Biden face off in first Presidential debate

The first presidential debate kicked off tonight at 9PM Eastern.

Donald Trump's pupils sure are… huge tonight.

Joe Biden's first words to Trump: "How you doin', man?"

12 minutes in, Trump calls Biden's party Socialist.

Trump began by defending his approach to filling #RBG's Supreme Court seat: "We won the election; we have the right to choose her." — Read the rest

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Amazon wants a copy of your 'palm signature.' You should pass.

Amazon is coming for your hands. 

Not content to put a flying surveillance drone inside customers' homes, the surveillance behemoth on Tuesday announced a plan to scan and store the "unique palm signature" of an untold number of Americans. Dubbed Amazon One, the company hopes the network of scanners will one day serve as an all-purpose form of identification. 

You should absolutely not participate.

Since the introduction of Apple's Touch ID in 2013, followed by Face ID in 2017, many people have become desensitized to using biometric data as a form of identification. While those forms of biometric ID have their own drawbacks, Amazon One is different. Designed as a contactless payment and authentication system, Amazon One relies on scanned images of customer hands.  Read more...

More about Amazon, Privacy, Amazon One, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

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Fowl-Mouthed: British Park Removes Parrots That Taught Each Other to Swear - Photos

Five African grey parrots have been relocated at a wildlife park in Friskney, England, after park officials learned the birds had been swearing and laughing at customers.

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18-YO Irish Transsexual Barbie Kardashian Remanded in Women's Jail after Threatening Rape

Trans woman Barbie Kardashian, who was born Alejandro Gentile, has a long history of violent and sexual assaults against care home and social workers, including a brutal 2018 attack on a woman whose eyes she tried to gouge out.

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What people actually say before they die

We all know the stories of profound deathbed dying words by famous folks. Beethoven's "Friends applaud. The comedy is over." Emily Dickinson's "I must go in, for the fog is rising." Bogart's "I never should've switched from Scotch to martinis." Josephine Baker's "You young people act like old men. — Read the rest

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Here come the Halloween holiday tunes

"It's the most wonderful time of the year…" It's closing in on October and you know what that means. Everything in the known universe getting pumpkin spiced? Well, yes that, too. But, I'm talking about the YouTube algorithms feeding us Halloween tunes. — Read the rest

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Facebook names VP of product growth Alex Schultz as new CMO

To fill its empty CMO position, Facebook just promoted to the C-suite a longtime Facebook executive focused on product growth.

Former VP of product growth and analytics Alex Schultz, who has been with the company since 2007, announced the move Tuesday in a Facebook post. Schultz will fill the position left open by Antonio Lucio, who joined the company from HP in 2018 and announced his departure last month. Lucio said he was leaving the company to “dedicate 100% of my time to diversity, inclusion and equity.”

In his Facebook post, Schultz said he planned to bring “experience in segmentation, targeting, and measurement” to the table to extend Facebook’s already massive reach. Schultz, who is the executive sponsor of Facebook’s LGBTQ resource group, added a personal note to the news, writing that Facebook is the first workplace where he has “truly safe to be gay and be open about it.”

Stepping into the role late in the U.S. election, an intensely consequential time for the company, Schultz acknowledged Facebook’s precarious position in the public eye. Touching on Facebook’s failures around platform enforcement, Schultz mentioned that he spent “most of my energy” over the last four years working on safety at the company. That work includes projects like Facebook’s community standards enforcement report, a new quarterly accounting of the company’s efforts to rid its platform of hate speech, harassment and other rule-breaking behavior.

“I believe deeply in the good Facebook’s products do,” Schultz said in his Facebook post. “We have all seen it through this pandemic as billions of people have connected with family and friends socially online while staying physically apart and slowing the spread of the virus. At the same time I think scrutiny of any new technology is appropriate and there are ways we can, and should, improve without losing all the good.”

Chris Cox returns to the fold as Facebook’s chief product officer

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Is the Pentagon's Buildup in Northeast Syria a Message to Russia, Turkey, Damascus, or Someone Else?

On 18 September, the US Central Command announced that it had taken a series of measures aimed at ensuring the safety and security of US-led coalition forces in north-eastern Syria. Mark Sleboda, a US military veteran and international affairs and security analyst, has explained who the major addressees of the Pentagon's move are.

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Exotec raises $90 million for its warehouse robots

French startup Exotec has raised a $90 million Series C round led by 83North, with existing investors Iris Capital and Breega also participating. Other existing investors include 360 Capital. The company has been working on semi-automated warehouses for e-commerce clients.

The system is based on tiny robots called Skypods. They roam the floor and go up and down racks to pick up standardized bins of products.

The company also provides logistics software to coordinate all those robots through the warehouse. As you scale, you can add more robots and more racks without any downtime.

It’s not going to replace humans altogether as you still have to pick up goods from the bin and pack stuff. But human operators can stay at a workstation while robots take care of all the roaming.

You can use a workstation to pick up goods but also to replenish bins. The idea is that you never have to enter the Exotec area. It’s a robot-only zone.

In addition to productivity gains, you can also increase your storage capacity by switching to Exotec thanks to tall racks and narrow aisles.

The company now has teams in Atlanta and Tokyo — it plans to produce 4,000 robots per year by 2021. Everything is manufactured in Lille, France in a 6,000 square-meter plant. The company currently has fourteen running systems around the world. Clients include Carrefour, Leclerc, Cdiscount and Fast Retailing (Uniqlo).

Exotec has previously raised $17.7 million in 2018 and $3.8 million (€3.3 million) in 2016.

Image Credits: Exotec

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Police Report 911 Lines Are Down in Multiple States Across US

Netizens have connected the nationwide 911 outage to a technological problem with Microsoft, while the authorities have yet to comment on the possible causes of the issues.

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Tampa Bay Win NHL's Stanley Cup for the Second Time in Franchise History

The team previously won their maiden Stanley Cup in 2004.

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Ex-OPCW Member Says Syria 2018 Chemical Attacks Report May Not Reflect Actual Events

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - A former lead investigator from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ian Henderson, said the final report of the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) into the alleged use of toxic chemicals in an attack in Douma, Syria, in 2018, may not reflect what happened on the ground.

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"Suspected ransomware attack" takes down Universal Health Services hospital network, doctors and nurses are using paper

A large hospital chain that operates medical facilities around the U.S. was taken offline Monday, and in a statement blamed an unnamed technology "security issue." Security experts say it sounds like a "suspected ransomware attack."

Universal Health Services operates over 250 hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the nation. — Read the rest

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Microsoft 365 outage caused problems for Outlook.com and Microsoft Teams users

There was a big outage for users of Microsoft 365, and other related services. Late on Monday Microsoft said a recent change it introduced probably caused the glitch that impacted user access to multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook.com and Microsoft Teams. — Read the rest

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Trump Jr Says Biden Should Be 'Decent' in Debate, But Questions His Ability to Do Presidential Job

Trump's eldest son compared Biden to his father, saying that the US president has stayed at the White House working till late at night and doubting whether the former vice president could do the same.

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IRS May Add Cryptocurrency Question to Income Tax Form

The measure is part of the government's efforts to make tax rules apply to virtual currency traders and get them to report their cryptocurrency income.

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Multiple Fatalities Reported in Shooting in Salem

Local police have confirmed that the officer-involved shooting resulted in multiple deaths, including the suspect. An investigation has been opened into the matter.

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Why Trump's taxes matter so much

Because "Cracking down on rich tax cheats is law enforcement," writes the NYT.

Donald Trump's long-concealed, just-reported tax information for the last 20 years is "The Picture of a Broken Tax System," writes the New York Times Editorial Board: "Donald Trump's tax returns illustrate the profound inequities of the tax code and the shambolic state of federal enforcement." — Read the rest

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No kitchen is complete with a great molcajete and this one is on sale for under $55

There are few tools in the history of humankind that stretch back as far as the molcajete. Going back thousands of years to the ancient Mayans and beyond, the process of crafting stone mortar and pestle instruments to grind up spices is a staple of Mexican and South American food preparation. — Read the rest

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B-town Actor Sushant's Death Case: Not Leaving Any Stone Unturned, Hints India's Top Probe Agency

Bollywood Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead hanging in his Mumbai flat on 14 June. The young actor's death has caused a massive public uproar, triggering many questions. Three federal investigative agencies - Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) - are probing the case.

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New video by HomemadeEntrepreneur on YouTube

WOW! Second Stimulus Check Update & Stimulus News Report (GAMECHANGER)
This is your second stimulus check update & stimulus package news report for late September 28th... $200 Cash Cards: - https://youtu.be/nLM1gReYoCo Stimulus Check Update - Sept 27: - https://youtu.be/ft3THM2m7XY Is Stimulus FINALLY Coming? - https://youtu.be/YA69L-lmiUg Double Stimulus Checks - Stimulus Update: - https://youtu.be/rKEQdnCnBoc Get FREE Money Without A Stimulus Check (FREE Stimulus): - https://youtu.be/JJw-76sZJjs No Stimulus No Problem - Get $1,000 Per Month - https://youtu.be/ahCUBmN5oXo #secondstimuluscheckupdate #stimuluspackageupdate #stimulus Here on the Homemade Entrepreneur YouTube Channel we cover business as well as finance. I do my best to provide you with all the newest stimulus updates and stimulus package news. If you want to stay updated on all things stimulus, then you need to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE right now! Many people ask me about when a second stimulus check will be approved, how much will I get in a second stimulus check, will I qualify for the additional unemployment stimulus, will the 2nd stimulus check include me if I am on social security, are there any rental assistance programs for me where I live, and so much more. I love getting your questions and I love answering them as well in order to help you out as much as possible. When you provide a question in the comment section about new stimulus package negotiations or stimulus check 2, then it provides me with content that I can create the following day. So thank you for all that you do as well. If you didn’t come here and enjoy these second stimulus check update videos and stimulus package updates then I would not do them as much as I do. I want to help out my community as much as possible and if I need to do hours and hours of research to make this happen, then that is exactly what I will do. Whether there is a $1,200 stimulus check coming or a possible $2,000 stimulus check, I will keep you updated on everything that you need to know. I want to make sure you know what is going on with new stimulus proposals as well as President Trump stimulus demands and more. If you have a question about the next round of stimulus, then ask here. Whether there is a new 2nd stimulus package being negotiated or not doesn’t matter. I will bring you more updates on the Cares Act, Heroes Act, Heals Act, or any new stimulus proposals that Congress wants to put in front of us. I am here to help you understand what is happening between Congress and how these stimulus bills may affect you. Stimulus payments or not, I am still going to keep you updated on all stimulus news... Thank you for joining me on these stimulus bill updates and 2nd stimulus check videos. If there is ever anything that I can help you with regarding stimulus or how to make money online, then feel free to comment below and I will do my best to help you out. Remember, just because won't won't get a September stimulus check doesn't mean we won't get an October stimulus check. Let's all just try and stay positive and hope that Congress gets back to work and passed the second round of stimulus for the American people. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▼ ▽ WHAT TO WATCH NEXT ▼ ▽ 👇🏼WORK FROM HOME VIDS👇🏼 🔲5 Ways To Make Money While You Sleep: https://youtu.be/5daFlGgLLVs 🔲Earn Money On Fiverr Without Doing The Work: https://youtu.be/lvx0lV8808c 🔲Earn Money Typing Names Online: https://youtu.be/nk_I--v08Tw 👇🏼 Profitable Online Businesses 👇🏼 🔲Make $100 Per Day On YouTube Without Filming: https://youtu.be/MkMY8CG_hYY 🔲How To Easily Make Money Typing: https://youtu.be/hENwULEOIwc 🔲Upload Images Online And Earn: https://youtu.be/SDo5SOxdUoQ ✅ Subscribe To The Homemade Entrepreneur Channel ➡️ https://goo.gl/ln3yeU

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New video by HomemadeEntrepreneur on YouTube

WOW! Second Stimulus Check Update & Stimulus News Report (GAMECHANGER)
This is your second stimulus check update & stimulus package news report for late September 28th... $200 Cash Cards: - https://youtu.be/nLM1gReYoCo Stimulus Check Update - Sept 27: - https://youtu.be/ft3THM2m7XY Is Stimulus FINALLY Coming? - https://youtu.be/YA69L-lmiUg Double Stimulus Checks - Stimulus Update: - https://youtu.be/rKEQdnCnBoc Get FREE Money Without A Stimulus Check (FREE Stimulus): - https://youtu.be/JJw-76sZJjs No Stimulus No Problem - Get $1,000 Per Month - https://youtu.be/ahCUBmN5oXo #secondstimuluscheckupdate #stimuluspackageupdate #stimulus Here on the Homemade Entrepreneur YouTube Channel we cover business as well as finance. I do my best to provide you with all the newest stimulus updates and stimulus package news. If you want to stay updated on all things stimulus, then you need to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE right now! Many people ask me about when a second stimulus check will be approved, how much will I get in a second stimulus check, will I qualify for the additional unemployment stimulus, will the 2nd stimulus check include me if I am on social security, are there any rental assistance programs for me where I live, and so much more. I love getting your questions and I love answering them as well in order to help you out as much as possible. When you provide a question in the comment section about new stimulus package negotiations or stimulus check 2, then it provides me with content that I can create the following day. So thank you for all that you do as well. If you didn’t come here and enjoy these second stimulus check update videos and stimulus package updates then I would not do them as much as I do. I want to help out my community as much as possible and if I need to do hours and hours of research to make this happen, then that is exactly what I will do. Whether there is a $1,200 stimulus check coming or a possible $2,000 stimulus check, I will keep you updated on everything that you need to know. I want to make sure you know what is going on with new stimulus proposals as well as President Trump stimulus demands and more. If you have a question about the next round of stimulus, then ask here. Whether there is a new 2nd stimulus package being negotiated or not doesn’t matter. I will bring you more updates on the Cares Act, Heroes Act, Heals Act, or any new stimulus proposals that Congress wants to put in front of us. I am here to help you understand what is happening between Congress and how these stimulus bills may affect you. Stimulus payments or not, I am still going to keep you updated on all stimulus news... Thank you for joining me on these stimulus bill updates and 2nd stimulus check videos. If there is ever anything that I can help you with regarding stimulus or how to make money online, then feel free to comment below and I will do my best to help you out. Remember, just because won't won't get a September stimulus check doesn't mean we won't get an October stimulus check. Let's all just try and stay positive and hope that Congress gets back to work and passed the second round of stimulus for the American people. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▼ ▽ WHAT TO WATCH NEXT ▼ ▽ 👇🏼WORK FROM HOME VIDS👇🏼 🔲5 Ways To Make Money While You Sleep: https://youtu.be/5daFlGgLLVs 🔲Earn Money On Fiverr Without Doing The Work: https://youtu.be/lvx0lV8808c 🔲Earn Money Typing Names Online: https://youtu.be/nk_I--v08Tw 👇🏼 Profitable Online Businesses 👇🏼 🔲Make $100 Per Day On YouTube Without Filming: https://youtu.be/MkMY8CG_hYY 🔲How To Easily Make Money Typing: https://youtu.be/hENwULEOIwc 🔲Upload Images Online And Earn: https://youtu.be/SDo5SOxdUoQ ✅ Subscribe To The Homemade Entrepreneur Channel ➡️ https://goo.gl/ln3yeU

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10 best podcasts to listen to while running

I've been a runner all my life. Way back in the day, I would've described myself as pretty good at running. I knocked out sub-five-minute miles and completed a marathon.

Nowadays, well, I'm just trying to get a few miles done without gasping for air or getting injured. So, when I was tasked with compiling a list of good podcasts to listen to while running, my whole goal was to recommend shows that would help a long run fly by faster. I am not trying to turn you into an elite runner by loading you up with running podcast after running podcast to motivate you through your ultra marathon training sessions. If you want motivation while running, maybe just listen to loud music?  Read more...

More about Fitness, Running, Podcasts, Culture, and Health

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Grand Juror Files Motion to Release Breonna Taylor Files, Accusing DA of Misleading Public

A motion to release grand jury transcipts, recordings and reports has been issued by a grand juror in the case involving the shooting of Breonna Taylor.

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‘Not All of Them Make It’: Dozens of Drowned Squirrels Wash Up on Michigan Beach During Migration

In recent weeks, visitors to Michigan’s Grand Haven State Park have experienced the gruesome sight of dead squirrels floating in the water and washing ashore along the beach.

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US Plan Seeks to Isolate Iran From Global Financial System - Reports

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US administration is considering sanctioning Iran's entire financial system to cut it off from the outside world, Bloomberg news agency reported.

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UK Authorities Dismiss Anti-Semitism Probe Into Rapper Wiley’s Social Media Posts

British authorities have terminated their anti-Semitism investigation into UK grime rapper Wiley - real name Richard Kylea Cowie Jr. - after learning that his July social media comments on the Jewish community were issued while he was out of the country.

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XtalPi lands massive $319M SoftBank-led round C to continue its high-tech drug discovery

XtalPi, an American-Chinese biotech firm that focuses on AI-assisted drug discovery, has raised a $319 million round C from a slate of enthusiastic investors led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund. It joins numerous others with 9-figure rounds in what is clearly a valuable and competitive space.

XtalPi works with major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer that need to identify promising new drug-like molecules and learn as much about them as possible. It’s very much a race, so companies claiming to use AI to speed up the process have attracted major funding. Though there have been no prominent breakthroughs to speak of resulting from the space, it’s hard to imagine any major player can afford to ignore it.

This company, founded in 2014, purports to offer extremely low-level simulation and prediction of target molecules, both simulating the physics at atomic levels and doing the more traditional data science work that eliminates dead ends and points towards more fruitful avenues for investigation.

Although these advances are in the digital space, the companies still need a large staff of skilled scientists who can verify and advance the results — as well as the facilities to support them. It may help speed up the slow-paced pharmaceutical industry, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap or easy to do so.

AI-enhanced (which is really to say using machine learning techniques) biotech firms have attracted huge funding rounds and lucrative (or potentially lucrative) partnerships as pharma’s biggest companies place their bets. (Insitro founder Daphne Koller spoke on this topic just two weeks ago at Disrupt.)

Daphne Koller: ‘Digital biology is an incredible place to be right now’

XtalPi plans to use the money as you might expect: To scale its existing operations with improved algorithms, more data, and additional computing power.

“We believe AI holds the answer to solving pharma’s productivity challenge,” said chairman and co-founder Shuhao Wen in a press release. “More specifically, XtalPi’s AI-powered platform can improve the industry’s research efficiency and success rate in order to lower costs for discovering and developing new drugs. We look forward to applying our platform to help clients bring more first-in-class and breakthrough drugs to the market and address significant unmet medical needs to benefit patients on a global scale.”

Softbank led the round, with PICC Capital and Morningside making up the larger remaining part, as well as follow-ons from existing investors Tencent, Sequoia China, China Life, and SIG.

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Indonesian fintech startup BukuWarung gets new funding to add financial services for small merchants

A month after completing Y Combinator’s accelerator program, BukuWarung, an financial tech startup that serves small businesses in Indonesia, announced it has raised new funding from a roster of high-profile investors, including partners of DST Global, Soma Capital and 20VC.

The amount of the funding was undisclosed, but a source told TechCrunch that it was between $10 million to $15 million. The new capital will be used to hire for BukuWarung’s technology team. TechCrunch first profiled BukuWarung in July.

Angel investors in the round include several high-profile founders and executives: finance technology platform Plaid’s co-founder William Hockey; Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen; Superhuman founder Rahul Vohra; Adobe chief product officer Scott Belsky; Clearbit chairman and startup advisor Josh Buckley; former Uber chief product officer Manik Gupta; Spotify’s former head of new markets in Asia Sriram Krishnan; 20VC founder Harry Stebbings; Nancy Xiao, an investor with Bond Capital; and Fast co-founder Allison Barr Allen. Angel investors from WhatsApp, Square and Airbnb also participated.

Meet BukuWarung, the bookkeeping app built for Indonesia’s 60 million “micromerchants”

Launched last year by co-founders Chinmay Chauhan and Abhinay Peddisetty, BukuWarung is targeted at the 60 million “micromerchants” in Indonesia, including neighborhood store (or warung) owners. The app was originally created as a replacement for pen and apper ledgers, but plans to introduce financial services including credit, savings and insurance. In August, the company integrated digital payments into its platform, enabling merchants to take customer payments from bank accounts and digital wallets like OVO and DANA. BukuWarung’s goal is to fill the same role for Indonesian merchants that KhataBook and OKCredit do in India.

 

One of the reasons BukuWarung launched digital payments was in response to customer demand for contactless transactions and instant payouts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since introducing the feature, the company said it has already processed several million U.S. dollars in total payment volume (TPV) on an annualized basis. The company says it now serves about 1.2 million merchants across 750 locations in Indonesia, focusing on tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

Digital payments is also the first step into building out BukuWarung’s financial services, which will help differentiate it from other bookkeeping. The payments features is currently free and BukuWarung is experimenting with different monetization models, including making a small margin on fees.

“The reason why we launched payments is also very strategic, because there is a lot of pull in the market. We have already seen several millions annualized TPV in less than a month, because the payments we offer are cost-efficient as well and cheaper than to get from a bank,” Chauhan told TechCrunch.

“If you look at the Indian players, like Khatabook, they have also launched digital payments. The reason for that is because it’s a very essential step for building a business and monetization,” he added. “If you don’t have payments, you can’t do anything like that.”

Chauhan added that building a financial services platform is the difference between providing a utility app that replaces bookkeeping ledgers, and becoming an essential service for merchants that will eventually include lending for working capital, savings and insurance products. The bookkeeping features on BukuWarung will feed into the financial services aspect by providing data to score creditworthiness, and help small merchants, who often have difficulty securing working capital from traditional banks, get access to lines of credit.

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Microsoft outage leaves users unable to access Office, Outlook, Teams

Microsoft said it’s investigating an authentication outage with Office 365, preventing users from accessing some of the company’s most widely used services, including Office.com, Outlook.com, and Teams.

The company’s status dashboard said the issue started at 2:25pm PT, and has impacted mostly consumer users across the globe for the last few hours. Some government users may also be impacted, the company said.

In a series of tweets, Microsoft said that it tried to fix the issue, but was forced to roll back its changes after the fix failed.

For now, Microsoft said it was “rerouting traffic to alternate infrastructure to improve the user experience while we continue to investigate the issue.”

We’re rerouting traffic to alternate infrastructure to improve the user experience while we continue to investigate the issue. Please visit https://t.co/AEUj8uAGXl for additional information.

— Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) September 28, 2020

But that leaves millions on the U.S. west coast and users in Australia still unable to access their online services.

TechCrunch will keep you posted with developments. In the meantime, feel free to catch up with some of the bigger stories of the day.

Read more:

• Daily Crunch: Judge delays TikTok ban
• Google to better enforce Play Store in-app purchase policies, ease use of third-party app stores
• Amazon launches a $4.99-per-month ‘personal shopper’ service for men’s fashion
• Watch SpaceX launch 60 more Starlink satellites for its broadband internet service
• Healthcare giant UHS hit by ransomware attack, sources say

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Lessons Learned: Here's Why Israel Will Not Face Another Intifada

The Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s claimed the lives of more than a thousand Israelis as well as thousands of Palestinians. Could such a scenario unfold again, 20 years after the so-called second Intifada? A former IDF colonel is highly doubtful this will play out.

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German Chancellor Merkel Paid Secret Visit to Navalny at Charite Hospital, Media Claims

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a secret visit to Alexei Navalny while the Russian opposition blogger was undergoing treatment at Berlin's Charite hospital, the German magazine Der Spiegel stated, citing its own sources.

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The Importance of Retargeting in a Marketing Campaign

Retargeting may sound familiar but not something you have explored within your marketing efforts. This marketing tactic leverages paid advertising to go after consumers who have shown an interest in a product that is similar to yours or who perused that product on your website and left without purchasing. For example, if you were shopping online for a coffee maker, and afterwards you see other ads for coffeemakers or coffee beans on social media or online.

There are numerous reasons why retargeting should be an essential component of every marketing campaign. 

Reaching out across multiple platforms

Retargeting can help you reach prospects across multiple platforms to increase your chances of enticing them to or back to your website for conversions. These platforms include Google AdWords, Facebook Ads, and Twitter Ads and cover a lot of channels that include mobile platforms. 

Identifying how to improve advertising approaches

Having the ability to track prospects and gauge their reaction to seeing your product elsewhere in an ad can tell you if your ad is effective or not. Your campaign performance can then be improved based on these responses. 

Keeping costs down 

In marketing, it can be more cost effective to follow up on recent website visitors than it is to advertise for new users and traffic. You know that this group is already interested in your product or service, and therefore more likely to convert. The costs relate to lower time, money, and effort spent. 

Influencing purchase decisions

By following these prospects from site to site with your ads, you can remind them of your value. In turn, this can influence their return to your website and help close the deal on a purchase. Your influence can be more compelling as you filter and personalize these ads to match visitors’ needs, motivations, and behaviors. 

Raising brand awareness

Even if you don’t make a sale out of each retargeting effort, you are still raising brand awareness, warming up cold traffic to what you might offer them. This can incrementally add benefits over time that may spread your brand to others and build further credibility.

Gaining deeper insights

The retargeting process includes multiple reports that provide detailed data about prospect behavior. This helps you better understand your target audience to help improve campaigns and overall messaging across channels. 

Improving campaign results 

Research shows compelling results for companies who leverage retargeting strategies.  The click-through rate of a retargeted ad is ten times as likely to make a conversion as that of a typical display ad.

Nurturing customer lifetime value 

As you move prospects through each stage of the marketing funnel towards conversion, you can then use retargeting to enhance customer lifetime value by continuing to influence them to convert and make more purchases. 

Since you know what each customer has previously purchased, you can use retargeting to suggest products that complement other items. Or, knowing the time of year your customers previously made purchases, you can introduce retargeting campaigns to remind them it’s time to purchase again. 

Getting Started

From serving as a digital reminder to potential customers and raising brand awareness in the digital marketplace to focusing your advertising spend for better ROI and enhancing your overall marketing strategy, retargeting works. 

To get started, you can explore platforms that facilitate the launch of retargeting campaigns, including Google Ads, Retargeter, and social media platforms like Facebook Retargeting. These platforms walk through the retargeting process and create targeted ad campaigns that align with your audience and what you know about them. 

Like other aspects of your marketing strategy, by addressing your audience’s specific needs, retargeting can increase your traffic and sales with targeted content. The tactic also requires practice, time, skill, and investment so proceed carefully to ensure anything you do provides a significant return.

                                                                                                           

See how to get started with targeting with our “5-Minute Audience Targeting Primer.” 

 

 

 

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Twitter Removes RIA Novosti From Search Results

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Church of Sweden in Hot Water for Defending 'Islamist-Linked' Charity

Many, including Sweden's own Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), have linked Islamic Relief, the world's largest independent charity organisation based on Islamic values, to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist network banned in many countries, including Russia.

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UK Emergency Lockdown Scheme Reportedly Aims to Ban Social Interaction Amid Fresh COVID-19 Alarms

Last week, Downing Street introduced a set of updated measures to battle the rising COVID infection rates in a bid to avoid a total national clockdown - curfews in widely visited public spots like pubs and restaurants among other things.

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Venezuela Aims to Overcome Effects of US Sanctions With New Legislation, Maduro Says

BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Venezuela is working out a new law that will help overcome the effects of US sanctions imposed on the country, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced.

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'Doesn't Belong Here': Danish Prime Minister Lashes Out Against Sharia Law in Parallel Societies

As previous surveys have indicated, nearly four out of ten Danish Muslims would like to have the country's laws at least partly based on Sharia law, and over 10 percent even said Denmark's laws should be solely based on Sharia.

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Future-proof your career with this stacked web design course

TL;DR: The Ultimate Web Designer & Developer Course is on sale for £10.98 as of Sept. 28, saving you 95% on list price.

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At this point, you've probably made enough sourdough bread to last a lifetime. While it's commendable that you're stepping up your baking skills, you may also want to pick up skills that will make you more marketable once things revert to normal. And few skills are more in-demand these days than web design and development.

Since everyone and everything lives online, gaining proficiency in web design and development is a great way to future-proof your career. With the Ultimate Web Designer and Developer Course, you'll learn the essentials of visual and web design and get the chance to put your newfound programming and web development skills to the test with a slew of projects (23 to be exact). Read more...

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Launch a successful podcast with the help of this online bundle

TL;DR: The Start-to-Finish Guide to Launching a Successful Podcast Bundle is on sale for £35.32 as of Sept. 28, saving you 97% on list price.

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As the world keeps spinning with wide swaths of it shut down, we're all looking for ways to kill some time, stay positive, and remain sane. One method? Listening to podcasts.

If podcasts were big before, they're enormous now. They have a way of enlightening us, helping us escape reality, and expanding our knowledge of the world, no matter the subject matter. Plus, they keep us company while we continue on this unknown path. And of course, with people having more time on their hands these days, podcasts are seeing more growth than ever. That means if you've ever had a hunch to start one of your own, there's no time like the now. Read more...

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